Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Olivia's _ ( they had security remove the troublemakers ) - they were loaded ( and I don't mean rich) << I LOL'd! I tend to spend more time in the parks, and there was some drunkeness that I saw at the Food and Wine, but not too bad. I did get really tipsy at the Fort Wilderness campfire, that was about it for me at Disney this year. I don't really like Downtown Disney much at night, I do like Raglan Road - but I don't tend to go out really late (unless it's to Epcot).
Originally Posted By MPierce I've never really ever had the urge to dine at V&A while I'm on a Disney vacation so it really doesn't effect me. However like always I have an opinion on this subject. It's alright to have an adult only venue at WDW. You can still get children in V&A there's only an age limit now. I think Pleasure Island has been completely ruined by not imposing an age limit of adult only, that would be 21, and over. I am of the opinion that V&A should be 21, and over also. To me if you take a young tyke, and make him dress up at WDW you could possibly be an Inhumane Beast.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Well, i think this clearly illustrates the primary principal of WDW fandom: "I want WDW to cater to ME!!!" I put up with ankle-biters being allowed into Pleasure Island, I put up with places being converted to character meals, I put up with stupid children's play areas like Pooh's Craptastic Spot replacing an attraction for the whole family. The ankle-biters can't get into V&A's. Boo-hoo. So sad.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^^ don't get me started on the POO playground fiasco - I am in total agreement - but banning the so called 'ankle-biters' when some of them behave better than some of the morons they let in is what I object to. So let's have a breathalizer test at the matre' de station also - and then proof of an adequate IQ - for all adults -- let's really make it a quality place ;-(
Originally Posted By CMDad <<That I agree with. The castle, Norway, Crystal Palace, Tusker House a number of nice restaurants that now are filled with characters! (and more expensive).>> Tusker House is Character only for breakfast. We ate there this trip for the first time since the change-over. Thought of it as "Boma-Lite"
Originally Posted By CMDad I am one who no longer has young children, and did take them to fancy restaurants when they were very young. (Have even been asked if they were American since the person who asked had never seen American children behave as well as they in such a venue, Made me proud.) But I only took them there since I knew that they WOULD behave. However, if I had wanted to go to V&A when they were young, and they had an adult only policy - I would have had NO PROBLEM with it whatsoever. I think V&A is doing the right thing and support the decision to do so. I have never (yet) been there, but it is on my list.
Originally Posted By mousermerf vb - The majority of children at WDW will not behave in V&A's to a standard the adults in the restaurant would accept. Your children may be darling to you, but still might not meet the manners criteria i think should be needed for V&A's. Ever watch MadTv? Remember the character Stuart? "Look what I can do!" That's like 99% of the children at WDW. That behavior does not belong at V&A's. There are parents who think their kids destroying WDW property, poking and hitting other guests, being loud, and generally causing problems are "cute" and "kids being kids" - none of which is acceptable at V&A's.
Originally Posted By Ursula I think this is a great step. There are many, mnay choices for dinners with child-friendly atmospheres. Say you're paying $xxx for dinner. Most people either would prefer to leave the kids with grandparents for a night out. Great opportunity. Say I'm paying $xxx for dinner. You bring your kids in and swear that they are good, and they generally are. But at this evening, they decide to change into their cranky pants when you are not looking. Guess what I get to hear? "Junior, now you know we don't do that at home." "Honey, let me just him him outside for some air." "Wha-waaaa-waaa!" Really not what I wanted to hear even if you are doing your best to quiet your child. And yes, I've seen some really good kids and some hellion terrors. You just don't know which child is showing up for dinner.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Your children may be darling to you, but still might not meet the manners criteria i think should be needed for V&A's. < my daughter ate in the White House when she was 8 -- does that qualify ? They have eaten at places around the world far more exclusive than V&A's - If they would not behave I have been very clear on the fact they should not be allowed- the issue is somehow this standard doesn't apply to adults - why is that ? I think the 99% is an overstatement - by far - and I agree with you on the adults letting their kids run roughshod through WDW - being deplorable - few will pay the price for V&A's - as those types of parents also insist on their ME time and would not take the kids with them.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Have even been asked if they were American since the person who asked had never seen American children behave as well as they in such a venue, Made me proud << That is really great that you had such well behaved kids! I know when I've visited foreign countries, going to museums and such like the Louvre - there are so many sculptures that I know couldn't be here in the US. People would be putting their kids on them for photos. I saw parents letting their kids climb up on the bridge railings (even boosting them up) for photos near Liberty Square at the MK. I was really disturbed by that.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Goto a preschool. Pick one. Ask the teacher - would you bring any of the children here to a fancy restaurant? The answer would be "no" from the teacher (I can say this because i have friends who are preschool teachers) but the children's parents would say their child would be the one who could go and behave. Why? Because everyone thinks their child is perfect - it's the other children who misbehave. Truth of the matter is that all children misbehave, heck, as you pointed out some adults misbehave.
Originally Posted By mickeyboy43 ^ For real, VA is expensive. I was considering giving my parents a dinner there and let us be babysat (the horror ive never been babysat b4). Wayyy to expensive to be truly worth it. as for those of you who loved 20K. The Ultimate site for it. Stumbled in on it last week. Make sure you read the parts about Mike Ovitz and the reason for shutting down! <a href="http://www.20kride.com/" target="_blank">http://www.20kride.com/</a>
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> For real, VA is expensive. I was considering giving my parents a dinner there and let us be babysat (the horror ive never been babysat b4). Wayyy to expensive to be truly worth it. << Mickeyboy - how old are you? When I was a teenager, I did the babysitting. Well, sort of. My parents didn't go out too much except to the store.
Originally Posted By mousermerf I was a latch-key kid in my tweens, and had older sibling to babysit, so i never got the real experience of being babysat. I think i'm deprived. So - yeah! Don't deprive your kids the experience of being babysat! It's a rite of passage! Boo! Bad parents not letting their kids get babysat, learn the birds and bee's from barbie's boyfriend who shows up around 11pm and staying up all night eating cheesypoofs and ice cream!
Originally Posted By jonvn "as for $150 / plate - who cares" Probably a lot of the people paying it care. We ate there for free, so we weren't so bothered by it.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> my daughter ate in the White House when she was 8 -- does that qualify ? << You really left the door open for Spirit's obligatory "Bush Bashing".
Originally Posted By imadisneygal "Truth of the matter is that all children misbehave, heck, as you pointed out some adults misbehave. " Not all children misbehave in restaurants. Children behave like...well...like children. There are some for whom there are consequences for stepping out of line and who understand that there is a time and a place for acting crazy and a time and a place for acting like you're in a restaurant. My children are far from perfect. They're children. Children with excellent table manners and social skills, but children nonetheless. And I would never take them to a restaurant - ANY restaurant - if the conditions weren't right. By conditions I mean their age being appropriate to the location, they've had enough sleep, the length of the meal will be appropriate to their attention span, etc. My older son (6 years old) has eaten in very nice restaurants including Club 33 and he did fine. No whining, no running around, no getting out of his seat. We went for lunch and we brought a coloring book and a reading book for him. Parents should not expect their small children to be able to handle an entire day in the Parks, skip their nap, and then sit for an extended meal like an adult would. The problem is often in the expectation of behavior, not in the behavior itself. Additionally, children behave differently for teachers in school than they do for their parents at home, so the opinion of a preschool teacher doesn't impress me. That said, I applaud an adults only venue and I think a few more would be in order. Sometimes it's not even about the behavior but just the atmosphere. Adults deserve a place to themselves and there are plenty of other very nice restaurants where children can dine with their parents throughout the Resort.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> learn the birds and bee's from barbie's boyfriend who shows up around 11pm and staying up all night eating cheesypoofs and ice cream! < Okay, I was never Barbie - and I never invited my boyfriends over when I babysat! (just talked on the phone a lot).
Originally Posted By MPierce >> So - yeah! Don't deprive your kids the experience of being babysat! It's a rite of passage! Boo! Bad parents not letting their kids get babysat, learn the birds and bee's from barbie's boyfriend who shows up around 11pm and staying up all night eating cheesypoofs and ice cream! << Man, those were the Good Old Days!
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> You really left the door open for Spirit's obligatory "Bush Bashing". << I'm sure I got an earful when I went to an inaugural ball in 2004 (I did tell my dad I'd go either for a Republican or Democrat - even if it was Kerry!)
