would this have annoyed you?

[princess aleya]

My DH would have been very annoyed by this. Only because it was a guys trip without kids.

 

[bytheblood]

I would have been highly annoyed. I would have left.

 

[AggieTexan]

That's understandable. Your DH and his friends didn't want to be stuck at the "kiddie" table. But really, given that kids weren't misbehaving, the annoyance was more your DH's issue than anything the parents or kids did wrong.



Exactly, it wasn't their own table. It wasn't the adults own table either, it was communal seating and unfortunately sometimes guests get seated with other guests who might make them uncomfortable for any number of reasons. If the restaurant is at capacity, sometimes moving isn't an option. Disney provides a seat and food, not a guarantee that we'll be seated with strangers we like.

Respectfully I disagree with the second part of your post. I was babysitting kids much younger than that at as a teen, sometimes I even took the kids out in public. It was fine. From the OP's post, it seems that the teenager had everything under control and since her DH knew the kids were with an adult party of 8, I'm guessing that the parents weren't seated to far from the table the kids were at and would've been able to be right there if needed.

Unruly, disruptive kids in a restaurant, whether seated alone, with parents, or running around are ALWAYS annoying. These kids and their parents did nothing wrong other than sit at separate tables. According to the OP they weren't unruly or disruptive, they didn't break policy.

Not bad parenting, not bad kids.

Sure Disney should try to make all guests feel comfortable but there is a limit to what is reasonable for a guest to expect. The age of the people you're seated with pushes it IMHO.

What would the responses to a thread be if I wrote that I was annoyed that as a middle-aged woman I was seated at Teppan with a group of ninety year-olds and it made me uncomfortable? The majority of posters would probably say that that's my problem and to deal with it (as well as a few other nasty things).

I respectfully disagree with you. Since there were 8 adults, they should have split up to supervise their own children instead of allowing them to be seated with a teenager and a group of adult strangers. Sorry, I think that was just selfish on the part of the parents who wanted an adult meal experience and conversation, so they put their children with adults travelling without children? I honestly can't find a way to justify that.

 

[disneychic2]

I understand the upset by the hubby of OP and think it should not have happened. In truth, though, some adults are worse than the kids at spoiling a meal. Can we say obnoxious? DH, DS and I will be eating at Tepan Edo in September and hoping for the best.

 

[imthatgirl]

I respectfully disagree with you. Since there were 8 adults, they should have split up to supervise their own children instead of allowing them to be seated with a teenager and a group of adult strangers. Sorry, I think that was just selfish on the part of the parents who wanted an adult meal experience and conversation, so they put their children with adults travelling without children? I honestly can't find a way to justify that.

"put their children with adults".....I could be wrong here, but it seem the op was saying the kids were there first, right?

I asked earlier and I am still confused by this, but exactly how would their meal have been different if a parent had joined them?

how does raising responsible well mannered kids make a parent "selfish"?

 

[dvcdisney]

As a parent, I would not let my children sit with complete strangers unless I was sitting beside them no matter how well behaved they are. I would have so many concerns about this:

-They are adults and strangers, you never know what they would say or do. Just because my children are well behaved, it doesn't mean the strangers will be. I wouldn't want to subject my children to adults who act like fools.

-My children are very social, but I don't think they would like to eat a whole meal with strangers and not their own family.

-I would never be able to enjoy my own meal if I'm worried about them.

-I would also like to make sure they eat properly without having to go back and forth to check on them.

As an adult, I would be very nervous about having other people's children eating beside me without their parents. And no matter how well behaved they are, they are still children. Parents still need to be there for guidance.

As for the reasoning, It is more likely that the parents were being selfish and wanted to sit together and so "dumping" their children off on the waitstaff and strangers. But even if the children asked to eat by themselves, this should have been changed as soon as they are seated with strangers, 4 of the parents should have moved over and changed tables with the children.....leaving the OP's husband and party dining with 4 adults. It just makes sense to me. I can't comprehend why it wasn't done nor why the CM didn't insist that they do this before they sat them down.

A few have mentioned that it's a communal type restaurant and you would expect to sit with strangers, but common sense (and parental responsibility) dictates that you don't send children alone to sit with the strangers.

 

[MickeyNicki]

That would have really ticked us off...if they could not move us to another table then we would have left.

Why on earth would the parents just leave them at another table like that??? Unless they were teens I just dont get it

 

[juliebug1997]

I have another comment as I remember things from our night at TE....
The younger ones kept reaching for the hot area and our cook barely spoke English. I kept waiting for burnt fingers and tears. And while I shouldn't be babysitting someone else's kids on my vacation, neither should that cook.

I was with my brother at California Grill on Dec. 22nd and we were shocked that someone was letting their child play on the floor of a busy restaurant with some toys. At 11 PM at night. We always had to sit on our seats while we were at a restaurant mainly because the waiters are always carrying trays of hot food. What kind of lawsuit would we see when a waiter trips over a kid on the floor and dumps food all over?

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Not quite the same situation, but we have had this happen on Southwest Airlines. Because they have an open seating policy we found that a group of 4 adults allowed their three children (ages 5-7) to sit about 5 rows in front of them and on the opposite row of the plane (the $$$ are my parents and I, the XXX are the kids and the **** are their parents!)

$$$ AAA
XXX BBB
CCC CCC
DDD DDD
EEE EEE
FFF FFF
GGG* ***

These kids were, well kids! They were playing on the floor, kicking the seats, yelling, screaming. And no one was there do do anything.

After a while we asked the flight attendant for assistance. She attempted to quiet them, which we appreciated.

The last straw came when the 7 year old proceeded to kick my chair (thump, thump, thump) for a solid 15 minutes. I got up, leaned over them and said firmly "STOP IT NOW"

Miraculously, about 5 minutes after that, one of the mothers switched places with one of the children

It never ceases to amaze me when parents think that others should look after their children.

 

[PEANUT1]

well I have changed my mind..now knowing that they kids ages 5-8 were with a teenager...I don't think its a big deal at all. I think that the teen would be old enough to supervise the kids...maybe the adults were even paying the kid

 

[quagmire0]

I agree with most in that it depends on the age of the kids and their behavior. Also, with a guys trip I can see where they'd want to be able to have adult conversation - and having someone else's kids at your table is a major bummer. But again, it's a risk you know going in. It's like taking a flight and being shocked that someone let a baby on board. It happens.

 

[Missingthejob]

I agree with most in that it depends on the age of the kids and their behavior. Also, with a guys trip I can see where they'd want to be able to have adult conversation - and having someone else's kids at your table is a major bummer. But again, it's a risk you know going in. It's like taking a flight and being shocked that someone let a baby on board. It happens.

I can kind of understand this, wanting to have adult conversation. But, if there had been an adult present it would still have been kind of the men to keep their conversation appropriate. I don't think not having an adult there really changes how the men could act. This is still a family restaurant.

 

[scdufek]

Oh my! It's common sense to sit all the kids and half of the adults at one table and the other half of the adults with the men! Not meaning this toward OP husband, but in today's society, you can't be to safe! Who knows if one of these men were a danger to children? Poor parenting decisions!!!

 

[CathieArms]

As a group of only adults, you would want to be seated at the same table with four six-year-olds being watched over by a 14 year old? I wouldn't - not at the same table.

Of course not. But, if the 6 year olds were well-behaved and chaperoned by the 14 year old - and *I* didn't have to deal with them - then I wouldn't be as bugged by it. I guess I just mean that this scenario would be far less irritating to me than what I originally imagined, which was children under 10 all sitting there.

 

[scdufek]

I feel bad for the men and the 14 yr old! All the adults having a blast at one table and the poor 14 yr old having to watch 4 kids

 

[CathieArms]

well I have changed my mind..now knowing that they kids ages 5-8 were with a teenager...I don't think its a big deal at all. I think that the teen would be old enough to supervise the kids...maybe the adults were even paying the kid

I just have to agree with this 100%. My 14 year old would absolutely have complete control over this situation. Her sitting with three 6-year olds, for instance, would be no different than one of the adults from our group sitting with those 6 year olds. I really don't have a problem with this scenario at all, assuming that the 14 year old was capable and that the children were mostly well-behaved.

I'm not saying *I* would've done it. Knowing me, I absolutely wouldn't do it. I remember when we were there last and my ds (almost 5 then and very well behaved) ended up sitting at our table at Teppan Edo next to the 2 adults from another party. I tried to swap seats with him but it just didn't work out and I was stressed the whole time that he'd choose that time to misbehave and ruin their dinner. He didn't. But, my point is that I wouldn't be comfortable with my little guy at a different table with other adults because I'm hypersensitive to the fact that my fun ends when it starts interfering with YOUR fun.

 

[oceanrose]

I've been on both sides of this argument.

I worked at a kid friendly restaurant for almost 5 years, and witnessed parents leaving kids to bother others, and race around (the restaurant has very little control by the way, unless they kick them out, you can't make a person do anything.)

We however take family vacations a lot, and I bring my nephews to meet their cousins, who they see, maybe once a year. The kids are inseparable when they're together, and want to eat meals together etc. We enjoy going out, often to a medium-higher end restaurant and they want to sit together.

Last year at Disney, we went to Jiko with a large group, and the kids all sat together with my BF and myself down at that end of the table. The server was clearly disgusted with it, and annoyed at the well behaved kids. Great restaurant, just a jerk of a server. The kids were great the entire meal, talking quietly and eating what they liked.

And later that year, we had gotten together at the ocean. We went into a nice privately owned restaurant for lunch, and were seated at 2 tables. The kids (9, 10, 10, 10) asked to sit at the 4 top table by themselves. It was about 6 feet away. I stationed myself where I could see them, told them to mind their manners, and they sat there like champions eating very seriously. The server in this case was great, but people surrounding us sure glared. In reality, the kids were quiet and well behaved and they all said later that that was so cool.

Sometimes having the kids together outweighs the opposite, separate the kids and watch them run back and forth from table to table because they want to talk. No, I wouldn't be happy with my kids sitting with 4 adult men, mainly because I'd be worried about what the adults could do - after years as a server, I'd rather serve kids than 4 adults any day.

At the same point, how are kids supposed to learn to behave, if they are not put into situations where they can be taught? I've taken my nephews to high end restaurants since they were 3. No toys, good conversation that includes the kids and education about food and how to behave.

I am amazed at how many people have stated they would 'walk out'. Let me remind anyone, if you order, and walk out without paying, it is stealing. And you typically are not stealing from the restaurant, but from your server. They are generally responsible for your bill until you pay.

I've had one situation in a restaurant at Disney, that was appalling and I talked to the other table myself and told them to get the screaming kid out of the restaurant so we could eat. It wasn't the restaurant's fault, it was the mother's who took her 1 year old's bottle away because he dropped it. You can't cure stupid. That kid, was at the table with 3 adults, who didn't know what to do when the mom induced the tantrum, which interrupted the entire restaurant.

Unless you rent the entire restaurant, you really can't control who decides to eat there that day. When you go to eat at a communal type restaurant, you definitely can't control who you are seated with, it's the nature of the restaurant.

 

[TDC Nala]

I do not have a problem with someone else's kids or group of kids sitting by themselves at a table if they behave. But whether they behave or not, I do not want to sit at the table with them. This is why people are talking about leaving, not because they think kids shouldn't sit alone, but because they don't want to be the only adults sitting with them. That's the parents' job. And if I were to walk out based on this (and I might) I would first ask if I could be moved. If the server/manager said no, then I'd leave - BEFORE ordering. That is not stealing. Nor is it about having to sit next to a child, it's sitting with a group of just kids. You're then the de facto adult - even though they are not your kids.

 

[CathieArms]

I've been on both sides of this argument.

I worked at a kid friendly restaurant for almost 5 years, and witnessed parents leaving kids to bother others, and race around (the restaurant has very little control by the way, unless they kick them out, you can't make a person do anything.)

We however take family vacations a lot, and I bring my nephews to meet their cousins, who they see, maybe once a year. The kids are inseparable when they're together, and want to eat meals together etc. We enjoy going out, often to a medium-higher end restaurant and they want to sit together.

Last year at Disney, we went to Jiko with a large group, and the kids all sat together with my BF and myself down at that end of the table. The server was clearly disgusted with it, and annoyed at the well behaved kids. Great restaurant, just a jerk of a server. The kids were great the entire meal, talking quietly and eating what they liked.

And later that year, we had gotten together at the ocean. We went into a nice privately owned restaurant for lunch, and were seated at 2 tables. The kids (9, 10, 10, 10) asked to sit at the 4 top table by themselves. It was about 6 feet away. I stationed myself where I could see them, told them to mind their manners, and they sat there like champions eating very seriously. The server in this case was great, but people surrounding us sure glared. In reality, the kids were quiet and well behaved and they all said later that that was so cool.

Sometimes having the kids together outweighs the opposite, separate the kids and watch them run back and forth from table to table because they want to talk. No, I wouldn't be happy with my kids sitting with 4 adult men, mainly because I'd be worried about what the adults could do - after years as a server, I'd rather serve kids than 4 adults any day.

At the same point, how are kids supposed to learn to behave, if they are not put into situations where they can be taught? I've taken my nephews to high end restaurants since they were 3. No toys, good conversation that includes the kids and education about food and how to behave.

I am amazed at how many people have stated they would 'walk out'. Let me remind anyone, if you order, and walk out without paying, it is stealing. And you typically are not stealing from the restaurant, but from your server. They are generally responsible for your bill until you pay.

I've had one situation in a restaurant at Disney, that was appalling and I talked to the other table myself and told them to get the screaming kid out of the restaurant so we could eat. It wasn't the restaurant's fault, it was the mother's who took her 1 year old's bottle away because he dropped it. You can't cure stupid. That kid, was at the table with 3 adults, who didn't know what to do when the mom induced the tantrum, which interrupted the entire restaurant.

Unless you rent the entire restaurant, you really can't control who decides to eat there that day. When you go to eat at a communal type restaurant, you definitely can't control who you are seated with, it's the nature of the restaurant.

And four well-behaved 10-year olds sitting together at a different table wouldn't bother me, either.

Unless we're talking about little kids who can't or won't behave themselves, why is this a big deal? What, exactly, is offensive about it SO LONG AS the children are well-behvaved and not a "bother" to the adults. So a "free adult" has to sit next to a child. So what? So long as the child is behaving and you don't have to cut his food, tell him to sit down, eat politely and/or behave himself in any way, what's the big deal? i'd have ZERO problem with it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I respectfully disagree with you. Since there were 8 adults, they should have split up to supervise their own children instead of allowing them to be seated with a teenager and a group of adult strangers. Sorry, I think that was just selfish on the part of the parents who wanted an adult meal experience and conversation, so they put their children with adults travelling without children? I honestly can't find a way to justify that.

TIA!

Then again, I never would have allowed a young teenager to watch my son & another group of kids w/o adult supervision. One of his older cousins, or another responsible teen, watching him alone...? As long as they stayed in... sure. To take him out... no way. I suppose I just don't think a kid is old enough to watch a bunch of kids. IMHO, 13 & 14 yr. old teens are still kids.