I'm Torn........any opinions

[Niki T]

My husband and I have no children and have been to disney 4 times in the last few years, including our honeymoon. We have no problem with well behaved children in restaurants, after all we will probably have some of our own one day! Also we always have a character meal or two and expect the characters to spend time with us and not just with the children; so alls fair in my opinion, if we spend time in restaurants primarily aimed at children why shouldn't they spend time in finer restaurants primarily aimed at adults. As long as behaviour is appropriate on both sides i.e. we act like big kids at character meals and children are behaved in signature restaurants whats the problem?

Overall, you need to stop worrying and just enjoy yourself. You sound like the type of person who I would like to be seated near, if you start a thread such as this you are obviously don't want your children to "ruin" someone elses meal, but at the same time don't let your worries ruin yours!

 

[pianoronni37]

DH and I don't have children yet (we still FEEL like kids at 26 years old!), but when we go to WDW we LOVE to see the children enjoying themselves! Children should be welcome everywhere on property that is child-friendly, and I see no reason why a "high-scale" restaurant like Citrico's or Yachtsman should be any different.

When a child misbehaves, I think it is up to the parent to decide how to react. What bothers us most, is parents who do NOT react whatsoever.

When we were at Coral Reef (not high-scale by any means), my DH had a little boy jumping on the back of his chair and rubbing his hands all over my DH, as he was so preoccupied with the aquarium! It was cute for about 2 minutes, but when our food came and DH's chair was shaking due to the child, it really seemed inappropriate for the parents not to step in.

So basically, even though we are childless, we love children and seeing their little faces glow at Disney World makes US feel young at heart - however, children do need to be taught manners and respect, and parents definitely need to keep an eye on their children - Disney World is not a daycare!

 

[Colleen27]

We have been dining before when other children have been climbing under tables and running around in the restaurant(signature) and to be honest it makes me cringe. You certainly can't blame the children though, they need to be taught what is and isn't acceptable.

I agree. Actually, cringe is too gentle a word. I HATE that some parents refuse to control their children and teach them appropriate mealtime behaviour, because it is those parents that are the reason some would like to see age restrictions at nicer restaurants. I've worked hard to raise two children who know how to behave in restaurants and who appreciate finer cuisine than chicken nuggets or hot dogs, so that DH & I can enjoy nice dining experiences both at home and on vacation, and I don't think it is too much to expect that other parents who want to enjoy the same experiences make the effort to do the same. I'm sympathetic to a point - with 3 kids, I know sometimes the best laid plans just go wrong, and I've traveled solo with my crew so I know how difficult it is to manage several kids' needs during a meal - but there's no excuse for some of the things we've seen in restaurants (at Disney and IRL).

We have 6 signature meals and 1 dinner show planned for our next trip, several of them repeats from our last trip, and after this trip we'll have tried every signature restaurant except Citricos. I absolutely expect that my 11yo and 7yo will behave without issue through those meals. I also expect that we'll have a few occasions where one of us might need to take the baby (15mo by the time our trip rolls around) for a little walk between courses, even though she's very easy going and generally good in restaurants thus far. I wouldn't book signature restaurants if I wasn't willing and able to do so.

 

[KimiCoconuts]

Okay I have and love children. The reason I was done with Disney last year was that we HATED dining with screaming children at table service restaurants. I do not love screaming children and when I dine inside a restaurant, even at Disney, I want it to be a relaxing experience.

 

[perpetualplanner]

We have been taking of DS's, now 13 and 7, to nicer establishments since they were 2-3. They've always been taught their manners. The thing that kills me now is when DS 13 points out bad behavior of others in our area (and it's not always kids). I hate trying to explain that to him but usually I just say "their mom didn't care enough to teach them how to behave" and he gets it. Luckily at Disney we're usually so involved chatting with each other that we don't always notice the chaos around us.

 

[keith-atl]

WDW is a family place expect kids to be everywhere but I do wish alot of the parents would handle kids better, not letting them scream and cry, get up take them out of the restaurant and get them calmed down so it doesnt ruin everyone experience. Im all for kids I had three myself! LOL

This exactly, I have no problem with kids, but my daughter knows how to act at a restaurant whether its nice or not. Parents are really the ones to blame, they should know how their kids are going to act and they should handle it accordingly.

I have sat at places where kids are screaming and crying and the parents are doing absolutely nothing. That is what drives me nuts.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would have never taken my DS to a 'fancy' restaurant when he was younger. Now at 9 he is a semi angel at the restaurants. He doesn't act up but he'll complain that he's bored to us!

Now my DD can behave 97% of the time very well. As long as she's not tired she is fine.

I was a little worried about LeCellier two weeks ago but they did very well!!!

I do NOT mind kids as long as they aren't acting like heathens! Including my own!!!!

 

[fottafamily05]

We are a couple without children and love Disney. I don't mind if children are at signature restaurants with us, or anywhere else for that matter. I enjoy children who are behaving. If your child comes to my table though and you don't take care of it though- I will say something and if it happens again, I would discipline them in the way I deem appropriate. If a child is running around other tables, screaming, and generally disturbing other diners than I feel you should bring them under control or leave. I do understand that dining at Disney can be expensive but that doesn't mean you should stay if your child is out of control.

If a child is well behaved- doesn't disturb other diners - then I probably won't notice if they are near my table.

I am sorry but you saying that you would discipline someone elses child is going WAY to far!!! If you or anyone else did that to my child we would have a HUGE problem on our hands

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

WDW is a family destination, there are kids everywhere. If people want a quiet and romantic vacation, they go somewhere besides Disney.

I love kids and expect to see lots when we travel to Disney. Seeing their happiness makes it all the more magical. But Disney is for everyone, not just families with children. Everyone should be able to vacation there and eat at the restaurants without dealing with screaming, crying, running around, etc.

I got into a "discussion" with a Dad at Disney who was letting his son run around Chefs de France and actually putting his hands in other people's food! It was one of the worst behaviors I'd seen anywhere. When we politely asked if he could please sit down at their own table (not at ours), the Dad told me in so many words that since he spent almost $5K on their vacation, his kid could do whatever he wanted! Please, please, please realize that everyone spends money to be at Disney and everyone deserves a nice vacation. I didn't blame the little boy at all, but the Dad's attitude was ridiculous.

 

[TxRabbit]

From CS to TS kids should behave at meal time or the parents should take them out

I totally agree!

I think that there is a baseline level of respect for other diners in ALL restaurants that children, and their adults, should honor, be it at the Golden Arches or White Linen Is Us. It's unfortunate that misbehaviour is deemed more appropriate to one venue over another, or somehow more acceptable.

I think children benefit from exposure to all types of experiences and should be welcome in fine dining establishments. How else will they learn? I expect though, that they DO learn because they have active, responsive parents that don't take a break from parenting simply because they are on vacation.

And I speak as the mother of a beautiful second grade son who I plan to take to many fine dining experiences on our upcoming Deluxe Dining Disney Vacation.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I would not take younger children to those restaurants because I would be stressed out...

I have a 2 year old...he is used to eating out and generally well behaved BUT I have to make sure dinner is scheduled at the right time (so he is hungry but not too hungry and not too tired), bring toys, special cups, special utensils, snacks (in case server is running late) and be prepared to eat in 5 minutes b/c that is about how long it takes him to eat...I think it would be hard to ensure optimal conditions at a theme park (sleep schedules are off, you've been walking in the hot sun all day, etc.)...

These things make a HUGE difference...we have been complimented on his behavior at one restuarant (well planned) and then basically had to drag him out at another (he did not take a nap that day)...

I do not feel like I can adequately control his schedule at WDW to ensure optimal conditions...so I won't risk ruining a pricey meal for myself...

But unless a child is screaming or out of control, I don't begrudge his presence when I am out on a date with my DH (for example).

Ya know, I'm gonna debate you a bit on this one...but not in the way you might think.

I've seen just as many ADULTS behaving rudely while dining as I have children. I most certainly don't want to hear you swearing while I'm trying to eat, especially if I'm at WDW and there are ANY kids in the area. I also don't want to hear your loud intoxication, or a detailed description of your last OB/GYN visit, etc. Why single out kids as having rude behavior?

Once upon a time, a Disney card got you into certain movies for free. It was first come first served, so some families showed up a bit earlier than normal. All around us, I watched as parents immediately unpacked all kinds of toys, snacks, sippy cups etc. in the movie theater! they didn't give their kids any chance to practice patience. As a teacher, I found it very disturbing and very harmful. Parents who do this are not giving their kids any coping skills or attention span. I equally wonder about the parents who turn on the DVD player every time they take their kids to the grocery store. These same parents could have easily spent the ten minutes talking to their kids about the movie they were going to see, and teaching their kids something in the process.

As a teacher, I see the damage these parents do first hand. I'm not saying carrying a toy or some crayons as a back-up is a bad idea - I'm saying thse things should be used sparingly. All too often, modern kids bring a lack of attention span to the classroom. They have little ability to absorb material if it is at all perceived as 'dry.' They come to high school actually unable to read books that don't have pictures! Even then they struggle. Too many kids are unable to read literature with long sentences. This is literature that kids (younger than HS) have been reading for many years - things like Huck Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird.

I am strongly of the mind that parents SHOULD take their kids to fine dining at WDW (and elsewhere). Maybe there is a small minority of kids who have extreme behavioral disabilities and can't handle nice places, but most kids are capable of learning with paractice, and WDW is a great place to practice. I'm not saying kids should be allowed to scream and run around being rude, but a few "Vroom! Vrooms!" or excitedly pointing to the fish at Coral Reef are fine. Even kids with behavioral issues can be helped greatly if their positive behavior is positively rewarded - as they are when served good food ina fun place.

Hey, those kids are going to eventually become adults too. Maybe if parents had worked harder to teach their kids manners 20 years ago, we wouldn't have so many rude adults today!

 

[61292cna]

I'm not as outspoken as my sister, but she has been known to tell more than one "parent" to (take your "animals" home until you can control them)

 

[TillyMarigold]

I am sorry but you saying that you would discipline someone elses child is going WAY to far!!! If you or anyone else did that to my child we would have a HUGE problem on our hands

Do you know what "discipline" means? You can bet if a child is climbing on me without permission or going through my purse or taking food off my plate, I'm going to tell the child that's not appropriate and to go sit down. I think that's totally reasonable.

And if you don't want *me* to tell your Precious Pookie Bear that he's not allowed to climb on me and go through my purse and eat my food, then you'd better not let him do it in the first place.

 

[RCharnay]

As the mother of two boys, I was always hyper sensitive on this subject. If my baby cried or made a fuss, dh or I would scurry them out of the restaurant until everything was under control. Even though we rarely had problems, I didn't take them to alot of signature places when they were little because I didn't want to take the chance of having my meals disturbed or the feeling I had wasted alot of money for a dinner that was sitting back on the table. They were great kids and learned their manners well. By the time they were 5, I had no problems taking them to any restaurant, event, formal function, etc. So, when they were babies, we experienced all the CS places; after 5 yrs old, we started working in TS, then signature. Now its all Narcoossee's and Cali Grill and they are learning how to treat their dates, how to choose the finest wines and cocktails and drink appropriately. To each period in life, parents can teach lessons.

 

[MelanieC]

It's Disney - I think that kids can eat wherever they want. I also think it's up to the adults to make sure the kids respect diner's no matter what restaurant they go to.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

One of my favorite lines from a science fiction book I read was
"why don't you eat your young?"which was uttered when someone's little "angel" disturbed someone else trying trying to enjoy a quiet meal.

Many parents have no ability to objectively view thier own child's behavior and many parent's themselves are little better behaved as mentioned above.

I do expect a little noise even at most signature places but it is much less there.It is Disney and for some it'll be to exciting to contain,just stay off my table

OTOH the noise in some places actually adds to the experience,just seeing kids get to be kids.

 

[aubriee]

Do you know what "discipline" means? You can bet if a child is climbing on me without permission or going through my purse or taking food off my plate, I'm going to tell the child that's not appropriate and to go sit down. I think that's totally reasonable.

And if you don't want *me* to tell your Precious Pookie Bear that he's not allowed to climb on me and go through my purse and eat my food, then you'd better not let him do it in the first place.

I have done this both at Coral Reef and also at Citricos once. At Coral Reef we were at a table right next to the aquarium and had a little girl who just kept climbing up on the back of our chairs. We didn't say anything at first, just glanced over at the mom, who was sitting in the booth across from us, but after she dumped my mom's water into her lap and the mom still did nothing, we did finally tell the little girl to go back to her own table. Within just a few minutes she was back and climbing on the back of my husband's chair, while he was trying to eat. At that point, my voice got a little firmer and I told her to go back to her table and not come back, please. This kid was seven years old. How do I know? because she chattered nonstop to us the whole time we were trying to eat, including the times we asked her to go back to her table. At no time did we encourage her. We were there to have a quiet meal, not to entertain someone else's child.

Last May, I was dining solo at Citricos, when a couple of kids around 5 y/o and 7 y/o started chasing each other around my table. I looked around for the parents, didn't notice anyone paying attention to the kids, so asked the kids where their parents were. They pointed to a table that had apparently their parents and another couple at it. The adults were immersed in conversation and paying the kids absolutely no attention. I told them to go back to their table. They did so, but was up running arround just a few minutes later. One of them bumped my table and I had to make a dive for my water glass. Even so, some spilled. At that point, my voice again got a little firmer and I told the kids to go back to their table, sit down, and don't get up again. They looked at me with wide eyes, but after going back to their table didn't get up again. I don't think the parents ever even knew what was going on. So I agree. If you don't want someone else disciplining your kids, do it yourself, so someone else doesn't have to.

To OP: I have no problem with well behaved kids in any restaurant at WDW and usually enjoy seeing them there. I have no problem with kids having a melt down in a restaurant, as long as the parent is trying to deal with it. I do have a problem with parents ignoring an out of control child, who allows that child to disturb others. Last May I was on the DxDDP and ate at a 2 credit Signature restaurant every night. Every one of those nights, I saw kids at those restuarants. Other than the two kids at Citricos I never saw a kid that was disturbing others that much. I did hear some get loud occasionally, but only noticed it because their little voices got loud and shrill. Their parents immediately quietened them. I considered them all well behaved and more than welcome in all of those restaurants. In fact, they were cute to see.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We expect to see children at WDW restaurants like California Grill and that's fine. However, we certainly don't like food and utensil throwing, playing tag running around the restaurant and that sort of thing. Nor is the screaming infant appreciated.
The key words are "well behaved"...
Should add that to avoid all the problems we often encounter with the unsupervised little ones (both at WDW and around here), we usually eat at the bar in every restaurant that has one, and that serves a full meal at the bar. In fact, that's exactly what we're doing in the photo--having a fine meal at the bar at Flying Fish!!

 

[Allboysandme]

It's disney. Kids are and should be welcome everywhere. If someone has a problem with it they took the wrong vacation. My kids do pretty well in restaurants, but they have their moments. My baby started to have a meltdown last weekend in a restaurant because we were there two hours. Can we say slow service?! He did well until the very end. I just walked him around in the waiting area and let dh pay the bill. The older kids did well except having to tell them to lower their voices a few times when they got excited about something. No one even seemed to notice though.

I can't say I've ever had a problem at any restaurant because of someone's child. Now the adults is a different story...

 

[abc999]

We brought both our children to signature restaurants last year and we expect them to behave there as well as any other restaurant, McDonalds included. We expect our children to sit in their seats and eat their meal while we eat ours. We do not let them out of their seats so they can run around. We do not bring toys, books, games and anything else to keep them entertained.

If you are at WDW you should expect children every where, that is the nature of the place, but you should also expect children to behave themselves and their parents to keep them in line. If your child is crying, take them outside for a bit, I hear enough crying from my children, I don't need to listen to yours.

PP - I applaud you for telling those children to go back to their table.