2 yo at Garden View Lounge - PLEASE HELP!!

[aring75]

My mother, my sister and I have planned a shopping trip to Orlando next weekend. As an added surprise, I made a PS at the Garden View Lounge for tea. I thought it would be a relaxing way to end our afternoon.

Here's the problem.

My sister has a two year old. Not by any standards a terror, but still, a two year old. I have told my sister that this really isn't the place for a toddler. (Not only do I want to spend a relaxing day with my family, I think it would be distracting for other guests.) My mother thinks we should bring the baby anyway!!!

I don't want to sound selfish, and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. What can I say to get the point across???

Does anyone have any situations that I can use as examples, or, perhaps, some better reasoning I can use?? I'm trying not to just flat out say "NO," but now I'm wondering if I should just draw the line.

Am I being selfish? Would it be all that bad? Please help!!!

Thanks, aring75

 

[simonmunro]

Here is a thread I started because we really wondered about how it would go there with a baby. These are the responses I got. The majority thought she'd be fine going with us.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=322476

 

[aring75]

Thanks.

Sorry, I didn't realize this question had been asked so recently.

 

[simonmunro]

If you end up not being able to talk them out of the idea and you take the baby will you post and let us know how it goes??? I know what the posters said but still yet I'm not totally convinced. I do think it'll make for great pictures, but I hope she doesn't get to loud...

 

[LizL]

DH and I just returned from WDW yesterday. We had tea at GF while we were there. There were two couples there with two year olds. I know WDW is a kid friendly place, and I am the first one to understand that a 2 year old cannot be expected to sit quietly and behave for the 1-2 hours it can take to get through the tea. However, this is one of the few places that is really for adults and children who can sit quietly. This one 2 year old was taking the silver spoons and banging the china tea pots. Not only very loud and annoying, but potentially destructive and dangerous. The parents were oblivious. Several diners were staring/glaring at them. I felt bad for the servers, they were trying desperately to let the parents know that the behavior was not acceptable without coming right out and saying so. The brought a balloon and walked by and said, "_____ I can hear you. I will bring you some crayons to play with" in a singing voice. Crayons were promptly provided. However, this child preferred banging the teapots with the spoons. Their food was brought out quickly and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they were gone. The other toddler was quiet and enjoyed his chocolate tea in a sippy cup and it was cute to watch him try to eat the strawberries and whipped cream. I would say go ahead and bring the baby if he can be easily entertained with quiet toys (like crayons) and is not in the shrieking phase (the one where they have discovered that they have the ability to shriek and just like to practice - I know it is normal, but just not appropriate for this restaurant). You can always leave if it becomes too much for him to sit still/be quiet.

 

[aring75]

We've decided to leave the baby with her Dad this time and just have a relaxing day out. We'll see how the atmosphere of the GVL seems, and maybe take her when she's a little older. (Right now she thinks it's funny to throw things!)

 

[ducklite]

That sounds like a great idea to me. Afternoon tea is NOT an appropriate place for a two year old who is in the "throwing things" stage. Some, but very few, two year olds are happy to sit quietly for an hour or so in an atmosphere like that. The example of the child banging on the teapot offered above is a good one. Those parents should have left immediately.

It's too bad that WDW isn't more proactive in enforcing a "well behaved children are graciously welcomed, but there is a zero toerance policy and mis-behaving children will be asked to leave immediately" policy at some of the more adult oriented dining and entertainment experiences.

That way everyone can be accomodated, but no one will be inconvenienced.