We used to go out to eat a lot when I was younger. When we were finished with our meal and the server brought the check, my parents would start searching for their wallets. When they couldn't find them they would tell us we would have to do dishes in the restaurant's kitchen to "pay" for the meal that way. I remember we got so scared that we would have to do everyone else's yucky dishes! But every time, they "miraculously" found their money just in time. WHEW! I think I was well into my teens before I knew they were joking with us. And now that I'm a server, I love to play this little game with some of the kids at my tables.

Danielle

I used to think that when the escalator ends, it is very important to jump over because otherwise it might swallow your legs.

Julia

My mother was under the belief for ages that if you went into Arcades by the sea or whatever, there were big men in there who would inject you with heroin, and you would become an addict. What a nice thing to be told by your mother...

Daisy

I BELEIVED THE WEIGHT TON LIMIT ON BRIDGES WAS SET BY HAVING PRISIONERS DRIVE OVER THEM IN HEAVY TRUCKS UNTIL THE BRIDGE SHOWED STRESS OR BROKE

LINDA

My dad used to tell me that, at restaurants, a big burly man with a tatoo on his arm was swirling a huge vat of food in the kitchen. When I asked how the food came out, he said they would stick in a plate and out would pop exactly what you ordered. I believed him until I was about 12. I should have known better, because I watched my parents cook my food for me all the time and they didn't have a huge vat of goo.

Jen

In some restaurants, the waiter takes your order, puts his piece of paper in a little lift and it goes up or down to the kitchen where they cook it and then put it in the same lift for the waiter to take out and bring to you. I used to think the lift read what was on that piece of paper and, as if by magic, turned it into the food you had ordered.

Alan

I always wanted to go to Disney World when I was a kid - and I was so sure this road right up the street from me was the way to Disney World. When we finally ended up going to Disney World, of course, I couldn't figure out why we didn't take that road, and why it took so long to get there... (I live in Ohio!)

Lissa

I live in a neighborhood called Queen Anne and when I was younger and I used to take walks with my parents I would stop at every single house to try to see if I could see the Queen through the window.

Anon

I used to believe that the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland took you to a dark place and that you were never able to leave if you didn't get off in time since they have that moving platform.

Lizette

My dad and I used to go to the library. On the side of the library was a big yellow sign that said "Fallout Shelter." I asked my dad what that was, and he said it was a place to go in case there was a bomb. I remember being really worried because I knew I could fit behind that little sign, but I didn't think my dad could.

Later it morphed into the idea that there was a tunnel leading from the shelter to the street that came out right behind the sign, and the sign was about 15 feet above the ground, so when you left the shelter you would just 'fall out.'

Jen

I used to believe that the M.D. or PhD after a doctor's name meant that they were doctor's only in that state. M.D. stood for Maryland. I was so proud that we had that many docotors in our state.

Dana

Whenever we'd eat out when I was a child, and I'd hear of waiters or waitresses "waiting tables", I thought it was "weighting tables" instead. I couldnt figure out any connection between "waiting" tables and "waiting" as in patiently waiting for something, so I thought waiting tables must be "weighting" instead. I could figure out a connection there, since after all, putting food on tables DOES add weight to the tables.

Heidi

I used to think that if you went to the end of a road marked "Dead End", somebody would try to kill you.

Spooky

Once I went to to the circus to see a gigantic (about 4 metres) mechanical King Kong it really scared me, (as I have watched the movie before) so up until I was 7, I used to believe that the exhibition antiaerial guns outside the ministry of defense were to shot down King Kong, in case he ever cut loose from the circus.

gary

when i was little
i always thought that McDonld's was a 5 star resturant.

B*

there was a virtual ride at epcot when i was little. on the ride they "shrunk" you and you and you went inside the human body to try and find the problem for the doctors to help them solve it. well my dad told me that we were actually going to be shrunk and i of course believed him, and would not go on the ride.

Anon

When I was little, I went on vacation with my mom to a very far away place (about 400 miles, it seemed very far at the time). My mom and I would drive there and I used to believe that in order to drive anywhere, you had to learn and memorize all the maps at school and it sounded like an enormous task. Little did I know about folding paper maps and especially road signs...

Caroline

when i was young i once took a trip to disneyworld with my family. when we went on "its a small word" i thought that the singing was the people on the boat singing. i sat next to my dad, who always sings along to everything, so hearing him sing along comfirmed my belief. i though i would get in trouble if i didnt sing so i tried my best, but really messed it up cuz i didnt know the words. i seriously thought the secerity was going to come after me.

yo mama

When I was little sometimes we drove by power plants. They had all kinds of ropes and blocks and I was certain they must be playgrounds. So one time we went by one and I asked my mom "do we have time to stop and play at the playground?" She still likes to remind me...

Hannah

when i was young. i always believed that the "no" was burnt out on the 'no vacancy' signs on hotels. i had always kept it a secret that i knew this. till one day on a trip in canmore i finally got tired of all these hotels not caring about there light system so i asked my dad "why are all the 'no's burnt out on the 'no vacancy' signs?" my mom and dad turned around in there seats and began to laugh histerically. once they calmed down they explained to me what vacancy met. it all came together.

chelsea