Children at DVC

[hoodedrooster]

Just like many of you on this message board, I love Walt Disney World and the DVC. Although I do not post many messages on the board, I visit this message board every day to keep up with whats going on within the "neighborhood." In recent months, I have noticed that there is a increasing trend of people posting negative messages about children at DVC properties. These posts have included complaints about children being "loud" in pools, about children being in the hot tubs, about children crying loudly, about children being in the resturants, etc.

If you do not like children (behaving or not behaving), then maybe you should not have purchased a timeshare in the Disney Vacation Club. You know, it all started with a mouse and is synomounous with children. So, if you don't like children around when you dine, then purchase a timeshare with Marriott in the hills of New York.

Hoodedrooster.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by hoodedrooster
In recent months, I have noticed that there is a increasing trend of people posting negative messages about children at DVC properties. These posts have included complaints about children being "loud" in pools, about children being in the hot tubs, about children crying loudly, about children being in the resturants, etc.

I think 98% of DVC members have no problem with chidren at DVC resorts. I think the problem is with the PARENTS who allow the children to mis-behave and look the other way.

In restraunts there is no reason for a child to "walk around,throw food, scream,etc. An infant crying

is completely understandable. But a older child(say 3-6) that causes a scene should be controlled by the parent. Other patrons in the restraunt should be allowed to enjoy a meal also.

Children should not be in hot tubs alone.

P.S. Welcome to the DIS....

 

[Pa@okw95]

This is your first thread that you posted and you started off "If you don't like it go elsewhere attitude." One of the problems at DVC is out of contoll children. One time my wife and I were coming back from a function on a bus at about 10 pm, two kids about 10 or 11 maybe 12 were on the bus without parentsand raising hell. Then when we got off the bus at OKW in the darkest they came up behind us and tried to scare us by intimidation tactics. I had all I could do not to crab one of them and beat the hell out of them-I have a temper but held it back. Now we have children running wild at DVC but what the real kicker is that a lot of the times the parents are there. That is even worse. When I pay about $125 to $150 for meal for two, I don't expect kids running around out of control. It is your attitude toward kids that causes DVC at times to be a place not worth buying into. I am sorry but I can not print what I am thinking here but I made up my mind not to go to WDW except in January because of the situations you just mentioned and more from adults not just out of control kids. Like I have said on other posts DVC and WDW has fallen down a long way since it has become a "value" resort.

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

I recently posted a complaint about children in the hot tubs on my trip last week. They do not belong in a hot tub. It's not good for them to be in the hot tub.....they have no concept of time! Their
parents were no where around supervising them.

As one person just posted, it's the parents not supervising them. I completely understand Disney is a family place and children will get out of control. My 4 year old DD had a melt down at Marakesh the other night and we took her out of the restaruant immediately. The next night, the same thing happed to someone else and the did not remove the child who was older. Melt downs happen and you deal with them even if it ruins your time. Some parents don't deal with it. Parents need to take responsiblity for their children.

 

[kweaver]

Ahhh...hooded rooster...I have a feeling that you know (more than you are letting on) what kind of nightmare this topic can turn into! I'm all for a balance of parents controlling their children and children being able to "be kids".

1. Children should not be in hot tubs without a parent there to monitor them. I have no problem telling a kid to wait for his parents to arrive. Children are drawn to water...especially when it is hot and bubbly, who can blame them? However, the tub needs to be used under the right circumstances.

2. Parents should take responsibility for their kids in a restaurant (or anywhere for that matter). We work hard at table manners and "restaurant behavior" at home...and we're still far from what I'd call perfect. However, if I have a whiny kid at a restaurant who just wants to "go home", the last thing I am going to do is reward their bad behavior by chucking my dinner and taking them back to the room. We may go outside to talk about the behavior and then they will be expected to have patience, and sit there until I am finished with my meal. This strategy does not change just because we are on vacation. Personally, I'd much rather see a parent taking proactive steps to show their child the correct behavior rather than throwing in the towel and ruining their own night as well.

3. Kids + Fun = Loud While constant screaming would probably irritate me, I have no problem with loudness at pools and outside. Kids need to whoop it up sometimes.

We have three of the little rugrats ourselves...and love them dearly. We have a trip planned for June, and I'm already worried about the drive down, kids getting tired/hot/hungry/fillintheblank at the parks before I realize it (with a meltdown following shortly thereafter), someone getting lost, arguements while in line for a ride, etc. DH and I do our best to keep them in line...and to be considerate of other people's vacations. Will we be successful every single time? Probably not. Still, we try our best, and go back to the villa for a break if that's what it takes. Actually, we take afternoon breaks every day now...which is one of the reasons we have less meltdowns to begin with! I have a real problem with people who push kids into commando touring of the parks...or making them nap in an uncomfortable stroller when they really need a break in a real bed with some peace and quiet.

WDW is first and foremost for families. That includes small children. My personal opinion is that people who go to WDW, especially during school breaks and major holidays, should be cognizant of the fact that there WILL be a LOT of kids there and there WILL be some who are tired or crying or misbehaving (for whatever reason). If people expect kids to be sitting down silently with their hands in their laps or walking through the park looking around in silent wonder, they are in need of a severe dose of reality (or an adult-only Club Med style vacation! )

 

[spiceycat]

okay maybe they have changed the signs - but the spa sign use to read - no one under 12 - if kids of that age or under try to it - I just pointed to the sign.

they generally got out again - sometimes with their parents - sometimes their parents were not to be seem....

Now I have a problem with teenagers (doesn't everyone) - they can be loud and try to get into places they aren't allowed - bars - or try to get adults to buy them drinks (not happening!!!!).

but I really don't think that most members have a problem with little kids running around - they are at WDW after all and if it is their first trip - then yes they are going to running all over the place.

that I can generally handle when I see how young the kids are - it is again teenagers - who behave this way - you have got to wonder - it is a teenager stage or something else....I

and yes - I certainly don't blame the parents - I have some neighbors - the kids were great when they were younger - but once they all became teenagers - I really feel for the parents - they try to control them - but teenagers are teenagers. Racing their cars around the neighborhood, partying, drugs, etc. I am sure glad that I don't have kids - handling a teenagers has got to be one of the worst jobs in the world....

but my big problem has been adults out of control - drunk and insulting.....thank goodness that DVC has few of them - but occassionally one will show up.

you can't reason with a drunk or ask politely to tone it down - they just don't understand.....

 

[LisaR]

I have two children and I am complimented on a regular basis on how well behaved they are and what good manners they have. I would never allow my kids to run around a restaurant or have a fit and disturb other people. My kids are not allowed in the hot tub. My kids do not run down the hallways of the resorts screaming and banging on doors. They are constantly reminded when we are in our room that there are people above or below and next to us and they need to keep it in control. I think those behaviors are the parents responsibility when the children are young. That being said, my kids are kids. They WILL splash, shriek and have fun at the pool. I can promise they will make noise when they come down the new slide at OKW. Those that complain about that (and it happens often on this board) really need to get a grip on reality. I have seen many adults both on vacation and at home that act far worse then a child. Children behaving badly can be found all over the world. It isn't a problem limited to DVC. The six year old next door neighbor boy jumped into our backyard and urinated on my kids toys. I told his parents who laughed and said "you know how boys are." It is going to be an interesting summer around here this year!

Lisa

 

[BCVOwner in MA]

I was thinking of a reply to this post, and then I saw what LisaR wrote. I completely agree with what she's said. I have three children who are well behaved and have good manners. When people comment on that, it's almost like they find it surprising.

My philosophy is that my children shouldn't ruin someone else's enjoyment-- for example, if they're causing a disruption in a restaurant, I'd rather leave that restaurant myself than to disrupt other patrons.

I enforce posted rules, like not allowing them to use the hottub if there's an age limit, to which I get the question "But Daddy, how come that kid gets to go in?". I simply point out the sign with the rules and, even if the little ones can't read it, I tell them what it says and let them know that we follow the rules because they're there for our safety.

But, like LisaR said, kids will like kids-- they'll be noisy, they'll jump in the pool and splash, they'll laugh and smile and have a good time.

In my opinion, a parent's responsiblity is to make sure their children's behavior is appropriate for the situation, and unfortunately many parents don't do that.

 

[crisi]

Most people seem to have appropriate expectations for the behavior of children. A few people seem to believe that someone elses children should never inconvience them in the slightest, a few seem to believe that their children should be permitted to inconvience and annoy everyone all the time.

Pools....Disney has created a problem by labeling pools "quiet pools" with no intention of enforcing the quiet and no real expectation that they are quiet. As it is impossible for anyone younger than 18 to swim "quietly" they should either rename these pools "adult" pools and enforce a "no one under 18 rule", or call them "additional" pools.

Spas....no one under 12 should be in a spa - they aren't appropriate for children. No one under 18 should be in a spa without their parents supervising them. Disney should have adult spas (although that wouldn't have helped the probably over 18 makeout session I got to witness - more annoying than any eight year old in the spa could possibly be (I wonder what they will name that baby).

Restaurants....we personally make every attempt to keep our children in restaurants where, if they do melt down, it is easy to remove them or it won't even be noticed (Whispering Canyon - you can have a full blown tantrum in there). We've only had one meltdown in fourteen Disney days in a restaurant, and that was at a back table in Boma where removing our child, kicking and screaming, was not an option (she flails -- a screaming child is bad. Getting kicked in the head by a screaming child is worse). Unfortunately, my husband decided that it was a good time to enforce the "no dessert unless you eat a good dinner" rule with an overtired and prone to melt four year old who wanted to eat nothing on that buffet but strawberries and grapes. And once he said it, it had to be done. (I still hold a grudge that he thought it was appropriate to enforce that rule at that point in time. Consistancy is good in child rearing - so is knowing when to fight the battle.) But at least it was Boma, not California Grill. As we try to do this with our children, I do expect others to have similar consideration. As I've been at the back end of a not expected tantrum, I do try and give people the benefit of the doubt - but you won't get the benefit of the doubt from me if you take a toddler into V&As.

Kids roaming alone: Hopefully your children do not have you so snowed to so that you think this is a good idea when its not. Some kids and teens are great roaming alone. Others less so. Hopefully, you know your kids well enough to know which yours fit into.

 

[erikthewise]

I guess it's worth mentioning that the rule of no children under 12 in the spas is not just for the benefit of adults. Spas/hot tub can be dangerous for young children if they stay in too long -- and too long may be as little as 15 minutes or less. Their core temperatures rise a lot faster than adults -- basic physics -- and that's not good. Don't even think about taking an infant or toddler in with you!

 

[laceemouse]

Hey Rooster, welcome to the DIS!!!! I have 4 kids and I promise not to let them get TOO wild next week when we make our first DVC trip to BCV!!! Seriously, I am more bothered by teenagers who are rude and gross than by little kids. I think DVC memebers as a whole would be less likely to go commando and therefore less likely to have the full blown melt-downs you often see at WDW. But it is a family vacation after all, and even I get grumpy when it is real hot and crowded down there. And Lisa, your story about the toys grossed me out. We have had neighbors who regularly encouraged their boys to wee outside so they would not be going in and out of the house....YUK! If his parents think it is okay, all I can say is good luck and have a great summer!!!

 

[vinny16]

I have no problem with kids having a good time that is appropriate for the setting they are in. I do have a problem with out of control children and the parents who do nothing to correct the behavior. Like others on this board, we have a four-year old who we are always complimented on about her behavior in restaurants. she knows the rules of how to act in a restaurant and if she doesn't, we remove her from the situation, tell her what she is doing that is inappropriate and go back in. Children yelling in the pool because they are having a good time is one thing, constant yelling is another. There are degrees and limits to everything and it's up to the parents to set those. We should all be allowed to enjoy our vacations and be respectful of others.

 

[DSNY FN]

We let our kids use the hot tub if they want to our oldest is 7 and she takes her younger sister in who is almost 3. We have a hot tub at home so they know what it is all about and love to play in there we have no problem with ids at all we have 3 of them and they can get a little unruly especially after being dragged around the parks all day then going for diner. We do not do afternoon naps if the kids fall asleep in the stroller durning the day then that is where they nap. I know my 1 year old can be really loud he is a little ham and loves to play it up for people and the carachters when he sees them. He also likes to throw his food around when he gets to playing. My 3 year old well almost 3 anyhow she likes to crawl under the table and doesn't like to sit still I have no problem with that if she is playing around our table no big deal. We do eep her from roaming to other tables but if she wants to play around our table that is fine if we are still eating and she is done no big deal it makes me laugh to see people that scowl at the kids playing or point and whisper it makes you want to send the kids over to them and ask them if they have a problem come on folks they are kids and they are at the one place in the world that turns us all into kids. She also has a temper on her to and if there is something she doesn't like she will scream and yell we actually like this it is helping her to build a stron carachter and we won't have to worry about her getting walked all over when she gets older and being taken advantage of by other kids when she gets to school. We do only let it go so far but we like our kids to express themselves sorry if that PO's others but they are after all our kids not anyone elses and I respect others and the way they have raised theor kids and chock it up to kids will be kids and let them play and have fun.

 

[Beca]

I was going to post the same info as Ericthewise posted above (and yes, you are VERY wise!!). In my home state there is a LAW that no children under 12 can be in a public hot tub. Their little bodies simply cannot get rid of heat fast enough to be able to tolerate the temps in a hot tub. And, if there is a sign posted...that should be a no brainer! I feel sorry for the kids who do not have a responsible adult willing to watch over them and make sure they are safe!! I have never seen (but, who knows...maybe I will at WDW) a pregnant woman get into a hot tub because she knows better...that unborn baby cannot get rid of heat when her body gets hot...the same is true for small children.

 

[LisaR]

Originally posted by DSNY FN
sorry if that PO's others but they are after all our kids not anyone elses and I respect others and the way they have raised theor kids and chock it up to kids will be kids and let them play and have fun.

I think that is one of the reasons that kids have such a bad reputation. While I agree that they are your kids and you can raise them as you see fit, that doesn't excuse you from being responsible for them and their behavior when it annoys others. Now, you (or I) can't be expected to please everyone at every moment. And, no, I don't live my life to please strangers. However, there are certain ways everyone (child or adult) should act in certain situations.

A sit down restaurant is for just that: sitting down and eating your food. Being at WDW isn't an exception to the rule. If kids can not sit for a meal then they should be eating at home or at a McDonald's Playland.

The fact that you let your 7 year old be responsible for your 3 year old in a hot tub designed for people 12 and older is insane.

My kids love to have fun and I love to watch and listen to them enjoy being children. But, when we go into a restuarant, grocery store, doctors office, etc. they have certain rules they need to follow that are different then the rules they need to follow when they are at the local park, a pool, or riding their bikes.

If someone is offended or gives a dirty look when a kid is splashing around in a pool at WDW, that person should be ashamed of themselves and really needs to vacation at an adults only resort. However, I think everyone is entitled to eat dinner in a sit down restaurant without a child next to them screaming, throwing food, and crawling under a table. That is disrespectful regardless of how many excuses you make.

Lisa

 

[gopherit]

I think you have to take the complaints with a grain of salt. After all, how many of us have ever commented, "And then we went to Le Cellier.. and there were about a dozen kids in there, and they all behaved well. And then we went to ride Spaceship earth, and in the cue, 15 kids waited patiently, chatting with their parents... I saw two teenage girls strolling through MK and they were behaving appropriately, not too loud, giggling moderately where appropriate, and having acceptable levels of fun... Later, on Space Mountain, I saw a man drop a map and a teenage boy actually bent over, picked it up, and gave back to him and said these very words -- "YOU'RE WELCOME!" Wow!" You just don't hear it -- we have been tainted by sensationalist news and we hardly ever report the "good stuff" but boy howdy just let something distasteful pass under our nose and you won't hear the end of it. No one looks at all the cars passing by, the people in them following all the traffic rules -- but see how many folks will stop to view a wreck and take notes and repeat several times over just how bad it was, the make of the car, etc. We are immediately drawn to the negative. And in the case ofthe accident, we tend to "assume" bad driving was at fault. Well all kids are NOT always excessively noisy, grumpy, squirmy, spoiled, etc. and those that are, are NOT necessarily the result of bad parenting.

DH and I have 3 little DVC urchins of which I have to say, we're quite proud. We have hardly EVER had a melt-down, and we are often complimented on their behavior. (Mind ya, they give me fits sometimes at home, so they must know when to pour on the charm!) One time an elderly man at Olivia's even gave all my kids special pins after breakfast one day because he was so "taken" with them, especially my dd (ok, all you bad-news obsessives, now see, already I bet you're thinking, "Hmmmm.. Was he a CREEPY old guy? And just what do you mean, "taken" with them?" : Now Cut That Out! Can't it be that he was just a nice elderly man? Shame! Behave yourselves!)

But even in the best of cases, we all have our moments. I've told this before, but we were in the World Showcase @ EPCOT when my 2 yr old decided to look at some items in one of the stores (Germany I think... maybe Morrocco?) Anyhooo, her 2 yr old cousin decided to tell her "No" for some reason (perhaps he had been told "No" earlier by his folks on something, perhaps he wanted to excercise his right to say "No", who knows -- he's two -- who can tell?) In any case, for those of you who have ever had a 2 yr old, saying "No" can set off a nuclear reaction of unparalleled proportions -- and ours was about to be multiplied by 2. DD responded back to cousin, "NO", to which his obvious response was an even more emphatic, "NO!" and within seconds, before my SIL and I even could react, we were at DEFCON infinity and they were shouting at top volume, "NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!" At that precise moment, as I'm prying my dd from my nephew and SIL is doing the same, a lady walks by and says huffily, "WELL! I NEVER!" Exasperated, I told her to back off as I was taking care of the matter, and then inferred that she should never say "never", since we could easily follow her all the way to France, UK, and beyond!

Not nice perhaps of me, but personally, if I see a parent actively working to reconcile an issue with their child -- they have my sympathy, not my scorn. Now those parents who just send their kids off and look the other way, or push their child beyond their reasonable limits, or even lack any and all discretion on when and how to punish their child and will do so, to the great humiliation of the child, right in the middle of Main Street USA -- they are a sad testimony of parenting gone wrong, and in that case, it is the kids who have my sympathy.

And as for rowdy teens -- well, I don't have teens YET, and since I'm a scant 4 to 9 yrs away from having up to THREE of 'em, I'd be living in a SERIOUS glass house if I dared comment on THAT one!

 

[vinny16]

Well said LisaR. There are certain rules for certain situations and places.

 

[DVC Jen]

Originally posted by gopherit
I think you have to take the complaints with a grain of salt. After all, how many of us have ever commented, "And then we went to Le Cellier.. and there were about a dozen kids in there, and they all behaved well. And then we went to ride Spaceship earth, and in the cue, 15 kids waited patiently, chatting with their parents... I saw two teenage girls strolling through MK and they were behaving appropriately, not too loud, giggling moderately where appropriate, and having acceptable levels of fun... Later, on Space Mountain, I saw a man drop a map and a teenage boy actually bent over, picked it up, and gave back to him and said these very words -- "YOU'RE WELCOME!" Wow!" You just don't hear it -- we have been tainted by sensationalist news and we hardly ever report the "good stuff" but boy howdy just let something distasteful pass under our nose and you won't hear the end of it.

Thank you Thank you Thank you for that. Just a reminder to all of you with a not so kind view on teens. Not all of them are ill-behaved... just like not all adults are ill-behaved.

I take immense pride in my two daughters. One is a teen and one will be in 2 years. They are both extremely polite, well mannered and well behaved.

If all you do is look for the negative... you'll find it. Try looking for the positive too... I promise it's there.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

DSNY FN,
You were kidding, right?

 

[spiceycat]

gopherit - you made me laugh!!!

I know you probably didn't mean too - but that situation is so true....

DVC Jen - no - not by any means are all the teens bad at WDW - but when they get in groups they seem to forget everything.

alone or in 2's or 3's they are fine - but the bigger the group the more wild the teens seem to get. this is not by any means bad parenting - I think it is being a teenager. I know others will disagree - but being a teen is hard. Your body is changing, so is some cases your temperament not to mention your mood.

When we went for that event in September (christian music and program) - I was amazed at the amount of children (okay teens) without adults present and believe me these kids were taking full advantage of it - to the point a CM (their age or close to it) came up and told them to get a ROOM. Since that time we haven't done this weekend again - avoid it in fact.

Being a parent is hard at any age. But I do feel for those parents who have teens - it is a stage and they will hopefully growth out of it.

However - the adults who drink more than they should have are (in my opinion) a bigger problem.