Are kids ok at signature dining?

[TheRustyScupper]

There is one spot where children are "allowed"--but not especially welcome. And that is Shula's.

{Flame Proof Suit In Place}
1) And, I say, HALLELUJAH.
2) There are enough places for kids to eat.
3) But, "fine dining" might not be a good place for them.
4) For high prices, adults should be able to expect
. . . excellent food
. . . superb service
. . . inviting and cordial atmospheres
5) Too many adults let kids misbehave at finer restaurants.
6) There are places for kids and places not for kids.
7) If I spend $150+ for dinner-for-two, I want quiet environs.
8) Even WDW should have a place or two discouraging kids.
. . . V&A has a no-under-10 kids policy
. . . Shula's does this well through no kids menu and high OOP prices
. . . Il Mulino does this through high menu OOP prices
. . . Artist Point, so far, has elluded the noisy kids
. . . Bistro used to be like this, but now admits noisy kids via DDP


NOTE: We have part ownership in two eateries. A (breakfast
and lunch only) blue-plate-special-type diner, and a white-glove
real-tablecloth service fine dining (dinner only). At the fine dining
eatery, all the partners decided to not admit kids under-10. And,
if kids or adults do not respect the rights of others to dine in
peace, we ask them to leave.
{Flame Proof Suit Back In Storage}

 

[happydayva]

I have always taken my daughter and seen many other children. It is Disney after all! As long as your children are well behaved and you take them out if they become disruptive, go for it!! If people complain, tell them they should not have come to a "kid centered" resort area!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Raidermatt: They were rather happy to share with me the "children aren't particularly desired" viewpoint. They weren't trying to hide the fact at all. The exact phrasing was something to the effect that "children are welcome, but not desired due to the atmosphere of the restaurant and the expectation of our diners".

And you do note from the menu sites that the kids menu isn't published..you are entitled to see it "on request". It could be that from their point of view, anyone who comes in with kids would probably want to see a kids menu, so once inside, they assume the "request" will be made.

But anyway--they will certainly treat any children who might come in with courtesy and their usual good service. But in the spirit of the thread and the OP's question, I think I'd take my kids to many other places before I would try Shula's.

And to add that in about 10 or 11 previous trips to Shula's, I believe I saw only one child (maybe about 10-12 years old) there with what was probably his dad.

 

[TDC Nala]

Well-behaved children are welcome in any Disney-operated establishment except Victoria & Alberts, which will not seat children under age 10. (That lets out the debate about Shula's which is not Disney-operated and I'm not sure what the debate is about. Children are allowed at Shula's. Whether or not they're "welcome" appears to be the subject of debate, but I'm sure that a family entering Shula's won't be told outright "Your children are not welcome here." It's really not a family restaurant atmosphere, but it's up to the families if they want to go there, or ask for the children's menu.

The earlier you go, the more young diners you will find in these establishments. If you have young children who are unable to stay seated for a long meal and prefer to run around the restaurant or sit on the floor, if they constantly scream or throw food, the parents should be aware that they're probably going to be targets of ire at least from other diners.

 

[MichiganKris]

I personally think if you have well behaved children they would be welcome at any of the restaurants. However, the problem is parents not making their chilren behave. I have been out to dinner with my 11 year old daughter twice in the last couple of weeks and she commented on how, if she had ever behaved like some of the other children in the restaurant, we would have gotten our meal to go and left. I never expected other diners at restaurants to have to put up with my child mis-behaving. It doesn't matter if it's at Applebee's or Shula's, parents should not allow that. Kids should not be allowed to run around restaurants disturbing others. It's not polite and frankly it's dangerous. If your child is not behaving, flag down your server, ask for the meal to go and wait outside for the meal. Please don't disrupt others dining.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

My daughter was at Shula's when she was 3. We were the only ones that evening (right after it opened) that had a child with us that young. (I was nervous to say the least, but it was a large family gathering.) There were 9 of us in the party plus her and the bill was well over a $1000. I can tell you that she was not only welcomed but that the server made a big fuss over her cute dress and went out of her way. Granted, DD made us very proud as she was a COMPLETE angel that night. So whether YOU think they are welcome or not doesn't really matter. Money talks. If you are dropping money in a restaurant where kids are not forbidden (ie. V&A) then as long as they are well behaved... take them and enjoy!

 

[jjsdad]

We ate at the flying fish last summer and there were more tables with kids then tables without kids.

 

[Colleen27]

{Flame Proof Suit In Place}
1) And, I say, HALLELUJAH.
2) There are enough places for kids to eat.
3) But, "fine dining" might not be a good place for them.
4) For high prices, adults should be able to expect
. . . excellent food
. . . superb service
. . . inviting and cordial atmospheres
5) Too many adults let kids misbehave at finer restaurants.
6) There are places for kids and places not for kids.
7) If I spend $150+ for dinner-for-two, I want quiet environs.
8) Even WDW should have a place or two discouraging kids.
. . . V&A has a no-under-10 kids policy
. . . Shula's does this well through no kids menu and high OOP prices
. . . Il Mulino does this through high menu OOP prices
. . . Artist Point, so far, has elluded the noisy kids
. . . Bistro used to be like this, but now admits noisy kids via DDP


NOTE: We have part ownership in two eateries. A (breakfast
and lunch only) blue-plate-special-type diner, and a white-glove
real-tablecloth service fine dining (dinner only). At the fine dining
eatery, all the partners decided to not admit kids under-10. And,
if kids or adults do not respect the rights of others to dine in
peace, we ask them to leave.
{Flame Proof Suit Back In Storage}

I think that's the key, and where a lot of restaurants (especially at WDW!!!) go wrong - rather than asking disruptive diners to leave they go to a no-kids policy hoping that will keep them from having to take that more confrontational step, but we all know kids aren't the only ones who can be disruptive in restaurants. I make most of our dinner reservations early, partly because I do have children and partly because later in the night is when we've encountered the loud/drunk adult diners that are among my restaurant pet peeves.

I was surprised to learn from this board that Shula's and Bistro have kids' menus. I've taken my kids to Shula's (not the WDW location), but it never crossed my mind to ask for one. If I wanted the kids to have chicken nuggets or hot dogs I'd have gone to Logan's, not a nice steakhouse, and I don't really get why parents would choose a restaurant without a published kids' menu and then expect to get one.

I'm most looking forward to Kimonos, which as far as I know doesn't have a kids' menu, on our next trip. I made dinner plans there knowing full well that my girls will enjoy the adult offerings. And frankly, I don't care if we're the only table with a preschooler in the place or if management privately rolls their eyes when we come through the door; I know she'll behave and nothing makes her happier than a good tuna roll or salmon nigiri, so the place that by many reviews has the best, most authentic sushi at WDW is high on my list of places we'd all enjoy.

 

[North of Mouse]

Well behaved children are welcome at most restaurants, and only you know how your children respond in situations like that. We started taking ours when they were infants and they knew to mind their manners when we were out, because that's the way they had to behave at home.

 

[raidermatt]

I was surprised to learn from this board that Shula's and Bistro have kids' menus. I've taken my kids to Shula's (not the WDW location), but it never crossed my mind to ask for one. If I wanted the kids to have chicken nuggets or hot dogs I'd have gone to Logan's, not a nice steakhouse, and I don't really get why parents would choose a restaurant without a published kids' menu and then expect to get one.

I'm not sure if the other Shula's locations added the children's menu or not. I haven't been to any other locations since the change. Regardless, it's not chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Nor has anyone complained about expecting one or not. We took our kids prior to there being a children's menu and before they were old enough to eat their own entree they either had an appetizer and/or side, or they shared. No discouragement from the staff, not even a plate fee, even though it was their policy at the time to charge one for shared meals.

That said, while the items on the children's menu are not published on Disney's site, the fact that there is a children's menu IS published on the site.

 

[raidermatt]

Raidermatt: They were rather happy to share with me the "children aren't particularly desired" viewpoint. They weren't trying to hide the fact at all. The exact phrasing was something to the effect that "children are welcome, but not desired due to the atmosphere of the restaurant and the expectation of our diners".

And you do note from the menu sites that the kids menu isn't published..you are entitled to see it "on request". It could be that from their point of view, anyone who comes in with kids would probably want to see a kids menu, so once inside, they assume the "request" will be made.

But anyway--they will certainly treat any children who might come in with courtesy and their usual good service. But in the spirit of the thread and the OP's question, I think I'd take my kids to many other places before I would try Shula's.

And to add that in about 10 or 11 previous trips to Shula's, I believe I saw only one child (maybe about 10-12 years old) there with what was probably his dad.

My point in asking why they added a children's menu if they didn't want children was that clearly SOMEBODY at Shula's decided they wanted to encourage families to bring their children, at least more so than they had in the past.

It sounds as if that decision must have came from somebody higher up than the mangers you spoke with, and that's why I am surprised they are sharing what they did with you. Whoever chose to add the children's menu wouldn't appreciate the fact that they are telling guests what you were told.

On the question of whether it's published, I think the most important point is that they do publish the fact that they have a children's menu, it's on Disney's site. Again, if you don't have a children's menu and don't want children, why add a children's menu and publish the fact that you have one? Wouldn't you leave things as they were? Clearly there is a disconnect within Shula's somewhere.

As for the OP's question, I am still sure that if we could get the same candid answers from employees at other signature restaurants, we would find that at the very least, some feel the same as the employees you spoke with at Shula's. (Certainly some of the customers do, as evidenced by some of the posts that always come up in these threads).

The reality is that these families will be treated no worse at Shula's than anywhere else, so I don't see the point in discouraging them, as least on the grounds that they are truly less welcome at Shula's than Bistro, Il Mulino, etc.

On the question of how many kids we have seen, I honestly never made a point of looking and certainly I haven't counted but I do remember seeing other kids there on most of our visits. Perhaps this has something to do with when we visit, as it is during school breaks so it would follow that there will be more children around. By the same token, I would expect fewer kids at the Swan/Dolphin restaurants because these hotels get more convention business than most of the Disney hotels.

Now, as for rowdy, noisy conventioners, I have experienced those on several occasions. Our server even apologized to us for the noise once. And I've seen quite a few t-shirts and flip flops. Within the official code, I know, but if Shula's is going to be somehow different than other signatures you would think they would not be happy about that. I don't normally look for those things, but after discussions here on the Dis I've taken a few looks around on our more recent trips. I even saw a man wearing a tank top once.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm not sure if the other Shula's locations added the children's menu or not. I haven't been to any other locations since the change. Regardless, it's not chicken nuggets and hot dogs. Nor has anyone complained about expecting one or not. We took our kids prior to there being a children's menu and before they were old enough to eat their own entree they either had an appetizer and/or side, or they shared. No discouragement from the staff, not even a plate fee, even though it was their policy at the time to charge one for shared meals.

That said, while the items on the children's menu are not published on Disney's site, the fact that there is a children's menu IS published on the site.

That was our experience too. My girls shared a meal without a shared plate charge, even though there was one indicated on the menu, and the waitstaff was nothing but gracious. We get a lot of complements/comments on our kids when we go out because they do behave well and really enjoy good food.

I looked up the kids menu for Shula's out of curiosity and couldn't find one anywhere, but it is good to hear it isn't just "kid food". That's one of the things we like about Disney's signature restaurants - those are the best places on property for kids who aren't interested in chicken nuggets, pizza, hot dogs, or burgers for every meal. That's much better than Bistro, which as I understand it is just offering the kids menu from Chefs de France (one of the worst, most limited kids' menus in WDW in my opinion - 3 choices, only one of them "real" food)

From what Google turned up it does look like at least some other Shula's locations have added a children's menu, and it no longer seems to be some unpublished secret - the fact that you can request a kids' menu is printed at the bottom of every menu. That wasn't true when we dined there, which is why I wondered about how/why parents would think to ask for a kids menu in the first place.

 

[Uncleromulus]

If you HAVE a childrens menu, why on earth would you not want to publish it??

When we had our discussion, it was May 11, 2010. At THAT time they had an unpublished childrens menu for "just under a year". I even have a copy of it--

And of course they might capitulate and someday publish the darn thing

 

[mrzrich]

Shula's offers FREE child care at the Dolphin Child Care Center. This is another indication that they would prefer you not bring your child to dine there. Of course they will not prohibit your child, but they like to keep an adult atmosphere.

 

[CampbellScot]

I've taken both my step kids to signature restaurants and have seen lots of kids at signature places. As other people have stated it can be boring after all the character meals! Both my step kids have been well versed in appropriate restaurant behavior and both my husband and I enforce that expectation.

The only time I have ever seen atrociously bad behavior at a signature was several years ago at Artist Point. It was a huge party with at least ten kids and 6 adults. The kids were all under the age of 10. The adults all sat at one end and the kids were at the other. It wasn't five seconds before those kids were literally running around the restaurant, knocking over their chairs and climbing OVER the table. It was actually a bit on the surreal side. The adults seemed totally unaware. There was a half hearted "sit down please" at one point. The CM's said nothing to the family but they quietly went around and asked each table surrounding the chaos if they would like to be moved. The entire room moved leaving the chaotic bunch alone.

After chairs were knocked over for a second time, somebody came out and spoke to one of the adults and told them that the behavior of the children was not appropriate for the setting and they finally left. One of the men in the group got a little huffy and said "Disney is for KIDS!" Then they all got up and left. It was odd from start to finish.

I think that would be the exception and not the rule. Most people willing to pay signature prices don't bring young kids who can't handle the setting.

 

[aubriee]

I personally think if you have well behaved children they would be welcome at any of the restaurants. However, the problem is parents not making their chilren behave. I have been out to dinner with my 11 year old daughter twice in the last couple of weeks and she commented on how, if she had ever behaved like some of the other children in the restaurant, we would have gotten our meal to go and left. I never expected other diners at restaurants to have to put up with my child mis-behaving. It doesn't matter if it's at Applebee's or Shula's, parents should not allow that. Kids should not be allowed to run around restaurants disturbing others. It's not polite and frankly it's dangerous. If your child is not behaving, flag down your server, ask for the meal to go and wait outside for the meal. Please don't disrupt others dining.

My husband and I took our 3 y/o GS to WDW Feb 4th-11th. We usually dine at mainly signature restaurants down there, but purposely did not book any this trip due to having a 3 y/o with us. His parents go out to eat alot and he has always done very well in restaurants. A far as I know he has never had a single melt down. We just chose to go to places we knew he would enjoy more. He was a little irritable the very first day, due to having to get up at 2:00am to go to the airport, but otherwise did wonderful the rest of the week. In fact, several people (waiters and guests alike commented on how well behaved he was). Anyway, we were eating lunch at Le Cellier one day when a kid about 4 or 5 y/o was getting really loud. She just kept crying, getting louder and louder, screaming she was bored and wanted to go. The parents did nothing. Everyone around them was looking at them and getting irritated. A lady at the table next to us, leaned over and loudly made a comment about how quiet and well behaved my GS was, making sure the parents of the crying girl could hear. Before we could quietly say thank you, my GS rather too loudly spoke up and said, "She's being bad and not using an inside voice. I'd get taken outside if I did that and believe me you don't want to get taken outside by my mom or dad. It's easier to just be good."

 

[abbadabbadoo]

I'm most looking forward to Kimonos, which as far as I know doesn't have a kids' menu, on our next trip. I made dinner plans there knowing full well that my girls will enjoy the adult offerings. And frankly, I don't care if we're the only table with a preschooler in the place or if management privately rolls their eyes when we come through the door; I know she'll behave and nothing makes her happier than a good tuna roll or salmon nigiri, so the place that by many reviews has the best, most authentic sushi at WDW is high on my list of places we'd all enjoy.

We have taken my DD (9) to Kimonos twice now - when she was 6 & again at 8. She loves sushi, and seemed to be welcome there. In fact, the last time we went our server had a lengthy conversation with her about the different varieties she had tried (and then brought her some sashimi to sample). She is well-behaved and we do go out to eat often at home (DH is a big sushi fan too, so we have visited many different "sushi spots").

We took both of our children (DD9 and DS3) to California Grill last fall. I was only able to get a later ADR (9:15) and I was concerned that they would be the only children at that point & wasn't sure how that would be received (also, while mostly well-behaved, I was afraid that a later dinner might send DS into "super grumpy tired toddler" mode). I had already discussed with the kids that it was a very special place and I expected them to be on their best behavior. I brought a backpack with some crayons and small (quiet) toys to keep DS occupied. We felt very welcome by the staff. Our server was great - he brought goldfish for the little guy while we waited for appetizers. The kids ordered their meals and were happy with their selections (and I was happy because the signatures have more than just the standard kids menu items). We happened to be there on a MNSSHP evening, and we were able to watch the party fireworks from our table - the kids thought that was the coolest. They even had a special "sushi"-looking dessert that DD loved (rice krispie and fruit roll up "sushi"). We had a wonderful time - the kids were very good and enjoyed it.

 

[raidermatt]

Shula's offers FREE child care at the Dolphin Child Care Center. This is another indication that they would prefer you not bring your child to dine there. Of course they will not prohibit your child, but they like to keep an adult atmosphere.

If you want to keep an adult atmosphere, you don't add a children's menu. The only reason to add a children's menu is to encourage family's with children and to better accomodate them.

That said, I 100% agree that Shula's is not the place for the loud and unruly, including loud or unruly children. THAT'S what the childcare is for. If you want to have a nice dinner there but know your children can't handle it, you have the childcare option. It's not an adult atmosphere necessarily, but it is a nice atmosphere free of distractions. Rowdy conventioneers aside.

If your children CAN handle it and you want to bring them, they have added a children's menu to make things easier for you.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I know what you mean about the conventioneers.
But I think Shula's knows many are on expense accounts and when a group of 12 to 15 (or more) get together, it's hundreds and hundreds of dollars for Shulas--especially for alcohol, where they make an enormous profit.

 

[raidermatt]

I know what you mean about the conventioneers.
But I think Shula's knows many are on expense accounts and when a group of 12 to 15 (or more) get together, it's hundreds and hundreds of dollars for Shulas--especially for alcohol, where they make an enormous profit.

No doubt. Money talks, as the saying goes. I think it's the same reason the children's menu was added. I'm sure they are wary of unruly children and unruly conventioneers. But they both fork over $'s to eat/drink there, so Shula's is willing to try to manage the situation. Simply put, they likely can't afford to turn either group away.