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View Full Version : Why don't people control their kids?- Storytellers



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mi_mous
01-16-2006, 11:31 AM
Well, I was really excited when we got to GCH and were seated right next to the fireplace at Storytellers. We were taking in the ambiance of the restaurant, and waiting for our waiter. There was a group of about 10 kids right in front of the fireplace with their parents. They were being loud, but I didn't think much of it, just secretly hoped that they were almost done and leaving soon.
THEN, all hell breaks loose! I don't know what happened, but the kids all of a sudden decide to run around the whole restaurant. When a character would come by, they thought it was funny to smack them on the back and run away quickly. Also, they were interrupting the characters time with the other people in the restaurant by asking the characters if they were a boy or a girl. C'mon! (I literally had to wait to get a picture of my son or daughter with the characters so I didn't have those kids in my pictures!)
The worst part is that since we were sitting by the fireplace, we had the ledge coming right up against our chairs. The kids thought that was a passage, and rammed into our chairs while we were eating. It really was disturbing for us. (Though I was really trying to not let it ruin the moments we were having there.):mad:
The second worst part is the parents were just sitting there while all of this was happening, not doing anything but talking to themselves.:mad: I mean, these kids were ALL OVER the restaurant, almost knocking down dish bussers, and others as well. NOTHING from the parents! My husband even made the comment, I can see if you were at Chuck E Cheese, but NOT here!
We had a good time though, and the food was great too! Thanks for all the tips! :D

potterphreak
01-16-2006, 11:51 AM
That sounds terrible! I'm glad I wasn't there, since I feel that since I am now a parent I get partial parental rights over other peoples kids, which includes yelling at them to sit down. Since you didn't say anything to the parents or servers, no one knew you had a problem. Silence gives consent?

pisces
01-16-2006, 11:54 AM
When I go to Storytellers, I always reserve a booth, one of those with the lit cowboy designs. I'm a single diner, but I like the extra room just the same.

In all fairness, Disneyland is NOT an Adults Only destination, and so, obviously, there are going to be kids everywhere. I've had kids even come and sit down at my booth, (uninvited)-----especially at Storytellers.

If you are at Disneyland, you just have to accept it. Walt made it very clear that he wanted Disneyland to be a place that kids and Adults enjoyed, together.

Get used to it!

DianeM
01-16-2006, 12:05 PM
This goes beyond rowdyness. There are human beings inside those character costumes, and I would think they would be protected from being hit on the job, and I would think that any decent parent would stop their child from hitting anyone. I think a brief discussion with the host might have been in order - perhaps asking them to ask the parents to stop their children from setting a bad example by hitting beloved characters.


When a character would come by, they thought it was funny to smack them on the back and run away quickly.

AlbertaMinnie
01-16-2006, 12:12 PM
Sorry, I disagree. Enjoying a meal at DLR is one thing, but tolerating truly bad behaviour from other peoples children is another. Yes, DL is for both adults and children alike, but there is such a thing as manners. I feel that storytellers almost attracts those with the lack of manners or discipline. Could it be because we have a choice of either menu or buffet? In the summer, my kids wanted to run to see the characters as well, but after I reminded them to be polite and each character would eventually come see them, they sat patiently and eventually got their turn. However, we had a birthday party beside us, who not only ran around the restaurant chasing characters, but also started a food fight with one another while the table of "adults" chose to ignore the kids and let the poor waitress speak to the children on how to behave. Kids having fun is one thing, but our experience with the food fight, and your experience with physically hitting the characters is not something that we should have to just "deal with".

eryn
01-16-2006, 12:16 PM
With this being a function that alot of people bring thier kids to, I can see kids running around trying to get more interaction with the characters. They arent gonna want to just sit and wait until someone comes to the table to say hi, they want to be able to go up to characters. But definatly no hitting. I can see kids as looking at charactrers as big stuffed animals. Most probebly cant comprehend the fact that there is a person inside if they have even been told that. Sorry you didnt have the best time, maybe they should make a character breakfast for good families and one for bad families?

Rhiannon8404
01-16-2006, 12:16 PM
If you are at Disneyland, you just have to accept it. Walt made it very clear that he wanted Disneyland to be a place that kids and Adults enjoyed, together.

Get used to it!

I totally disagree that we should "get used to it" just because Disneyland is a kids place. After all, Walt wanted kids and adults to enjoy it...clearly, some adults are not enjoying it because other adults can't/won't control their children.

I think this goes beyond general "kid-ness". Running around a restaurant, kid-friendly or otherwise is dangerous. There are people with plates of hot food, trays with dirty dishes, etc. Parents who let their kids behave like the OP described should be spanked and made to attend parenting classes.

Susan L
01-16-2006, 12:19 PM
The second worst part is the parents were just sitting there while all of this was happening, not doing anything but talking to themselves.:mad: I mean, these kids were ALL OVER the restaurant, almost knocking down dish bussers, and others as well. NOTHING from the parents!

This is a sign of absolutely no parenting skills what so ever. These parents will be those same parents when their kids become out of control teenager will blame everyone else for the child's ill behavior.

I see this kind of stuff all the time. I work for a high school. You have parents that didn't decipline the kids when they were little and then expect a 16 or 17 year old to follow rules they have never had to follow.

Also a lot of people just don't teach their children common courtesy any more. There is a program now being taught in California schools called Character Counts. It teaches about honesty, respect, kindness, responsibility, ethics, integrity, tolerance, compassion, etc. At one time this was taught at home by parents evidently, there is a large population out there that has not or is not being taught these things at home.

mi_mous
01-16-2006, 12:19 PM
I understand that Disneyland is not an adults only place. We had our kids with us. These kids were just completely OUT OF CONTROL! And, the parents were not doing a thing about it. To them, it was normal to let your kids run all around causing havoc in the restaurant.

I was about to say something to the host, but didn't know if it would help, since the parents weren't doing anything anyways, were they really going to do something if someone approached them about it?

I have nothing against kids, I have kids of my own. It would have been different with me had the kids just have been excited and crowded around the character, but these kids were not just doing that. They were hitting the character in the back, pulling tails, etc. They were running into servers, almost knocking them down (with an arm full of dishes mind you), banging into OUR chairs trying to get away from the character they just hit in the back, so they wouldn't "know" it was them. All this, while the parents were just sitting there, not doing a thing.

geoffa
01-16-2006, 12:22 PM
When I go to Storytellers, I always reserve a booth, one of those with the lit cowboy designs. I'm a single diner, but I like the extra room just the same.

In all fairness, Disneyland is NOT an Adults Only destination, and so, obviously, there are going to be kids everywhere. I've had kids even come and sit down at my booth, (uninvited)-----especially at Storytellers.

If you are at Disneyland, you just have to accept it. Walt made it very clear that he wanted Disneyland to be a place that kids and Adults enjoyed, together.

Get used to it!
No you don't have to accept it.That's the problem today. Everyone stays silent and endorses the wrong doing. It's obvious from this happening that the parents didn't really care much what their kids do. Disney is for kids but it's not for hooligans! Had kids pushed by my chair I certainly would have had words with them and their ignoring parents /guardians. Storytellers is a restaurant not a playground. If the kids had caused hot food to be accidentally tipped on them you can guarantee the parents would have soon taken interest and it would all be "Disney's fault". If the kids aren't showing respect towards the characters then it's doubtful they'd show respect to much else.:)

Susan L
01-16-2006, 12:26 PM
I also agree, you have to say something. If you don't the ill behavior will just continue. That sort of behavior is socially unacceptable at any age.

geoffa
01-16-2006, 12:27 PM
Shame Governments don't realise that. Particularly Tony Blair's. And I suspect it's the same in the USA.

hlbtimes2
01-16-2006, 12:32 PM
With this being a function that alot of people bring thier kids to, I can see kids running around trying to get more interaction with the characters. They arent gonna want to just sit and wait until someone comes to the table to say hi, they want to be able to go up to characters. But definatly no hitting. I can see kids as looking at charactrers as big stuffed animals. Most probebly cant comprehend the fact that there is a person inside if they have even been told that. Sorry you didnt have the best time, maybe they should make a character breakfast for good families and one for bad families?

I disagree. They need to learn to wait their turn. It would be like saying, "well they were excited and wanted to go on Space mountain so they just pushed to the front of the line. Who wants to wait for their turn". Or "he only pushed little Johnny off the swing because he wanted his turn".:rolleyes:

What family is going to sign up for the "bad" family seating? Most people with children like that are so far in denial that they arent going to say they are a bad family. After all, they just wanted to have fun, and who wants to wait their turn? ;)

geoffa
01-16-2006, 12:38 PM
With this being a function that alot of people bring thier kids to, I can see kids running around trying to get more interaction with the characters. They arent gonna want to just sit and wait until someone comes to the table to say hi, they want to be able to go up to characters. But definatly no hitting. I can see kids as looking at charactrers as big stuffed animals. Most probebly cant comprehend the fact that there is a person inside if they have even been told that. Sorry you didnt have the best time, maybe they should make a character breakfast for good families and one for bad families?
Well there is obviously a culture difference between the US and Europe because at Disneyland Resort Paris - Disneyland hotel and Cafe Mickey - children do sit at their tables and wait for the characters to approach them. I seem to recall this was how it was at the Pooh/Crystal Palace breakfast when we visited WDW. OK, the odd child will approach with an autograph book but they sure don't go hitting the characters. I have great video of my 3 1/2 year old nephew saying "Merci" to Minnie for her autograph. He was rewarded with a kiss on the head. A great all time photo! Sheer magic!:)

pisces
01-16-2006, 12:44 PM
As a single diner, if anyone were going to be annoyed ----it'd be me.

It's too exhausting to worry about what other people's kids do, or don't do.

I'm telling you, I've had kids come and sit themselves right down at my table (uninvited), crawl on my table, (extremely uninvited) ....and help themselves to my food----(It's a buffet, so I don't mind---if I ordered off the menu, I'd raise the roof).

You pick your battles.

I'm telling you, Storyteller's is not an Adult's Only destination. It might be elegant in the decor and furnishings, and have elegant cuisine.....but it's definitely not Adult's Only.

You are never going to change the world. And, telling other people how to raise their kids, will (IMHO) just make things worse.

newhdplayer
01-16-2006, 01:00 PM
I'm telling you, I've had kids come and sit themselves right down at my table (uninvited), crawl on my table, (extremely uninvited) ....and help themselves to my food----(It's a buffet, so I don't mind---if I ordered off the menu, I'd raise the roof).



Remind me to send my daughter over next time you're eating dinner. I'll have her get whatever she wants from your table, since it's a buffet, and you don't mind?

I hope you jest, but if I ever caught a rug-rat (or any other sub-species of kid) snatching food off my table, they would have a fork (jk) stuck in their hand, and then they would be escorted back to their parents (or legal guardians) table for a little discussion about manners, which, BTW, seem to be lacking as described in the above scenario.

LeslieJM64
01-16-2006, 01:04 PM
As a single diner, if anyone were going to be annoyed ----it'd be me.

It's too exhausting to worry about what other people's kids do, or don't do.

I'm telling you, I've had kids come and sit themselves right down at my table (uninvited), crawl on my table, (extremely uninvited) ....and help themselves to my food----(It's a buffet, so I don't mind---if I ordered off the menu, I'd raise the roof).

You pick your battles.

I'm telling you, Storyteller's is not an Adult's Only destination. It might be elegant in the decor and furnishings, and have elegant cuisine.....but it's definitely not Adult's Only.

You are never going to change the world. And, telling other people how to raise their kids, will (IMHO) just make things worse.

It's not a matter of trying to change the world, and it's certainly not a matter of telling other people how to raise their children. It's a matter of respect for other human beings, something that we seem to be losing at an alarming rate.

By allowing their children to run amok in a public place, these parents are sending a clear message that the people around them have no value. They are teaching their children that no one else's needs, comforts, or desires hold any value. Do you honestly want to live in a world where no one shows any consideration for you?

The fact that the people whose behavior we are discussing are children is no excuse. Simply because children want to run around and disturb other people is no reason to allow them to do it, regardless of the venue. Children can, and should be expected to behave in public. Frankly, any child that climbed on my table and ate off of my plate would be goose-stepped back to their parents immediately, with a polite reminder to the parents that their child is their responsibility. I have the right not to be assaulted by other people's offspring.

Gone2Disneyland
01-16-2006, 01:05 PM
I'm single, but I'm my buddy's daughter's godfather. When I'm around his family, at Disneyland or other places, I'm always impressed by how well he and his wife balance authority and love with their children. Reading the experiences posted on this thread remind me of what great parents my friends are to their kids.

That said, as the saying goes, "there's no instruction manual on being a parent." So obviously the parents in the party think such public behavior by the children is perfectly acceptable. And no one, CM or guest, addressed it with them. Frankly, all this just makes me want to avoid Storytellers, a restaurant I've never been to, if Disneyland CMs need a guest to point out they're disrupted by what sounds like obviously disruptive behaviors by other guests.

K & S
01-16-2006, 01:06 PM
As a single diner, if anyone were going to be annoyed ----it'd be me.

It's too exhausting to worry about what other people's kids do, or don't do.

I'm telling you, I've had kids come and sit themselves right down at my table (uninvited), crawl on my table, (extremely uninvited) ....and help themselves to my food----(It's a buffet, so I don't mind---if I ordered off the menu, I'd raise the roof).

You pick your battles.

I'm telling you, Storyteller's is not an Adult's Only destination. It might be elegant in the decor and furnishings, and have elegant cuisine.....but it's definitely not Adult's Only.

You are never going to change the world. And, telling other people how to raise their kids, will (IMHO) just make things worse.

I agree with you, for the most part. However, I believe that it is acceptable to say something to the parents, or a CM, when there is unwanted physical contact from the child. If I were being knocked into the table due to the children running amok, I would bring it to the attention of someone able to correct the problem.

Beyond that limited situation, it would serve no useful purpose to say anything.

danyoung
01-16-2006, 01:17 PM
I'm telling you, I've had kids come and sit themselves right down at my table (uninvited), crawl on my table, (extremely uninvited) ....and help themselves to my food----(It's a buffet, so I don't mind---if I ordered off the menu, I'd raise the roof).

Sorry, but I'm just having a hard time believing this, that kids are joining you at your table totally uninvited and eating food off of your plate. I'm 49, single, veteran of many visits to Disney parks, and NOT ONCE has anything like this ever even come close to occurring. And if it did, there would be one surprised child as I reached out, grab his arm, stand up and state loudly "Whose child is this?" Sometimes kids don't know any better, but their parents certainly should!

pisces
01-16-2006, 01:18 PM
Remind me to send my daughter over next time you're eating dinner. I'll have her get whatever she wants from your table, since it's a buffet, and you don't mind?

I hope you jest, but if I ever caught a rug-rat (or any other sub-species of kid) snatching food off my table, they would have a fork (jk) stuck in their hand, and then they would be escorted back to their parents (or legal guardians) table for a little discussion about manners, which, BTW, seem to be lacking as described in the above scenario.

If you did that, the police would be called and you'd be arrested for assault and battery.

Not worth the trouble.

I'm not there to teach people about manners.

If it's a buffet, why do I care if someone takes my food? I can just go get another plate. I didn't invite them to help themselves, by any means. And it's not my responsibility to discipline other people's children.

Usually, when I went to Storytellers, it was at 5:00 pm, I'd been up since 6:00 am, walking all day, and tired. I don't have the energy to give the parents a lecture, and then them going into a tirade and telling me to mind my own business.

And, we all know this is where that type of thing leads.

No good is going to come of it.

Does Storytellers post a code of conduct? It's up to them to enforce it, if they can, or wish to.

Las Vegas is a different story altogether, because that's an adults destination, and little children should not be crawling all over the slot machines disturbing me!

Pick your battles.

scaeagles
01-16-2006, 01:26 PM
There is a difference between acting like a child and acting unacceptably. Children do not know the difference often times. Their parents should.

I would take a slightly different approach. I wouldn't be mean to the children, but I would see where they had come from and I'd go over to the table and start taking their food or accidentally spill water and perhaps bump their chair.....I would make the point that way. If they said anything to me about it, I'd comment that it seems to be OK with them that their children are behaving unacceptably, so why not me.

This is not a child problem. This is a parent problem. Parents who don't want to be parents should not take their kids to DL.

And yes, I do have kids. Three of them. And there is no way I would tolerate them acting in such a manner.

MsYumiBr
01-16-2006, 02:43 PM
I hate to say it, but DL is the only place where I see parents being abused by their children and the parents LET them. The children I see are yelling and screaming at their parents, out of control and even hit on occasion, and the parents just look pathetic. I hate all the new "don't punish the child, redirect their attention" BS. Remember, our parents got chased around with switches and brooms and you better believe the kids wouldn't scream and yell at them. If kids get out of control, I too play the mommy card. I am adult. As an adult, I expect children to treat me as such and behave, mostly for their own safety. Running children usually equals split lips from tripping on the rug and hitting themselves on the edge of a table, chair, railing, or even a wall. Believe me. If they get hurt, guess who is going to get the blame. Go ahead and say something. It is self defense, especially in Orange County.

cfrith
01-16-2006, 02:56 PM
It is so sad that parents let their kids behave like this. I always wonder if I were to say something to a waiter if they would actually go over and confront the parents. I'm only in my 20's but were children like like this 50 years ago?

Chiidesu
01-16-2006, 04:08 PM
If it's a buffet, why do I care if someone takes my food? I can just go get another plate. I didn't invite them to help themselves, by any means. And it's not my responsibility to discipline other people's children.


So you just let CHILDREN walk all over you? If you're that tired, it doesn't take much effort to tell one of the waiters to do the talking for you. I'm sure the parents would pay more attention to them than to you anyways. And I'm sure that it takes less effort to call a waiter over than walk over to the buffet and keep re-taking the food you've already had.