O'Hana and a small complaint

[shezfrombermuda]

I don't get what the big deal is. I don't think it's rude that servers encourage kids to try new foods. The last time I ate at Ohana, there was a table next to mine with two kids, the mom asked if there was anything else available for her kids, and the server said she'd get them pb&j, but why don't they just try this food first? She didn't say it at all rudely, but instead encouraging the kids to try something new. They did, and they liked the food.

If parents didn't give in to their kids so much then there would be far less pickiness when it comes to food. Case in point, me and my cousins, my little cousins always got their way when it came to what they wanted to eat, and now they're adults, and they are still very picky. At Thanksgiving all they would eat was turkey and mashed potatoes, no veggies at all, so that isn't even that healthy.

I'm not saying children should be forced to eat stuff they don't like, but they should be made to try it, they will usually like it.

I agree with other posters in saying that it is up to the parents to decide what they feed their children. It isn't up to the servers at Ohana or any other restaurant to decide. They have a children's menu for a reason and it should be offered to the parents right away. I don't think you should even have to ask for it.

With all the excitement and long days on a Disney vacation, it isn't the right place to introduce new foods. If your child want mac and cheese, let them eat mac and cheese. A parent knows their children and what they will eat. And no "they shouldn't be made to try it because they will usually like it"!

 

[Nom]

Congratulations on your engagement
However, since you are not his stepmother either, then the answer is still "no"


When you do become his step mother, I think your impression of being a parent will change drastically.

ITA!

 

[Nom]

See I don't think that's true either. I know a lot of people who are not married, and count their SO's or fiance's kids as their own.

Do you live together? I would consider someone who is in a romantic relationship with someone with a child a parent if they live with the child at least 50% of the time, are hands-on with the parenting (meaning do baths, feeding, discipline, etc), take family vacations with the child, etc.

If not, you're not really a parent. If so, then I would agree that you are. But those are just my opinions.

 

[bavaria]

You're rolling your eyes at me on a message board for giving me opinion, I find that rude.

Nope, no eye rolling smiley there. It's a whistling smiley, and I am not eye rolling OR whistling at you, the smiley is.

I think that if one went back and counted up the for and against posts, the consensus is that the parents are the only ones who should be making parenting decisions for their family.

No matter how often you post on this thread, I seriously doubt that you will change my opinion or the opinion of the parents who have posted here.

We can agree to disagree about whether the server should have refused the parent, but you will not change my opinon as to whether the parents should be judged for their decisions.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Well I read the first page and the last - mostly because my computer is acting up. I don't think the server denied the child food from the kids menu. But as a parent of two, current ages of 15 and 7, I honestly can say I would love a server recomending to my child to try something different. And maybe coming from an "outsider", the child will try something different. What real harm is there in trying something if they don't have allergies??? I came from a home where what was served was what you got! And if you didnt like it, you can either make yourself something, after dinner, or starve! Well guess what, none of us starved!! I spoke to my pediatrician about my daughters eating habits when she was maybe 5 or 6, all she would eat was nuggets and fries if we went out. Basically she said, tell her no, and if she won't eat anything, then she doesnt get dinner. Well it worked after the first try! Unfortunately, at 15 she likes to eat French Onion Soup, Filet Mignon and Chocolate Souffle!!

But my point is, kids are very dependant on "kids menus". Where did these things come from. When we vacation on St. Maarten, a majority of the restaurants don't have a kids menu, and the kids do try different things. And guess what they survive and enjoy the new food!

So yes, the parent should make the choice, and the server should no tell the child to try something. But as parents, we need to get our kids to try more food, and not rely on happy meals and pizza!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Nope, no eye rolling smiley there. It's a whistling smiley, and I am not eye rolling OR whistling at you, the smiley is.

I think that if one went back and counted up the for and against posts, the consensus is that the parents are the only ones who should be making parenting decisions for their family.

No matter how often you post on this thread, I seriously doubt that you will change my opinion or the opinion of the parents who have posted here.

We can agree to disagree about whether the server should have refused the parent, but you will not change my opinon as to whether the parents should be judged for their decisions.

I am not trying to change your opinion, I am just expressing mine.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

But as parents, we need to get our kids to try more food, and not rely on happy meals and pizza!

That's exactly the point I'm trying to make.

 

[Hanover]

We ate dinner at Ohana for the first time ever on 11/30/07. It was me, dh, ds6, ds10, and my parents. We were on the Disney Dining Plan through DVC. We were seated very timely right next to the windows looking out to Cinderella's Castle. We were given the regular dinner menu, told by our waitress what to expect and told that children's menu items were available. When ordering our drinks, I asked what was on the children's menu and she gave us a quick run down of the selections. My ds6 ordered a cheeseburger and mac -n-cheese and ds10 got chicken strips and mac-n-cheese. Their meals were brought out when we received the meat/potoes/veggies. They had an entire plate of mac-n-cheese each and their other selections with french fries. Both boys also tried a little bit of the meats and potatoes we all ate. For dessert, they got plain vanilla ice cream with sprinkles. We couldn't have had better service. We were not at all rushed and enjoyed the entire experience tremendously. We've eaten there for breakfast before and also loved it. We will definitely be going back.

We also had a great meal at Chef Mickey's which had only been so-so the other 2 times we ate there.

 

[donald...really]

We had a big family dinner at Ohana last month with two girls, 4 and 6. We didn't even know they had a child's menu. Their grandmother (my mother) predicted the girls wouldn't eat any of the food they were offered. Both girls tried everything, and while they didn't love everything, they both had their favorites and couldn't stop eating! It also made for a fun game of "what's your favorite". My mother couldn't get over it and still talks about how they were eating. Our service was also great, so I am sure if we wanted a child's menu they would have brought us one, but I'm glad we didn't ask.

 

[SandrainNC]

Off topic, but I think it's tacky to bring in outside food at a table service restaurant.

Yes, it is off topic. I think you are just purposely trying to cause trouble.

I guess you have never had cheerios or something for your kids to snack on while they wait for the food to come?? Oh yea, you don't have any kids!

What is tacky is your nitpicking through this entire thread and telling parents what we are doing wrong by allowing our children to order from the child’s menu and now saying I am tacky for carrying snack crackers with me!

It isn't tacky whatsoever to bring some cheerios or animal crackers or a fruit cup with me to a restaurant. All parents carry that stuff in their bags!!!! I didn't mean I was going to order a pizza from next door and bring it with me to the table. Good grief! You do not have a clue whatsoever. And have an opinion about everything (mostly things you have not experienced).


Sandra

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Yes, it is off topic. I think you are just purposely trying to cause trouble.

I guess you have never had cheerios or something for your kids to snack on while they wait for the food to come?? Oh yea, you don't have any kids!

What is tacky is your nitpicking through this entire thread and telling parents what we are doing wrong by allowing our children to order from the child’s menu and now saying I am tacky for carrying snack crackers with me!

It isn't tacky whatsoever to bring some cheerios or animal crackers or a fruit cup with me to a restaurant. All parents carry that stuff in their bags!!!! I didn't mean I was going to order a pizza from next door and bring it with me to the table. Good grief! You do not have a clue whatsoever. And have an opinion about everything (mostly things you have not experienced).


Sandra

I thought you meant that you would bring in a meal from somewhere, not just some snacks. No reason to get so hostile and rude.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We went to Ohana last week and something similar happened to us. I knew my two DD's wouldn't eat anything so I asked for something for the kids and our waiter stalled on that also. (He dropped our drinks so I didn't think much about his stalling). He said if they didn't eat anything he'd bring them something else. All 5 kids did not eat much, even those yummy potatoes.

I asked for a kids menu and he just said he'd bring out something. He brought out a big platter with grilled cheese, chicken tenders and fries. The kids cleaned off the platter.

It does sound like they are supposed to bring the kids stuff out after the regular menu.

 

[SandrainNC]

I thought you meant that you would bring in a meal from somewhere, not just some snacks. No reason to get so hostile and rude.

You were the one who was rude. You should have nicely asked what I meant if it bothered you so much instead of throwing the tacky word around.

Sandra

 

[disneyfav4ever]

You were the one who was rude. You should have nicely asked what I meant if it bothered you so much instead of throwing the tacky word around.

Sandra

So me misinterpreting your post is ruder then smart alec remarks?

 

[SandrainNC]

Your word choice was rude.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Your word choice was rude.

I don't see what you thought was rude. I said I thought something would be tacky. How is that rude?

 

[SandrainNC]

Forget it. It was rude and actually completely OT and has nothing to do with the post. You just threw it in there to get a reaction. So it worked! Congratulations.

In fact, I only asked if anyone else had that happen to them. I never asked about people's opinions on children's eating habits and other people's parenting skills.

Sandra

 

[ClarabelleCow]

disneyfav4ever - You stated your point, which I agree with, but your constant attacks is making me wonder. It sounds like you have no clue what your talking about. Not sure what your age is, sounds like your pretending to be an adult with years of experience with kids but you really have no clue on every day parenting . Time to get a grip, the fact that you state your staying in a Deluxe says it all. Time to move on, and sadly I was one of the few that agreed with you!

 

[december]

I had to read through this thread just to see why it had gotten so long! Disneyfav4ever-you sound like you mean well, but until you are a parent, please back off! Good grief. I thought I knew alot when I had nieces and nephews, too. When you have your own kids, and you are responsible for raising them, you still can't judge other parents! Every child is different. But when you admit to being childless and continue to post rude comments, you just come across as immature and judgemental. Sorry, not trying to be ugly here, that is just how your posts read to me.

No server has the right to dictate what my kids will eat, just like no bystander has the right to make comments about it. I was one of those child coffee drinkers, and no it didn't make me hyper!

I had no problems at 'Ohana. There is nothing tacky about ordering from the Kona children's menu-it is offered and advertised by MOST of the servers. Our server listed our options when he took our drink orders. Ds10 ate off the regular menu, dd8 ate mac and cheese. We didn't like the food, so we probably won't go back, but the service was wonderful. (The dessert was very good, though.)

Kids' tastebuds are not the same as adults. They don't generally like the same things. Restaurants have a kids' menu because they want our business! If my kids wouldn't eat any of the food, I wouldn't go there! Simple enough.

 

[CamColt]

I think this thread has deteriorated enough to be closed. Lets remember to play nice and keep things on topic. Thanks!