Artist's Point with kids?

[Wilma Flintstone]

Call me a mean but I feel that the "pricey" restaurants should be "child-free" after a certain hour. I'm sure we all agree that keeping up a young child or two so Mommy and Daddy can have a late dinner after a full, hot day at the parks, is NOT a good idea--or a civil one to those diners around them, who waited years to eat there. I have been to restaurants in WDW that had children behaving BETTER than the parents. But seriously, it is courteous to dine with small children by 6:30 PM and leave the later hours for grown-ups. My DH and I were treating a close friend and her DH to dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe (which was used as the hdqtrs. for their Flagler's while it was being renovated). We chose to be seated at 8:30 PM. The host attempted to sit us in a booth right next to a family with 3 small children. I politely pointed to the elaborate floral arrangement in the next dining room and asked to be seated there. It was understated and quiet with other adult diners. But even from that distance we could hear the cries and whimpers of those sweet, tired children who should have been in bed by then. Just some common sense and courtesy can go a looong way in this frazzled world--even at DisneyWorld! --Wilma

 

[pennyplanner]

Wilma,

I have to agree with you. I am a mom and think that people sometimes get selfish and don't think of what is best for their children.

We did eat at AP with younger children and had a 7 p.m. PS. It worked out fine for us but still my youngest was tired. My DH took him back to our room at WL while I enjoyed dessert with my other DS.

We were seated in a rather out of the way section with a booth seat on one side. It was perfect for watching the main floor of the dining room without being in the center of all the diners.

If ever one of my children made the least bit of noise, it was customary for one of us to leave the dining room with him. Same goes for church.

A little bit of courtesy goes a long way!

--penny

 

[MinnieGi]

Well, I will politely say that I think it depends on your child. We ate at AP @ 8:00 with our 14 month old who was and almost always is well behaved at restaurants. She loves being around people and being out and about. In fact she strongly disliked being in our room at WL. She wanted to be out and see everything as soon as she woke up.

We often ate other dinners around 7:00 while at WDW and she was wonderful at all of them. Now we make sure that she has plenty of meals and snacks throughout the day so she is not cranky and also well rested before we go out to eat. DH and I loved that we could have a glass of wine and a fine meal while our DD was with us.

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

Dear MinnieGi: Your daughter sounds like a DREAM--and I bet she brightens up the dining room with her sweet personality. I am a nursery school teacher of 2-3 year olds and adore children. That's why I feel it's wrong to make children sit for an hour or so at a dinner table after a long day at the parks. That, coupled with the courtesy issue, makes my blood boil. I have seen enough to write a book. DisneyWorld, is, after all, a park that caters to children. Children should be viewed as a "special guest" in all the restaurants. I was so happy when special menus were given to my son on all our vacations through the years. I just think that the "fancy" restaurants should be viewed as catering to adults after a certain hour. WDW is a favorite place for honeymooners (I honeymooned there in '81) and it's nice to be able to sit at Artist's Point at 8:30-9 PM and have a sophisticated and elegant dinner. And the cranky children (and adults for that matter) maybe should be up in their rooms eating pizza room service in their jammies--sounds good to me!--when can I go?

--Wilma

 

[MinnieGi]

Wilma - I agree the cranky children AND ADULTS should be up in their rooms eating room or counter service!
And if our DD wasn't such a sweetie and night owl we'd be in our room at 8:30 eating room service too.

Gi

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

I read at the bottom of your last post that you'll be staying in OKW this Nov. Have you stayed there before? Are you getting a studio? I adore this place. My friend is a DVC member and we have stayed there twice together already. I then talked my family into staying there. There is nothing more luxurious than a 1 bedroom villa at OKW. I could not believe the space in that villa compared to Boardwalk Villas. Do you have a favorite building/area? Maybe I can help??
All the best, Wilma

 

[MinnieGi]

Hi Wilma!
This will be our first time at OKW and we are very excited! We rented points from a DVC member. We have a one bedroom and requested to be around the hospitality house. That's where the main pool with sand play area is, correct? I know DD will love to play in the sand and splash in the kiddie pool. I've seen the pics of the one bedrooms and they look soooooo awesome!!! Thanks for the great review of OKW, it's good to hear!

Gi

 

[aurora19]

Wilma - I have to agree with you. Perhaps MinnieGi's DD is a wonderful late dinner guest but I still do not want to be seated next to children if I'm having dinner alone with my DH.

I know that my 2 boys are EXHAUSTED after walking all day in the parks (they're 5 & 7.5) and aren't good for dinner that starts after about 6:00 (at home they would be ok for dinner starting at 7:00) and dinner needs to be relatively quick - no liesurely relaxing over drinks then apps, then entree, & then dessert. That doesn't mean we couldn't go to AP or some other nice restaurant with our kids - just that we would probably only order entrees and try to make it a quicker meal for us (than if it was just DH & I).

I can't tell you how many dinners have been ruined by others children both in and out of the World. At WDW, I think that it is because there is not alot of childcare options if you have kids under 4 (other than in-room care) so parents do tend to push their kids to go out to dinner when the kiddos would prefer to relax by the pool for the evening (or at Ft. Wilderness' campfire program or Poly Beach etc.)

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

I agree with you about the child care issue. Years ago, our friends reserved a room for 1 night so they could hang out with us. They had recently moved to Fla. They had to hire an in-room babysitter. I seem to recall it being expensive. For some people, it would not be an option. The Poly has the Neverland Club, which my dear buddy and DH used at least 3 times in the past. But they were staying at that resort and had dinner ressies at the Poly, to be close-by. I feel, however, that if you can affort to eat at the Artist's Point, and have a few tired hunney bunnies in tow--it might be a nice idea to hire an in-room babysitter and order pizza room service for them. And, it gives husband and wife a special dinner out. Just my two cents...-Wilma

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

I'm so glad to hear about your 1 bedroom in OKW. I've stayed in three different buildings--and they were all right across the little bridge from the Hospitality House. This gives you close proximity to the core of the place, and beautiful views of the ponds and marina. Also, at night, you can see (if you are facing south) the Hospitality House and marina all lit up. The music they pipe out is a soft Calypso which you can hear from your balcony at times. They have a great take-out counter there, as well as a fantastic bar (try the Turtle Crawls). I can't say enough about this wonderful place. Our first 1 bedroom was in building 26 (2nd floor) closer to the roadway. Every morning ducks would be taking their little families across the pond and egrets would be swooping overhead in the pink light of sunrise. Our second room was in building 23 and this faces north over that big pond with the huge fountain in the middle. You can see the fireworks from Epcot and Magic Kingdom in the distance (this is from an upper floor). Our third building (and MY favorite) was in building 62 (#6214). We were on the ground floor, so the duck brigade was very close. This villa also has the two entrances to the bathroom, so if someone is on that pull-out couch they can access the bathroom through the laundry room and not disturb the folks in the bedroom. The third reason that it's my favorite is that its on the site of the old Commodore House. This was the place they would take you to persuade you to buy into the Vacation Club--so you know the location is prime. We were a short walk across a roadway to the "boardwalk" of the Hospitality House area. I'm sure that if you request one of these buildings you will surely get it. Also, at check-in, if you ask about a certain room number, they will break their backs trying to get it--or as close to it as possible for you. Keep in touch and let me know what happens.
I'm excited for you
---------Wilma

 

[Synonymous]

How can you expect restaurants at Disney World, of all places, to ban kids? I agree that it is a matter of courtesy that you take your kids outside if they are acting up, but WDW has to cater to kids. Almost all of the nice restaurants welcome kids, have kid menus, and often have special treats for them. Many kids know how to behave themselves in nice places and, frankly, my kid's bed-time is none of your business.

Why is your right to be free from kids greater than the right of a family to go out and enjoy a nice dinner at night?

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

You're right--it's not greater!
I teach 2 year-olds and know when they are overtired. I just expressed "concern" for small children whose selfish parents have them sitting at a "pricey" restaurant after 8-9 PM. It's just the way I feel. Hey, my son was 4 when we first went to WDW and I erred on the side of good parenting rather than my own need to eat at Artist's Point. P.S. I ate there 4 years later and it was worth the wait. --Wilma

 

[MinnieGi]

Wilma-
Thanks for all your building preferences. They all sound great. It sounds like an ideal spot to be in. We are counting down the days and are sooooo looking forward to it!!

Thanks for you good wishes!

Gi

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

You're welcome, MinnieGi. I'm so fortunate that my dear friend is a DVC member, since she and I and her 16 year-old daughter had a week in 2000 all to ourselves. The hubbies stayed home caring for the 15 and 18 year-old boys while we soaked our tootsies in the hot tub, swam in the cool waters of their pool and gabbed into the night on our balcony. That's the reason, I guess, they call it "Home Away From Home."
All the Best, Wilma