Just a bit worried about WCC - help me out, please?

[CathieArms]

We'll be there on our first full day at WDW. I booked it because my kids will love it, but I'm afraid my FIL will HATE it. Is there a way for my kids to fully enjoy the fun without my FIL being the butt of jokes that he'll hate?

I should tell you that my FIL *always* has to go to the bathroom. He'll probably go to the bathroom before we eat, and then again at the end of his meal. It would really irritate him if someone were to accost him.

On the other hand, my kids and I would absolutely LOVE the antics.

What do I do? How do I "protect" my FIL while letting the kids get the fullest advantage of the fun? BTW, if it matters, the kids are 15, 15 and 6.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Tell your FIL to get over it and have fun for the sake of the kids..it is WDW for crying out loud

Honestly when DH and I went we didnt see any crazy antics going on and the bathroom is very close to the front of the restaurant, request to sit there.

Or he can have an adult dinner at AP by himself

My DH is very shy and I think servers can sense when someone isnt into the antics and they will back off...they do this at 50's PT too.

Since you have kids with you they will probably pay more attention to them anyways

 

[E&As Mom]

If it's truly a big concern, say something discreetly to the server as early as you can (maybe right when you sit down). Let them know that if possible, keep the antics to a minimum with your FIL.

Last year when we went, my girls are a little on the shy side, and our server could kind of see that when she came up to introduce ourselves. So, my husband and I played along a lot, to show our girls that it was a fun place, and not to be shy or embarrassed. They realized that everything was in good fun, but our server still kept it on the lower key side (compared to some of the other servers), but still made it a lot of fun for us.

Good luck! Don't stress... it'll all work out.

 

[Pakey]

I don't know. My husband is reserved and got picked on and hated it. Could not wait to get out of there. Will not return.

Our server didn't sense anything or didn't care.

 

[HunnyJar]

I don't know. My husband is reserved and got picked on and hated it. Could not wait to get out of there. Will not return.

Our server didn't sense anything or didn't care.

We had the opposite happen.. My husband LOVES being picked on at places like this. Me on the other hand..not so much. Our last server was great - she left me alone and really egged my husband on. The worst that happened to me is a bunch of napkins on my head.

Can't wait to go back.

 

[Sgt Tibbs]

We went for breakfast at WCC once and our DS annouced to our server it was Mom's birthday. My DW isn't big on teasing either and she was getting a lot of itso after awhile I asked for Ketch-up and later asked for a refill of water, boy did I get it, but it took the heat of my DW.

 

[shalom]

My DW isn't big on teasing either and she was getting a lot of it so after awhile I asked for Ketch-up and later asked for a refill of water, boy did I get it, but it took the heat of my DW.

CathieArms, maybe warn your FIL not to do the other things that normally set things off -- tell him to have you request catsup if he wants it and the like. And prime yourself and/or the kids with requests that the server can bounce off of.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

If it's truly a big concern, say something discreetly to the server as early as you can (maybe right when you sit down). Let them know that if possible, keep the antics to a minimum with your FIL.

Last year when we went, my girls are a little on the shy side, and our server could kind of see that when she came up to introduce ourselves. So, my husband and I played along a lot, to show our girls that it was a fun place, and not to be shy or embarrassed. They realized that everything was in good fun, but our server still kept it on the lower key side (compared to some of the other servers), but still made it a lot of fun for us.

Good luck! Don't stress... it'll all work out.

If you choose this option, make sure the server knows that the children want the antics but the grandfather does not. Otherwise, they are likely to avoid doing antics with your whole table. If it were me, I would say something to the host or hostess (when you check in for your ADR) and have that person pass the message on to the server. The family will probably not be at the check-in desk with you (my family usually stands a little ways back in order not to crowd the area), and you can discreetly say something without anyone else in your party being the wiser. In my experience, the hosts and hostesses at the WCC are top-notch. They will take care of you!

 

[CathieArms]

If you choose this option, make sure the server knows that the children want the antics but the grandfather does not. Otherwise, they are likely to avoid doing antics with your whole table. If it were me, I would say something to the host or hostess (when you check in for your ADR) and have that person pass the message on to the server. The family will probably not be at the check-in desk with you (my family usually stands a little ways back in order not to crowd the area), and you can discreetly say something without anyone else in your party being the wiser. In my experience, the hosts and hostesses at the WCC are top-notch. They will take care of you!

Thank you! He doesn't try to be a fuddy-duddy, but there are several things working against him.

1. He can't hear very well at all, especially with lots of commotion going on. He won't mind going, but he won't "get it" if they're teasing him and he might not like it.
2. He's an introvert.
3. He doesn't "get" teasing most of the time when it's directed at him.

We went to 50s Prime Time and the waitress teased him for playing with his food when he spilled part of his shake. It irritated him, though he didn't show it at the time.

I'll take this advice and tell the host.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I'd sit down with your FIL and let him know about the "antics"- try and cover as many bases as possible. Maybe even show him some YouTube vids. Just make sure you convey to him how much the kiddos enjoy it.

I would not say anything to your server. I did this with our WCC breakfast this past Dec and it was a horribly boring meal. Granted, it was an oddly quiet morning at WCC, but giving our server that warning made her an excellent, but boring waitress.

 

[smiths02]

If it was a meal for your 4 year old to meat a princess or your kids to meet Mickey...I might say that you should work around it, FIL should suck it up

But honestly with all the restauarants at WDW, I would just do something else or have separate ADR somewhere else for FIL?

I have not been to 50s PTC or WCC, and I wanted to go, but I changed my mind...I don't know how any member of my family will feel on a hot, July day 70 days from now.

Also, when we went to WDW with the ILs, I really wanted to do Biergarten. They don't drink. My MIL really thinks drinking is wrong. So I know that sitting at a table with people drinking giant beers would not be fun for them, so we went somewhere else.

 

[Lynne M]

The odds are good that they'll leave your FIL alone, but be aware that it doesn't always work when you ask not to participate. In our case, it just caused the host to make a noisy scene about our not wanting to participate, being old ladies, etc.. The waiter was great, just made some low-key jokes but didn't pick on anyone, but the host was pretty obnoxious about it.

I guess it depends on just how upset your FIL would be. He sounds just like a relative of mine...hard of hearing, sensitive about it, and either doesn't hear or misinterprets what's being said. I wouldn't take that relative to WCC on a bet, it would ruin their day and having them unhappy would make for an uncomfortable meal for all of us.

Personally, i'd go somewhere else, and save WCC for another time when FIL isn't along on the trip. Or, if possible, split the group and have some eat at Trails End (a short boat ride away at FW), and you and the kids do WCC.

 

[CathieArms]

Not going isn't an option.

I know that some people won't agree with me, but the trip is "for the kids." The inlaws are absolutely welcome to have ADRs somewhere else, and I'm even willing to make those ADRs for them so all they have to do is show up; but they want to eat with us. So, with that in mind, we're going to WCC. We have a lot of restaurants lined up for the week, a few specifically for the inlaws. My kids will really enjoy this restaurant, and so we're going there. I just wish there was a way to keep my FIL out of the limelight for certain.

 

[disnut8]

Not going isn't an option.

I know that some people won't agree with me, but the trip is "for the kids." The inlaws are absolutely welcome to have ADRs somewhere else, and I'm even willing to make those ADRs for them so all they have to do is show up; but they want to eat with us. So, with that in mind, we're going to WCC. We have a lot of restaurants lined up for the week, a few specifically for the inlaws. My kids will really enjoy this restaurant, and so we're going there. I just wish there was a way to keep my FIL out of the limelight for certain.

I think talking to the server is your way to go. I really don't think too much is going to be said about your father-in-law going to the bathroom twice during a meal. Especially since it appears he will be a senior member at the table. However, if something is said, you can quickly jump in and say "That's why we LOVE *your father-in-law's name*. We makes sure the bathrooms are perfect for his family" or something similar. Deflect anything that comes towards your father-in-law.

But then again, you can have a terrific time without any problems. When I took my dad, stepmother and in-laws, all in their 70s and not really wanting antics, my dad ended up coloring a sheet of Bear in the Blue House and my stepmother did the hokey pokey. The in-laws weren't too thrilled but they enjoyed seeing everyone else enjoying themselves.

Don't worry about it that much. Talk to the server and you should be fine.

 

[kathie859]

OP, here's the thing if he needs to get up often. Kids are running around like goofballs. We ate there last in 11/09 with 3 generations and we all hated it. No flames please, but we found the food greasy (got the often talked about skillet) the servers unfocused and the room is noisy and obnoxious children everywhere being encouraged to trot around the servers carrying food and drink. Just not our cup of tea.

 

[CathieArms]

OP, here's the thing if he needs to get up often. Kids are running around like goofballs. We ate there last in 11/09 with 3 generations and we all hated it. No flames please, but we found the food greasy (got the often talked about skillet) the servers unfocused and the room is noisy and obnoxious children everywhere being encouraged to trot around the servers carrying food and drink. Just not our cup of tea.

FIL is about 65. He's not "old" so much as he's sometimes in his own world. He'll likely go to the bathroom before we're seated, and then again before we leave, if experience tells me anything. He won't mind the antics or noise so long as they're not directed at him.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Here's another tip that might help!

I posted a thread this week about steaks at non-signature restaurants in WDW, and several people wrote to say that the best steak they had on Disney property was at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It surprised me. I did not even know that steak was on the menu. But I sure do plan to order a steak there on my next trip!

 

[Lynne M]

Not going isn't an option.

I know that some people won't agree with me, but the trip is "for the kids." The inlaws are absolutely welcome to have ADRs somewhere else, and I'm even willing to make those ADRs for them so all they have to do is show up; but they want to eat with us. So, with that in mind, we're going to WCC. We have a lot of restaurants lined up for the week, a few specifically for the inlaws. My kids will really enjoy this restaurant, and so we're going there. I just wish there was a way to keep my FIL out of the limelight for certain.

There isn't any way to keep him out of the limelight for certain. So, I'd sit him down and explain, in detail, that it's a themed restaurant, part of the theming is that the server picks on the guests, and he may be the target of that. If he doesn't want to sing, or wear a napkin hat, or get a gallon of iced tea if he asks for a refill, or get asked if he washed his hands when he returns from the bathroom, he and MIL may want to find another place for breakfast.

At least that way, if he still insists on going, he'll know what he's getting into.

 

[TDC Nala]

It sounds like one party will have to compromise. Either he will have to put up with the antics for the children's sake, or you will need to skip the meal for his sake. I don't know how you can get antics directed toward some of the party and not all, unless you have a quiet word with your server - but that would just be YOUR server as you can't have a quiet word with every server who might say something to him.

 

[marielynn724]

Agreeing with previous posters - he won't be bothered for getting up to go to the bathroom. Also, the servers can usually tell who is shy and back off. Maybe you should give your FIL a heads-up and just tell him not to order a large drink or ask for ketchup. If he wants ketchup, have one of the kids ask for it instead.