Best Table Service Restaurants with 4 Year Old with Autism

[lathamary]

With the Stay, Play, Dine, and Save package, I can only get the regular Dining Plan (not the Quick Service Dining Plan) with a moderate resort. We want to try the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Our four year old has Autism, and a restaurant experience with him is never a pleasant experience. I know we can probably use our table service credits at quick service locations, but if we're paying for them, I'd like to try to use them.

What table service restaurants would you suggest with an energetic four year old with Autism. He likely will not be able to sit and eat with us. He will need to be up and around. Which restaurants might be most accommodating to this? Think big, open areas with non-breakable stuff!

 

[LilyWDW]

Most Disney restaurants are REALLY packed with tables. There really is not a way to make it so that a child can have much space and won't be bothering other diners.

 

[mad madam mim78]

 

[EveDallas]

With the Stay, Play, Dine, and Save package, I can only get the regular Dining Plan (not the Quick Service Dining Plan) with a moderate resort. We want to try the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Our four year old has Autism, and a restaurant experience with him is never a pleasant experience. I know we can probably use our table service credits at quick service locations, but if we're paying for them, I'd like to try to use them.

What table service restaurants would you suggest with an energetic four year old with Autism. He likely will not be able to sit and eat with us. He will need to be up and around. Which restaurants might be most accommodating to this? Think big, open areas with non-breakable stuff!

Please don't subject other diners to your child running around. I understand what it is like to have a child with autism, but don't expect to go to a sit-down restaurant if he can't stay seated. It's really unfair to others.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I agree with the PPs that there aren't restaurants with big open spaces and your DS can't be up and moving around. That would be unsafe for him, for the servers, and for other guests.

Can he sit still long enough to eat? Do both parents have cell phones? One strategy you could try is have one parent enter the restaurant with your other child(ren) while the other parent stays outside with your DS4. Review the menus ahead of time so you know what the parent staying outside would like to order. Place orders for everyone and once the food arrives, call the parent remaining outside to have them join you to eat. After you are done eating, one of the parents can leave with DS4 while the other parent remains to take care of the bill.

 

[camper06]

With the Stay, Play, Dine, and Save package, I can only get the regular Dining Plan (not the Quick Service Dining Plan) with a moderate resort. We want to try the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Our four year old has Autism, and a restaurant experience with him is never a pleasant experience. I know we can probably use our table service credits at quick service locations, but if we're paying for them, I'd like to try to use them.

What table service restaurants would you suggest with an energetic four year old with Autism. He likely will not be able to sit and eat with us. He will need to be up and around. Which restaurants might be most accommodating to this? Think big, open areas with non-breakable stuff!

The Caribbean Beach Resort has a table service restaurant, Shutters. I believe you can order your table service meal and ask them to pack it to go. If I remember correctly, there are tables outside in that area (not part of the restaurant) that you can sit and enjoy your meal while your son runs around the area there. This of course would depend on the weather for the time of year you are planning.

I probably would not suggest any of the character meals because they are very crowded with tables and the characters walk around between tables and would be difficult to have your son out of his seat at those places.

I guess I would look for restaurants with outdoor seating. Maybe downtown disney?

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Biergarten has a dance floor and when my kids were younger they would be up there participating when they did the chicken dance, and they would dance to the oompah band. Ask to be seated near the dance floor.
Chef Mickey's is a pretty raucous atmosphere. My kids would be bopping about by our table and waving their napkins- just having a grand old time
I think if you focus on buffets, where there are plenty if people moving around all the time you may find more sanity for yourself. If your little one goes back and forth to the buffet with each parent, and maybe picks one food item at a time, it may be a bit of a distraction.
Good luck and enjoy your trip

 

[Talking Hands]

If you have an Iphone or Ipad take it and use it to distract him. I have a highly energetic grandson but if I put on one of his apps or netflix he is completely focused on that.

 

[LilyWDW]

If you have an Iphone or Ipad take it and use it to distract him. I have a highly energetic grandson but if I put on one of his apps or netflix he is completely focused on that.

Just please leave the volume low or use headphones in a restaurant. The noise from these devices can be just as much of an issue and a distraction for those around you.

 

[lanejudy]

With the Stay, Play, Dine, and Save package, I can only get the regular Dining Plan (not the Quick Service Dining Plan) with a moderate resort. We want to try the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Our four year old has Autism, and a restaurant experience with him is never a pleasant experience. I know we can probably use our table service credits at quick service locations, but if we're paying for them, I'd like to try to use them.

What table service restaurants would you suggest with an energetic four year old with Autism. He likely will not be able to sit and eat with us. He will need to be up and around. Which restaurants might be most accommodating to this? Think big, open areas with non-breakable stuff!

Many of us understand what you are dealing with, so please don't take this the wrong way. But if eating out at table service restaurants is not a pleasant experience with your son, maybe you should re-think your plans? Maybe the Stay/Play/Dine deal is not the best one for your family - I believe there is also a room-only (up to 35% off) offer for the same or similar dates that might be better. That way you won't feel that you are "wasting" dining credits by using TS credits at QS. Quick service meals are not all "McDonald's" style or quality - there are some very good options available and maybe it would suit your family better to pay out-of-pocket for meals and take the discount on the room. You can buy Disney gift cards if you like the idea of "prepaid" dining and not having a big credit card bill after you return from vacation. Personally, for my family, unless dining is free it has never been a good choice for us and our eating habits.

 

[kandb]

The buffets are the ones where kids are up and around. Crystal Palace, Biergartens, Chef Mickeys, would be the ones I recommend. Kids are all over the place in those.

 

[LilyWDW]

The buffets are the ones where kids are up and around. Crystal Palace, Biergartens, Chef Mickeys, would be the ones I recommend. Kids are all over the place in those.

I actually don't agree with this. I have been to both Crystal Palace and Biergarten and there were not that many kids that were up and down constantly. Yes, they got up to visit with characters, head up to the buffet, or go down to where the dancing was, but it was not constant. And the tables are still very very close together so it is far from an open space.

 

[Talking Hands]

Just please leave the volume low or use headphones in a restaurant. The noise from these devices can be just as much of an issue and a distraction for those around you.

We do not put headphones on our grandson as he is only 2 and the potential hearing damage is a big concern in our family. Both my husband and I have hearing losses. It runs in both families.

We do put the sound low or off. I have some stories now that are signed for him. He loves those.

 

[klafollette]

I too have a child with Autism, and he is 3.5 years old. My husband and I sometimes have to do as a pp said, take shifts with him outside so we can eat. You might want to prepare for doing that, but in the meantime, I think there are plenty of Disney restaurants that might work.

What about the Sci-Fi Dinner Theater, where he could watch movies while you eat, or some of the interactive dinner experiences - like Ohana (they have the kids get up and dance), or some of the character dining experiences. I can sometimes pursuade my son to behave if I tell him that (insert character name here) will not come back to see him if he doesn't sit and eat his dinner. Depending on your son's auditory/sensory abilities, maybe the rainforest cafe or TRex?

Good luck, and remember, it is Disney, and I've seen cranky and whiney adults at restaurants just as much as children.

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Hollywood and Vine is great. Not sure if you mentioned if you were going to HS. THey actually have the kids in a sort of aisle way to dance with the characters...and almost thru the whole dinner. Our girls were up alot, as were many many other kids. Although I do agree that perhaps taking shifts at other restaurants would be helpful....to keep your sanity!

 

[dja14]

Can he handle noise or wear ear plugs? I have one that when he was younger was more wild than the other two, but he likes to eat. The two things combined helped. Chef Mickeys has always been his favorite.

There is not room for him to roam in the restaurant but one parent could walk him to the hall. It is a buffet. We were there for breakfast and it was very, very loud, and wild. I cannot see how you would be disturbing anyone in there unless he is on the floor throwing a huge fit or running up to other tables (both things we saw though) The characters come around and you have to stay at the table to see them. With it being a buffet you could all go in together, one get up and walk him, while the others eat and then trade off. If he can't handle the noise/stimulation then I would stay far from there though

I think also at Ft wilderness they can do a take out but I am not sure about that but if you could do take out you could eat outside

autistic kids are all different so more info is really needed. You also might want to really look at what you are saving, you might find the room discount is a better deal if you don't want to eat sit-down. It takes a lot of time I think, we usually only do one or two and then eat stuff besides burgers at the parks. My kids love World Showcase and there are places to take you food outside there

I am a believer in they can't learn it if they don't do it but I am no sadist either, I pick my battles and a tired kid on vacation is not where I would do the teaching I am also thoughtful to other people (we have taken a kid out lots of times) and we always tip very well, because sometimes we'd spill and leave a mess (I'd clean it up but still)

 

[bookwormde]

Public dining skills are important for our kids, so it is great that you are trying to find somewhere that will work. One of the best places we have found is captains table at off hours. It is often not crowded and we have found that staff very easy going. Olivia's at Old Key West might be another though since they will usually do outside tables on the walkway by the docks. Both have some of the better food.

bookwormde

 

[minkydog]

We have a 17yo son, Christian, who is severely mentally handicapped and autistic. He has always had a hard time remaining seated at sit down restaurants. If he has to wait more than a few minutes,well, he just can't manage it. But I would NEVER turn him loose in a restaurant to bother other people and potentially get hurt or hurt someon else! I wouldn't allow my normal children to run around in a restaurant, let alone Christian. You would be setting up a baaaad precedent and a routine hard to break, IMO.

We find that buffets are a God-send. We can immediately get him some food and he lasts about 20 minutes at the table. Quick service is about the same. If Christian gets antsy, one of us takes him outside to walk around until the food is ready to eat. But sitting through a traditional sit down meal? Ugh. Some of those restaurants can take upwards of an hour, due to waiting to be seated, waiting to place an order, waiting to receive the order and THEN eating the food. Christian can't take that pace. And I don't see it improving any time soon.

 

[iuki]

I really feel for you. My only concern is that when children run around in busy restaurants (including children that are NOT autistic), that someone, both servers and patrons, might collide with the child and spill hot food on him/her, someone else, or themselves. This creates a very dangerous situation. The only thing I could suggest is to try it, and when he starts having issues, one of you take him outside until he calms down. I really wish I could be more encouraging.

 

[Disneylvr]

My advice to you is to keep practice going out to eat at home. My 9 year old DD with ASD has been going out to eat with us since infancy and yes she too doesn't like to sit for very long even at the age of 9. We bring a bag of "fidget toys" and her iPad whenever we dine out. The fidget toys are usually brought out immediately but the iPad (used at low volume since she doesn't tolerate earphones/buds) is only used when absolutely necessary. In extreme instances that is when we take turns walking her around the lobby but thankfully that doesn't happen much anymore. At home we definitely restrict ourselves to family/kid friendly restaurants when dining with DD. At Disney most restaurants are of course family/kid friendly with lots of noise and activity. You will find parents with neuro-typical children that also have to excuse themselves to the lobby or adjoining gift shop for a break. Our favorite restaurants in Disney that seem to work for our DD include Chef Mickey's, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, Ohana's, Liberty Inn, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Tony's Town Square (we weren't sure about this one but it turned out great!)...and most recently San Angel Inn. She liked watching the boats on the Mexico ride and it kept her occupied. Also remember you can use your dining credits for pizza delivery if you don't want to plan a sit down meal for every day.