Why would someone do this?

[notnothin]

And to those saying ducklite is not being attacked - I recall seeing a post calling her a Privileged Complaining _____...You may not like her "descriptions," but that kind of personal attack when she is in no way attcking anyone here is absolutely uncalled for.

And that came from someone about to attend a seminary! Wild stuff here!

 

[ducklite]

II do not eat at Applebee's. Actually, that is not fair, I do not think there are any near where I live. I was just teasing....

You don't know what you are missing--the Oreo Cookie shakes are to die for!

I ate at an Applebees a bit over a week ago, and had a really good entree--something with chicken that was low-cal and delicious!

Anne

 

[connorsmom911]

Don't really want to get involved in the "goings on" on this thread (ok, so yeah, why am I posting then...) but I just sincerely hope that Disney doesn't change it's policies regarding children dining with parents, or only at specified times. I have a 3yo ds who admittedly is a hand-full. I try my best to be a responsible adult with regards to planning meal-times, bringing toys/books to keep him preoccupied and such, and the back-up plan of one parent removing the kid is always there, but I also realize that he's 3 (even though he looks 5 because of his height). I will not stop taking ds to restaurants, particulary at WDW because otherwise, how will I teach him what behaviour is expected in a TS restaurant? Our trips to Disney is when I feel most comfortable trying him out at fancier restaurants because I expect there to be other children there and I expect that other patrons will expect children there as well. Yes, Disney caters to all types of consumers...yes ALL TYPES of consumers. I don't want to be limited to only dining at certain hours or not at all. What if our plans include a late afternoon nap and then a late dinner before Wishes or something? Admittedly there will always be parents who don't plan as well and who don't do the best job at meeting the needs of their tired, crying children, but don't punish all parents by changing your policies on dining with children, deal with the situations as they occur. I would expect CMs at disney restaurants would have (or should have) more training in how to effectively deal with the littler diners and the potential problems that could ensue.

 

[vatmark]

Yes, it's WDW, yes it's for kids and adults, yes kids will be in restuarants. But isn't WDW suppose to be fun? Obviously the kids weren't having fun, the parents weren't having fun and the people seated around this family weren't having fun. So why did these parents sit there in that kind of misery? I'm sure they could have easily asked their server to box everything up to go and leave the restuarant and eat back in their room where the kids would have been happier, the parents would have been happier and the other people in the restuarant would have been happier. I'm sure the management at Citricos would have had no problem allowing them to take the food to go.

Annie

 

[D L and K's Mom]

On one of our trip we were eating at the Luau at the POLY. Things were great until.....the fire twirler came on stage. DS lost it. He was screaming and crying. I took him back to the hotel room and DH, DD and youngest DD stayed to eat and enjoy the show. Whiel I was walking to our room I was stopped by a CM who asked if DS was ok (he was really crying hard and was scared) I explained that he just didnt like the fire although I could not really explain why as we had been to fireworks and bonfires etc. DS started to calm down and we went to our rooom. When we got to our room I put on the TV and DS calmed right down and was fine. The phone rang and when I picked it up it was the front desk saying we were to order anything we wanted off room service free of charge. When DH came back he said they had refunded our $ for my meal and my son's meal even though we had already started to eat. I think Disney handled it wonderfully.
I would never dream of letting DS spoil someone elses magical experience and I would never make him go through something that would upset him. I could never make him sit and wait and cry when he was tired, scared or just someplace he didnt like. I think people should consider the time they make their ressies. If you have been in the park all day and you are hot, tired and hungry just think how your child feels. Also take into consideration the restaurant and the ages of your children. There are plenty of nice restaurants that the kids will enjoy. This trip we have all early dinners so we can eat before the kids are to tired and cranky. Lets face it no matter how wonderful your children are when they are eating out if they are hot, tired and hungry they are not going to be perfect little diners and they should not be asked to be if they are young.

 

[phyllis1966]

And that came from someone about to attend a seminary! Wild stuff here!

 

[Sammie]

I think there are several factors that can play into why this happens.

Certainly the dining plan affords some the luxury of eating at restuarants they would not normally choose. To deny that is not being realistic, when we have all read many threads here by people saying the very thing. This "does not" mean all of them will be be slobs. But some will be experiencing more upscale dining than they are used to on vacation with small children. If your child has never dined in a restaurant that is similar in cost and atmosphere as the Disney Signature Restaurants then, this is NOT, the time to try and teach them how to act. Not all DDP particpants will act this way and we all know that.

Being considerate of others is the other problem. This mentality of I don't care how it affects someone else, only my wants, is very prevelant today. They are the same people who scam Disney with total disregard to the overall affect, they are the pool hoppers, etc, etc. They are only into their wants and needs.

And also something I don't think anyone has addressed and let me first say again, Everyone Does Not Fit this Category. Sometimes at the Grand Floridian, and I love the place, I see parents who I know spend very little time with the kids doing anything, especially eating out. They normally at home would never take their kids to a fine restaurant because they would get a sitter or have a nanny. But suddenly they are on vacation and spending quality time together and they have no clue how to be a good parent. Poor little rich kids. They just tune them out.

And finally I blame Disney most of all. Regardless that its WDW, if they are going to advertise to couples, retirees, companies, and singles then take their needs and wants into consideration as much as they do families. They have gone way overboard in allowing all guests to have it their way. Someone at Disney needs to step in and reclaim the magic and if that involves making a few guests unhappy for the betterment of the group, then so be it.

 

[phyllis1966]

Being considerate of others is the other problem. This mentality of I don't care how it affects someone else, only my wants, is very prevelant today. They are the same people who scam Disney with total disregard to the overall affect, they are the pool hoppers, etc, etc. They are only into their wants and needs.

Sadly, I see lots of this attitude everywhere these days...

 

[dzneprincess]

If anyone has anything to contribute to this thread that isn't a personal attack against me (notice I have NOT been personally attacking anyone here, but rather a group of diners who were selfish and ill-behaved) then I'm happy to discuss it in a rational manner. But anyone who posts for not reason but to attack me will be reported.

Anne

Just playing devil's advocate here, but why not take your own advice, and use your ignore button?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"Being considerate of others is the other problem. This mentality of I don't care how it affects someone else, only my wants, is very prevelant today. They are the same people who scam Disney with total disregard to the overall affect, they are the pool hoppers, etc, etc. They are only into their wants and needs."

In our house, my children included, we call them "the entitled." I deal with them at WDW and I deal with them on Cape Cod. It is my choice to live in an area that is considered to be a resort area.......the behavior we are talking about does not just happen in WDW........sad, but true.

 

[dzneprincess]

I don't know if WDW has any, but maybe the answer would be akin to what DCL has done? Have some 18 or older upscale restaurants?

 

[faindrops27]

If you don't like what I have to say, don't read it. It's not like you are stuck next to me in a restaurant and I'm throwing food at you or screaming and flailing about.

Anne

And, if you didnt like what was all the way across the room, at dinner. . Why didnt you get out?! I mean you were so turned off, and outraged at these people, and thier misbehaved child. You should have left. The thing is this. You cant control anyone. Bottom line. if you dont agree with parents who have, unruly kids. Stay far away from Disney restaurants.

 

[PghLybrt]

I do not understand why I should expect and tolerate meals that are filled with unruly children just because I am in Walt Disney World. So many people almost claim ownership to WWD and are of the opinion that adults have no business to be vacationing there (w/o children) or if they do should not in any way expect to have a vacation enjoyable to them because the vacationers with children should be put first! ( I just feel this way thru experiences and from what I have been reading, including this thread) By the same accord I do not understand why people with children get offended over conversation by adults ( that is overheard) when they have taken their children to what is clearly an adult establishment.
I expect kids running around being kids is places such as Chef Mickey’s , I do not expect it at the California Grill at 10 pm (but still encounter it).

 

[ducklite]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but why not take your own advice, and use your ignore button?

uh..I started the thread...

Anne

 

[pperfectmom]

I agree with the consensus that the OP was right being upset by her fancy dinner being ruined. I would have been, too. I do think she needs to temper her scorn a wee bit, however. I have two little darlings who have been known to make a mess of the table at restaurants, but I do try to clean up. Show me a one year old that doesn't throw things on the floor and I would be worried about him ! My children have also been taught to sit in their chairs and eat dinner politely as a family. We have never had a problem eating out(although our repertoire has been far from fancy, we don't do fast food). I'm hoping their good behavior will extend to WDW in Sept. Almost all of our ADR's are for earlier than we normally eat, so we should be fine. Also, if things start getting out of control, we'll either baby swap or hit the dusty trail, take-out boxes in hand!

 

[Luv'sTink]

Rude, hmmmm
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

 

[Cool-Beans]

On the one hand, I cannot stand parents who bring their undisciplined children around me. I have walked bratty children back to their own table, picked them up and plopped them into their seat.

BUT, if you choose Disney World as a place to eat out, you HAVE to expect that there will be kids around. And - even though it shouldn't be this way - you have to figure there will be bratty kids with parents who do not handle them properly.

If you want a pleasant, adult-oriented meal then maybe DisneyWorld isn't the place to go.

 

[dzneprincess]

uh..I started the thread...

Anne

hmmmm...okay...I did not realize that by simply starting a thread, the OP could determine what could be posted in response to the thread. Learn something new everyday! Thanks ducklite!

 

[Cool-Beans]

hmmmm...okay...I did not realize that by simply starting a thread, the OP could determine what could be posted in response to the thread.

Hey! Wasn't there just a thread on the CB about this very thing?!

It is deja vu all over again.

 

[ducklite]

And, if you didnt like what was all the way across the room, at dinner. . Why didnt you get out?! I mean you were so turned off, and outraged at these people, and thier misbehaved child. You should have left. The thing is this. You cant control anyone. Bottom line. if you dont agree with parents who have, unruly kids. Stay far away from Disney restaurants.

Like I said, we weren't seated next to them. I feel bad for the people who were. And after what I saw in the lobby, if we had been seated anywhere near them we would have first asked for a different table, and if that didn't happen, complain to the manager and leave--making sure he was well aware of why we were going.

We DID mention it to him, posing it as a general question of why they allow people with children who are already being disruptive even before being seated to be seated in teh first place, and his response was they they are aware it's a problem and are working on implementing a solution.

We did refuse a table next to kids who were having issues two days later at Wolfgang Pucks, and the parents shot us nasty looks when we said we'd like a table away from kids. Like I said, I'm glad we insisted (and the seater wasn't thrilled about our request, but he'll get over it) because five minutes later little miss hurled her plate to the ground scattering food and broken crockery all over people around them, including the poor couple seated at the table they originally wanted us at.

What it comes down to is that the people with unruly kids who aren't taking steps to keep their kids from becmoing a nuisance, distraction, whatever to others are the ones being inconsiderate. Why should the rest of the world be expected to change their dining plans due to poorly behaved kids and parents who are too inconsiderate to care?

And FWIW, I'm a local, and there just aren't a ton of restaurants within a half hour drive for me that aren't at WDW. Sure, I could drive all the way up to Lake Mary or Mount Dora for some great food, but they are over an hours drive.

I'm not expecting no children at WDW. I'm expecting reasonably well-behaved kids and concerned, proactive parents. I don't think that's too much to ask, regardless of where I'm eating.

Anne