I thought I'd seen it all---

[mommycrawford]

I taught preschool for years. We had classroom rules that there were consequences for not following. It was well known to all of them that when we were on trips, we were in another space and had to adhere to the rules of that space! We would practice behaviors when necessary. ALL of my kids were teachable, and all enjoyed going on outings and having people think they were older than they were because they were so well behaved!

Children crave rules because it creates order and predictability!...then these children from no rule households lack consequential thinking and wonder why they get fired from their jobs: it is horrible! And the kids from homes with rules miss out on learning in school because teachers have to attend to these problem kids!

(To be clear...I adore children. When I say problem kids, I mean behaviorally...as a result of parents not respecting them enough to correct/teach them what is appropriate.)

 

[gmboy95]

It's stuff like this that really makes me nervous for my upcoming trip. I am not a fan of children much at all, NEVER want any. And I can't stand parents that let their kids cause such a disruption because they want to be their kids' friend instead of an actual parent. I am a child of the 80s/90s and you can bet that if I acted up I would be worried the whole dinner/way home of the punishment I was going to get for it. I was a good kid because of how I was raised. You shouldn't be asking your children to stop/be quiet, etc. You should be telling them what to do! You're the adult and authority figure! If you can't figure that out then maybe you shouldn't have children.

all due respect....If you are "not a fan of children at all", why in the world would you choose to travel to Walt Disney World.....Its like not being a fan of Oceans, and taking a cruise

 

[gmboy95]

In reading this post, I have to say that in my many times at Disney I do not see an increase in any way in wild children running unsupervised. I believe there is an exception to every rule. And clearly here we have a few examples of those extreme behaviors.....That being said, Disney is the ultimate location for judgement passing...The most shocked I have been at Disney in my 21 years of going is parents who hit their kids (its not spanking, its hitting). but again I try not to judge those folks. Its not my parenting style but for each is own....the problem as stated before, is that we are dealing with a group of folks who have massive differences in what they view as "bad parenting"....just like we have massive differences in what we think is "good service"....I tend to always tell myself, that in any situation there are probably a whole bunch of factors I am not aware of, so I tend to chalk things i see up to that, and move on with my day....I can honestly say, i have never had a flight, a day in the park, or a meal, ruined by a child

 

[StirlingSilver83]

WOW! That is really unbelievable! I have 2 young kids, both with special needs and they would NEVER get away with something like that...the worst thing my toddler does is he goes either under the table or stands up in the booth, which he is promptly told to sit down after he does 1 or the other and he always listens and sits down...of course we have to keep remind him, but I think I would be mortified if my kid ever stood up on the table and walked around!

 

[gorkt]

I saw a kid stand up on a table at a local restaurant. My own kids were appalled! I don't understand people who let their kids act up in public. I would absolutely die of embarrassment. I had to take my kids out of restaurants when they were little, and they eventually learned what was acceptable. I actually think it became a lot easier to take kids to restaurants from 2010 on because parents can always throw the kid a phone or iPad if they get bored.

 

[Steffiesunshine]

I have been told a # of times by servers and bartenders that they are told NEVER to question or correct any persons behavior who just seems to be having fun. The best they could do would be to alert a manager or supervisor.

They do tell you not to sit or stand on the queue railings. Is that not fun?

 

[tarak]

all due respect....If you are "not a fan of children at all", why in the world would you choose to travel to Walt Disney World.....Its like not being a fan of Oceans, and taking a cruise

I have to agree with this post. If you don't like children, Disneyworld might not be the best vacation destination for you. You will see kids. Lots of them. Some awesome and adorable and some not so much. Use the hot tub and I guarantee you there will be a kid in there who is completely unsupervised and splashing about like its a pool.

 

[winterwhite]

all due respect....If you are "not a fan of children at all", why in the world would you choose to travel to Walt Disney World.....Its like not being a fan of Oceans, and taking a cruise

Because everybody should be able to enjoy the parks without having to deal with "kids being kids" and behaving in a way that would never be accepted anywhere else.

Disney was never meant to only be for children.

I can like cruising for the convenience of traveling in a preorganized fashion to a number of different destinations, without wanting to jump right into every body of water I see.

 

[SunnieRN]

Our worst experience was at Crystal Palace. Our meal was going smoothly, character meets were great. Then a family arrived next to us with three children. They were constantly fighting. I got hit but didn't say anything. When I got hit the second time, I turned around politely and said that it hurt when their blows landed on me instead of each other.

So, the parents say "If you're going to fight, get away from the table so this b**** stops complaining"

Well not more than two minutes later, brat A shoves brat B the into our table. Drinks fly, we all got wet. The parents comment was "Maybe next time they'll mind their own business".

The waiter removed the charge for my grandmunchkins, so they ate free, but all 6 of us had water, tea or soda spilled on us!

 

[Sorrel]

We are a couple who go without children, and I love seeing kids have a great time there. It's one of the things that I enjoy about going. However, contrary to another poster above, we have seen the bad behaviour of children (which is really the bad parenting of adults) increase in the last few years. One restaurant example is we were at Cali Grill and sat at one of the tables that has a continuous bench that has a few tables seated at it (I hope that makes sense). Next to us was a lady with a child of around 5 or 6. The child was sat on the bench with an iPad (the sound was switched off thank goodness - the sound being switched on loudly on tablets in restaurants is another huge issue we noticed many times), and she was playing with her phone, not interacting much with the child at all. He was lying on his back with his feet up on the bench, pointing right at me, and kicking them a lot about 6 inches from my leg, which was bad enough. Then he started to actually kick me. Not deliberately, but he was so engrossed in his tablet he didn't notice what he was doing. I said "excuse me" and smiled nicely, and she noticed and asked him to stop. This carried on for the duration of the meal, with her half heartedly telling him to stop each time, and then him starting up again. He never took his feet off the bench except when his meal arrived, and she never asked him to, and then after 5 minutes his feet were back. We were having a special meal for my birthday, and the thought of saying something more to them or causing more of a scene was really something I didn't want to get into - maybe that is my fault, but i really shouldn't have to. At no point did the server say anything, or request that the child get his feet down. I would really expect at least that.

 

[Uncleromulus]

They do tell you not to sit or stand on the queue railings. Is that not fun?

If you re-read my post you will see I am talking about restaurants. And many a time we've seen kids sitting on railings and not a word said by any CM.

 

[johnsonet]

Our worst experience was at Crystal Palace. Our meal was going smoothly, character meets were great. Then a family arrived next to us with three children. They were constantly fighting. I got hit but didn't say anything. When I got hit the second time, I turned around politely and said that it hurt when their blows landed on me instead of each other.

So, the parents say "If you're going to fight, get away from the table so this b**** stops complaining"

Well not more than two minutes later, brat A shoves brat B the into our table. Drinks fly, we all got wet. The parents comment was "Maybe next time they'll mind their own business".

The waiter removed the charge for my grandmunchkins, so they ate free, but all 6 of us had water, tea or soda spilled on us!

LOL. Love people who can't and don't take any responsibility for their own behavior It's YOUR fault the drinks spilled

...Next to us was a lady with a child of around 5 or 6. The child was sat on the bench with an iPad (the sound was switched off thank goodness - the sound being switched on loudly on tablets in restaurants is another huge issue we noticed many times), and she was playing with her phone, not interacting much with the child at all. He was lying on his back with his feet up on the bench, pointing right at me, and kicking them a lot about 6 inches from my leg, which was bad enough. Then he started to actually kick me. Not deliberately, but he was so engrossed in his tablet he didn't notice what he was doing. I said "excuse me" and smiled nicely, and she noticed and asked him to stop. This carried on for the duration of the meal, with her half heartedly telling him to stop each time, and then him starting up again. He never took his feet off the bench except when his meal arrived, and she never asked him to, and then after 5 minutes his feet were back. We were having a special meal for my birthday, and the thought of saying something more to them or causing more of a scene was really something I didn't want to get into - maybe that is my fault, but i really shouldn't have to. At no point did the server say anything, or request that the child get his feet down. I would really expect at least that.

I've come to realize that many people have absolutely no concept of what manners ARE.

 

[Uncleromulus]

In reading this post, I have to say that in my many times at Disney I do not see an increase in any way in wild children running unsupervised. I believe there is an exception to every rule. And clearly here we have a few examples of those extreme behaviors.....That being said, Disney is the ultimate location for judgement passing...The most shocked I have been at Disney in my 21 years of going is parents who hit their kids (its not spanking, its hitting). but again I try not to judge those folks. Its not my parenting style but for each is own....the problem as stated before, is that we are dealing with a group of folks who have massive differences in what they view as "bad parenting"....just like we have massive differences in what we think is "good service"....I tend to always tell myself, that in any situation there are probably a whole bunch of factors I am not aware of, so I tend to chalk things i see up to that, and move on with my day....I can honestly say, i have never had a flight, a day in the park, or a meal, ruined by a child

You have been lucky indeed. What shocks me is kids hitting their parents--slapping them away, even kicking at them when they don't want to do what they are told. Or just looing defiant and saying "no".

And the parents just standing there with that "oh well" or "what do I do now" expression.

 

[mousefan73]

I have to agree with this post. If you don't like children, Disneyworld might not be the best vacation destination for you. You will see kids. Lots of them. Some awesome and adorable and some not so much. Use the hot tub and I guarantee you there will be a kid in there who is completely unsupervised and splashing about like its a pool.

Just because WDW is a place for all Ages and caters to Kids, does not mean that BASIC curtousy and rules have to fly out the window especially with dining. Kids should not be running, crawling, screamin continous etc... Throwing, things, making an obcene mess. Comparing pool areas to Restaurants are two different things. Adults should still be able to dine at WDW, even at CMs, and expect Basic table manners from other guests regardsless of age.

If you re-read my post you will see I am talking about restaurants. And many a time we've seen kids sitting on railings and not a word said by any CM.

that is interesting as in almost every line ride my Kids will be Standing sitting on the line divider railing Thing. ( ok with me, they are not high as the kids are still shorter than me and I am holding them or the Kids are just sitting on the first rail being quiiet) and EACH time a CM will run over and tell my Kids to get down.


Also I would NOT hesitate to correct any child that is not mine. Especially in today's world. If a child was making our experience bad, I would correct child and then also state my opinion to their parents. I notice the older I get, the less I hold back.. Maybe with Age Comes cojones!!

I find it also a shame if staff does not address this. Especially if running around Kids are putting Servers and others at rishk ( Dumping platters of hot Food over).

 

[johnsonet]

You have been lucky indeed. What shocks me is kids hitting their parents--slapping them away, even kicking at them when they don't want to do what they are told. Or just looing defiant and saying "no".

And the parents just standing there with that "oh well" or "what do I do now" expression.

Just because WDW is a place for all Ages and caters to Kids, does not mean that BASIC curtousy and rules have to fly out the window especially with dining. Kids should not be running, crawling, screamin continous etc... Throwing, things, making an obcene mess. Comparing pool areas to Restaurants are two different things. Adults should still be able to dine at WDW, even at CMs, and expect Basic table manners from other guests regardsless of age.

that is interesting as in almost every line ride my Kids will be Standing sitting on the line divider railing Thing. ( ok with me, they are not high as the kids are still shorter than me and I am holding them or the Kids are just sitting on the first rail being quiiet) and EACH time a CM will run over and tell my Kids to get down.

Also I would NOT hesitate to correct any child that is not mine. Especially in today's world. If a child was making our experience bad, I would correct child and then also state my opinion to their parents. I notice the older I get, the less I hold back.. Maybe with Age Comes cojones!!

same

 

[tarak]

Just because WDW is a place for all Ages and caters to Kids, does not mean that BASIC curtousy and rules have to fly out the window especially with dining. Kids should not be running, crawling, screamin continous etc... Throwing, things, making an obcene mess. Comparing pool areas to Restaurants are two different things. Adults should still be able to dine at WDW, even at CMs, and expect Basic table manners from other guests regardsless of age.





that is interesting as in almost every line ride my Kids will be Standing sitting on the line divider railing Thing. ( ok with me, they are not high as the kids are still shorter than me and I am holding them or the Kids are just sitting on the first rail being quiiet) and EACH time a CM will run over and tell my Kids to get down.


Also I would NOT hesitate to correct any child that is not mine. Especially in today's world. If a child was making our experience bad, I would correct child and then also state my opinion to their parents. I notice the older I get, the less I hold back.. Maybe with Age Comes cojones!!

I find it also a shame if staff does not address this. Especially if running around Kids are putting Servers and others at rishk ( Dumping platters of hot Food over).

I'm not sure why you quoted me. I don't believe any of my posts condoned such behavior. Whether it's at a pool, a park, or a restaurant, kids gone wild can be annoying or dangerous or anything in between. The point I was making in the post you quoted is that, if one doesn't like children "much at all," a statement which could be fairly interpreted as disliking well- or badly- behaved children, a trip to Disney world might not be very enjoyable. I agree WDW is for all ages. But if I weren't fond of a hefty chunk of the expected guest population, I might rethink my plans. At the end of the day, though, I don't care how someone spends his or her vacation funds.

 

[gmboy95]

Because everybody should be able to enjoy the parks without having to deal with "kids being kids" and behaving in a way that would never be accepted anywhere else.

Disney was never meant to only be for children.

I can like cruising for the convenience of traveling in a preorganized fashion to a number of different destinations, without wanting to jump right into every body of water I see.

OK....again i will say that the extreme examples in some of these posts are exactly that, extreme; and should not be tolerated by anyone.....that being said....taking a disney vacation where you operating principle is 'i dont like kids" seems a bit ridiculous...it really is like going to an NFL football game with the belief that you hate big crowds....there is nowhere on the planet that has a larger collection of kids of all different behavior levels in one confined place the walt Disney World....yes, as a person who has done Disney many times with both kids and without, there are ways to have 'adult" fun at Disney, but it is always with the understanding that children are at Disneys core. they are everywhere....its the only place you can go to a "fine dining" restaurant and have kids at almost every table. Its what makes Disney unique. And i guess i disagree with you premise that "everyone should be able to enjoy the parks without kids being kids". No, kids will be kids in the parks, it happens (again, not including the extreme examples above)...temper tantrums, crying, diaper emergencies, spoiled behavior, poor social skills, are part of what kids do...yes their parents are responsible for them for sure. But if that ruins your time at the park, I would say you are set up for a bad time before you ever get there

 

[85glht]

Our worst experience was at Crystal Palace. Our meal was going smoothly, character meets were great. Then a family arrived next to us with three children. They were constantly fighting. I got hit but didn't say anything. When I got hit the second time, I turned around politely and said that it hurt when their blows landed on me instead of each other.

So, the parents say "If you're going to fight, get away from the table so this b**** stops complaining"

Well not more than two minutes later, brat A shoves brat B the into our table. Drinks fly, we all got wet. The parents comment was "Maybe next time they'll mind their own business".

The waiter removed the charge for my grandmunchkins, so they ate free, but all 6 of us had water, tea or soda spilled on us!

WOW! A manager should have been involved. I know being on vacation one should not have to deal with this but getting while not on a water ride is unacceptable!

You have been lucky indeed. What shocks me is kids hitting their parents--slapping them away, even kicking at them when they don't want to do what they are told. Or just looing defiant and saying "no".

And the parents just standing there with that "oh well" or "what do I do now" expression.

I have seen this also. My blood boils when I see this. I have to turn and walk away.

 

[gmboy95]

You have been lucky indeed. What shocks me is kids hitting their parents--slapping them away, even kicking at them when they don't want to do what they are told. Or just looing defiant and saying "no".

And the parents just standing there with that "oh well" or "what do I do now" expression.

no...i see the same things you see and everyone else does....i just internalize differently then many. As i stated before, i try and give every benifit of the doubt to parents in those situations....and i move on with my day

 

[NYDisGuy]

No, kids will be kids in the parks, it happens (again, not including the extreme examples above)...temper tantrums, crying, diaper emergencies, spoiled behavior, poor social skills, are part of what kids do...yes their parents are responsible for them for sure. But if that ruins your time at the park, I would say you are set up for a bad time before you ever get there

I think we are all on the same page, the poster said that they can't stand parents who let their kids run wild. I think liking or disliking kids is irrelevant, you can dislike things but still tolerate it to enjoy something that you love. I don't see why you need to like kids in order to enjoy Disney, it's not like they have a fear or are unable to co-exist.