Signature Dining Idea Regarding Kids (putting on flame suit now)

[Peaseblossom]

This has my vote as well; problem solved...

Out of curiosity, what is the equivalent catty nickname for "non-breeders"? Would it be socially acceptable to use, or would that be on the same low level of manners as letting your children misbehave in a formal setting?

 

[2girls4me]

See, I know my kids would not last until 730 before having dinner. We stick to simple places to sit and eat. I wouldnt bring them to a signature restaurant that late.

And honestly, it's Disney. A theme park. Designed for children.

 

[loveshak22]

Out of curiosity, what is the equivalent catty nickname for "non-breeders"? Would it be socially acceptable to use, or would that be on the same low level of manners as letting your children misbehave in a formal setting?

I believe that on another rather angry back-and-forth thread someone threw out the word DINK (dual-income, no kids)...that seemed to be catty enough to cause some fights if that's what you're in need of

 

[tcufrog]

Two thoughts:

1. I think it's unacceptable to stay somewhere when your kid is tantruming. The only way for your child to learn that such behavior is unacceptable is to make him or her leave if he or she behaves that badly. I've made my older son leave a birthday party right as they were cutting the birthday cake because he was behaving very badly. When it comes to a restaurant that's what to go boxes are for. I do think that restaurants should be allowed to ask a party to leave immediately if someone in the party, adult or child, is behaving in an extremely disruptive manner. Some of my worst dining experiences have involved being sat next to bachelor/bachelorette parties or large drunks groups of people celebrating a birthday.

2. If you are going to a place known as a family destination you have to expect that kids will be around unless the place is explicitly listed as adults only. My dh and I went to Colonial Williamsburg without the kids last month for our 10 year wedding anniversary. Since it was known as a family destination we weren't bothered when we saw kids somewhere even at more adult restaurants. If we wanted to have a kid free dining experience we went to a bar or made late reservations. If we had wanted to have a kid free experience we would have gone to an adult spa or resort.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I love this idea but it won't happen. People would freak out. Even saying "any misbehaving kid needs to leave" is open to too much grey area. I do absolutely think it's well within reason however to try to separate parties with and without children, particularly as the night goes on.

To those who say there's V&A, it's not fair to "punish" (since we're gonna use that word on this thread) adults and say that's the only option. Personally that type of food doesn't appeal to me, and why should someone have to pay those prices and only have "fancy" food as an option, just because they want a quieter environment?

I agree that you don't have to ban kids, but the expected behavior level needs to be raised. If we as adults are tired by 8 walking all that way, I don't get why parents expect their kids to be able to do it with a smile on their face.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Have to say that we were seated at Artist Point one night about 7:30 when a family of 6 (4 kids under 12) sat down at a table next to ours. Everyone looked exhausted and 3 kids had heads leaning on shoulders of parents. Suddenly a cute little girl vomited all over the table and floor not a foot away from us. The parents let it be cleaned up and still didn't leave!!!!! A nice and not cheap dinner ruined for us. Why do this??

 

[Uncleromulus]

Disney will never adopt a policy restricting children at Signature restaurants.

And Disney restaurant managers will never do a thing to curb disruptive behavior from children.

Once some years ago at Jiko there were 4 or 5 kids at a table with totally oblivious adults--the kids were running around and throwing food, paper, and even menus all over the floor. I said something to our server like "Look at those little jerks". He siged deeply and said "I know. But we can't do a thing. We're forever being told Disney is all about THEM"(meaning the kids).

Anyway--we avoid almost all of this nowadays by ALWAYS eating at the bar!!!

 

[Plaid Sheep]

You think my kids would learn by now... We have left movies, restaurants, stores, parks...the list goes on, when a tantrum has started. That is th rule. I will not be embarrassed by it, they need to learn and I refuse to inconvienence people who paid just like I may have.
I WISH Disney would approach people when bad behavior has affected others around them. It wasn't as bad when I was a CM, but it sounds like it has just gone down hill.

I also have no problem with Disney building other adults only establishments. I don't feel it is knocking us breeders, we have scads of other places to go. It those and their pweshus snowflakes that do no wrong who aggravate me to no end and feel entitled who forget that others have spent equally hard earned money. I don't find my own children's bad behavior amusing, you think I want to put up with yours?

One of my favorite Walt quotes

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."

 

[Herfnerd]

um...the thread was started to talk about banning kids from signatures after 7pm. since it seems to be the thing to do... *Sigh*

I understand that. I was merely pointing out a reason why some parents justify their children';s poor behavior

ok but i don't see why all kids should be banned because some kids (or parents) are rude. if we apply that kind of logic, everyone will be banned.

And my reply was because you had quoted me - making it confusing. It appears you were replyhing that I had posted that children should be banned - which I never did......

 

[WillAustin]

You think my kids would learn by now... We have left movies, restaurants, stores, parks...the list goes on, when a tantrum has started. That is th rule. I will not be embarrassed by it, they need to learn and I refuse to inconvienence people who paid just like I may have.
I WISH Disney would approach people when bad behavior has affected others around them. It wasn't as bad when I was a CM, but it sounds like it has just gone down hill.

My kids have learned. We always leave if they misbehave. It really doesn't happen anymore.

Our kids (9,7, and 7) love the signature restaurants, and I'm glad they behave well when we go.

I won't hesitate to ask someone else to control their children for the sake of everyone around them, but I'd also ask an adult to quiet down too.

 

[Miumiu4me]

Disney will never adopt a policy restricting children at Signature restaurants.

And Disney restaurant managers will never do a thing to curb disruptive behavior from children.

Once some years ago at Jiko there were 4 or 5 kids at a table with totally oblivious adults--the kids were running around and throwing food, paper, and even menus all over the floor. I said something to our server like "Look at those little jerks". He siged deeply and said "I know. But we can't do a thing. We're forever being told Disney is all about THEM"(meaning the kids).

Anyway--we avoid almost all of this nowadays by ALWAYS eating at the bar!!!

I've seen a lot of kids seated at bars at WDW too. It especially seems to be an issue in Downtown Disney. That is one area that I wish kids would be outright banned from, both or the kid's safety and the enjoyment of other patrons.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I have 4 children and I would have to agree with you to a certain point. We know our girls and decide to make our ADR for the first sitting simply because it's to our advantage to take them right after nap/ afternoon break and before we head back to the parks. They are rested and hungry therefor are eager to eat and hurry to head back to the park We know we will be out of there in no time.

as for kids running and scream it's unacceptable no matter what time it is. It a restaurant not a park. I would have no issue ( and have done so at a local restaurant) with simply request my bill and leaving before the end of my meal because the girls are not on their best behaviour.

Dh and I went for a late dinner for our anniversary and I would have to say that most adults that were around were loud. We were kinda surprise that our meal at Yatchman at 5:30 was more quiet then a 9pm at California Grill and t wan't kids being loud.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Kids should be banned from Disney altogether!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Anyway--we avoid almost all of this nowadays by ALWAYS eating at the bar!!!

We do our best to do the same. When we make dinner reservations, it's usually for after 8:00 PM to avoid the family dining scene. The table next to us at Flying Fish last Friday did include a sleeping child of about 9 or 10 ... at our 8:45 PM reservation. Sleeping kids don't bother me, though. It's the tired babies that fight sleep by crying and aren't removed that are disruptive.

Eating at the bar, unfortunately, isn't a perfect solution at Disney World. There were several times on our last trip that we wanted to go in to a bar to grab a drink and a small bite either before or instead of dinner, and couldn't because the bar was full of families, either bellying their kids up to the bar for dinner or just waiting for a table and ordering nothing. Bartenders can't like turning away my business (my fiancé and I love a good overpriced drink -- or a few -- at Disney World) so that they can serve Uncrustables and Shirley Temples to children on barstools.

 

[Down Under Minnies]

hello......

Your at Disney and it's full of children (the young and the young at heart!)
The reason for going to Disney World is for a FAMILY vacation and fun, certainly not signature dining.

And really, if you think for example "Flying Fish" is signature dining you are yet to discover real dining. It is over rated HYPE and nothing more than over priced family dining IMO.

I have no problem with children in restaurants and personally am disappointed that children are not welcome at Disneys V & A. If I am willing to pay for their meal, they should be welcome anywhere within Disney.

Badly behaved children at any restaurant on the other hand is a completely different issue! It doesn't matter what time of the day or evening it is.

Also a no no IMO are ipads, ipods, dvd's etc while dining at restuarants. Children should be taught to able to sit quietly and entertain themselves for a period of time without these devices. It too is rude.

 

[CraigInPA]

My wife and I don't mind *well behaved* children eating at signature restaurants. But, we have a HUGE problem with PARENTS that push their young children to dinner at 8 or 9pm, and the kids start a melt down and began screaming or crying. Most parents in this situation tend to let it "ride out", much to the dismay of all of the other people around them, especially if the child doesn't stop immediately. But, it's not just tired and hungry children that are disruptive. Last year a neighboring table was watching the superbowl on a tablet device and cheering on the game, at Artist Point! Much to the credit of the staff there, they told the table to turn down the volume of both the tablet and their cheering.

If Disney would just have a time out room for the poorly behaved, whether they were adults, children, or entire families, I think this problem could be solved.

 

[disnut8]

After a fantastic DxDP trip last week, DH and I made an observation about many of the signature dining establishments where we dined. Quite a few of our dinner ADRs were after 7:30 or 8pm. After a couple meals where children were either sleeping on the booth attached to ours, having major meltdowns, or watching loud videos on Dad's iphone while the parents tried to enjoy a bottle of wine, I started thinking.... (here is where the flame suit will be necessary)...

I'm just curious (my one son is grown and gone with kids of his own) - did you speak to the parents of these kids or ask Disney to do anything? Not sure why kids sleeping in a booth would have an effect on your dinner. The major meltdowns and the loud videos, yes but asking the parents to tone it down might have made for a much enjoyable experience.

I know my son would get really bored while my husband and I "enjoyed a bottle of wine". He would play his Gameboy (goes to show how old he is now) or color or read. He was a quiet kid. But if I wanted to take that now grown man to current day California Grill past 7:00 (or 8:00), I couldn't?

You can't do a blanket "no kid allowed" rule anywhere. When my son was that age, we didn't eat until 8:00 PM. Blanket rules just don't work at Disney World and we've seen it a lot of times.

 

[heatherandnick]

I'm just curious (my one son is grown and gone with kids of his own) - did you speak to the parents of these kids or ask Disney to do anything? Not sure why kids sleeping in a booth would have an effect on your dinner. The major meltdowns and the loud videos, yes but asking the parents to tone it down might have made for a much enjoyable experience.

I know my son would get really bored while my husband and I "enjoyed a bottle of wine". He would play his Gameboy (goes to show how old he is now) or color or read. He was a quiet kid. But if I wanted to take that now grown man to current day California Grill past 7:00 (or 8:00), I couldn't?

You can't do a blanket "no kid allowed" rule anywhere. When my son was that age, we didn't eat until 8:00 PM. Blanket rules just don't work at Disney World and we've seen it a lot of times.

It affects my dinner when said sleeping child is kicking me and I have to scoot over to give them room to spread out.
And, no, I did not speak to their parents. It is their job to parent properly, not mine. I know some might say that if I don't speak up, I am as much to blame, but I disagree. Most confrontations don't end well, no matter how politely they are initiated. People tend to get defensive and it would probably ruin a lovely meal even more.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Pirate--I just knew you would come up with the perfect solution

And while it's true there ARE kids at bars these days, there are fewer than those running around the restaurant.

Have to say that we stick to Signature restaurants and have yet to see any kids at the bar at Shulas, Blue Zoo, or Citricos. Saw a couple before at CG, but they were just plopped on the stools waiting for a table and they didn't stay long.

Also saw a kid once at the bar at FF, but again, just marking time waiting for a table.

So at least for us so far, the bar "defense" has worked pretty well.

Plus there are several other good reasons to have dinner at the bar rather than at a table

 

[GeneralTso]

Not a signature, but we were next to a family with their kids in the Tequila Cave in Mexico/Epcot. Odd place to bring your kids, just my thought. It was really rowdy in there--as tequila joints can be, right?

We were at Yachtman's last year and there was a table with 4 kids. Entire family dressed up and the kids were angels. Absolute angels. They had a few itty bitties too, and they were so well behaved, well, we noticed. Obviously a family that had taught their children how to behave in restaurants AND the planets were aligned and all kids were on the same wavelength and everything seemed to be working for them.

That's not typical though. I see so many meltdowns and wild kids running around and bouncing off the walls like a helium balloon deflating. Disney is a big, huge day. I think it just exhausts kids earlier than adults think they can handle.