Originally Posted By nbodyhome >>Count me in as female. Plus from the sound of things, I'm probably older than most of you.<< Cool, 2 of us. I find it unnerving sometimes to realize someone is 13 or 14 years old online (especially when a thread turns risque and they are participating!) >> We went for the chicken wings <G> <wink> >> Yes, I have heard they actually have food there! Denise
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thankfully Denise, I reckon the mean average age on LP is about 37, unlike a certain other site we have both been know to post at ;-)
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Thankfully Denise, I reckon the mean average age on LP is about 37, unlike a certain other site we have both been know to post at ;-) >> LOL Dave! There was a thread there that turned a bit risque, and I noticed one rather bawdy line was written by a 13 year old. I stopped posting in the thread at that point. That isn't even by the podcaster, I'm sure that is who you are talking about.
Originally Posted By dshyates I just turned 44 on Dec. 27th. It is rather odd for a guy my age to have young kids, but I do believe it has something to do with how I raise them. I am pretty old school when it comes to decorum and etiquette. I also don't negotiate with a 7 year old.
Originally Posted By CMDad <<It is rather odd for a guy my age to have young kids>> My baby brother just turned 48 yesterday - his son is a year old!
Originally Posted By Ursula <Plus, I think I'm the only female in this thread (that I know of, anyway)! You are definitely doing better than I.> And what on earth am I? Let's see, been to a Hooters and laughed because mine are real. I make killer martinis. Never seen snow until I was 18 or 19. Wouldn not be caught dead in cowboy boots. Even on Halloween.
Originally Posted By dshyates My room mate from college who is also 44 just had their second about 4 months ago. More power to them. They also have a 4 year old. 2 boys. When we socialize my 11 year old daughter loves "babysitting" so we can chat. Back on Topic: I was just sitting here typing the above paragraph when a co worker asked me if I had heard about Disney banning kids from one of their restaurants. As I said before, I don't have a problem with Disney offering a Child free restaurant. I just think this was handled rather poorly. Anytime you change an existing restaurant to be more restrictive you will get a load of complaints. If they had built a new one and opened it as a child free option, the press would have been completely different. Instead of "Disney is BANNING kids...". It would be "Disney to offer child free option". Hasn't anyone in Disney media relations ever worked in news before? They really don't seem to know how to work the news media very well. Maybe I'm just keyed into since I'm sitting it the news room of <a href="http://www.wvnstv.com/" target="_blank">http://www.wvnstv.com/</a> as I type this. As I have said several times an entire child free resort would be nice.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> And what on earth am I? Let's see, been to a Hooters and laughed because mine are real. << I'm sorry! There are so many posts, but I was starting to feel surrounded by men. And I would laugh too. Though the one downside of being big and real is that they fall as the years go on. But at least nothing leaks. >> Back on Topic: And what was that, exactly? :-D Just kidding. I agree, it's the same with the DDP. If they came out with it as it is NOW, without having a much better plan first - it would go over better. But the fact is, that so few people dine in V&A, it's intimate and 99.9999999 percent of Disney visitors won't end up there. I think people don't realize that. It's not like Chef Mickeys is now adult only.
Originally Posted By dshyates The problem is, that the way it was handled it comes across like this: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2h6qnp" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/2h6qnp</a> If it had opened as adults only like the restaurants on the cruise ships it wouldn't lead to sensational headlines across the country of Disney BANNING kids. But in the general public isn't reacting like the media outlets expected. Most are saying, "Good". But to be a media company they really don't understand the media.
Originally Posted By dshyates I am actually surprised its not headlined like: "Disney bans Families from Restaurant" Which would be factually correct, if your family has kids under 10. Thats how I would have written it.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome There was this idiot lady on MSNBC who seemed incredulous that there was a restaurant banning kids at a Disney restaurant (just on TV a moment ago). I have a feeling that there are newscasters who have never been to WDW, and who do not realize that there are fine dining establishments on the premises. Perhaps they should do some research before scoffing at it.
Originally Posted By dshyates I saw it too. The feeling I got was that it was written to sound incredulous, but she seemed like she couldn't believe she actually had to read the stupid story. She did say that it is a 5 star that serves 7 course dinners that can take up to 3 hours. Staring at $125 per person. Then she went on to say, (I'll have to paraphrase but I will quote the salacious word used), 'Disney says there are 97 other restaurants at the park that "like" kids'. I'm pretty sure Disney didn't say that they do have other restaurants that "like" kids. As I said before, this was handled about as clumsily as possible. Fortunately, news cycles are short, and from the Internet chatter, most people who actually go to WDW, think this is a great move. Even here I don't believe anyone has said, "How dare they ban my precious screaming monkey." I have said I wouldn't be afraid or hesitate to take them, (if someone else is paying). But no skin off my back. As the lovely witch on MSNBC said. There are 97 other restaurants to chose from. Google just told me "Internet" should be capitalized. Is this true or is Google trying to elevate its universe to an actual place. It just did it again. Google too, but I get that.
Originally Posted By dshyates I just saw it again (11:20am edst), and this lady sounded pretty happy about it. And she ended it with. "Disney wants to remind guests that they have 97 other restaurants where children are always welcome."
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I thought of this topic last night as we were dining at Catal in DTD. We dined there last year and had a wonderful meal all around. We made 8o PS and it was noted that it was a special occastion. We didn't expect romantic dining or anything close. Just a nice meal in a nice restaurant. We were seated next to a couple and their 5 or 6 year old daughter. I almost quietly asked to be seated elsewhere as the girl was very chatty but it appeared that their meal was almost over. "Minnie" as DH and I dubbed her as her voice was high pitched and LOUD talked, sang and whined throughout their loooong meal. She must have whined that she wanted to go to Disneyland at least 10 times, she wanted to wash her hands, then she sang, she walked around the table, she put her Minnie doll in the wine glass and said she was drinking wine. All along mom and dad ignored it as if they were in McDonalds. DH and I raised 4 kids and have a grandchild. We love kids and were actually getting kind of a kick watching Minnie. She was not happy being there, she wanted to go to Disneyland (which was closed as it was now about 9pm but since mom and dad were ignoring her chatter they didn't tell her that) she was bored as mom and dad lingered over their wine, she needed to be at Rainforest or home in bed. So, after shelling out well over $100 for a meal that was good but not stellar other than the salad and dessert our most memorable part will be Miss Minnie. I vote with leaving the little darlings home or taking them to a restaurant that can be fun for them. An age limit or a dining time seems appropriate. I'm not talking about Catal here by the way
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I thought of this topic last night as we were dining at Catal in DTD. We dined there last year and had a wonderful meal all around. We made 8o PS and it was noted that it was a special occastion. We didn't expect romantic dining or anything close. Just a nice meal in a nice restaurant. We were seated next to a couple and their 5 or 6 year old daughter. I almost quietly asked to be seated elsewhere as the girl was very chatty but it appeared that their meal was almost over. "Minnie" as DH and I dubbed her as her voice was high pitched and LOUD talked, sang and whined throughout their loooong meal. She must have whined that she wanted to go to Disneyland at least 10 times, she wanted to wash her hands, then she sang, she walked around the table, she put her Minnie doll in the wine glass and said she was drinking wine. All along mom and dad ignored it as if they were in McDonalds. DH and I raised 4 kids and have a grandchild. We love kids and were actually getting kind of a kick watching Minnie. She was not happy being there, she wanted to go to Disneyland (which was closed as it was now about 9pm but since mom and dad were ignoring her chatter they didn't tell her that) she was bored as mom and dad lingered over their wine, she needed to be at Rainforest or home in bed. So, after shelling out well over $100 for a meal that was good but not stellar other than the salad and dessert our most memorable part will be Miss Minnie. I vote with leaving the little darlings home or taking them to a restaurant that can be fun for them. An age limit or a dining time seems appropriate. I'm not talking about Catal here by the way
Originally Posted By wahooskipper The real kicker in all of this is that there are now more than 350 posts in this topic. How many of the folks here, or the public in general, have eaten at Victorias and Alberts? I have not. In fact, I have only eaten in a couple of five star restaurants in my life. While I can't speak as a parent who has a 10 year old, I can speak as a parent with a 5 year old and a toddler and there ain't no way I would take my kid's to that restaurant. Call me cheap...or a romantic...but I don't want my kids with me there. I have absoluetly no problem with Disney keeping kids under 10 out of V&A.
Originally Posted By danyoung >As I said before, this was handled about as clumsily as possible.< You keep saying this, but your only solution is for Disney to open a new restaurant with the restrictions already in place, which does nothing to address V&A's problem. Why was this clumsy? Where's the original press release, and how was it worded? Just because the general media picks up a story and runs with it doesn't mean that Disney did anything clumsy in their news release. I'm not saying it wasn't clumsy - I'd just like to see you support your theory.
Originally Posted By jonvn I can't possibly keep up with this, but: "Funny, I argue with jonvn in another section about standards, and yet on this thread I am perhaps coming off as more like him." That's because as I was saying, everyone has what is and is not good to them. People should try and behave in a manner that is considerate of the feelings of others. That includes behavior, dress, and keeping children out of places where they really don't belong. It's basic civility and having concern for others.
