Drinking Straws???

[nzdisneymom]

I'm working on my children's table manners and have a very important (to me) question... are there drinking straws at the meals? And if so, do they come already in the drinks or are they individually wrapped?

The reason I'm asking is that my DH taught the boys to "blow" their straw papers across the table at each other (or me). I keep telling them that they won't be able to go on the cruise with me if they blow their straw papers because children (and grown-ups) who blow straw papers on the cruise might be thrown overboard for lack of manners

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[Belle&TheBeasts]

Aweee your story is TOOO cute!!! God bless you sweet lady, lol, how old are your boys? ( not the hubby, even thou he is probably the biggest BOY of all!!)

Although I do not have an answer for you, I read your post start to my family and it brought a smile to our faces, our kids are preteen...and we sometimes worry about the same problems,

Have fun and good luck!




Belle

 

[SandraLee]

Too funny, but I have to admit, I think blowing straws at the dinner table is not indicative of bad manners! It just shows a fun-loving family. And, of course, my DH and I have straw blowing contests. My kids are DS9 and DD4 and they have GREAT table manners.

To directly answer though, I think they bring the straws to the table already in the glass. So, no need to worry.

Topsiders, is a different story. There, they have straws wrapped in paper!

 

[nzdisneymom]

My boys are currently 6 and 7... they'll be 7 1/2 and nearly 8 when we cruise. My DH will be almost 49 when we go... he's currently 47 and often acts more like a 4 y.o. and a 7 y.o.

 

[gonna go cruising]

I LOVE it! We arent the only family who has fun at the dinner table with the straws! Sure, you cant do it at certain places, but it is truly funny when we do it to just embarrass one another now and then! We havent done that one in a while so it made me laugh just thinking of it. I am sure if your table mates are not fuddy duddys they would find it amusing too. I love to see families having fun together. When you eat at the buffet, why dont you do it to DH and get the kids tickled. Theres no reason why out there they cant do it and get a real kick out of it. I am sure they are well behaved and know when they need to really mind their manners. Let em be kids while they can. They grow up SOOO fast. Of course our husbands dont, but the kids do!

 

[Rob1559]

I will be the desenter on this one. The last thing I want are table partners whe kids think that dinner is romper room time. You can enjoy yourselves without being a distraction in the restaurant. I am sure that I am not the only one who feels this way.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Originally posted by Rob1559
I will be the desenter on this one. The last thing I want are table partners whe kids think that dinner is romper room time. You can enjoy yourselves without being a distraction in the restaurant. I am sure that I am not the only one who feels this way.

That's why I want them to learn to NOT do things like blow straw papers when we're sitting down in the dining rooms. I mean, at McD's is one thing, but a sit-down restaurant (like the ones on the rotations on the ship) are another. But as someone else mentioned, the straws come in the drinks already, so I can move on to the next one -- like making sure forks are used instead of fingers..........

 

[tkd lisa]

Straw blowing is one of the things my kids and DH do too. I can't remember them doing it on the ship though, so they must have been in the drinks already, or the asst server unwraps them and puts them in at the table. I'm sure at least once, one of my family would have done the wrapper blowing thing otherwise!

 

[Belle&TheBeasts]

No offense, but you can clearly see a man wrote the desenter post... LMAO, I always think that women are more apt to be at ease with something like that anyway....
All I can say is Kids will be Kids!!


Have a wonderful cruise diz



Belle

 

[Rob1559]

Whoa there.
My wife would not allow such behavior either, and it is safe to say the majority of mothers would frown upon such behavior in a restaurant setting. Kids will be kids most certainly, but it is a parent's responsibility to be sure that the kids behave in an appropriate manner. Unfortunately we have been on a DC where the table next to us exhibited such behavior. When one spends well earned money for a DC experience I would hope that others would be well mannered and know what is appropriate.

 

[Belle&TheBeasts]

BUMP!!

 

[patches-4]

MAYBE THE ONES WHO DON'T WANT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR, OR THE SLIGHTEST CHANCE THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AT THIER TABLES SHOULD JUST REQUEST A PRIVATE TABLE FOR THE SIZE OF THIER FAMILY AND LEAVE THE OTHER SEATS TO THOSE OF US WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TRY TO TEACH OUR KIDS THE PROPER MANNERS AT THE TABLE AND ELSEWHERE, THEY WILL STILL JUST BE WHAT THEY ARE, KIDS. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF US CAN OVERLOOK A SLIGHT LAPSE IN MANNERS FOR THE LITTLE ONES, MOST OF US COULD LEARN A LESSON FROM THEM MOST OF THE TIME AND JUST UNWIND A LITTLE. AFTER ALL IT'S JUST AS MUCH THEIR CRUISE AS IT IS OURS.

 

[Rob1559]

Will there be lapses in behavior of young children? Sure, it has happened with our children when they were younger and we made on the spot corrections. But adults and older children who behave in such a manner is not acceptable. Period. On vacation we do unwind and enjoy the break, but we know when we should be squared away and behave properly. It is those who don't know or care that bother me. There is a time and place for everything and the kids and parents should know this based on common courtesy.

 

[jgalecpa]

MAYBE THE ONES WHO DON'T WANT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR, OR THE SLIGHTEST CHANCE THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AT THIER TABLES SHOULD JUST REQUEST A PRIVATE TABLE FOR THE SIZE OF THIER FAMILY AND LEAVE THE OTHER SEATS TO THOSE OF US WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TRY TO TEACH OUR KIDS THE PROPER MANNERS AT THE TABLE AND ELSEWHERE, THEY WILL STILL JUST BE WHAT THEY ARE, KIDS. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF US CAN OVERLOOK A SLIGHT LAPSE IN MANNERS FOR THE LITTLE ONES, MOST OF US COULD LEARN A LESSON FROM THEM MOST OF THE TIME AND JUST UNWIND A LITTLE. AFTER ALL IT'S JUST AS MUCH THEIR CRUISE AS IT IS OURS.

The caps weren't necessary. We can read in lower case, too.




Jim

PS Does this mean food fights are also allowed?

 

[nzdisneymom]

Yikes! I didn't know my question would turn into a "hot topic." To me, going on the cruise is a chance for my family to experience some dress-up occasions that we don't get to do very often in real life. Because we'll be dressing for dinner on the cruise, I want to be sure that my children's manners are up to par, too -- and it's not like mine are toddlers / preschoolers - they will be 7 1/2 and 8 3/4 when we go.

BTW, this cruise is our reward trip for achieving our black belts in taekwondo -- we aren't there yet, but should all have them by mid-summer 2004 -- the boys in the spring and me in mid-summer! We decided that a week-long Disney Cruise would be a perfect reward for our hard work!

 

[Cruise]

Cindy,

I, for one, appreciate that you chose to ask your question. While it reflects what you would really prefer your experience to be, it also shows that you're taking into account other's feelings on the matter. While I don't think of straw blowing as a big deal (unless the wrapper lands on my plate), I can see where others would be upset by it. And I don't think a little "when it doubt, do without" is such a bad thing.

To get back to your original question, if the straws happen to come with the wrappers on the first night, just pull your server aside at some point and tell him/her that you'd prefer the straws arrive sans wrapper for the rest of the cruise. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to accommodate you.

Julie

 

[gonna go cruising]

Not to bring up a sore subject on purpose, but almost all places now if they bring you a straw, it is either partially wrapped and in the drink (meaning no hands had to touch it to place it in the drink) or fully wrapped and you place it on your own. This is due to sanitary reasons but since cruise lines are being even more cautious than ever, they may be wrapped, or just no straw at all.

I am sure your kids will do fine.

 

[patches-4]

Sorry about the all caps, it was not done for any statement purpose it is just easier for me to read when I forget my reading glasses. Us older folks eyesight just isn't what it use to be. Go and enjoy your vacation, the kids will be fine and everyone will enjoy their cruise. Congrates on your black belts!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

It doesn't look like anyone completely answered the original question. Forgive me if this is a bit of a repeat, but....

At dinner (or any time a server brings you a soft drink), you will get a bendy straw already in the drink with the wrapper still on the top part of the straw.

I would also agree with the writer who said words to the effect that you should only have to make a request to your server regarding what you would like done with straws.

 

[dianthus]

Hey Nzdisneymom~

With those black belts in hand, I wouldn't worry about the straw papers! If it were my crew, they'd all be practicing their break the board in half skills everywhere! I'd be worried about the dining room table! LOL!

Don't worry about your kids! If they launch straw papers, so be it, they are kids & it's the Disney Cruise Line. It's not Seaborne CL, or Palm Court at the Plaza.... I'm sure your kids will be great! If someone at a surrounding table gets upset, tell them they should have cruised Celebrity- it's for the ol' boring F _ _ _ s. ( folks... )

If anyone gives you a hard time, warn them your whole family is armed with black belts, so BEWARE! Congratulations on a great achievement. Relax, have fun & don't worry!

On our last cruise our servers made paper jumping frogs & we had them hopping like crazy! Because we had so much fun, the Assistant server made them for all the tables in our section. They were flying everywhere!! Sounds like some of you would have had heart failure if you were in our section on that cruise. The adults were worse than the kids! Our Head Server came over & said he had guests who wanted to sit with our section, cuz we were having way too much fun! We're on the Magic next week & I hope we have a similar experience!