A troubling Boardwalk restaurant dilemna...

[thelobstershanty]

Here is another plug for the FF. It is our favorite restaurant at WDW. We usually have a late seating so we see very few families with young children. I can not see where FF would be any less appropriate for kids then California Grill or Yachtsman's Steakhouse. The only time we really even notice children in a restaurant is if they are misbehaving and that has happened in restaurants all over, not just at WDW.
I do not think any WDW restaurant should be child free. But I do think the restaurant management should step in if the children are running around the restaurant, crying non stop, shouting & screaming, while the parents do nothing.
I do think PI should be child free after a certain hour. We are not happy about the proposed PI changes. That is one AP we will not be renewing.

 

[tortoni]

I don't see any problem with kids at FF. That said, on our last trip we ate at Spoodles (my favorite) and tried FF for the first time. We thought the FF was okay, but I like the atmosphere and food at Spoodles better. I think Spoodles is a lot less expensive as well. However, if you have never tried FF, I'd give it a shot.

 

[MarkC]

As for Pleasure Island, I think you are going to continue to be dissapointed. Have you read the threads on the Dis talking about the changes that are coming to PP? After New Years Eve, no more fireworks, several of the clubs are being taken down along the water to allow more family-friendly dining like House Of Blues, Rainforest Cafe and Raglan Road. Other buildings are getting facelifts and there will be shopping too. I think when these changes happen, kids will be all over Pleasure Island.

I've been dissapointed continuously with Pleasure Island. Being that I live in Orlando, I head down there every week, and the amount of little kids and strollers I see there is rather discouraging. I honestly can't believe that there are parents who keep their little kids up that late who think nothing of walking with their stroller down a place where there is alcohol and loud music being blared. Disney is constantly trying to compete with City Walk and Downtown Orlando (Wall Street and Church Street) for a decent chunk of the bar/nightclub market, but who in their right mind is going to pay $20 for cover at overpriced bars/clubs where they are going to experience kids walking around in the street? Heck, most bar/club-goers hate to go to bars where there are 18-20 year old "patrons" hanging out at their bars, so why would they want to see anybody younger? I guess this is more of an operational/marketing issue for Disney, but it's one that I still don't understand..it's obvious why PI is struggling, but Disney refuses to fix the obvious mistakes.

And I've heard about these changes, but they are just rumors. There has been nothing finalized yet, and I really doubt that these changes will go in effect anytime soon. WDW has been doing a fairly major marketing/survey campaign with Pleasure Island specifically, and will be using that data in the begining of the near year to begin their plans for Pleasure Island.

 

[MarkC]

Out of curiousity, which restaurants at WDW (other than V&A) do you feel that well behaved children shouldn't be permitted?

Very few, if any. Possibly the California Grill (only because I think Chef Mickeys and the Concourse Steakhouse can serve the majority of the "family" guests at the Contemporary), but that's it.
My point was though, that I think it's a rather naive mentality to believe that everywhere on property is appropriate for children of all ages. If anything, I think some the lounges/bars should be adult only (maybe not so much the one at Port Orleans Riverside, as that does encourage a more "family" atmosphere, but lounges like the Grand Floridian are more of an "adult only" hangout).

 

[MarkC]

MarkC-And I will respectfully disagree with you. If you go to Disney, you just have to accept it is a place kids will be. If you dislike kids everywhere, you really should vacation somewhere else.
.

I agree; I'm definitely not saying that kids should be barred from every nice restaurant at Disney World. Disney World is mainly a "family" vacation destination and should cater mainly towards that group. Anybody who vacations there and thinks they wont' encounter kids 98% of their time is sadly misguided. However being that WDW chooses to market and promote WDW as not only a "kid friendly" place, but also a "adult friendly" place (hence their WDW planning videos for adults without kids), don't you think there should be a select few (as in 3 or less) places where adults can go to enjoy a more "mature" dining experience (beyond V&A's?).

And in all honesty, do you believe kids should be at Pleasure Island, some of the bars/lounges at the resorts, and on the professional golf courses at WDW? It was always my opinion that those were created with their adult guests in mind only.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I want to first say that I am enjoying this thread, as everyone is discussing this matter rationally, and without name calling and such.

The funny thing is, MarkC...I think you and I actually AGREE more than we disagree. If WDW implemented a rule , let's say...no children in certain restaurants and lounges after 9 pm...I would not only follow the rule, I would embrace it, and probably seek out those restaurants and lounges on a night that I have my DD in a kid's club or when DH and I take a solo vacation (which has only been once so far.)

I will admit to being a bit annoyed at Party For The Senses at Epcot...I was shocked to see a woman pushing a double stroller through the wine tastings. Honestly, I just felt that *she* couldn't possibly be enjoying herself...not to mention all the people she mowed down with that thing!

But all that said, I just know that I am at Disney, and I really have to just accept that kids will be everywhere, even places that I, personally, would not dream of taking my child. So I just wanted to let the OP know that having her kids at a certain restaurant on WDW is really nothing to worry about. I am sure her kids will not be the only ones there.

Have a magical day, everyone!

 

[crisi]

I agree; I'm definitely not saying that kids should be barred from every nice restaurant at Disney World. Disney World is mainly a "family" vacation destination and should cater mainly towards that group. Anybody who vacations there and thinks they wont' encounter kids 98% of their time is sadly misguided. However being that WDW chooses to market and promote WDW as not only a "kid friendly" place, but also a "adult friendly" place (hence their WDW planning videos for adults without kids), don't you think there should be a select few (as in 3 or less) places where adults can go to enjoy a more "mature" dining experience (beyond V&A's?).

And in all honesty, do you believe kids should be at Pleasure Island, some of the bars/lounges at the resorts, and on the professional golf courses at WDW? It was always my opinion that those were created with their adult guests in mind only.

It amazes me with how successful Palo is on the cruise that Disney hasn't caught on to this. There should be a few (three, V&As, one in the Epcot area, one more in the MK area or maybe one in DTD), that don't seat guests younger than 18. I love my kids, but frankly, nothing ruins a night out like hiring a sitter to have a child free night, and then getting seated next to kids who are kids. Not terribly misbehaving, but lack of inside voices, that same stupid knock knock jokes and poop references I'm trying to get away from, at that whiney kid pitch. I love my own kids, but I hired a sitter to get away from that. I don't love a strangers kids. However, I don't think Flying Fish should be that place (perhaps selfishly on my part, I want to go again and don't want to hire a sitter for it) - and it certainly isn't now.

And I completely agree, Disney does heavy marketing to conventions, honeymooners, golfers, and other adult vacations. Its a great place for kids, but that isn't the be all and end all of Disney. And Disney could do a better job of catering to the non-kid guests once they show up on property.