We have three dd's, ages 1, 5, and 7. What would be some good restaurants to go to? We have done Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Cindy's for breakfast, Garden Grille. What else would be fun and it doesn't have to have characters but they are nice.
I've taken my kids (now 6 and 3) to almost every WDW restaurant with the exception of Victoria and Alberts and Citricos. Those are the only two I'd stay away from, and my children enjoyed them all. There are special things at each restaurant which make it special for kids. They like getting their own kiddie appetizers, and some even have special desserts!! Jiko serves their peanut butter and jelly on bread which is the colors of the South Africian flag!! Narcoossee's is loved for the view of the castle while we're eating, as is the view from California Grill. We've never had any problems eating at these places with our kids, but we have a few things we always do. We usually get one of the earlier PS's so our kids are well rested (we always have them take a nap while at WDW) and not cranky. They are used to eating out, since we go out at least once a week to a restaurant, so they know proper restaurant behavior. Don't discount some of ht emore "upscale" WDW restaurants, because they can be just as fun as the character meals, in different ways. Believe it or not, my kids favorite restaurant at WDW is Artist Point! They love the look of the restaurant and having a window table looking over the pool area and geyser. DD LOVES the white chocolate Mickey puzzle with edible paints for dessert, and looks forward to this restaurant on every WDW trip!
All of my nieces & nephews love Teppanyaki Japan - World Showcase - Epcot, they have always enjoyed the chef's cooking their food if front of them...we started taking them at about the ages of your children.
My niece and nephew are six year old twins and they picked PSB and Breakfastasourus for breakfast and 1900 Park Faire and Crystal Palace for dinner. We also always do Chef Mickeys our first night. Have fun.
Make sure to eat at Cosmic Rays in MK. It is counter service, with a lot of indoor seating and a big selection of food. There is entertainment that keeps the kids in their seats (for a few minutes anyway!)
My kids were 2, 4 and 5 last summer and they loved Sci-Fi, LibertyTree, all the character meals and even Columbia Harbor House. I think you can take kids almost anywhere in WDW (except maybe V & A).
Our children are older now but when they were young we took them everywhere that appealed to our family and there's Disney magic at all of them.
One time our oldest even "subbed" for me at V&A although he was 10-12 at the time and old enough to enjoy really fine dining and as quiet and well behaved as any adult.
We have seen very young children at Citricos and I think it would help their business if folks thought of it as another great restaurant to dine where families are the norm....like California Grill, Jiko, Kona, Artist Point, Narcoossee's, etc.. It is a very large restaurant....too large to be adults only IMO.
We will have 6 kids with us this trip. My 4 ds--16, 14, 4 and 2 plus my niece 13 and nephew 7. We are eating at Planet Hollywood, Pepper market, Beaches & Cream, Garden Grill, CP, CM, San Angel Inn, Sci Fi, Prime Time, Ohana and Whispering Canyon. Trying to get in a little something for everyone.