best "nice" dinner placce with a toddler?

[KarenNYC]

While we've been to WDW too many times to count and this trip will be our son's fourth (and he will be 2 1/2 when we go in August) I am trying to balance a "nicer" dinner with keeping our toddler happy and not aggrivating other guests. Anyone taken a toddler to California Grill? Any other suggestions - we'd obviously go early as to not annoy people out for a nice romantic dinner and we always travel with lots of toys to keep him busy.

Karen

 

[WDWDennis]

I've seen toddlers at CG many times!!! The place is just plain noisy no matter what time you go, so I doubt it'll be a problem if he gets antzy! I have seen toddlers at Yahtmans Steakhouse as well. That place was a little more quiet, so if he had a meltdown or somthing, it may be more noticeable. I am bringing my 2 year old for the first time in Jan, so I'll be in the same boat as you. Really though, it is WDW I'm sure that there are toddlers in every restaurant except V&A's!! Off the top of my head, I think Le Cellier would be a good choice.

Good luck to ya. I'm curious to see what everyone else recommends!

 

[BAST]

We have gone to Spoodles with our two kids - it has an open kitchen and is pretty loud. Also, Le Cellier has a lot of kids.

 

[ruttie]

we use to take our kids when they were 2 and 4 to the Coral Reef we made sure we had a table they could see the fish from really well and they just sat there and watched fish while we ate we LOVED it so much we did it alot when they were young....

 

[j's m]

We took DS when he was just 3 to Yachtsman Steakhouse. The looks we got from the other diners were definitely very frosty. It was an early dinner PS and not very crowded yet. He was so well behaved it was amazing. I guess it was so quiet in there, he felt he had to be quiet. An older couple stopped by our table on the way out and complimented us on his behavior. It made us so proud.

 

[skuttle]

The California Grill is very loud, so I don't think it would be a problem to bring your son there. I know I wouldn't feel uncomfortable bringing my DS there for an early dinner.

 

[sleepydog25]

I second the CR suggestion. The noise level in there was enough to not be noticeable if a toddler were to be "energetic." For that matter, probably part of the reason for the noise were the kids! We took DD4 to AP back in April, but it might be a bit too upscale for someone much younger than that, though they do have a nice kids' menu. Good luck!

 

[ellenmiele]

When our kids were younger we ate at Narcoosee's (sp?) once and found it to be very kid friendly, as nicer restaurants go.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

The problem with so many WDW restaurants is that the tables are so close together. During our May trip, I just felt the most comfortable with my two younger children (4 yo and 2.5 yo) at meals that catered specifically to children: 1900 Park Faire (dinner), CP (breakfast), etc. We were made to feel welcome at most other restaurants (Boma, Cape May, Kona, Alfredo's, Mama Melrose, Marrakesh, etc.), but I always found myself hurrying to take the younger children out so the rest of my family and others at nearby could finish their meal in peace. My kids were pretty well-behaved for their age group.

 

[crisi]

The problem with so many WDW restaurants is that the tables are so close together. During our May trip, I just felt the most comfortable with my two younger children (4 yo and 2.5 yo) at meals that catered specifically to children: 1900 Park Faire (dinner), CP (breakfast), etc. We were made to feel welcome at most other restaurants (Boma, Cape May, Kona, Alfredo's, Mama Melrose, Marrakesh, etc.), but I always found myself hurrying to take the younger children out so the rest of my family and others at nearby could finish their meal in peace. My kids were pretty well-behaved for their age group.

I felt the same. Our kids were welcome, but I wasn't comfortable with their lack of inside voices or the fear that they would spoil someone elses meal. At 2 and 3, the nicest places they went were San Angel Inn and Marrakesh. At 4 and 5 we were pretty comfortable at Narcoosees. All it takes is one toy to get flung at the next diners head for my meal and theirs to be ruined. At 6 and 7 (this trip) we are planning on Flying Fish - early in the evening, early in the trip, before they are tired and cranky). CG may be loud, but its frankly too expensive for the risks involved, IMHO.