Strollers in Restaurants

[jel0511]

Hi -

We will be going in August with our DD who's 3 and our DS who will be 4 months. My question is, can I bring in my stroller into the restaurants, or will I have to either get a portable reclining high chair or bring his car seat. I, of course, would rather be able to roll him right in his stroller, but I don't know if they allow this.

Thanks!!!

[jesse]

I can't say what the overall policy is, but we did roll our stroller right up to our table at the Crystal Palace.

[Kermit]

I've heard that the official policy is no strollers, but that they usually make exceptions if the baby is sleeping. In the case of your baby, I would think that they would allow the stroller in most cases if you don't use a stroller that has a detachable baby carrier. A lot of the high chairs are the ones that don't come up in the back higher than they do in the front, and you won't be able to sit a baby that young in one of those.

In the counter service restaurants, you should be able to do whatever you want. No one is monitoring the door, and it's less of a hazzard since there's no waitstaff carrying trays.

[Libby]

I certainly hope you can take a stroller into the sit down resturarnts, even if baby isn't sleeping. I'm travelling alone with my 3 yr old and 5 month old in February and don't think it would be very easy to eat my dinner with baby on my lap. The only high chairs I saw on my last trip had no backs so would be of little help. I think the CM's should show some common sence and let you take a stroller with a young baby. Please let me know what you experience upon your return.

Libby

[DisneyKidds]

We have often brought our stroller into WDW restaurants. However - it is usually while DD has been sleeping - but not always. We have never been denied when we have asked - so just ask.

[Gagebre]

We were just there with our 7 month old. They did let us take our stroller in at Tony's and the Plaza Restaurant at MK. It never seemed to be a problem.:wave:

[dcgrumpy]

I was there recently with my then 4mo son. The only place I wasn't allowed to bring my stroller to the table was Chef Mickeys, there I was giving a reclining high chair.

[Libby]

It's good to know there should be no problems with the stroller for a young baby. I didn't really think this would be - after all this is disney who caters for families - but it's one less thing to worry about now.
Thanks for clarifying this everyone.

Libby

[lisapooh]

Perhaps not a problem for you but strollers have been a problem for me in the past. I have had instances where I have been seated at a restaurant and have ended up trapped because a family with a stroller has been seated after me and blocked my only path from my seat to the exit or in the case of a buffet to the food. If the stroller will block the area where others need to walk or in my case roll through for access to their seats then they should be banned. If they can be placed in a manner to keep them totally out of the path of others then that is fine.
Often it is a tight fit to manever in a restaurant with a wheelchair and anything placed even partly in the path is an impossible barrier.

[Libby]

Lisapooh,

Don't know if I've taken your post the wrong way or not but I did find it a bit offensive. We are only asking to take in a stroller for a sleeping baby, or my case a five month old (I'm travelling alone) so I can eat my meal. Surely we have as much right to eat as you do. Of course, I would hope the staff would try to seat us in an appropriate spot, and I myself always try to position the stroller so it is not in anyones road. If the restuarants have high chairs with back I am more than happy to leave my stroller outside, but as I said in my above post I have never seen those (though apparently Chef Mickey's has them).

Libby

[lisapooh]

Sorry you take offense at my wanting to be able to choose my own food at a buffet and not have to depend on others. Unfortunately I do not have the choice of leaving my wheelchair outside or not. And very often I find strollers blocking the way and parents refusing to move them so they are not in the way of the path.
When my children young I spent many a meal holding my child while I ate or my dh and I taking turns eating because strollers were not allowed in the Disney restaurants sleeping baby or not. The rules were strictly enforced then. At least you now have the choice.
That said the main aisles of a restaurant should be kept clear for all who need to use them.
I would suggest you get a Snugli or other baby sling. They are very useful pieces of baby equipment.

[Libby]

Lisapooh,

I don't really know why we are arguing when it is really a problem with WDW - they could easily accomodate both sleeping babies and wheelchairs. Sounds like we are both a bit sensitive about the issue. I will be taking a baby carrier but really don't fancy eating/drinking over the top of my babies head - I'm a messy eater at the best of times :-). -I am travelling alone with a toddler and baby. Anyway, I will definitely make sure the stroller is out the way, if of course we cannot be accomodated with a reclining high chair. Like most things unfortunately a handful of inconsiderate people can spoil things for the rest of us and give the rest of us a bad reputation.

I just wondered if was normal not to be able to take strollers into resturants in the USA? I've never come across it in Australia.

Libby

[samoyed]

I ate at the Plaza Restaurant two weeks ago, and since my child was not sleeping I was not allowed to take my stroller into the restaurant. I myself pleaded and so did my mother. At this time my daugher was getting very cranky and ready for a nap. I explained this, and the CM told me if she fell asleep then I could get the stroller. Not my luck, she had a temper tantram, I ended up leaving my family to finish their lunch and took my daugher out and strollered her around. (I hate crying babies in a restaurant myself, and will not subject others to my child). Within 5 minutes she sleeping in the stroller. But by that time I lost my appetite (only ate 1 bite of my sandwich), so I just waited for my family to come out of the restaurant.

[samoyed]

I think the idea of bringing a Snugli is a good one. Since you will have a stroller anyway, throw it on the bottom. If you do get shut out of a restaurant with a stroller, it would be nice to have a backup.

[Dr. Happy]

This speaks directly to an experience we had...

We decided to eat at CocoNuts at Down Town Disney for an evening meal. We had ressies and when we arrived we were seated at a large corner table upstairs, just as we requested...

But, the greeter (and this is a stretch to call this person by that term!!) told us, and demanded, that we not bring our stroller in at all. When we showed him that our 20 month old daughter was sound asleep, he still told us that "all strollers are forbidden in the restaurant." He wasn't accommodating, empathic, understanding at all, so forced to make a decision we scooped her up in our arms and took turns holding and eating amongst the 5 other adults in our party.

When I asked to speak to the manager, you know what he told me???

He was the manager!!

:mad:

[dcgrumpy]

Libby

As long as you are considerate of your fellow guests and put the stroller in a spot as to not block the path of others, I don't think there would be a problem. Like I said earlier, I brought my stroller in to all but one meal and always had plenty of room to put it right at the table where a chair would go, so it was never in the way.

The snugli idea is good, if your baby is used to it. We brought one our trip, my son isn't used to using it and wanted no part of it.

Have a great trip.

[KirstenB]

We only ate at a couple of sit-down restaurants when we went, but our stroller wasn't allowed in San Angel (Epcot), or Portobello's (Downtown Disney). Bummer, so we just ate at counter-service places after that. I can understand the policy in some of the restaurants, where the tables are very close together anyway, and there's not enough room to maneuver.

[Libby]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Guess I'll just go along with the hope I can take the stroller - I'm only planning a few sit-down meals anyway - and if they refuse the stroller (and don't have a reclining high chair) I'll just go elsewhere. I just think help my toddler eat, trying to eat myself and juggling a little baby will be too much. Anyway, I really appreciate everyones comments and at least now I'm prepared for the fact I may not be allowed into some places.

Libby

[momejay]

Libby & Lisapooh -
In a way I agree with both of you but...

Where do you suggest that someone with a family with a 5 year old, autistic son (that uses a large stroller) eat? My son is too small for a wheelchair & too uncooperative to not have his stroller.

I think Disney should have certain closer tables reserved for those that need assistance to get food, at a buffet. (such as someone in a wheelchair who can't reach everything)

Everyone needs to eat & it's not easy with a cranky baby on your lap. I suppose we should leave the baby home? Maybe some tables, with some extra space for necessary strollers or highchairs, could be reserved for families with small children or special needs children in a back room somewhere, so we don't offend anyone. We were a party of 7 stuffed into a table for 4 with a sleeping handicapped child. We had to move twice as the tables around us finished their meals. I noitified them when I made the PS of our party's size & that my son was autistic.

I find it rude of Disney to split up a family of 6 or 7 with a PS, into 2 tables across the room, but they do.

I agree that it is hard to manuver in most of the restaurants. There are many obsticles stairs, cramped tables, & upstair or downstair bathrooms. For the most part I agree with the strollers being a fire hazzard, but my son needs to eat too. I suppose I should leave him home too?

[Momof4girls]

For those who suggested it - a snugli is NOT a good idea. First, it's bad for the baby's pelvic development. Second, it would be directly in front of you, preventing you from seeing the table, causing you to have to back your seat up into the precious space that everyone seems so concerned about, and would be risky for the baby if you should be eating or drinking anything HOT! Also, I realize that some strollers have a large "footprint" but so do highchairs, as well as infant seat slings (Koala) that hold a baby seat. If you have a concern that you cannot get to the buffet, then ask to be seated somewhere else - or don't go to a buffet. We don't go to buffets because we'd have to take turns getting food and one of us always ends up with cold food. So, we do table service. Disney is great about having Character meals with that option. I mean - there are dozens of options there. It's Disneyworld! And if we took turns eating, I'm sure that someone out there would be ticked because we were taking way too long at "their" table and they had to wait for their ADR. I think people just get so pissy about things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of life. If you're going to let that ruin your day, stay home!

Now, we have a similar predicament. Our son will be 3-4 months while we are there. I called and emailed guest relations and explained the situation, asking what our options are. They said that they do have infant seat holders at some restaurants, and that they do have reclining high chairs at some - but that they can never "guarantee" one or the other because they rotate them. It seems absurd to me that they would do this.

[all4fun]

In the past when ds was sleeping they did allow us to bring in the stroller. One restuarant I can remember they allowed this was the Sci Fi dine in. When ds was awake, though, we had to park it outside. I can understand the rule though. There are so many people with babies in strollers if they let all of them in then there wouldn't be enough room to walk.

We've taken our single stroller into numerous CS restaurants w/no problems at all.

To the OP, when you're going to a TS restuarant, my suggestion would be to try for "off times" when it's not as likely to be very busy and hopefully you'll have better luck and they'll allow it.

hth.

[tjmw2727]

Libby & Lisapooh -
In a way I agree with both of you but...

Where do you suggest that someone with a family with a 5 year old, autistic son (that uses a large stroller) eat? My son is too small for a wheelchair & too uncooperative to not have his stroller.

I think Disney should have certain closer tables reserved for those that need assistance to get food, at a buffet. (such as someone in a wheelchair who can't reach everything)

Everyone needs to eat & it's not easy with a cranky baby on your lap. I suppose we should leave the baby home? Maybe some tables, with some extra space for necessary strollers or highchairs, could be reserved for families with small children or special needs children in a back room somewhere, so we don't offend anyone. We were a party of 7 stuffed into a table for 4 with a sleeping handicapped child. We had to move twice as the tables around us finished their meals. I noitified them when I made the PS of our party's size & that my son was autistic.

I find it rude of Disney to split up a family of 6 or 7 with a PS, into 2 tables across the room, but they do.

I agree that it is hard to manuver in most of the restaurants. There are many obsticles stairs, cramped tables, & upstair or downstair bathrooms. For the most part I agree with the strollers being a fire hazzard, but my son needs to eat too. I suppose I should leave him home too?

Just want to suggest getting a GAC card for your son's stroller - this will instruct the CM's to treat your stroller as they would a wheelchair. In your case this could be very helpful in restaurants as discussed but also in lines and other areas where strollers are not allowed. If your GAC says to treat your stroller as a wheelchair you will be allowed to use it as such.

For more info try here ~
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

TJ

[SueM in MN]

Just want to suggest getting a GAC card for your son's stroller - this will instruct the CM's to treat your stroller as they would a wheelchair. In your case this could be very helpful in restaurants as discussed but also in lines and other areas where strollers are not allowed. If your GAC says to treat your stroller as a wheelchair you will be allowed to use it as such.

For more info try here ~
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

TJ
::yes::
There is information about GACs (Guest Assistance Card) in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board.

One GAC 'message' allows a stroller to be treated as a wheelchair. While this is mostly for lines and attraction buildings, it might be helpful in restaurants. The counter service restaurants won't be a problem - people bring strollers in those all the time and just park them out of the path of traffic. I think for the full service restaurants, you probably would not need a GAC (the CMs there probably never see them and would not recognise one) since most will allow in a sleeping child and your situation is as understandable as that. What I would suggest is to mention your situation when you check in at the full service restaurant and ask to be seated where the stroller would not be a problem. If the CM has a probelm with that, get out the GAC. If there's still a problem, ask to speak to a supervisor.

[dsneygirl]

We took our son at 3 months in Oct and never once had an issue with bringing the stroller into the restaurant. I usually ask if there is a more out of the way table where we can park the stroller. And I would certainly move out of the way for anyone who needed to get passed.

As for the snugli I have never heard anything about pelvic development being stunted...Many people wear their babies for hours everyday. When my son was a newborn we wore him in a sling many a night in order to eat our dinner.

[katerkat]

As for the snugli I have never heard anything about pelvic development being stunted...Many people wear their babies for hours everyday. When my son was a newborn we wore him in a sling many a night in order to eat our dinner.

Slings are different from Snuglis. The Snugli makes the baby sit right on the base of their spine, or if forward-facing, dangles from their crotch. Also, there's some reports that opening their legs wide enough to place them in the Snugli can damage their hips - not an issue with the sling, again. I don't think a couple of meals, though, can do any major damage, and I've carried a certain young man in a pouch sling, Snugli, Moby and Mei Tai.

[Kayakmom]

Wow, this just makes me say :rolleyes: . I think all people should be fair and considerate of other people, no matter what. Personally I can't carry my daughter in a Snugli because someone was not paying attention while driving and crashed into me. It hurts me to carry her for any length of time at all because of a permanent shoulder injury. I'm wondering if I should post a note on my stroller that says such so that I can avoid any conflict up front.

All people are entitled to be able to go up to the buffet, to the bathroom, etc. It would seem that a little common sense used by the host/hostess when seating would go a long way to avoid this issue. If it is a constant issue of being blocked in by strollers, I would be sure to explain nicely upon arrival and I'm sure the CMs would go out of their way to make sure your needs are met. An attitude toward parents who are allowed to bring in their strollers really doesn't solve the problem.

A little bit of nice goes a long way. I am a vegetarian and I know that I never have a problem when I ask nicely in cs type restaurants for people to change their gloves, wash the knife, wipe down the prep area, etc. before preparing my food. People in general are usually very willing to accomodate if they know what your needs are.

Please don't take it out on all families with small children because there are a few inconsiderate people out there. For that matter, it probably should not be assumed that they're inconsiderate. They may not have even realized it was an issue and likely would have been more than helpful if they were aware of the situation. I've got to believe that people in general don't mean to make other's lives miserable.