LET THE FLAMES BEGIN>>>adult only dining

[lyeag]

Ok, I missed it. I didn't see anyone say kids should be taken out for ill behavior-no exception. I did say if MY kids are not behaving and ruining someone else's meal, and IF nothing else worked, I would leave with my kids. I also said at some point you have to think about packing it up. ie, running around, crawling under tables, screaming loudly ( you know, those extreme cases we defined earlier). Now if you have a problem with me suggesting that a parent leave when the situation is an extreme one, well then we really do have a disagreement. To be blunt, in those extreme situations, I think it is bad manners not to leave. I am sorry if that offends you.

 

[panthergirl]

It's a bit hard to detect tone when your not in person. If you went back through all the posts starting with the original you would see the same tone you feel I have with people who have the opposing viewpoint. My hunch is that you don't pick up that same tone with the others because you agree more with their opinion than you do mine.

What do you think is the tone of "subjecting a child..."?,

I think I wasn't in the restaurant with the OP so I can't say if the child should or should not have been there. I also think she has a right to her opinion, as do you.

 

[panthergirl]

Edited to add: How many times have the words rude and bratty been used to describe people adn children in this thread? Do those words not imply a hostile tone to you?[/QUOTE]

Only if the children were NOT rude or bratty. Can you concede that perhaps these posters have experienced this type of behaviour while dining at Disney which would make their statements true rather than hostile.

 

[chobie]

I think I wasn't in the restaurant with the OP so I can't say if the child should or should not have been there. I also think she has a right to her opinion, as do you.

Where did I say people don't have the right to their opinion? I did say that people do not have the right to demand other people handle their children like they do. They can say it, but they can't make them. I was not in the Jiko with the OP either, but I know it offers a kid menu so I feel qualified to say the child should have been there though whether she should have stayed based on her behavior I do not know.

 

[chobie]

Edited to add: How many times have the words rude and bratty been used to describe people adn children in this thread? Do those words not imply a hostile tone to you?

Only if the children were NOT rude or bratty. Can you concede that perhaps these posters have experienced this type of behaviour while dining at Disney which would make their statements true rather than hostile.[/QUOTE]

No, those words are fighting words. They can say, I did not like the behavior, or I found it upsetting, but to attach those words to make it seem hostile.

 

[justhat]

Just a selfish one at the moment.

How is it selfish to feed your kids a good meal? Feeding my daughter cheeseburgers for every meal does not sound like good parenting to me. When we go to 'signature restaurants' my daughter shares my meal, and when she's old enough she'll get her own meal off of the regular menu, not a kids menu that offers mostly junk food. So to suggest that people are cruel to their kids by forcing them to eat nutritiously is ridiculous to me. If you don't want to see kids, don't eat in restaurants where they are allowed, or write to Disney and express your desire for an adults-only restaurant. Large groups are allowed to dine in restaurants and they're almost always louder than the average kid. Should they have to eat counter service too?

 

[robinb]

One word for this: GAMEBOY. I have found that it is a good restaurant dinner companion for a 5 yr old only child! Seriously, I would never let him use it at dinner at home, but with waiting for tables, waiting for food, etc. I find that with the volume off it is a good distraction and keeps him under control so that we can dine without disturbing others.

Ohhh. I've been thinking about buying my 5 1/2 year old a Gameboy for that exact situation. I have seen other kids with Gameboys and they seem to be well entertained.

I have a little secret. Once my DD turned 4 and could go into the kids clubs I have not eaten an expensive meal with her. Why? Well ... she's annoying, that's why. I find I spend way too much time trying to keep her calm and under control to actually enjoy my meal. She's not a heathen by any stretch of the imagination, but it takes effort on my part to keep her from bothering other diners. An effort I would prefer not to make. The fanciest places we went to with her was Teppanyaki and Tony's and that was with a group. Jikos, California Grill, Narcoossee's, Shulas, Blue Zoo, Victoria and Albert's ... all last year and all without her.

 

[KathyTX]

Let's all take a deep breath, and keep the discussion respectful, please...

 

[lyeag]

Ok, that is a bit extreme. (I am not saying you can't bring your child to dinner at a signature restaurant) You can get healthy choices just about anywhere in the parks or hotel food courts if you look for them. ( I am not saying it is always easy or convienent) Those nicer sit down meals aren't the only places. That isn't a valid point.

I "think" they meant it is selfish to put your own dinner plans above others'. Whether that be other diners or children who are tired. I also don't believe they meant you personally. ( I have to make that clear...)

 

[2MuchOhana]

Let's face it no one likes to have their dinner ruined by a child or people that are rude and inconsiderate. Whether it is an uncontrolable child (children), bad parenting or a loud and obnoxious individual or group of adult diners it doesn't matter. Everyone should be entiled to eat their meals in peace. A little bit of consideration goes a long way. Unfortunately that doesn't always happen. It happens everywhere.

 

[Mandabella]

Let's all take a deep breath, and keep the discussion respectful, please...

Should we start placing bets of when this thread will die?
For awhile I wasn't sure which thread would last longer...this one or the one about the unmarried couple's guest accomodations in someone else's home.

I think this will outlast the other!

 

[justhat]

Ok, that is a bit extreme. (I am not saying you can't bring your child to dinner at a signature restaurant) You can get healthy choices just about anywhere in the parks or hotel food courts if you look for them. ( I am not saying it is always easy or convienent) Those nicer sit down meals aren't the only places. That isn't a valid point.

I "think" they meant it is selfish to put your own dinner plans above others'. Whether that be other diners or children who are tired. I also don't believe they meant you personally. ( I have to make that clear...)

What healthy meal options are there in the parks for my 1 year old to eat for lunch and dinner that isn't a sit down place? The healthiest I've found is Pinocchio Village Haus, which had a turkey sandwich with carrots. Telling me to subsititute fries for carrots with my burger at counter service is not healthy to me. And one can only eat that turkey sandwich so many times (also found that sandwich, or similar, and counter service in MGM, but again, how many times can you eat it?).

Saying that parents put their own dinner plan ahead of their child's because they choose to eat at nicer restaurants is not selfish nor is it putting their agenda in front of their child's. Any child needs to eat and deserves to eat the most nutritious meal possible, and counter service simply doesn't provide that.

 

[antkim]

How is it selfish to feed your kids a good meal? Feeding my daughter cheeseburgers for every meal does not sound like good parenting to me. When we go to 'signature restaurants' my daughter shares my meal, and when she's old enough she'll get her own meal off of the regular menu, not a kids menu that offers mostly junk food. So to suggest that people are cruel to their kids by forcing them to eat nutritiously is ridiculous to me. If you don't want to see kids, don't eat in restaurants where they are allowed, or write to Disney and express your desire for an adults-only restaurant. Large groups are allowed to dine in restaurants and they're almost always louder than the average kid. Should they have to eat counter service too?

That is not what I meant AT ALL! I agree children should eat healthy...jeez! I also have said I have no probelm with kids dining in nicer restaurants(please go back and read my posts!) as long as they can behave and if they can not then parents need to act accordingly. Period. I have kids of my own so why on earth would I not want to see kids?

I responding to this:
Edited to add: boring your children with a restaurant choice does not bad parenting make.

Choosing a restaurant that you KNOW your child will be bored at is selfish as far as I'm concerned......not just for the fellow diners but for the poor child that has to sit there because it is what MOM and DAD want on their vacation.
From experience I know that a bored child is an unhappy child. An unhappy child makes for a tough situation for all concerned. Heck, I drive 45 minutes to go to Rain Forest Cafe here.....because I know that my ds will behave there....he's not bored!

Here's to good eating!

Kim

 

[lyeag]

I may have misunderstood your post. I thought you were speaking of the more upscale places. Liberty Tree Tavern -Yankee Doodle Noodles - Stouffer's Macaroni & Cheese served with fruit $4.99 is an example of what I was talking about of other places having healthy choices. Maybe the fruit would have to be cut up in smaller pieces, and not all of it would be appropriate for a one year old, but there are healthy choices out there. I also understand that you might not want to pay 4.99 for a child as young as yours. I wouldn't either. I was just saying that there are other places that have some healthy choices, although they aren't always easy to find.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Saying that parents put their own dinner plan ahead of their child's because they choose to eat at nicer restaurants is not selfish nor is it putting their agenda in front of their child's. Any child needs to eat and deserves to eat the most nutritious meal possible, and counter service simply doesn't provide that.

I may be wrong (and I'm SURE that someone will correct me if I am, lol) but I don't think MOST of us are saying not to bring your child to sit-down restaurants.

I, for one, have never hesitated to bring my DS7 to any place that has a kids menu.

I think MOST (notice I didn't say "all") of the contention in this thread stems from what happens when a child has a meltdown in a sit-down restaurant, not the fact that they are there.

Koom bah yah, my Lord, Koom bah yah....

 

[justhat]

My daughter's birthday party is going to be at the Rainforest Cafe! We're going there for her (cause we don't like the food, so it's definitely not for us!) since it will be her 1st birthday and she loves animals and is fascinated everytime we walk through the giftshop. But when we go to dinner on a day other than her birthday, we don't go to a place like that. If we only picked restaurants where she wouldn't be bored, we'd be eating at McDonald's everynight. Unfortunately, a more healthy restaurant is often times more boring than the 'unhealthy' ones. Not only because of the decor and atmostphere, but because the meal usually takes longer. But I'm not willing to sacrifice my child not being bored for a bit if it means eating less healthy.

Before she was born, we often at quick meals at WDW. We very rarely did it at home, but we didn't want to miss too much magic, so while we'd eat some sitdown meals, we ate at buffets and counter service too. However now, I don't want my daughter to be eating the counter food, or possibly contaminated buffet food, so we steer away from those places and do more sitdown meals. We planned our PSs 90 days in advance for this trip, something we rarely did in the past, just so we could pick the restaurant and time we wanted to eat. All this for my daughter, not for us. Will she be bored at FF? Maybe she will, but she's used to eating at places like that at home and so far it has gone well.

 

[Brian Noble]

If we can also forbid the adult groups that order really expensive wine and proceed to spend the next 10 minutes talking well above conversational volume about the superiority of that particularl year for that particular bottle of Bordeaux from that particular winery, and how of COURSE it is worth the $200 they are paying for it so that everyone within three tables can know how FABulous their taste in wine is and how SUCCESSFUL they are to be able to afford such a trifle...

...then sure, let's keep the rugrats out too!

(This happened to me in what is perhaps the best restaurant in Pittsburgh during my wife's birthday. It was so obnoxious, the owner felt the need to comp us dessert and we hadn't even said "boo" about it---it was entirely his idea.)

 

[justhat]

I may have misunderstood your post. I thought you were speaking of the more upscale places. Liberty Tree Tavern -Yankee Doodle Noodles - Stouffer's Macaroni & Cheese served with fruit $4.99 is an example of what I was talking about of other places having healthy choices. Maybe the fruit would have to be cut up in smaller pieces, and not all of it would be appropriate for a one year old, but there are healthy choices out there. I also understand that you might not want to pay 4.99 for a child as young as yours. I wouldn't either. I was just saying that there are other places that have some healthy choices, although they aren't always easy to find.

I don't mind paying for her at all. In fact we usually do order her a side of some vegetable, so she doesn't really eat 'free' anymore. We're not fans of having mac & cheese for dinner though, so that wouldn't be the place for us. For lunch it's okay, and my daughter loved it the one time she had it. We've eaten at LTT before and didn't care for the food too much and haven't been back. We do lots of character meals for my daughter, all at breakfast though, and she loves them, and I'd even do some for dinner, but my husband doesn't usually approve of their food quality at dinner so that rules them out.

I understand that lots of you aren't saying kids shouldn't be in upscale retaurants, but some people on this thread seem to feel that way. I got that impression from the OP when she said something like "why would you bring a 3yo to Jiko?" IMO, those are the only places we would eat dinner with our child, so it doesn't seem torturous to me at all. Making the child eat well in a nice restaurant seems like a priviledge, not a punishment, to me anyway. Sure, the kid may want to eat at Pecos Bill everynight, but I'd rather feed her the best meal possible now, and let her thank me later for making her eat right as a kid, not just letting her eat what she wanted.

 

[chobie]

Choosing a restaurant that you KNOW your child will be bored at is selfish as far as I'm concerned......not just for the fellow diners but for the poor child that has to sit there because it is what MOM and DAD want on their vacation.

That's one way of looking at it. Or one can say that teaching a child that sometimes they have to subjugate their needs for others is a lesson that needs to be learned and a family vacation means that sometimes the kids pick the place and sometimes the adults do. I would not consider that to be selfish, in fact I would consider that to be teaching the child how to not be selfish.

 

[justhat]

That's one way of looking at it. Or one can say that teaching a child that sometimes they have to subjugate their needs for others is a lesson that needs to be learned and a family vacation means that sometimes the kids pick the place and sometimes the adults do. I would not consider that to be selfish, in fact I would consider that to be teaching the child how to not be selfish.

I agree.