Behavior in Restaurants?

[heatherfeather24]

Perhaps the OP wasn't implying anything about wealth or lack thereof...
In a perfect world we would all have impeccable manners at any meal, but the truth is that people's behavior may be different when they are paying for their family's $150+ meal as opposed to receiving it for "free". This applies whether they could have afforded that meal on their own or not.
I put free in quotes because when Disney gets the money months in advance for an entire resort stay and park tickets (aka the package) they probably earn some nice interest on that money... That's hardly giving away the food.

I agree. I think it has more to do with a sense of entitlement that a pre-paid (and pre-tipped) meal may bestow upon certain individuals than whether or not those people have money. I don't think it's an excuse, just a possible explanation.

And, yes, I also think that manners are declining as a general rule.

 

[kathi]

Honestly, I might rather have them take off their pants and be quiet!

kathi

 

[daisax]

at Flying fish there was the barefoot kid who didn't know you should cut your lettuce up but was instead eating thee whole piece of romaine lettuce with her hands​

For what it's worth, caesar salad is traditionally (and correctly) eaten with the hands, one leaf at a time.

Though this is next to impossible in restaurants where it's cut up into bits!

 

[grimley1968]

What's with the slamming of the OP in this thread? WOW. She's just asking an innocent question, and I think a legitimate one: with the restaurants being extra crowded because of the free dining, will being packed in closer to other people make you more aware of already-existing bad table manners, or will you be able to enjoy your meal in relative privacy, like we do when we're not packed in like sardines?

The OP has even apologized for possibly sounding a little elitist, which I didn't think she did in the first place. Let's give her a break.

As one of the people who will be enoying the free dining package, I suppose we may be one of the families people try to get away from, with our rambunctious 2 YO DD and our 6 YO DD who can be a bit whiny when tired. It stands to reason, though, that the more packed you are into restaurants, the more you will notice others' bad behavior, be they rich or poor. I wouldn't let it keep from enjoying someplace I really want to enjoy, though.

 

[jarestel]

Honestly, I might rather have them take off their pants and be quiet!

kathi

ROTFL!

I wonder how one goes about making that request?

 

[Aliki]

I agree. I think it has more to do with a sense of entitlement that a pre-paid (and pre-tipped) meal may bestow upon certain individuals than whether or not those people have money. I don't think it's an excuse, just a possible explanation.

And, yes, I also think that manners are declining as a general rule.

Agree! (And what was with people pouncing on the OP like that? Geez.)

Sometimes, I think people behave poorly when things are taken for granted, e.g. at all-inclusive resorts or cruises, I find that people are more apt to expect things to be done, rather than be delighted that they are.

 

[goofie4goofy]

The OP never mentioned anything about status, income or anything of htat sort.....Why do some people always have to take the offensive and read into something that was never intended in the first place....please re-read the post.


Regarding manners...well it is true they are on the decline. I have noticed it everywhere...restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, airports. Also the poster was not speaking to those with perfect children with perfect manners as we have read...why everyone gets so defensive is beyond me. If your children and family are well behaved they why do you feel the need to explain.

While on vacation in an exclusive caribbean resort that costs over $1000 per day, my DH and I witnessed the rudest of all families ever. We were at dinner in a very romantic restaurant, it was all couples enjoying candlelight and very expensive food. There was a family there...the children were running wildly around the restaurant while the parents acted like they were not parents...like they were alone and these children were not wild beasts. One horrible child even came over to our table and stood there and just stared at my DH. He just said "get out of here" the kid ran screaming...I LMAO. The management did nothing about this despite the fact that every customer within a two table radius asked to be moved. Everyone was staring at them...when they were done with their "romantic dinner for two", they paid the check and left with the little darlings...with that everyone started to clap.

We all know money does not buy class or manners. We are speaking about the rude and boorish. I do know that you will never get a poster stating they are rude, have no manners and they have dining included and they are entitled....But we know you're out there!

 

[BriarRosie]

Similar issues like this were mentioned a couple of years ago when Disney
offered the 4 days + 3 free packages. Suddenly, you'd see posts about
"heathens" who stay at deluxe resorts who normally stay at "values".

(Ok, I'm being snarky. I've stayed at values, moderates, deluxes, and own
DVC now, so I've run the gamut of all "types".) In my experience, I've
seen people with nice manners at the values, and people with rotten manners
at the deluxes. I believe that money doesn't buy class.

Oh, and I don't really find a corrolation between free dining and poor
dining manners. I can see poorly behaved people locally. I don't have to
travel 1000 miles to WDW to see it.

 

[laurietg]

OMG- Too funny, I nearly spit out the water I was drinking... Oops I guess that would be expected since I have the free dining...

 

[jann1033]

ahh the old scarlet letter trick......what a great idea ! they could do it for "on site" "off site", "value". "mod". "deluxe" as well as "free dining"...so many ways to add a little "caste" distinction to the disney experience


to the op..the first post seemed snooty but you clarifed what you meant.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

PaMulan, I think you asked a legitimate question and some others read what they wanted into it.

 

[Bobbysdog]

ahh the old scarlet letter trick......what a great idea they could do it for "on site" of fsite, value. mod. delux and fo course dvc so many ways to add a little "caste" distinction to the disney experience

I wouldn't say that too loudly! I'm sure WDW will shortly announce and charge big bucks for their brand new "Keys to the Caste" tour......

 

[abaldacci]

at Flying fish there was the barefoot kid who didn't know you should cut your lettuce up but was instead eating thee whole piece of romaine lettuce with her hands​

For what it's worth, caesar salad is traditionally (and correctly) eaten with the hands, one leaf at a time.

Though this is next to impossible in restaurants where it's cut up into bits!

believe it or not I was on a cruise this past spring, and the lettuce on my caesar was whole. It was great. homemade dressing, too.

 

[jann1033]

believe it or not I was on a cruise this past spring, and the lettuce on my caesar was whole. It was great. homemade dressing, too.

see who says these boards aren't educational

now back to free dining...just how poor can anyone be who is staying at a disney hotel.. in value season racks for value are almost $90 a night which is what they pay with the fd just not my concept of poor.....maybe more people are in the rest=more noise because more people are in the parks cause more people made a trip they weren't planning on ( hmmm maybe that's why disney offered it ya think) but really don't think there are many really poor people staying anywhere on disney property. ( not saying poor are necessarily ill mannered but i did reread the op and it sure sounded like the lowered "experience" was due to "free" dining although she clarified it )

 

[Anjelica]

I don't believe you meant anything spiteful or mean in your question and found it to be a legitimate question. I think some folks definetly took it the wrong way and carried it into a whole different direction. I think this is why sometimes lurkers on the site (including myself) are hesitant in posting their honest opinion/questions.

In regards to your original question, we have not been back to WDW since the free dining program was offered, but when we were there in November 2004 many of the restaurants were busier than I expected due to Jersey week. However, I can't recall anytime where there was rude/obnoxious patrons (just one so-so waiter at Ohana's).

We will be going to WDW in February with our DD (who is two) and this will be her first trip. She won't be running around or acting obnoxious, but she may get a little restless and she may get a little fussy and I expect that this should not bug any patrons (we aren't going to Victoria and Alberts, California Grill, etc.) but we will definetly hit Le Cellier (one of our favorites). I expect that anyone who goes to Disneyworld and goes to most of the "casual" restaurants should expect to see the "typical" behavior of toddlers, tweens, teens, etc. but of course with limits.

I hope you enjoy your trip and not worry about what could happen and go with the flow. I understand that if you get seated near some very obnoxious folks you have the right to ask to be moved to a different location so that you can enjoy your meal.

Hope you have fun and keep the posts coming.....

 

[2nd childhood]

"Free Dining" package = More people dining at WDW
Increase in people dining = Increased chance of encountering a diner with ill-manners. It's simple really.

I think the social class issue was read into the original post. I don't think she really meant it that way.

Ill-manners know no social boundaries.

 

[TallyLassie]

I think that when something is "free", some people have a tendacy to perceive that it has less value and not appreciate it as much, which might lead to poor manners.

I don't think of it as "free", we had to pay rack rate rather than a discounted rate to get the meals. Regardless, may family will be on using their manners.

 

[Nancyg56]

Ill-manners know no social boundaries.[/QUOTE]


You got that right!! When I was younger, I was a waitress in a very upscale town, and boy, did I see it all! The people who patronized the restaurant came from all income levels, but people are not "born" with good manners, they must be taught. We had one family that was asked never to return after the two boys threw their food at other patrons, and crawled under tables when their parents finally decided to stop this. Dad was a pediatrician!! Made me appreciate the manners that my kids displayed when I took them to eat.

 

[stemikger]

We just recently came back from Disney. We were eating at Captain Jacks in the marketplace and the my wife made a funny face and I said what's wrong. She said I'll tell you later.

When we left the restaurant she said the young girl (around 14 or 15) at the table behind us was using a knife to pick her teeth and neither her mom or dad said anything or looked like it was something you should not do in a restaurant.

On a side note, This year I noticed more rude people on the buses then ever before.

Civility is dead.

 

[Aliki]

Similar issues like this were mentioned a couple of years ago when Disney
offered the 4 days + 3 free packages. Suddenly, you'd see posts about
"heathens" who stay at deluxe resorts who normally stay at "values".

Heathens?

Should I whip out my holy water!?!