[EmpressJenny]

Ok I want to vent about something. I realize that Disney is for kids, and most of you guys seem like good people and good parents who would keep their children in hand, but I have to talk about the ones who don't. Pete and I booked our honeymoon and planned our whole wedding for Sept. so all the kids would be in school. What I failed to take into account was all the pre-school ages who would be there. Staying at the Floridian, I thought I would be a little more free of kids. WRONG! 2 and 3 year olds screaming at the pool, splashing, and the most beastly of these children were in the room right next to us (as I may or may not have mentioned in a previous post some months ago).

For sake, I don't want to listen to other people's little monsters when I'm on vacation too, DisneyWorld or not. When we were at breakfast, there was a table of several well behaved children with their parents, and I complimented them on being so good and well behaved just as we were walking out. But there were so many tantrums and fits, (especially through our paper-thin wall) it made me rethink my "immediate start on a family" for about 4 years or so.

So anyway, on my next trip, should the little vermin of these equally hideous parents overrun my vacation, do I reprimand them? Their parents? Both?

P.S. This thread is in resorts, but really, it should be in restaurants, theme parks, and anywhere else, since these brats get everywhere!

Thanks for the vent. Thanks for having sweet children.

[noahsark45331]

Sadly, you were victim of a fast-growing trend, people with children that don't want the responsibilty of being parents and training their children the proper way to behave. You see this EVERYWHERE. It was just more "in your face" at WDW because of the concentration of children all around.

I usually try to ignore others misbehaving children, unless they are physically treading into my space. Then I gently ask them to please move, stop, back up or whatever. I usually say something like 'Careful, that's me you are stepping on' or ' that is my son's ____' Most of the time that gets the parents attention and they will rein the child in for a moment or two. Sometimes it doesn't. Don't let other peoples children be your guide on when to start a family. Just use it as a learning tool on how NOT to raise your children.

[queensmama]

Ok here is my input on this matter, being the mother a 2yo (3 next month)DD who is generally well behaved, but she like ALL kids has her moments, especially when she is late on her naps. Now combine that with heat of WDW and you can guess the outcome. As a mother/parent we hate this even more than those of you without children, but there is little to be done, you just have to let the tantrum run it's course. If you were to come up to an already distraught child or parent you may cause more damage than you intend to. When DD is having a tantrum I am so close to tears that I hate to admit to it. If these are the children you are talking about please grumble to yourself, act like you will never child that will throw a tantrum, and go about your business.

On the other hand if you are talking about older children who are old enough to control themselves and their emotions that is something a parent of an older preschooler will have to tell you about.

[QuakerOaties]

When im on vacation and there is a child misbehaving I usually don't immediately think that it is a common occurence with that child since raising kids IS hard and you know, stuff happens! But if a parent is not doing anything to control their child, or is doing so in a very bad manner, I will say something but I will be very polite about it.

[Curtis]

I was very suprised to see how well behaved the kids were at WDW this last week, considering the heat, and rain, and crowds. I expected much much worse. The kids I saw, who seemed to be the worst were the one's who's parents were more consumed with poking that their cell phones, or PDA's, than they were with WDW anyway. Their folks just let them run wild, while they checked their email, etc.

[EmpressJenny]

Ok let me clarify. I'm not talking about a small child screaming (because of late days, exhaustion, etc) and a parent trying to calm them. I'm not talking about a child excited to be at Disney and running a bit wild.

I'm talking about when the parents ALLOW the child to behave badly to the discomfort of other people at the park. About children being permitted to be little monsters because their parents can't be bothered to rein them in. It gets increasingly difficult to hold one's tongue.

[hiner]

We were there in May and don't remember too many children out of control in the pools, restaurants or theme/water parks. I also read somewhere that Sept/Oct are big months for Europeans to vacation. On our trip in Oct of 1999, we ran into quite a few rude foriegners...not that they all are. I think no matter where you stay or when you go, you are still going to have the kids. It's WDW.

[EmpressJenny]

Yes, it is WDW, and I like kids very much, I just don't understand why some parents are so inconsiderate of other guests as to ignore their children when they are behaving badly.

[gcbdad]

Well EmpressJenny, I have 4 children. Ages 8, 6, 6 and 8 months. I like to think that they are well behaved but, as previously mentioned, they have their moments. I truely believe that once you have children you become more immune to tantrums and general bad behavior because you have experienced them yourselves. Don't get me wrong, I do not agree with the bad behavior, I just mean that sometimes it is expected considering the heat and the crowds and how tired everyone is.

I have a big issue with parents that are constantly berating and yelling
at their children while at WDW. By all means keep them in line, Children need boundaries, but your on vacation so let them stretch them a little and everyone will have a better time.

[trilliumB]

...As for the 'rude foreigners' remark...I think you've got things backwards. Living in France, and travelling in Europe, the groups that really stood out tended to be Americans (both adults and unruly kids)--they'd be the loud ones, blocking traffic, being rude...IMO, The American family started breaking down longer ago than in many other countries(materialism pushing money/jobs first, leading to the breakdown of the extended family, prioritization of salary-seeking over parenting time, etc), and it shows. Exporting our me-first capitalism is leading to similar changes all over the world, and these same problems are emerging all over the place. I think the days when you could count on a higher level of civility on a European vacation are numbered. I hope we all wise up as to what kind of price we ultimately pay to have the flashy car, the latest Nikes, the poolboy, the bling...And warn our imitators before it's too late.

Not that everyone in America is a bad parent, but I think we've got more problems in that arena than in most similar countries.

(But can't I keep the poolboy? )

[noahsark45331]

Originally Posted by gcbdad

Well EmpressJenny, I have 4 children. Ages 8, 6, 6 and 8 months. I like to think that they are well behaved but, as previously mentioned, they have their moments. I truely believe that once you have children you become more immune to tantrums and general bad behavior because you have experienced them yourselves. Don't get me wrong, I do not agree with the bad behavior, I just mean that sometimes it is expected considering the heat and the crowds and how tired everyone is.

I have a big issue with parents that are constantly berating and yelling
at their children while at WDW. By all means keep them in line, Children need boundaries, but your on vacation so let them stretch them a little and everyone will have a better time.

I agree that children need to 'let their hair down' so to speak, but I think she is talking about the ones that have parents that don't want the hassle of teaching their children good manners and such. The bad thing is, I have a step-son that thinks that way. He has a 4yo son that is a horrible BRAT! My DH and I can only be around him in small doses. The thing is, when we have him by himself, he behaves and is respectful to us and others. It is only when his parents are around that he is a terror. He knows what is expected of him by us and responds accordingly. Lets face it, being a parent is hard and there have been times when it would have been easier for me to ignore my kids than be a parent to them.

[Curtis]

From what I could tell, being "rude" wasn't mutually exclusive to any ethnic group, or income level. All groups appeared to be represented in force...lol.

[llama]

Hmmm...well... I sort of hestitate to respond to this. But, you certainly didn't hold back, so...
You have every right to honeymoon at WDW or anywhere else you choose. People with children have the same right to vacation where they choose. Both you, and they, have the right to enjoy your vacation. Obnoxious children? WDW is full of them. We have all had to endure spoiled, ill-behaved children and their parents who seem oblivious of their behaviour. Shame on those parents. I have resisted the urge to strangle a few myself, and to tell their parents just what I think of them, but....I think what offends me, as a mother, is the use of words such as "vermin", "brats" and "monsters"

Sorry to disillusion you Jenny - but with all the best intentions in the world, there are going to be days when your little darlings are going to turn into "vermin". That well-behaved little angel that you praised at breakfast - the one with "good" parents who keep her "in hand"? Well, by the time three o'clock rolls around and she's hot and tired, and cranky and rolling on the ground - does that immediately demote her to "vermin" status? No. Children are human beings, not toys for adults to enjoy on "adult" terms. For the most, they are not "brats, "monsters" or "vermin". (Even the ill-behaved ones). They've just had the bad luck of having parents who don't care. I'm sorry if I have offended you - but, I guess I needed to "vent" too.

[gcbdad]

Originally Posted by llama

Hmmm...well... I sort of hestitate to respond to this. But, you certainly didn't hold back, so...
You have every right to honeymoon at WDW or anywhere else you choose. People with children have the same right to vacation where they choose. Both you, and they, have the right to enjoy your vacation. Obnoxious children? WDW is full of them. We have all had to endure spoiled, ill-behaved children and their parents who seem oblivious of their behaviour. Shame on those parents. I have resisted the urge to strangle a few myself, and to tell their parents just what I think of them, but....I think what offends me, as a mother, is the use of words such as "vermin", "brats" and "monsters"

Sorry to disillusion you Jenny - but with all the best intentions in the world, there are going to be days when your little darlings are going to turn into "vermin". That well-behaved little angel that you praised at breakfast - the one with "good" parents who keep her "in hand"? Well, by the time three o'clock rolls around and she's hot and tired, and cranky and rolling on the ground - does that immediately demote her to "vermin" status? No. Children are human beings, not toys for adults to enjoy on "adult" terms. For the most, they are not "brats, "monsters" or "vermin". (Even the ill-behaved ones). They've just had the bad luck of having parents who don't care. I'm sorry if I have offended you - but, I guess I needed to "vent" too.

As a father I also agree with your sentiments. Remember the "Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree."

[queensmama]

And after that comment, I am offically singing off this thread, this subject has just gotten rude to me and all other parents who are priviledged to have not so PERFECT children.