What a thread! I think we've all probably encountered some rude people, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone as mad as I've read about here.
We've had a couple of incidents -- about 4 years ago, we went to Universal for a Mardi Gras night. It wasn't too crowded, and we got a great spot for the parade, knowing they were throwing beads. My kids were probably 12 and 8, and about 1/3 of the way through the parade, a dad and his son stepped right in front of us and kept grabbing beads from rightin front of my kids' faces! We even had a couple of times when the person on the float would call out to my kids -- they were wearing something distinctive, don't remember what, and toss beads, and this dad would tell his son to grab them! I couldn't help it, I lost my balance and banged right into him... "Excuse me! I didn't realize we were sharing this space!"
Another time, I went to WDW on a solo trip and went to go on Jungle Cruise, which I don't remember ever doing. A couple behind me kept pushing forward until they ended up about 10-12 people in front of me! I'm pretty good about asserting my "line rights" (ask the lady who tried to get in front of me at Target on Black Friday during the third pallet of the toy I wanted...) but this? Who cares? We were all going to get on the ride. Karma, baby!
And one time, I was the rude"ee", but not really -- we were stuck in a line for HM -- the ride kept breaking down, fastpasses were not available, so my then 8 yr old was standing in line. I had to get out -- we had a minor emergency (nosebleed, I think), and of course while I ran to get napkins, the line moved -- and my kid went right with them! Everybody was very nice about letting me through when the saw the panicked lady saying, "Excuse me, my child's alone up there!" I didn't find him on the ride -- he made it all the way through adn we didn't meet up until we all got out, but then I felt stupid not ending up with my kid when I had pushed past all those people "supposedly" looking for him!
Keep your cool, be superior, let them have the meltdowns, don't ruin your day!
- Erin