This can't be true - Kids at Separate Table

[Ms_Butterfly]

Oh my gosh, that is TERRIBLE!!!!!

The parents of those terribly-behaved children should have been made to pay for all the meals of the other guests who were bothered by the children.

Whatever happened to children being seen and not heard?! *Sigh* Parents need to be parents, not "friends" who don't do any disciplining.

 

[Laneychris]

Woo, I can't believe that would happen. I have 2 children and would never, never leave them alone to eat. Who knows who could really happen.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Wow! Did you say toddlers eating by themselves?? Geez. That is probably the worst parenting I have ever heard. Isn't Citrico's a signature dining experience??

If I were any of the respectful diners nearby, I would have 1) asked to be reseated as far as I could be from the kids and 2) Marched back to the dining room and yelled "who left the table of obnoxious kids?" and embarrassed them. Then I would have asked if they were planning to pay for all meals they ruined.

I am a patient person and would take only so much...but that situation is out of control!

 

[Dismom55]

The opne thing that has been bothering me is who on earth in this day and age would trust children out of sight at any place. Do they not think that those that who would harm children would know where to go to find lots of children. My kids were never ever allowed to play in the front yard, only in the back, ever! Even tho my kids were 15 and 19 at our last visit, I worried the whole time they were out of sight. They were given strick instructions to never, and I mean never be out of each others sight. This to a teen boy who is about 5 inches taller than his own father. I get the rolling eyes, but I would rather that than the alternative.

After thinking on this one, I think someone should have reported them to the authorities for child endangerment. Geez even in the movies at this age, if the kids don't want to sit with us, they must sit in front of us so I can see them at all times. OK, over much, but it is still the rule until the 15 yr old is 16, then I lighten up, well just a bit.

 

[Crisgw]

The opne thing that has been bothering me is who on earth in this day and age would trust children out of sight at any place. Do they not think that those that who would harm children would know where to go to find lots of children. My kids were never ever allowed to play in the front yard, only in the back, ever! Even tho my kids were 15 and 19 at our last visit, I worried the whole time they were out of sight. They were given strick instructions to never, and I mean never be out of each others sight. This to a teen boy who is about 5 inches taller than his own father. I get the rolling eyes, but I would rather that than the alternative.

After thinking on this one, I think someone should have reported them to the authorities for child endangerment. Geez even in the movies at this age, if the kids don't want to sit with us, they must sit in front of us so I can see them at all times. OK, over much, but it is still the rule until the 15 yr old is 16, then I lighten up, well just a bit.

I'm totally with you, I NEVER leave my kids anywhere! I also don't let them play alone outside even in the backyard which is surrounded by a privacy fence! Ultra paranoid! Shame on those parents.

 

[Karlzmom]

.....the evil fairy in me is piping up with how a lovely call to CPS for "abandonned" children could have livened up the whole evening. Nah, that's just too mean!

 

[Disney_Angel]

Wow! Did you say toddlers eating by themselves?? Geez. That is probably the worst parenting I have ever heard. Isn't Citrico's a signature dining experience??

If I were any of the respectful diners nearby, I would have 1) asked to be reseated as far as I could be from the kids and 2) Marched back to the dining room and yelled "who left the table of obnoxious kids?" and embarrassed them. Then I would have asked if they were planning to pay for all meals they ruined.

I am a patient person and would take only so much...but that situation is out of control!

I would think that would have been effective!!!

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Stupid People Should Not Breed!

Parents with no regard to the safety of their children, the other patrons in a restaurant or society in general are simply that - stupid.

 

[DISNEY1975]

If that happened in MA, they could be charged for child abandonment!!!

I would have spoken with a manager and if that didnt work, I would have approached the parents myself.

When my children acted up, mostly for being overtired at dinner, I took them for a walk out of the restaurant until the food arrives. If they still couldnt sit quietly while eating, Ill got my food to go and left. I know I would not be able to enjoy my meal with a wild child, I would never expect someone else to put up with it.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

The opne thing that has been bothering me is who on earth in this day and age would trust children out of sight at any place. Do they not think that those that who would harm children would know where to go to find lots of children. My kids were never ever allowed to play in the front yard, only in the back, ever! Even tho my kids were 15 and 19 at our last visit, I worried the whole time they were out of sight. They were given strick instructions to never, and I mean never be out of each others sight. This to a teen boy who is about 5 inches taller than his own father. I get the rolling eyes, but I would rather that than the alternative.

After thinking on this one, I think someone should have reported them to the authorities for child endangerment. Geez even in the movies at this age, if the kids don't want to sit with us, they must sit in front of us so I can see them at all times. OK, over much, but it is still the rule until the 15 yr old is 16, then I lighten up, well just a bit.

I'm thinking this is exactly what the parents were hoping for -- someone to kidnap the whole brood, or someone to call the authorities and have them take the kids away!

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I guess I am glad that they didn't leave the kids in the hotel room alone, but they still should never have done what they did at the restaurant!!

Yeah, somebody SHOULD have called CPS on them! Or at the very least Super Nanny - she would've kicked their butts real nicely!!!!

 

[PatsGirl]

The opne thing that has been bothering me is who on earth in this day and age would trust children out of sight at any place.

If you can't trust a 19 year old and 15 year old to be out of your sight and make them sit in front of you at the movies, you are doing them more harm than good. Kids need to learn to take care of themselves, that the world is a big, bad place and know how to react when something happens without Mommy there. It's a slow, gradual process, one that should start earlier than 15 and MUCH earlier than 19, JMHO

 

[Abharmagic]

.....the evil fairy in me is piping up with how a lovely call to CPS for "abandonned" children could have livened up the whole evening. Nah, that's just too mean!

As someone who worked for CPS the call would have been a source of much humor when called in. It would take days to investigate and get through all the red tape, by that time the kids would be done eating and out of the restaurant.

BTW from what I read they weren't 'abandoned' the parents were there- just in a different room eating. Still doesn't make it right- but NOT an issue for CPS- more of an issue for the restaurant/Disney to handle and correct.

I would have been super pissed if this had happened while we were dining. Terrible and SHAME on the parents and WDW for letting it go on!

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't think a call to CPS...but I think I might have tried to say something to the restaurant management about the liability aspect of allowing a group of children under 12 to sit unsupervised in a main dining room. I think the restaurants don't allow this, but the Citricos manager was pressured by the parents and gave in, which they should not have done.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Hard to believe. I started asking on this thread whether DD and her BFF, both almost 12, would be allowed to eat alone at a character meal (Chef Mickeys or Ohanas) and most thought it would be okay but I called WDW two times with the question and was told both times, NO.

Guess it would be okay if I sat at the bar then?

I thought that Disney's official rule is that children over 7 are allowed to be unsupervised? Though I think that's too young, I don't know why they wouldn't let 12 year olds eat by themselves, as long as they're well behaved.

 

[TDC Nala]

I thought that Disney's official rule is that children over 7 are allowed to be unsupervised? Though I think that's too young, I don't know why they wouldn't let 12 year olds eat by themselves, as long as they're well behaved.

Children over 7 are permitted to ride without parental supervision on attractions. They are not permitted to eat unsupervised in restaurants.

The difference in the Citricos example appears to be that the parents were present, albeit in another room. As it worked out, they couldn't provide supervision from a separate room and the restaurant should have insisted that at least one adult sit with the kids, but they were at least in the restaurant. In the example of the nearly 12 year olds (I'd refer to them as 11 year olds), the parents would apparently not have been present at all.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

If that happened in MA, they could be charged for child abandonment!!!

I would have spoken with a manager and if that didnt work, I would have approached the parents myself.

When my children acted up, mostly for being overtired at dinner, I took them for a walk out of the restaurant until the food arrives. If they still couldnt sit quietly while eating, Ill got my food to go and left. I know I would not be able to enjoy my meal with a wild child, I would never expect someone else to put up with it.

I'm right there with ya'!

I'm a single parent to a grown son. He was my responsibility - not anyone elses. Since I was single, where I went, he had to go as well. He was raised to be polite, respectful and well-mannered and I received many compliments from the parents of his friends.

Forget dealing with the Manager on Duty. I would have marched myself back to the parents table with my cell phone in hand and presented them with three choices:

1. They rejoin their offspring and supervise them properly.
2. Pay for my meal - including two of the most expensive bottles of wine available
3. They explain their actions to the local DCFS, DHS or CPS agency.

I count silently to three and begin dialing. I have no illusions that the call would be followed up. However, somone needs to stand up to the parents how obiously had only their enjoyment of the evening in mind

I used to work at my local Disney Store and had to deal with more than one parent dropping off their toddler when the went shopping a few doors down. Now I wasn't paid to babysit, so I always called mall security. I personally loved dealing with parents screaming at me because the local authorities had been called in - never bothered me a bit...because I knew I was right!

 

[DEBBYIAC]

i have two kids 9 and 5 and i would never ever leave them alone in a resturtant, besides not being safe for them they would drive everyone crazy. what is wrong with people, i just dont get it . i should never be allowed ever.

 

[carmiedog]

Yep, it's true...I know 'cause I'm the one who posted it on the other board and I posted about it earlier here too. We eat at Disney a lot so we've seen some real doozies, but that was most definitely our most...er, interesting...experience. Next time we eat at Citricos (we're usually there early when it's not crowded), I am going to ask the manager if there is a policy and mention our previous experience.

I'm a lurker over there and had no idea that was you. One of my favorite posters on both boards...what a coinkydink.

 

[Alexander]

Stupid People Should Not Breed!

Parents with no regard to the safety of their children, the other patrons in a restaurant or society in general are simply that - stupid.

Unfortunately, they are the most fertile!