Loud kid at Wall-E matinee

[BostonRob]

I'm curious to hear what people think.

I took my 5 yo and my 2.5 yo to the 11:15 matinee of Wall-E. The 2.5 yo was a little loud. She wasn't crying or screaming or anything like that, she was just asking questions or making statements about the movie (Oh, the buggy's leaving. Is that a robot? - stuff like that). She was using a regular voice, but her regular voice is loud for a movie theater. I kept asking her to be quiet or to wisper, but she's 2.5, so it wasn't working. After about 10 minutes another dad of an older kid asked me to keep her quite. 5 or 10 minutes later, another dad told me I had to do something. I asked him what he expected at a matinee. He said that my daughter was bothering everybody. I told him if that was the case he should get a manager; and asked him again what he expected at a matinee. Then he suggested that she was too young for the movies.

I honestly didn't know who was right. When I go to a rated G matinee, I expect to hear a lot of kids talking. But maybe I' just have lower expectations or maybe I'm just tolerant. When he suggested that she was too young to go to a movie, I thought that maybe he was right, because I had never considered it. So I took the kids and left. The 5 yo was pretty disapointed and I felt bad for her. My gut still tells me that those two dads were out of line and that kids asking questions is normal behavior for a disney mattinee, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you all think?

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm curious to hear what people think.

I took my 5 yo and my 2.5 yo to the 11:15 matinee of Wall-E. The 2.5 yo was a little loud. She wasn't crying or screaming or anything like that, she was just asking questions or making statements about the movie (Oh, the buggy's leaving. Is that a robot? - stuff like that). She was using a regular voice, but her regular voice is loud for a movie theater. I kept asking her to be quiet or to wisper, but she's 2.5, so it wasn't working. After about 10 minutes another dad of an older kid asked me to keep her quite. 5 or 10 minutes later, another dad told me I had to do something. I asked him what he expected at a matinee. He said that my daughter was bothering everybody. I told him if that was the case he should get a manager; and asked him again what he expected at a matinee. Then he suggested that she was too young for the movies.

I honestly didn't know who was right. When I go to a rated G matinee, I expect to hear a lot of kids talking. But maybe I' just have lower expectations or maybe I'm just tolerant. When he suggested that she was too young to go to a movie, I thought that maybe he was right, because I had never considered it. So I took the kids and left. The 5 yo was pretty disapointed and I felt bad for her. My gut still tells me that those two dads were out of line and that kids asking questions is normal behavior for a disney mattinee, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you all think?

Sorry, Rob, you're "that parent" in the movies to me. If you can't keep your kid quiet during a movie you should wait and try again in a few months. Nobody wants to hear your kid do anything but laugh if the movie is funny.

The place to have a small child ask questions and talk through a movie is at home in your den with a video and family members who love that child and willl humor her, not in a theater where children who can behave have paid to see a movie and are expecting to hear the soundtrack only.

Sorry, but you asked...

 

[Brian Noble]

We didn't take our kids to the theater until we were pretty sure they could sit through a film. Not so much out of consideration for anyone else (hah!) but becuase if I'm going to pay approximately the gross national product of Haiti for four tickets plus popcorn and soda, I want to actually watch the movie.

My daughter, at about 4, did scream "HE'S GOING TO DIE" when Nemo first ended up in the Tank, though, so even the best laid plans....at least we got a Family Punchline (tm) out of the event.

 

[TheZue]

I think you were in the right. When I go to a matinee I EXPECT loud small children. I'm sorry but if you want an adult quiet movie theater don't go to a cartoon in the afternoon. I try to get my DS to be quiet as well, but I view those conditions learning conditions to have him grow into a responsible theater patron.

Edit: like the PP stated being able to SIT through the movie is a must, but unfortunately there is often only one way to test this.

 

[Christine]

If two people had to say something to you, then I think your child was too loud. You are used to your child, other people are not. I don't think they were *making it up* or trying to be mean or antagonistic. If they felt that way, then it was probably true.

As for "what do expect for a matinee?" I expect movie theaters to be relatively quiet except for parts where laughing is expected. I do agree that many, if not most, 2.5 year old are probably too young for a movie.

When my DD was young, she was quite a fidgety and loud child and I did not take her to her first movie until she was almost 4 years old because I knew she might be disruptive.

 

[mickeyboat]

I have to agree with Liz. I would have also asked you to keep your DD quiet.

Denae

I have to comment on the "learning experience" idea TheZue posted about. I really think the learning experience has to be at home. I shouldn't have to miss half the dialogue at a movie I am paying for so that your child can learn how to behave at the movies - matinee or not.

 

[Todd&Copper]

If she can't keep quiet, even at a matinee (which appears to be a sticking point with you - like it is OK to disturb someone's viewing during the day but not after dark???) then she is too young to go to the movies.

Sorry, but I would have asked you to keep the child quiet, too, and would have went for the manager if you challenged me like that. Especially now that movie tickets are nearing $10 during the day.

 

[DizBelle]

Sorry, Rob, you're "that parent" in the movies to me. If you can't keep your kid quiet during a movie you should wait and try again in a few months. Nobody wants to hear your kid do anything but laugh if the movie is funny.

The place to have a small child ask questions and talk through a movie is at home in your den with a video and family members who love that child and willl humor her, not in a theater where children who can behave have paid to see a movie and are expecting to hear the soundtrack only.

Sorry, but you asked...

Sorry, I have to agree. I don't think it matters that it is a matinee or that it is a Disney movie. Everyone there wants to enjoy the movie, not listen to a child's regular voice ask a lot of questions. 2.5 does seem a little young for a movie in a movie theater.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Sorry, I have to agree. I don't think it matters that it is a matinee or that it is a Disney movie. Everyone there wants to enjoy the movie, not listen to a child's regular voice ask a lot of questions. 2.5 does seem a little young for a movie in a movie theater.

I agree. If I want to hear talking during a movie I'll watch it at home where talking is allowed. It is not allowed in a theatre where you are paying money.

 

[Amlee]

I would have got the manager and let the manager tell what he/she expected out of you as a parent.

If telling your child to be quiet didn't work. YOU should have got up and left.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think you were in the right. When I go to a matinee I EXPECT loud small children. I'm sorry but if you want an adult quiet movie theater don't go to a cartoon in the afternoon. I try to get my DS to be quiet as well, but I view those conditions learning conditions to have him grow into a responsible theater patron.

It shouldn't matter what the movie is or what time of day it is. If a child is too young to understand the concept of being quiet at the movies, then it's not the place for him to practice the skill. That place is at home with a video. When a kid can watch a whole movie at home quietly, then he can go to a reagular movie.

I'm not interested in sitting behind you while you teach your kid how to be quiet at a movie, or how to eat in a restaurant, or any other skill where I'm going to be impacted by his misbehavior. There are some places where it's appropriate for kids to learn new skills, like on a playground, but inside a movie theater where others have paid isn't one of them.

 

[BostonRob]

Sorry, but you asked...

Don't be sorry. I DID ask because I'm looking for honest opinions. Believe it or not, despite my tendancy to ruffle feathers on these boards, I'm actually very considerate of other people, especially in situations like this. And that's why I'm asking, because I genuinely thought that was normal for a matinee, so I'm looking forward to hear from more people, whether they agree with you or with me.
And I wasn't using that situation to "teach" my daughter, like I said, I thought it was understood that kids would talk in matinees. Which is why I suggested he talk to a manager; I figured the manager would back me up. Llike I said, I left after the second guy talked to me about it, but I'm still not 100% sure that I should have. Although it looks like everybody here feels the same way, so I guess maybe I was wrong about matinees.

 

[Evil Genius]

Everyone else paid to see the movie just like you did. Which means they want to hear the movie without interruption. I guess I don't get what a matinee has to do with it.

 

[Jennasis]

While I totally understand where you're coming from (it was a kid
s movie, so of course there will be kids there), I have to side with the other dad's. But kudos to you for realizing the problem and resolving it, by leaving.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

This is exactly why we haven't taken DS (4 1/2ish) to a movie yet.

We thought we'd road-test him (so to speak) at WDW with some of the shows and he was either freaking out a bit (covered his ears and hid his eyes in either my arms or DH's) or squirmy by the time the show was half over. I figure we can wait until Wall-E comes out on DVD (Nov, I think) for him to watch it.

I'd rather buy the DVD anyway because it's cheaper than taking DS to the movies. Plus no loud people or DS begging to buy popcorn, candy and soda.

JMO.

 

[TheZue]

Don't be sorry. I DID ask because I'm looking for honest opinions. Believe it or not, despite my tendancy to ruffle feathers on these boards, I'm actually very considerate of other people, especially in situations like this. And that's why I'm asking, because I genuinely thought that was normal for a matinee, so I'm looking forward to hear from more people, whether they agree with you or with me.
And I wasn't using that situation to "teach" my daughter, like I said, I thought it was understood that kids would talk in matinees. Which is why I suggested he talk to a manager; I figured the manager would back me up. Llike I said, I left after the second guy talked to me about it, but I'm still not 100% sure that I should have. Although it looks like everybody here feels the same way, so I guess maybe I was wrong about matinees.

What you could look into is finding theaters that have baby friendly showings. You'd be fine there with your youngest


Maybe it's different here but the matinees are always the kiddie grounds. We are NEVER the only ones with talking kids there and this goes back years. Even before we had kids I never would have complained because it's just what you get in our town.

 

[Skywalker]

I think you have to teach your child to be quiet during a movie - zero tolerance.

I took my boys to see Clone Wars over the weekend. All was wonderful until Loud Talking Boy and Clueless and/or Rude Dad sat behind us. He talked all the way through the previews and I kept hoping that his dad would smarten him up during the actual feature.

But no.

I never knew I could have such hostility toward people who are probably actually very nice, LOL.

 

[AprilShowers]

I think you were wrong. It's hard to expect a 2.5 year old to behave in a movie theatre.
I agree with others, just because the movie is during the day, doesn't give your children permission to ruin it for others. Constant talking is annoying during any movie.

The part that gets me about your post is that you asked the other parents what they expected you to do? Is it not understood that parents controll their own children? And if they can't then they take them somewhere more appropriate? (maybe you just used it as a figure of speech?)

Please don't take this as nasty, I'm not intending it that way, but I've come across this alot lately. Someone asks a parent to controll/quiet their child, and the parent sometimes responds. "What do you want me to do? She won't listen/be quiet/sit still?"
Why is it anyone else's problem but the parent's?

I just re-read this post, and while I mean what I'm saying, I realize it sounds nasty/bashing. It is not intended to be that way. Just matter-of-fact. KWIM?

 

[Amlee]

Don't be sorry. I DID ask because I'm looking for honest opinions. Believe it or not, despite my tendancy to ruffle feathers on these boards, I'm actually very considerate of other people, especially in situations like this. And that's why I'm asking, because I genuinely thought that was normal for a matinee, so I'm looking forward to hear from more people, whether they agree with you or with me.
And I wasn't using that situation to "teach" my daughter, like I said, I thought it was understood that kids would talk in matinees. Which is why I suggested he talk to a manager; I figured the manager would back me up. Llike I said, I left after the second guy talked to me about it, but I'm still not 100% sure that I should have. Although it looks like everybody here feels the same way, so I guess maybe I was wrong about matinees.

Here the matinees have the same do not talk, thank you for turning off your cell phone message flash across the screen as the evening shows.

 

[rie'smom]

I would have asked you to please keep your child quiet too. It would never occur to me that just because it's a matinee that it's ok for your child or my child or any other child to ruin the movie for everyone else.