Fussy children at WDW? Heaven forbid!

[pixieintraining]

Q: Iam spending my honeymoon at WDW and would like to know where I can take my wife for a quiet, romantic dinner, with no "overstimulated" cranky children......

A: JAMAICA! Sandals resorts are couples only!

(ummmm....can I post a possibly controversial topic here?) Too often lately I have heard and read questions and comments similar to this (not necessarily in this exact forum). It has become my pet peeve! On my last visit to WDW as we were leaving AK on a bus a very young little girl (maybe 3) had a complete meltdown. She screamed at the top of her lungs the entire ride to the Poly. Several of the other riders became horribly rude and voiced their dismay. The mother was in tears and trying anything to quiet her child. The worst of the firing squad was a woman (maybe in her 50's) who had no children with her. She was downright ugly to this poor young mom. When we reached the Poly and the family got off, the bus erupted in applause! UNBELIEVABLE! And frankly, disgusting!

Why would anybody who was sensitive to other peoples children go to a place like WDW? Would you go on a romantic date to a "G" rated movie? I doubt it!

Honeymooners ask these questions regularly...about privacy and quiet and romance. Never have I seen a response that says "go someplace else!", its the same over and over......

To the parents of these "overstimulated" children....

"1. DON'T take a tired, cranky or "overstimulated" child to a restaurant. Remember others have paid the same amount of money as you and would like to enjoy their meals without fussy children around!" I also read a comment that suggested WDW have an "adult hour" to be observed in all sit-down restaurants. HA!

OK....so you get rid of all the families with tired children at dinner. Im sure the higher powers at Disney would be thrilled with the revenues from that venture! But then again I guess they could just cut down the restaurant staff to one cook and one waitress and get rid of the characters all together. And hey it would probably only require one restaurant in the entire place to serve the masses that travel there without children.

"2. DON'T take tired, fussy or "overstimulated" children on the Disney transportation systems. If you are travelling with young children you should seriously consider renting a car! Remember others have paid the same amount, yadda, yadda, yadda!"

I travel with my children and last I checked I was the "majority". If tired, fussy children offend you.....you rent a car!

"3. Same comments have been applied to attraction lines, parade viewing and even resort pools!" And ALWAYS with this rediculous comment about someone paying the same amount as me. Hmmmmm......A couple travelling alone, no children vs. my family of five, 2 hotel rooms, 5 plane tickets, meals, snacks, souveneirs, park hoppers, souveniers, souveniers, and more souveniers (you know how kids are!)....I feel pretty confident that my donation to WDW was ASTRNOMICALLY higher. And IF they paid the same amount as me to go to a place made for children and families with children and still got upset about normal child behavior then they have noone to blame but themselves!

I honestly believe that ANYONE who loves Disney should be there. I cant imagine how romantic it would be to be married there in Cinderella fashion. I plan on visiting WDW even after my children are all grown up. But I will always know and accept that this is a place where children are abundant, even fussy, cranky, hyper and overstimulated ones (and I wouldnt want it any other way!).

Soooo, if you are sensitive to children, please dont go and be ugly! Hawaii is beautiful!

 

[Woody13]

Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard!



The phrase "children should be seen and not heard" (although it may have deeper origins back in time) is credited as being a British parenting thought that was brought over to America by the early colonists. A sign of a good parent, so it is thought, is for that parent to have well-behaved children. Well-behaved children are not only mannerly, polite, respectful, and quiet around adults but also viewed as the child being mature. All being a good reflection upon the child's parents and their parenting skills which, in turn, was also the community!

I endorse this concept and raised my children accordingly.

 

[mrtoad]

The phrase "children should be seen and not heard" (although it may have deeper origins back in time) is credited as being a British parenting thought that was brought over to America by the early colonists. A sign of a good parent, so it is thought, is for that parent to have well-behaved children. Well-behaved children are not only mannerly, polite, respectful, and quiet around adults but also viewed as the child being mature. All being a good reflection upon the child's parents and their parenting skills which, in turn, was also the community!

I endorse this concept and raised my children accordingly.

While I do agree that children should not just run free and do what they please, I think crying kids is another story. I think a child crying and being upset is not something that others should give glares or snide remarks about to the parents. Sure if some kid is running up and down the isle of resaurant and being a little nuts, that is something parents should take care of. But if a child is having a tantrum, nobody knows why the kid is doing so and therefore should not judge the parents.

 

[Gail Hayden]

The phrase "children should be seen and not heard" (although it may have deeper origins back in time) is credited as being a British parenting thought that was brought over to America by the early colonists. A sign of a good parent, so it is thought, is for that parent to have well-behaved children. Well-behaved children are not only mannerly, polite, respectful, and quiet around adults but also viewed as the child being mature. All being a good reflection upon the child's parents and their parenting skills which, in turn, was also the community!

I endorse this concept and raised my children accordingly.

Bravo!!!! Well stated and ITA!!!! I also endorsed and raised mine the same way and feel I have a credits to society, NOT liabilities.

 

[mrtoad]

Bravo!!!! Well stated and ITA!!!! I also endorsed and raised mine the same way and feel I have a credits to society, NOT liabilities.

So you are saying a child who cries in public or misbehaves is a liablity to society? I just want to make sure I am reading you right before I reply to that.

 

[Gail Hayden]

Read your statement....

If you think crying is annoying, you should not even think of being a parent.

"Oh look honey, little Johnny is crying. That really annoys the hell out of me. Johnny stop it right now."

That is great, little Johnny is sick to his stomach and has been trying to tell you for a freaking half hour but you were too annoyed to realize it.

If crying is annoying to you, I would hate to see you deal with your kid if they get car sick.

Do me a favor, don't propagate. It won't be fair to your offspring.

LOL, I am a parent, 3x's and crying does annoy me & temper tantrums were never tolerated. We taught them to express themselves in words, NOT actions. There is an huge difference between a cry of pain and one of temper. As a parent you learn to know the difference. I never screamed at my children, never told them to shut up but, I will tell you they knew who was in charge at a very early age and what was expected of them. I never hit them either. It takes work to be a parent, it is a 24/7 job and I loved every single minute of it. It pains me to see the parents today, what miserable lives they lead when the kids are in charge. You simply have to set limits and expectations and stick to them. It is not easy but it makes life a lot more pleasant for the family and others that may be around you.

 

[Woody13]

While I do agree that children should not just run free and do what they please, I think crying kids is another story. I think a child crying and being upset is not something that others should give glares or snide remarks about to the parents. Sure if some kid is running up and down the isle of resaurant and being a little nuts, that is something parents should take care of. But if a child is having a tantrum, nobody knows why the kid is doing so and therefore should not judge the parents.

I agree with you fully. However, it was always my policy and practice to protect my children from others and to protect others from my children! From infancy to legal adult, I never allowed my children to "act out" and disturb other people. You've no doubt heard that old expression, "I'm going to turn this car around if you don't behave". Well, I turned the car around a lot!

In my experience, too many parents use "idle threats" rather than real action to deal with misbehavior by their children. It was my practice to always take my children out of public areas if they caused any problems at all. It was then my parental responsibility to determine the extent of the problem and correct it, if possible. If the problem could not be corrected, then we (as a family) leave the area for others to enjoy.

Other people do not need to hear my children scream at WDW or Wal-Mart, I have a home in which my children may exercise their lungs.:wave:

 

[mrtoad]

I agree with you fully. However, it was always my policy and practice to protect my children from others and to protect others from my children! From infancy to legal adult, I never allowed my children to "act out" and disturb other people. You've no doubt heard that old expression, "I'm going to turn this car around if you don't behave". Well, I turned the car around a lot!

In my experience, too many parents use "idle threats" rather than real action to deal with misbehavior by their children. It was my practice to always take my children out of public areas if they caused any problems at all. It was then my parental responsibility to determine the extent of the problem and correct it, if possible. If the problem could not be corrected, then we (as a family) leave the area for others to enjoy.

Other people do not need to hear my children scream at WDW or Wal-Mart, I have a home in which my children may exercise their lungs.:wave:

I do agree. That is part of the reason why we are staying at the Polynesian this coming trip (a small part but still a part). If our daughter does start misbehaving we want the ability to just go back to the hotel for a rest. It usually has to do with being exhausted if she ever has any sort of meltdown. We are planning to go back to the hotel everyday for downtime. She won't name probably but downtime is needed (for all of us). Staying at a bus resort it is just do darn far away to go back as we stay in the off season. If you leave to go back, you just wind up not going back to the parks for the day as they day is almost over.

 

[Gail Hayden]

So you are saying a child who cries in public or misbehaves is a liablity to society? I just want to make sure I am reading you right before I reply to that.

I am saying that a child that constantly misbehaves and throws temper tantrums constantly and the parents do absolutely NOTHING to stop it or set limits etc. will, indeed become a liability to society. They become responsible adults by training received in childhood. If the parents are not taking an active role in the raising of these children then, what are they raising? There are many reasons for a child to cry in public, and you cannot lump them all into the "brat" category, but, there are many children out there that simply cry because they want their own way and know this is the way it is done. I am amazed at people that are holding their screaming kid, totally ignoring the child while unloading their shopping baskets. I am sorry, but, that is just not right. Why does anyone have to endure this? Where has consideration for others gone? Why do we have to have candy free aisles in the grocery check out lanes? Have parents lost the ability to say no and mean it? Do we have to keep every temptation away from children? Where do you build character and discipline?
Like I said a few posts back, things change and parenting techniques change, but, I can tell you when my kids were small we did not have AHDD children, we did not have children that ruled their parents, no candy free aisles, tantrums in the cereal aisle, meltdowns etc. We had children with manners, liimits and discipline (sometimes spanking by some). I am thrilled to pieces when I see parents that parent, children with manners and thank them for making my dinner, flight, shopping, etc. pleasant. I do realize that children will be children, they are not minature adults, but, I also realize that there are some pretty poor parents out there and the lack of consideration for others abounds.
There are some pretty miserable adults out there too, but, that is another topic.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I do agree. That is part of the reason why we are staying at the Polynesian this coming trip (a small part but still a part). If our daughter does start misbehaving we want the ability to just go back to the hotel for a rest. It usually has to do with being exhausted if she ever has any sort of meltdown. We are planning to go back to the hotel everyday for downtime. She won't name probably but downtime is needed (for all of us). Staying at a bus resort it is just do darn far away to go back as we stay in the off season. If you leave to go back, you just wind up not going back to the parks for the day as they day is almost over.

You obviously don't have a child that fits into any of the categories that have been described. Why? Because you parent and do have respect.

 

[mrtoad]

Gail,

I agree that parents should parent more (if that is the correct way of saying it) but again, if someone sees a kid crying of throwing a tantrum they have no way of know why it is happening. Some kids are disabled and it does not show on the outside. My daughter has a communication problem and she is very hard to understand for me and my wife let alone anyone else. She has trouble letting you know what she wants and sometimes will have a meltdown because of the frustration. She goes to a speech pathologist everyweek for this and it is getting better so the meltdowns are less and less.

All I am saying is people should not be so quick to judge others as they have no clue as to what is going with that child. Spending 15 minutes on a bus with someone is not enough to have a clue as to the situation.

Mike

 

[Woody13]

I am saying that a child that constantly misbehaves and throws temper tantrums constantly and the parents do absolutely NOTHING to stop it or set limits etc. will, indeed become a liability to society. They become responsible adults by training received in childhood. If the parents are not taking an active role in the raising of these children then, what are they raising? There are many reasons for a child to cry in public, and you cannot lump them all into the "brat" category, but, there are many children out there that simply cry because they want their own way and know this is the way it is done. I am amazed at people that are holding their screaming kid, totally ignoring the child while unloading their shopping baskets. I am sorry, but, that is just not right. Why does anyone have to endure this? Where has consideration for others gone? Why do we have to have candy free aisles in the grocery check out lanes? Have parents lost the ability to say no and mean it? Do we have to keep every temptation away from children? Where do you build character and discipline?
Like I said a few posts back, things change and parenting techniques change, but, I can tell you when my kids were small we did not have AHDD children, we did not have children that ruled their parents, no candy free aisles, tantrums in the cereal aisle, meltdowns etc. We had children with manners, liimits and discipline (sometimes spanking by some). I am thrilled to pieces when I see parents that parent, children with manners and thank them for making my dinner, flight, shopping, etc. pleasant. I do realize that children will be children, they are not minature adults, but, I also realize that there are some pretty poor parents out there and the lack of consideration for others abounds.
There are some pretty miserable adults out there too, but, that is another topic.

You go girl!:kiss: You are too cool!

 

[Gail Hayden]

Gail,

I agree that parents should parent more (if that is the correct way of saying it) but again, if someone sees a kid crying of throwing a tantrum they have no way of know why it is happening. Some kids are disabled and it does not show on the outside. My daughter has a communication problem and she is very hard to understand for me and my wife let alone anyone else. She has trouble letting you know what she wants and sometimes will have a meltdown because of the frustration. She goes to a speech pathologist everyweek for this and it is getting better so the meltdowns are less and less.

All I am saying is people should not be so quick to judge others as they have no clue as to what is going with that child. Spending 15 minutes on a bus with someone is not enough to have a clue as to the situation.

Mike

You are absolutely correct, 15 mins. on a bus with a child is not enough time, but, definitely more time than I want to spend with a child having a fit.
I understand the frustration aspect, only too well. I also understand disabilities, I worked with children that were disabled and they, in fact, seem to have less trouble coping than non disabled children.
What I can state an opinion on is a child that boards an aircraft and immediately starts screaming the minute the parent puts said child into a car seat or tries to hold a lap child. This screaming lasts the duration of the flight, the parent is trying the "please honey, sit down" yada yada yada. I fear I would be a bit more strident and after the first please, there would be something a tad more harsh. I can totally understand the ear thing and totally sympathize with it, but, I cannot abide screaming before the plane starts and escalates from there until the door to the plane opens and said child is released from his confining whatever. I also have issues with toddlers and older children running up and down the aircraft aisles. This is not particularly safe and I really don't want to see the child, I don't think the child is adorable and I don't want the child grabbing stuff off my tray with sticky hand while the parent is sweetly trying to coax the kid back. As you can probably see, I have had some pretty annoying flights, but some totally awesome ones with great kids.

 

[mrtoad]

You are absolutely correct, 15 mins. on a bus with a child is not enough time, but, definitely more time than I want to spend with a child having a fit.
I understand the frustration aspect, only too well. I also understand disabilities, I worked with children that were disabled and they, in fact, seem to have less trouble coping than non disabled children.
What I can state an opinion on is a child that boards an aircraft and immediately starts screaming the minute the parent puts said child into a car seat or tries to hold a lap child. This screaming lasts the duration of the flight, the parent is trying the "please honey, sit down" yada yada yada. I fear I would be a bit more strident and after the first please, there would be something a tad more harsh. I can totally understand the ear thing and totally sympathize with it, but, I cannot abide screaming before the plane starts and escalates from there until the door to the plane opens and said child is released from his confining whatever. I also have issues with toddlers and older children running up and down the aircraft aisles. This is not particularly safe and I really don't want to see the child, I don't think the child is adorable and I don't want the child grabbing stuff off my tray with sticky hand while the parent is sweetly trying to coax the kid back. As you can probably see, I have had some pretty annoying flights, but some totally awesome ones with great kids.

I agree 100%.



Wow, can you believe this. We are having a moment here... :animwink:

 

[Woody13]

My daughter has a communication problem and she is very hard to understand for me and my wife let alone anyone else. She has trouble letting you know what she wants and sometimes will have a meltdown because of the frustration. She goes to a speech pathologist everyweek for this and it is getting better so the meltdowns are less and less.

Mike, you're cool too! Better than I thought! I'll get back to you later cause I feel a little tired right now. I know you understand.:wave:

 

[mrtoad]

Mike, you're cool too! Better than I thought! I'll get back to you later cause I feel a little tired right now. I know you understand.:wave:

I totally do Woody. Have a good night.

 

[Gail Hayden]

I agree 100%.



Wow, can you believe this. We are having a moment here... :animwink:

LOL, well, then, time for a group hug!!! LOL

 

[mrtoad]

LOL, well, then, time for a group hug!!! LOL

...

 

[Gail Hayden]

...

Have a nice night.

 

[Gail Hayden]

You go girl!:kiss: You are too cool!

You ain't too shabby either.

 

[NOLADisneyFan]

OK, that's enough...

Mr. Toad, just who the HELL do you think you are telling me not to have children. Actually, I can't have them...my wife would...this whole uterus thing...

You who apparently thinks you are a paragon of child behavior and parenting knowledge...let me tell you....it is annoying when kids scream...your kids...anyone's kids....it is annoying....it is NOT, REPEAT NOT music to anyone's ears.

So by virtue of the fact that I find screaming annoying...I shouldn't have kids....

GROW UP!

KIDS are annoying when they scream....CASE CLOSED...

YESSSSSS...there may be a reason other than the kid being a "bratty" pain in the butt...but that doesn't change the objective fact that the high pitched whine of a child sends cold shivers down people's backs...

You may be super dad and can sit back and say "my kid's crying doesn't annoy me"....well great for you....you're a liar....but that is ok...

And if YOUR kid's crying doesn't annoy you....can you say that about everyone's kids...does no crying annoy you? or just your kids? How about your kid's crying to other people? I guarantee you that your kids catterwauling would annoy me....and it would probably annoy most normal people. Its all a matter of respect Mr. Toad, and it boils down to this...

IF YOUR KID IS SCREAMING...YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM. YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE KID WHO IS BEING LOUD AND DISTURBING PEOPLE...SO YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...if you sit there like a goon and do nothing...then you need to have more respect.

However, this often becomes moot because....I DON"T GIVE A CRAP IF YOUR KID IS SCREAMING...i'll just smile and offer assistance...NOT A CONDESCENDING SMILE...AN UNDERSTANDING SMILE.

SO, honestly Mr. Toad, I think its just great if you want to let your kids scream and holler and throw fits and whatever...that is terrific...

BUT WHY NOT TAKE A DOSE OF YOU OWN MEDICINE...

and don't judge me and my parenting ability....or my ability to raise children...or whether or not i should have them...that's between me and my wife. And if some time in the future, you see us in Disney...WHEN we have children...stop by and say hello....WE'LL BE THE ONES WHO HAVE WELL MANNERED AND POLITE CHILDREN...NOT RUDE, CRYING, LOUD MOUTHED BRATS.