Am I making a mistake dining with 18 month old

[borgthe]

Hi,

We are considering doing sit down dinners every night(dining plan). We will have our well-behaved 4 year old and an 18 month old. She is now only 10 months so I'm not sure what she'll be like when she is 18 months. She is pretty good right now.

Am I being stupid thinking I can enjoy myself at a sit down dinner every night? Anyone else have experience with this? Thanks!

Val

 

[sara74]

Talk to me in a few weeks and I will have first hand experience for you! We ae taking a just 4 yo and a 21 month old and have a sit down meal planned for every day! I think the restaurants will have crayons or something to occupy the kids (anyone correct me if I'm wrong here!) and I already have my own things to keep the kids busy too. I bought a small gift from Tink for each day that we are there. Little sticker books, a small Magnadoodle, silly putty, etc for them to unwrap each morning. Then I figure they will still be 'new' when we get to our ADR later that day! I am also assuming that we will have to split up occas and walk the little one around the restaurant or something. I am hoping that DH will overcome his usual indecsive nature and speed up the ordering process...

Sorry this is so long! But in short, I am optimistic that we will be able to do it and optimistic that I will be organized enough to write a trip report about it to share my experience before you go! Wish me luck!

 

[Tam1067]

My daughter was 16 months when we went a few years ago. We did TS every night and never had trouble with her. But, I chose really kid friendly places like buffets and Whispering Canyon and the like and didn't have any aspirations to eat at the more upscale restaurants. It was fine. At most Disney restaurants, service is pretty quick, so you're not stuck for a long time.

She loved character meals like Chef Mickey and Crystal Palace and had fun at Whispering Canyon and BIergarten (the latter for the music, not the food). We also made a point to eat fairly early because I find the little ones do better eating at 5:30 or so.

 

[webray]

Like you already said, you don't know how she will be when she is 18months old. Just book where you want to eat and be ready to ask the server to bag it up so you can take it back to your hotel room, or to serve you quickly if the baby isn't in the mood for a sitdown dinner.

We have been taking our grandaughter, starting about 18months of age to the nicer disney restaurants for dinner, once and only once so far out of the past couple years of dining was she "not in the mood", we hurried through our meal and left. My son hurried faster than the rest of us and took her outside to play. When you travel with a baby you are on the babies schedule, so you do what you need to do.

The only thing my hubby and I won't do is allow her to interrupt other diners at any restaurant..kid friendly or not.

 

[Becky2005]

Hmm...we went when my little guy was 21 months old (I know a little older) but it was fine. We had LOTS & LOTS of sit-downs since we went on the Premium plan.

We even ate at Yachtsman Steakhouse with him; Fultons.

I know at Fulton's DH was done & so was the little guy - so he took him outside while the rest of us finished up. Otherwise, I don't remember us ever having to leave a restaraunt due to him being fussy. Sci-fi was a bit difficult because he kept throwing things but it wasn't too bad (it was while we were waiting for food), I finally got him involved in something else and took away all napkins, straws, etc...

We did Concourse Steakhouse, Rainforest Cafe, Tonys, Yachtsman, Fultons - we always tried to do a rather early dinner though because I knew my kids would do better then and also because then we wouldn't disturb anyone on a date night.
(We also did a lot of character meals, several of those were breakfast though - Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Donalds, Princess Storybook, Cinderellas, Liberty Tree Tavern).

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Do you take your daughter out to sit down restaurants now? I have always taken mine out and they have always been pretty well behaved (they are kids.) I think they're used to eating out and know what to expect. If you don't usually eat out out your daughter it could be harder but I'm sure with some entretainment she'll get through it fine.

As far as taking turns walking her around the restaurant, please consider not doing this. My daughter goes from "pretty good" to "what was i thinking?" at the same acceleration as the rockin' roller coaster when she sees another child walking around and she's expected to stay in her seat. Then if we all walked our kids it would look more like a playground than a restaurant. Once mine is out of the seat it's all over. She will not go back in and will scream until we leave. Taking her out of the seat "for a minute" is not a mistake i will make again anytime soon.

 

[Becky2005]

As far as taking turns walking her around the restaurant, please consider not doing this. My daughter goes from "pretty good" to "what was i thinking?" at the same acceleration as the rockin' roller coaster when she sees another child walking around and she's expected to stay in her seat. Then if we all walked our kids it would look more like a playground than a restaurant. Once mine is out of the seat it's all over. She will not go back in and will scream until we leave. Taking her out of the seat "for a minute" is not a mistake i will make again anytime soon.

A trick I learned when mine were younger (if possible - I know sometimes it's not) is that I tried not to put them in the high chair UNTIL the food had arrived. I had them sit on my lap until then, playing with stuff at the table (NOT walking around anywhere just at our table), etc... and then when the food came they were perfectly happy to sit in there until we were almost all done. Although, sometimes my little guy would be crawling to get into the high chair once it came, so once he was in, he was in until it was time to go though.

 

[Nagle]

Guess I'll post the view that gets folks riled up. If you choose carefully and go to places like Chef Mickey's, have at it. If you are considering some of the nicer places like Jiko, Citricos etc., please rethink it. I know that this is Disney, but I sure wouldn't be thrilled to get the table next to the family with kids under 2 years old if I were spending the kind of money that Disney charges for places like the Yachtsman. Sometimes these places are chosen because they are expected to be somewhat quieter than the buffets.

John

 

[jayhjay]

When we last went my DDs were 3 1/2 and 1 year. They eat at restaurants often and we ate out at TS at least once day. THe thing I noticed most was that they were tired earlier (not surprising) and i needed to make my ressies earlier than we normally eat. Especially at lunch, they could barely hold it together sometimes after a morning at the parks. But it really depends on your touring schedule and how aggressive it is. Also if you will be napping them during the day (which definitely made our dinners better). JJ

 

[luvmyboys]

We went last year for free dining, and youngest DS was 15 months. He was great, but I did make sure to make our dinner ADR's earlier (5:30 or 6), and to bring plenty of snacks and distractions for the restaurants w/out characters, or where the food came at a more leisurely pace. He was also really good about taking a nap in his stroller, something I am not sure we can repeat this Sept when he is 2!!

 

[luvmyboys]

Guess I'll post the view that gets folks riled up. If you choose carefully and go to places like Chef Mickey's, have at it. If you are considering some of the nicer places like Jiko, Citricos etc., please rethink it. I know that this is Disney, but I sure wouldn't be thrilled to get the table next to the family with kids under 2 years old if I were spending the kind of money that Disney charges for places like the Yachtsman. Sometimes these places are chosen because they are expected to be somewhat quieter than the buffets.

John

I think whether or not you take your children to the more upscale restaurants depends on the behavior of your children! Not all kids under 2 are creating a ruckus! With my oldest, who is eerily polite and well-behaved, we always get compliments on his behavior, even at the nicest etablishments. Though our youngest (20 months) is also a good boy, he just has a much different, (noisier & more out-going) personality, so we probably won't be at Citricos with him!

But I think it is unfair to tell ALL people w/ young children that they should refrain from taking them to nice restaurants--as long as you have a realistic view of your child's ability to behave (meaning not running around, having tantrums, throwing food etc...)

 

[lillygator]

Don't worry about what others think, you know your child and family best so go where you want to!

We have two little ones and they have been dining out since very young. I have no qualms about making TS ADR's with them.

 

[dawnball]

We took my daughter at 17 months. Mostly she slept through dinner. She'd just pass out in our laps and doze. When she was awake - there was plenty to look at, crayons to color with, we talked to her - and she was fine. She doesn't do high chairs though, so mostly she sat next to me or on my lap until dinner came, and then she'd sit next to me or be asleep.

We even took her to Artist Point and had a lovely time. She was all dressed up, had a little chocolate milk, then lay down in my lap and passed out before her cousin's macaroni and cheese showed up. My neice (who didn't sleep through most meals) was also fine at all the WDW restaurants at 26 months. The only one I recall having trouble at was Sci Fi - I think because it was dark and because of the way you sit in cars it was impossible to carry on conversations and play games with them the way we usually did.

I'd say that the most important thing is to make sure they aren't ravenous or overtired. We usually fed the toddlers an hour or two before dinner, and if they were hungry again - we ordered something for them.

If you don't take your toddler out to dinner much (we don't usually) you might do a dry run before you attempt some of the better restaurants at Disney, just because finding an alternative place to eat can sometimes be problematic when you don't have notice.

 

[Nagle]

But I think it is unfair to tell ALL people w/ young children that they should refrain from taking them to nice restaurants--as long as you have a realistic view of your child's ability to behave (meaning not running around, having tantrums, throwing food etc...)

Unfortunately a large number of people do NOT have a realistic view of their children's behavior.

 

[Becky2005]

The only one I recall having trouble at was Sci Fi - I think because it was dark and because of the way you sit in cars it was impossible to carry on conversations and play games with them the way we usually did.

You know that was the one restaraunt that stands out in my mind we had the most trouble with. We do the high chairs but it's an odd set-up as the high chairs face the screen too because they are a longer tray. Just the overall of the manuvering I had to do seemed more difficult. Nothing else stands out to me other than when he was done eating & DH was done eating at Fulton's....I knew it was more upscale so there was no sense for them to both sit there (since the older ones & I still had a bit to go with our desserts). I had him take him outside and we met up after the rest of us finished.

Turned out to be a wonderful moment for my DD when we were just about finished. There as one of the waiters? (not sure who he was but I was convinced he was going to come yell at my kids even though they were not misbehaving he kept walking by overly watching us...until I figured out WHY!) He ended up making a paper rose for my daughter and and then magically had a Hershey's kiss pop out from the flower. It was fantastic.

 

[lillygator]

Unfortunately a large number of people do NOT have a realistic view of their children's behavior.

It's funny - we've encountered probably an equal amount if not more rude/obnoxious adult diners than children. I bet some of them don't have a realistic view of their own behavior either.

 

[chobie]

It's funny - we've encountered probably an equal amount if not more rude/obnoxious adult diners than children. I bet some of them don't have a realistic view of their own behavior either.

So true.

 

[luvmyboys]

It's funny - we've encountered probably an equal amount if not more rude/obnoxious adult diners than children. I bet some of them don't have a realistic view of their own behavior either.

You must be referring to my in-laws!!

 

[Selket]

I agree that you should be fine taking your toddler to the restaurants. We always felt (probably still feel!) better taking them to the "less fancy" places at WDW - Chef Mickey's, Biergarten, etc. We usually go earlier than later. I figure the adults only groups come out later and go to the nicer places and I'm happy to avoid them. Any kid can have a bad night but overall our children have been fine. The places with entertainment have worked the best. Biergarten was probably my son's favorite at 20 months because he loved watching that band on the stage!

I think if you want to try some fine dining have a sitter come to your room and you can go to a nicer place for a few hours.

Have a great trip!

 

[bigbabyblues]

We took our 3-yo and 15-month old at the same time and didn't have any problems. 15-mo old was really fussy the night we arrived, but it had been a long day. He didn't seem to bother anyone else at Chef Mickey's, we were in a corner and no one seemed to notice. That was the only problem we had, other than he was afraid of the characters, but we just kept him in the corner and they seemed to know he didn't like them and patted his head and that was about it. The rest of the trip he did fine.