shy 11 year old at WCC

[dianemb]

My son is shy and doesn't like attention. Will we be okay eating here if we don't draw attention to our selves?

 

[__disneygirl]

You'll be fine! When we were there, some of the time I interacted and some of the time I just kept quiet. If you don't want to interact your server will notice and leave you alone, maybe joke around with you a little bit but that's it.

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

I think you'll get a lot of opinions on this one.

Mine is that you can answer this best. If you son is shy and does not like attention he may not like it there. If you tell the CMs that he does not want to participate they will likely leave your son alone. But...it is a VERY lively and VERY noisy place with lots of stuff going on. Again, you know your son better than anyone here on the boards, but if he does not like noise, shouting, dancing, and singing, even if he does not want to participate, then WCC is the wrong place.

Of course, another angle is to bring him there and maybe he'll feel like joining in after seeing everyone else having a good time!

Bob

 

[littleladykaty]

oh you'll get lots of differing info on this question!!! I will tell you that I've heard more than once that if you don't like audience participation do NOT go to WCC. The servers are paid to goad people...one woman posted about her daughter not wanting to participate in the "horse races" and after pestering her and berating her for being "no fun" or something like that, he then told her she had to pass out certificates to all the kids that DID participate as a punishment...

if you ask for more ketchup it seems you are brought 20 bottles of ketchup to your table, asking for a soda refill brings huge buckets of soda...some will say that the servers can "tell" if you don't want to be involved...that doesn't appear to be the case.

I asked this question not too long ago b/c my soon to be DD6 is also very shy and she would be mortified to the point of paralysis if something like what happened to the little girl mentioned above ever happened to her!

that being said, I'm sure it's all "in a spirit of fun", but feeling uncomfortable and being embarrassed is NOT fun, it's agonizing, especially for children. If your kiddo is shy, I would skip this place...50's prime time as well.

and before anyone says "Oh relax, it's FUN"...I've heard it a million times before...it NOT fun if you don't enjoy it and it doesn't make you bad or uptight or wrong...it's who you are and that's okay!!! Period.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

We ate here twice. The first time, our server left us alone -- which is what my hubby wanted. I knew this and was glad our experience turned out that way.

The second time, I purposely asked to be seated in an area where we would be left to dine in peace. They seated us in the back room. At first, all was well, then hubby had to have ketchup. Luckily, the first time we were there, there was a bottle at the next table and I just grabbed it. This time, our quiet, polite server made an annoucement to the entire restaurant and, of course, 20 bottles of ketchup arrived at our table. Hubby was furious, told our server so and told him that he had ruined his meal. Our server was apologetic and then came back and said we would not have to pay for hubby's meal. Hubby had left the restaurant by this time and the server told it to me.

We were here for breakfast and the food is really good, it's unfortunate that if you ask to eat in peace and they go so far as to seat you in the back -- pretty much alone -- that you have to be "included" with what is going on with the other guests.

I realize that it's all in fun and I wish hubby had a better sense of humor, but he doesn't. And so we won't be going back to Whispering Canyon -- ever.

 

[Sammie]

My suggestion is Don't tell them you don't want attention, that only makes it worse.

Don't ask for ketchup, or extra straws, wear anything from Universal or Sea World.

I am not sure it's worth the risk. You might be ok and left alone and then you might get a server that is determined to involve your son. As others have posted I have seen it happen, and it's not fun.

For example a very shy young man of about 8 did not want to participate the night we were there, the servers had several girls his age come to his table to give him kisses. I thought he was going to be physically sick.

When his parents told them he wanted to be left alone, they all laughed and said, Sure he does, which is why he came here to eat, wink wink.

 

[Snow_White]

If I were you, I would just skip the WCC (and the prime time cafe as well), it's just not worth the stress of possibly badly upsetting and embarassing your child IMO. This is why I would NEVER take my husband to either restaurant.....he would be furious if something happened, so it's just not worth the risk to me, regardless of how good the food is.

 

[kidzmom3]

we were there last week and they had a boy in tears. He was at the table right next to us so we saw the entire thing. The boy was probably 9-11 yrs old and was fresh. They way he was speaking to his family was not acceptable. He was getting into the spirit of WCC but was just "off"about it. everything he said came across as slightly rude or obnoxious. His waitress (also ours) OOPS a Daisy made him come up front. Got out a stick pony and said he would not get to eat unless he rode around the entire resteraunt saying I will not be fresh. He started as an okay sport. But then the waitress goaded people into yelling, louder, louder. By the end the entire resteraunt was shouting at this kid (for fun) He couldn't take it, burst into tears and looked really humiliated. I personally, would have been livid if this happened to my kids. Now, my kids were not fresh, so it did not. But these jokes can go too far, and I think this one did. It could be damaging to a shy child.

 

[fakereadhed]

My advice is don't tell him about the antics. We were totally in the dark our first time, and ended up there on accident. My kids were in shock that people were allowed to act like that during dinner at a restaraunt and enjoyed without participating. My 2 DD's are shy(9 and 10 at the time) and the server tried to get them to yell for catsup, etc. but they would just smile shyly and look away. The server really tried to draw them out, but it didn't really work. They ended up having a fantastic time and wanted to go back every day after that(we didn't...had a great time but didn't want to chance the next visit not measuring up.) So even if he is embarrassed/ doesn't participate that doesn't mean he won't enjoy watching the antics.

 

[TiggerFamily]

Oh no I don't know what to do, we have ressies for WCC for dinner and my DS who is 4 is shy and can be very cranky at dinner time, so will they pick on a small boy if he is cranky, I hope not he would cry and it would up set him very much. Should I cancel or keep them? Nancy

 

[maslex]

My oldest son(10) is extremely shy. I'm talking even around family/friends. My youngest son(9) can be shy at times but is more outgoing. But both of them totally enjoyed their meal and all the antics. They both did the stick horse races, asked for the ketchup a bazillion times, even brought the ketcup to other tables when ask for and had a blast. I think it's up to you...how you think your child will be.

 

[Lynne M]

Honestly, I wouldn't chance it. From what folks have posted in this thread, you've seen that some people who want to be left alone are, and sometimes the servers don't know when to stop.

Even if the servers never tease anyone at your table, you're going to spend the entire meal worrying about whether/when they're going to start, and how your child will react. Your child may see children at other tables being picked on, and that may get them worrying that the same thing will happen to them. That's no way to spend a rather expensive meal. The food there is fine, but it's by no means a don't-miss culinary experience if you're not into the antics, and it's certainly not worth stressing yourself out over. There are plenty of other places of similar quality on property.

If you're staying at WL and like the kind of food WCC serves, just take the boat to FW and hit the Trails End buffet. It's probably cheaper, and stress-free.

 

[twinkletoesmom]

Oh no I don't know what to do, we have ressies for WCC for dinner and my DS who is 4 is shy and can be very cranky at dinner time, so will they pick on a small boy if he is cranky, I hope not he would cry and it would up set him very much. Should I cancel or keep them? Nancy

I would keep it and if you can see your DS is starting to get uncomfortable then simply tell your server in a kind way that your son has had enough. I'm sure they run into that alot. We are also thinking of eating there and our DS4 can get cranky when he chooses to be shy. Just remember that you are the parent and the paying customer they are going to make you happy if you are clear about what you want (I'd hope). Good luck, I hope it is a blast if you go.

 

[littleladykaty]

I just have to say that OBVIOUSLY telling your server that your child does not want to be involved doesn't work...provoking a child to tears, fresh or not, is inexcusable! THIS IS DISNEY!!! Children should NOT cry at Disney! Especially not because some adult that they are inherently trusting not to hurt them is goading them and embarrassing them in front of what is probably always a packed house. Every time I read about the stuff that goes on at WCC I am at a loss as to why it's allowed to go that far. I totally get that most of it is mild and involving those people who want to be the center of attention, and I totally get that that there are TONS of families out there that love WCC and think it's a grand time, but to provoke a child to TEARS?! I suppose as a school social worker I have a hard time understanding why adults would allow this to happen to their children or why Disney would allow their servers to get so out of control. Kids trust us to protect them and it is extremely damaging to a child, most especially to a shy child, to be called out in a situation in which their parents are there and watching and not be protected from such treatment. This is the stuff that makes impressions. There needs to be a line. Any adult who did such a thing in a setting in which they are dealing with children would be FIRED for cruelty on the spot in any other business or school situation...except at Disney...which just seems so bloody odd to me! Disney IS KIDS!!! Cruelty in the name "fun" is no excuse! Lets learn to read our customers, lets learn to LISTEN when we are told to STOP. These are basic life lessons for pete's sake!

okay climbing down now...I just despise bullys and it seems there are bullys working for Disney. That is sad