Complaints about kids at restaurants

[Luv2CtheMouse]

I have no issues with kids at all. That is one of my expectations at WDW. I have no issues with excited kids....I just don't care for misbehaved kids.

I think it is ridiculous to go to WDW and get annoyed that children are there.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Yes, it IS Disney World... but that does not excuse poor behavior. If your child can not sit at a table without screaming their heads off then don't put them in the situation. If your child is so overtired that they will be a bother to other people because of their poor behavior then you should rethink your dining. There is NO excuse besides poor manners and behavior (either kids or parents) if the child is running around, knocking into other people, throwing things, and screaming.

Yep, that sums up what I was being so careful to say in my post above!

 

[branv]

I'm a mom of 3 and I don't like misbehaving children in restaurants. It makes the meal unpleasant and makes my job of parenting 10xs harder. My kids know how to act and behave in restaurants, but when they see Johnny and Mary running around, screaming and throwing things it makes them want to do the same. Of course they know better but I still get the BUT MOMMMMMMM. I see so many people use so many excuses for their kids behavior and I always just sit and shake my head. One of the big ones is well they could be ASD or ADHD or who knows what. Well my DD is ASD with ADHD and she KNOWS how to act. It took a lot of removing her from the situation before she GOT how she was supposed to act. I ate a lot of cold meals but I'll be darned if I will use her disability as a crutch for her poor behavior and an excuse for me to just sit there and let her act poorly. DO I have to be stern with her sometimes and do I have to remove her from things until she can calm and regulate herself? You betcha. Does it make life harder for me? Yep! But thats what I feel I have to do to be a responsible parent. I HAVE to think about others then myself and what makes me happy and my life easier.

I know last year we went to WDW and we had a ressie for Flying Fish. DH and I were so excited to try it. That day DD had a bad morning. I knew she would not last for any sit down meal. So I called up and canceled. I was a little upset but you know what we sat someplace quiet for a bit and we did some of her calming techniques and we were able to really enjoy a meal at Beaches and Cream. It wasn't FF but we all had a blast and all the kids got such a kick out of eating the Kitchen Sink.

What wonderful parents you are. Your children are lucky to have you. I still remember something my brother said after he had his first child, who was as fiesty as my bro was as a kid (*cough* karma! ) We were eating out with them, and my at the time 4 year old nephew kept throwing a fit. My brother just kept getting up, leaving his food behind, and taking him outside until he calmed down. He missed most of the dinner, and wouldn't let any of us "relieve" him so he could eat. When I expressed to him how sorry I was that the evening was so hard on him, he said, "I did it as much for him as for those other people. Right now he probably thinks I'm evil, and right now I'm not exactly liking him too much either, but in the long loooong run it's teaching him how to respect himself and consider others. It's my job. Too bad he won't appreciate it until he has kids and I'll have lost my mind by then!" My brother, my hero

 

[drenalin'junkie]

We have no kids but travel often with them.We have eaten at most of the restaurants in the World and resorts and have rarely seen a kid out of control in a restaurant.It does happen and it is the parent's job to correct it but I would have no problem asking management to intercede if it was ever needed.Special needs kids are a special case and hard to manage in any case and we give the parents a great deal of respect for trying to cope with them in WD as 3 of the children we travel with occasionally are autistic.Just a little perspective.

We have devised strategies to avoid bad kids and grown-ups that include time of the meal,day of the meal etc.Avoiding seasonal gatherings such as little league,cheerleading etc. and the restaurants in proximity to such events or the resorts they tend to flock to.

The few tips I can add would be to read extensively here and elsewhere on places and times that problems regularly occur and avoid them.We have found later seatings of character dinners to be mostly better behaved than earlier and earlier character breakfasts better than later.Off season kids seem tamer than peak season.The resort restaurants tend to have better behavior than park or DTD with GF and Poly kids the least noisy and Value resorts and Contemporary the most rambunctious.Common sense will dictate that kids on a busy hot day will more likely be fidgety than on a cold slow day.

We love kids but as objective observers we see most parents cannot admit their kid is a little "Bart Simpson"

We go to WDW top see humanity at it's best and you have to take the warts with the beauty.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree...IT'S DISNEY WORLD, for goodness sakes! If you don't want to have dinner with children around, then this is not the vacation spot for you. I don't appreciate children when I'm in Vegas, but as long as they are well behaved, I don't care. But in Disney World, you have to remember that sometimes children are overtired (just like adults) and you have to accept that. ALL the restaurants are family friendly, with the exception of Vitoria & Albert.

This attitude is the problem, in my opinion.
I KNOW it is DISNEY WORLD. I expect to see children all around. But that does NOT excuse the bad behavior seen in restaurants by many kids.
But if this is the parents attitude, what can you expect?

 

[FireDancer]

When I am at Walt Disney World I expect I will be surrounded by children, many of them tired and over stimulated, just about everywhere.

The day I am bothered by children, even misbehaving children, at the happiest place on Earth is the day I will invest in a shotgun with a toe attachment and do my R. Budd Dwyer impression.

 

[texasgirl73]

Maybe I was lucky but during my last trip (I was on the Deluxe Plan and ate at many sitdowns, including 4 signatures) I didn't see any unruly kids. I think most parents (not all, but most) know whether or not their kids can sit through a nice meal. My 4 children were calm as were any others we saw in the restaurants. The exception- a few kids at the character buffets, but I didn't go in expecting a relaxing meal. Of course, we didn't eat any later than 6:30 so maybe that's why.

 

[bluejasmine]

WDW was Walt's dream for kids first and foremost. What is the world coming to when ppl go to WDW and get irritated when they see children in signature restaurants?!

I agree 100% alot of times its the parents that have either pushed a exhausted child too far OR sit and do nothing and let their child scream or misbehave mean while ruining the ppl around them dining experience.

Example: was having dinner in Coral Reef and toddler was screaming behind us, screamed for about 20 min, I kept looking back at the adults at the table who continue to talk and eat ignoring the child. After 20 min of this and getting a head ache I called our server over and asked him to pls speak to that table. He did and the mother picked up the child for about 5 min and then put him bak in the high chair and the screaming started again!

Another example: Dinner at Ohana on my honeymoon and we had table at the window, a group of children came over at the start of Wishes and pushed between my chair and the window ( NOT alot of room and blocked my view) I didnt say anything b/c well I believe in WDW children come first but was annoyed. Server came around and shooed kids away who came back 5 min later, I asked them to have a seat on the floor and tried to push the table back so they would have room but they ignored me so I called server over who took them back to their table where the parents were oblivious! Who lets kids just run around a crowded restaurant?

My kids are teens now and I took them EVERYWHERE so they adapted and learned how to behave in public, problem is ppl just dont care anymore.. Sad..

 

[christinec68]

I am fine with kids in restaurants as long as there are reasonably well behaved. To be honest, I have never encountered any children throwing a tantrum in any of the signature restaurants. I only saw kids really moving around in Coral Reef which is sort of understandable because of the aquarium. Although we were in Big River Grill once and there was a kid screaming their head off - the parents just sat there and did nothing. The grandmother was even covering her ears and eventually took the child out. That's not fair to anyone in the restaurant - no matter what type of restaurant (fancy, casual, fast food, etc).

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Well behaved children are fine.
Parents doing something to control their missbehaving child is fine.

Over Easter I was eating at the bar at California Grill, I looked to my left and saw children *rolling* on the floor with their parents just laughing. That I have a problem with.

Eating a Coral Reef once with my husband, we were seated right next to the aquarium. A child came and laid on my table to see the fishes! And the mother did nothing. That I have a problem with.

I've seen little children act out but when the parents do something about it, it doesn't bother me. Ignoring bad behavior at the end of a long day (for everyone) is not excusable.

That said, we try to avoid buffets and places that this behavior is more prone to happen. I will not get as annoyed with children being more wild there due to people getting up and down for the characters or the activities that are going on around them.

 

[Nancy F]

I do mind the parents that let their kids run around the tables and disrupt others. . We were eating at The Brown Derby a few years ago and the couple in the booth near our table had both their boys playing under the table. I can't tell you how many times the waitstaff nearly tripped over them. And anyone who has ever eaten there will tell you that they are moving pretty fast with those trays. And then the father started feeding them like they were dogs. Really pi**ed me off. After they left everyone around us started talking about them. And would you believe that the next couple that came in and sat there... their daughter got under the table too. I just shook my head. Bring your children anywhere you want. But please have them behave. I would feel the same way about an adult who feels that his right to have a good time outweighs everyone else's. I must say that all in all I haven't had many problems with families in the parks.

Nancy

 

[Disneyadore]

I'm not bother by normal children behavior. A child is a child and mostly it's not the child's fault if things go wrong.
We had a dinner at Citrico's. At the table next us a couple with a child in a wheelchair were seated.
The child was obviously not "ready" to eat in a restaurant. The boy looked like he was around five but he functioned like a one year old.
He threw all his food on the floor. His salad,fries,meat and ice landed on the floor. Not by accident but he threw it "on purpose".

It was a very unpleasant situation as the child kept on yelling and throwing food around. The waiter on our table excused himself a few times but there was nothing he could do to change the situation.
The parents obviously did not mind all all. They just were sitting there,eating and enjoying themselves.
The child was not the problem although he caused them. The parents should not bring this child in a situation he could not cope with and spoil the dinner for others.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I have 2 kids and I completely understand when kids act up at restaurants so it doesn't bother me that kids are in signature restaurants at all. I'm glad they are allowed or I would never be able to go to one!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Bistro de Paris is supposed to be a quiet/romantic adult dining experience, I don't think they have a kids menu.

There is no rule against kids dining there, but they are not trying to cater to them either.

I have no problem with kids in signature rest, I'm dining with my child. My 13 year old has dined at V&A.

It's Disney of course kids are going to be everywhere, however if your child is acting up you need to be proactive.

 

[LilyWDW]

I have 2 kids and I completely understand when kids act up at restaurants so it doesn't bother me that kids are in signature restaurants at all. I'm glad they are allowed or I would never be able to go to one!

There is acting out and "acting out". A child that might talk a bit loud, whine, or get up once or twice is acting out. A child that pushes past others to see something, runs around other tables, throws food or items, or screams/yells constantly for 15+ mins is "acting out". There is NO excuse to allow a child to continue to "act out" and bother other diners. None! It is rude to allow a child to do that. Period.

Simply put... if your child can not sit still during dinner then maybe you need to rethink things. If the management/servers have to get involved then it is beyond your child just acting out. If diner around you feel they are baby sitting your kids because they are near their table as much as the kids own, then there is a problem.

 

[Uncleromulus]

As someone already noted, the OP's statement is just a bit imprecise. I'm well aware that there will be kids at every restaurant at WDW. "Normal" child behavior--no problem.
It's the food throwing, table crawling, screaming, tag playing, floor crawling, chair standing , parent-hitting, fist fighting, toy throwing, utensil throwing kids that DO bother me. And we've seen displays of ALL of the aforementioned behavior at WDW.

But we also see it at all the restaurants we go to around here. Which is now the main reason why we always eat at the bar whenever the opportunity exists.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't mind children at all. What I do mind is children who disrupt my meal, i.e. running around, climbing on chairs, poking me, etc. If they sat, didn't make an insane amount of noise, I wouldn't have a problem. Though I also have to blame the parents in these situations, because they don't discipline their children.

 

[DisneyMim]

I don't mind WELL BEHAVED children in restaurants, but I do very much mind wild kids that bother my family when we are eating in ANY restaurant. Last time we were in Narcossee's (a late dinner seating at 8:40, which I consider too late for young children), one little girl had on those wheelie sneakers and kept getting up out of her seat and wheeling up and down the restaurant. The waitstaff was very annoyed by this (we spoke to some of them) and the people around us were very bothered. We got to talking and the opinion was that it made a nice night out not so nice. The parents were enjoying a bottle of wine and could not have cared less about what their little darling was doing. I also hate it when kids get out of the seats and come over to hang around our table. I usually tell them to go bother their parents. Yes yes yes I agree that it's not the kids, it's the parents. I have two children and have always taken them to restaurants. The difference is they have always known how to behave.

 

[apostolic4life]

.....my past experience at WDW signature or TS restaurants has been extremely satisfying. I am the parent who greatly appreciates every person who walks up to me and says "Your kids are so well behaved, you have a beautiful family" ! This lets me know my DW and I are doing our job raising children who respect others, demonstrate manners, and display self-discipline. The thing is, that behavior has to be taught!!! From my oldest (DD16) to my youngest (DS2) we have set a level of expectation and consequences for not meeting that level of expectation. Children only do what they are allowed to do (unless there is a special need). Yes, we parents are to blame for the unruly behavior......like it or not. If we set boundaries, and enforce the consequences, children will learn to do the right thing.

Between my wife and I, we have made the effort to help our kids understand the effect their actions have on others....we want their concern for others to drive their actions and influence their decisions. Too many kids today are only concerned about themselves; this selfish behavior comes from selfish or oblivious parents who allow kids to be disruptive and ignore bad behavior.

As a chef, my children have eaten at many fine restaurants, and we will continue to do so.......You can't expect a young adult or teenager to know proper restaurant behavior if they are not exposed to it a young age. Heck, it doesn't matter if we are at home, at Mcdonald's, or at California Grill, table manners and proper behavior are expected!!!

Before some of you accuse me of being too strict or a tyrant I will say my kids love to run, play and goof around (as do I). There is a proper place for those things; while dining, is not the proper place for those things!!


Bon Appetit!!!!!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

.....my past experience at WDW signature or TS restaurants has been extremely satisfying. I am the parent who greatly appreciates every person who walks up to me and says "Your kids are so well behaved, you have a beautiful family" ! This lets me know my DW and I are doing our job raising children who respect others, demonstrate manners, and display self-discipline. The thing is, that behavior has to be taught!!! From my oldest (DD16) to my youngest (DS2) we have set a level of expectation and consequences for not meeting that level of expectation. Children only do what they are allowed to do (unless there is a special need). Yes, we parents are to blame for the unruly behavior......like it or not. If we set boundaries, and enforce the consequences, children will learn to do the right thing.

Between my wife and I, we have made the effort to help our kids understand the effect their actions have on others....we want their concern for others to drive their actions and influence their decisions. Too many kids today are only concerned about themselves; this selfish behavior comes from selfish or oblivious parents who allow kids to be disruptive and ignore bad behavior.

As a chef, my children have eaten at many fine restaurants, and we will continue to do so.......You can't expect a young adult or teenager to know proper restaurant behavior if they are not exposed to it a young age. Heck, it doesn't matter if we are at home, at Mcdonald's, or at California Grill, table manners and proper behavior are expected!!!

Before some of you accuse me of being too strict or a tyrant I will say my kids love to run, play and goof around (as do I). There is a proper place for those things; while dining, is not the proper place for those things!!

Bon Appetit!!!!!

Excellent post. I completely agree. And I'd like to add that it makes DH and I feel so good when an older couple without kids stops at our table to tell us what good girls we have. I always appreciate that these people take time out of their meal to tell us this. So kind! DH and I have worked hard to bring our girls up to understand proper table etiquette. When they were younger and throwing a fit, we'd leave the restaurant till they had calmed down. If they didn't calm down, I'd take them out to the car and DH would pay our bill and box up our food.