And yet another: Why can't people watch their kids, thread?

[roliepolieoliefan]

The family ate at Chef Mickeys on Friday October 24th. We were seated about 6:45pm near the windows in the back of the restaurant.

We were seated next to 2 woman and a man with 3 kids (1 baby, 4-5 yo boy and looked like maybe a 7 yo girl. They were eating at the table when we arrived, but shortly after finished , got up and the 2 older kids did everything from run around the restaurant to roll on the floor as the 2 woman and man continued with their conversation and never and I mean never picked their heads up.

As Pluto came around the girl pulled Pluto's tail to the point that a hostess came over and told her to stop. Not once did the 2 woman or man stop talking or say anything.

The boy started running back and forth on the ledge next to the wall. Well we had things sitting on it, like the kids stuffed animals , my back pack and the video recorder. The boy stopped before he got to our table twice, then the third time around came full speed from one end of the restaurant and went to step right on our stuff. I put my hand out and said, "You will not run over here. You need to get back to your own table." He looked at me but stopped and went to his table. Again the adults never lifted their head or stopped their conversation.

That lasted about 5 minutes and the boy started to do it again, this time as they were finally gathering up to leave. As the boy came to our table again. I put my hand up and said, "I told you once, do not run over here." He stopped, the dad (or man, whoever the heck he was) obviously heard me. He never looked my way, ackowledged the kid nothing.

They all left except for the woman who I think was the 7 and 5 yo's mother. She was looking for something in all the slop mess they left all over the floor. I thought for sure she was going to say something because she looked my way a few times as she looked for something but never said a word. Just eventually walked away.

We love Chef Mickeys and will go back . The meal was good and peaceful after they left. Some people just make me wonder though.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Yep, I certainly don't get it either! Just because the place is called Chef Mickey's and it's at WDW does not make it a giant playground for kids. They still need to behave as they would in any restaurant.

Today, we were being seated at a restaurant. There was a little girl, probably about 3 years old, standing between two tables in the path where the host was trying to lead us. I think the people at the tables were together because they were talking and the little girl was going back and forth between them. The host, my sister and my 2 boys passed through before the little girl stopped right in the middle of the path. My husband and I stopped because we couldn't get around her. I nicely said, "Excuse me." This was intended less for her and more for the adults who should have then moved her out of the way. They kept talking and didn't even notice that we were stopped and couldn't get around the little girl. Finally, we started inching around her and finally got to our table. After we were seated for a few minutes, the little girl started running around and screaming at the top of her lungs. They sent another girl (around 8 or 9) to corral her and bring her back to the table. No one made any attempt to take her outside or correct her actions. The screaming continued off and on until the party left about 20 minutes later. I don't get it....

 

[buckirj1]

You are my hero! Good for you for putting the brat in its place!

 

[racetrack18kb]

OP, good for you for not letting the kid run all over your stuff. I couldn't imagine letting my kids do something like that. Sorry but being at WDW doesn't mean no parenting.

 

[Stacerita]

OP, good for you for not letting the kid run all over your stuff. I couldn't imagine letting my kids do something like that. Sorry but being at WDW doesn't mean no parenting.

I wouldn't have let them run all over my stuff either. It seems that some parents check their parental responsibilities at the WDW gates.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

OK.. I do know that these types of threads do tend into another direction....I ask that if you want to relate a story about a Disney Restaurant and an experience that you had while at a Disney Restaurant, then do so nicely. I am trying to keep this thread open.

 

[pmiranda]

Well, it sounds to me like you are complaining to the wrong people. You scolded the child, you complained to us, but did you say anything to the parents? If it bothered you as much as you say it did, I would have thought that is who you would have spoken to. If some stranger had told my child off in a restaurant (granted we actually work hard to keep our children from bothering others while diners enjoy a nice meal out), I would be livid! It's obvious you do not have children in this age range any longer, and perhaps are more sensitive to children being rambunctious. My aunt who has no children actually behaves in this same manner, and I refuse to go anywhere with her because her rudeness embaress' me. The children probably spent all day in the parks, and were overtired. That's how children act when they are overtired. The parents were hoping to actually partake in some Disney dining since they spent so much money to come to Disney, but the kids were obviously not up to it. The parents should have definitely paid much more attention the the kids, or more precisely should have not gone to Chef Mickey's that night, but they probably had ADR's for 6 months. ITS DISNEYWORLD, it happens ALL THE TIME.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Well, it sounds to me like you are complaining to the wrong people. You scolded the child, you complained to us, but did you say anything to the parents? If it bothered you as much as you say it did, I would have thought that is who you would have spoken to. If some stranger had told my child off in a restaurant (granted we actually work hard to keep our children from bothering others while diners enjoy a nice meal out), I would be livid! It's obvious you do not have children in this age range any longer, and perhaps are more sensitive to children being rambunctious. My aunt who has no children actually behaves in this same manner, and I refuse to go anywhere with her because her rudeness embaress' me. The children probably spent all day in the parks, and were overtired. That's how children act when they are overtired. The parents were hoping to actually partake in some Disney dining since they spent so much money to come to Disney, but the kids were obviously not up to it. The parents should have definitely paid much more attention the the kids, or more precisely should have not gone to Chef Mickey's that night, but they probably had ADR's for 6 months. ITS DISNEYWORLD, it happens ALL THE TIME.

Why did I know I would get a response like this from someone.

Your response just makes me shake my head. I'm not complaining to you. I'm venting about parents who are too wrapped up in their own self to care how their kids are disrupting other people who paid to eat without their little brats disrupting my dinner.

And yes, I do have a 9 yo and a 5 yo who has never in all the years we've gone to WDW (and its been since both were babies) and have ever got up and ran around a restaurant and disrupted other patrons while I sat and held a conversation with my table mates. My 5 yo even told the 7 yo girl at the next table after the "Pluto incident", "You shouldn't do that to Pluto"

I could see if the parents gave a crap and at least tried even once to say something to their "little darlings" . But when the hostess came over after the "Pluto incident" and I said something twice and they still did nothing to control the kids behavior, to me it means the parents are oblivious and don't give a rats butt what their kids do as long as they aren't bothering them.

I paid to be at Chef Mickeys too and had my ADR's for 6 months also and if a kid is going to disrupt my family's dinner and the parents aren't going to say anything , you better believe I will. Go ahead and be livid. If the parents would have stepped up and said something , then complete strangers wouldn't have to.

 

[ReneeA]

Well, it sounds to me like you are complaining to the wrong people. You scolded the child, you complained to us, but did you say anything to the parents? If it bothered you as much as you say it did, I would have thought that is who you would have spoken to. If some stranger had told my child off in a restaurant (granted we actually work hard to keep our children from bothering others while diners enjoy a nice meal out), I would be livid! It's obvious you do not have children in this age range any longer, and perhaps are more sensitive to children being rambunctious. My aunt who has no children actually behaves in this same manner, and I refuse to go anywhere with her because her rudeness embaress' me. The children probably spent all day in the parks, and were overtired. That's how children act when they are overtired. The parents were hoping to actually partake in some Disney dining since they spent so much money to come to Disney, but the kids were obviously not up to it. The parents should have definitely paid much more attention the the kids, or more precisely should have not gone to Chef Mickey's that night, but they probably had ADR's for 6 months. ITS DISNEYWORLD, it happens ALL THE TIME.

Actually, I reprimand children that are misbehaving also. I think what roliepolieolie fan did was perfectly fine (and as you can see in my sig - I have 2 small children myself).

If the parents don't have enough sense to control their children, then I am completely within my rights to say something. I would expect that if it were my children acting so repulsively, then they would be spoken to, also.

 

[Allison]

That's just sad. I don't know what people are thinking.

To me it doesn't matter if a child spent all day in the parks, is tired, had too much sugar or is just in a bad mood. That behavior is unacceptable. I have 3 children and if they ever acted like that, we would stop it. Kids learn it's okay to act that way if noone tells them not to. I would have said something to them also. If a parent isn't going to step in, then other people need to do it when it's infringing on their personal space.

I know kids are excited at restaurants like Chef Mickey, I've been there with mine, but when the behavior crosses a line, something needs to be said. Kids shouldn't be allowed to destroy someone else's property by running over it or ruin their dinner just because they are tired.

You did the right thing. I probably would have also said something to the parents because I would have been so appalled at their lack of action.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

OK... I knew somehow this was going to be a thread with people with children vs people with no children or ones who have raised their children and are now going to WDW without their children..

C'mon people.......we can discuss this without pointing fingers. Personally, when I go to WDW, and my children are grown, so it is my husband myself...I try to keep in mind that children are tired....they may act out because they are tired, and therefore that acting out may happen in a restaurant... so I take all those things into consideration before I speak up. But from what I read of what the OP said, there was no supervision from the parents at this table and hence the tired children were running around disturbing other diners....

As a Nana, and proud to be one, and we dine out often with my grandchild, if he acts up, one of us takes him out........so that we do not disturb other diners... It is the way my daughter does it as well and the way she was brought up.....everyone is paying for their meal and deserves to dine without wild distraction.

So in saying that...I have given an opinion.....but will tell you that the moderators will be watching this thread and will not tolerate any bashing of anyone.

 

[SandrainNC]

I'm so sorry this happened! What you are describing is way worse than the kids just being a little tired or whatever. I blame the parents for sure since my kids would run all over the place too if I let them!! We also will take our children out of the restaurant until they calm down if we have to (and we have to a good bit with a 2 year old! ). I feel so bad when they disturb other people and will not allow it.

Sandra

 

[wmcgourney]

I agree with what nana says. I have a 5 and 6 year old and if they are so wound they can't stay still then.... first we give them a warning. If that doesn't work then we walk them outside or to the bathroom to let them unwind and have a talk with them about manners.

Given that if I were for some reason not aware of what my children were doing and that they were out of hand. I would be very happy that someone was there to correct them and let them know their behavior is not appropriate. There's a very good saying which is........"it takes a village" . Yes the little ones need some slack but we are ultimately the ones who guide them and show them where the boundries are. If we don't do this who will?

God Bless!

 

[jensen]

My sister is like that with her kids - they run wild in restaurants, and I just don't understand it because she was a waitress in a fine dining restaurant for several years and knows better. She's really a wonderful parent otherwise, but this is real problem... DH refuses to go out to dinner with them anymore because we have to fight with our kids who are the same ages and don't understand why they cannot run around, too. Luckily, BIL is pretty good about keeping them at table, but when he's not with us, it's horrible.

 

[Uncleromulus]

One of the main reasons we now always request a seat at the bar, or at the Chef's counter whenever we go out to eat anywhere.

 

[rrkman]

The only story I have is from 'Ohana....

We were 'lucky ' enough to sit right by the walkway where they did the coconut races, etc. This was our first time there and we had no idea as to what the 'entertainment' was. So, we are enjoying our meal when the 'host' calls over all the kids.....now, I can't really complain too much about the additional 30 kids that joined us for dinner because that is what happens there - we were just a little startled at first. Now, the problem we had was the parents. We actually had someone pull out the extra chair at our table, sit down and take a couple pictures......while we were eating. Then, another parent actually leaned over our table (I mean they were between me and my food) to take pictures. We tolerated it all as much as we could but I left there so disappointed about people in general...enjoy your trip but don't forget about manners and most of all - there might be 100,000 people in the park with you so try to remember that most of them are not there for the sole purpose of making sure you enjoy your vacation - believe it or not, some of them are actually on vacation as well.

I also forgot that wishes was going on as we finished up and we actually had a decent view until some people decided that it was much more important for them to watch instead of the entire restaurant - so they walked up and stood in front of the window. I think they finally moved (sat down at someone else's table or something) but atleast they had a great view for it.....while those of us that actually planned on being there to see it, did not.

 

[TakeMe2Disney]

That stinks that the parents weren't paying attention. I know exhaustion can be a factor, but at the same time I'm big on teaching kids appropriate restaurant behavior. Good for you for saying something when the little boy came near your area. I would have done the same thing. I'm glad it didn't ruin your future visits to Chef Mickey's. It usually is a really fun place - we love the character interaction.

 

[digitalsiren]

This is why I realllly like Sci-Fi Dine-In. Not only are they reallly quiet because they are watching a "movie" but they stay put in their little cars!

 

[TDC Nala]

I am afraid that I always fail to see why you get a pass from allowing your child (or anyone in your party, such as the adults who will get up and stand between you and your table to view fireworks in restaurants) to blatantly disturb other people because it's Disney World.

A little disruption from the kids at their own table yelling and happy over the characters, or even crying for a bit, OK, but allowing other people's kids to run over to your table and trample your belongings without comment because it's Disney World? I'd have sent the kid back to his own table also. I'm not a village. I just don't want a kid stomping my stuff.

I'm also assuming there was a character handler that attempts to stop overexcited kids from assaulting the characters.

 

[goalie5hole]

Even though you're a Steelers fan-Good for you. Some people get very confrontational if you say something to them. My sister also acts this way with her daughter and I try to avoid going anywhere with her anymore. Her daughter is afraid of me because I reprimand her. I don't care if the children are over tired-that's not an excuse to stop being a parent. I'm sure they would of been heard from had the children made a waitress drop hot coffee on them.