Bistro de Paris - No Kids?

[hannahdrewmom]

I think the age thing is what gets me.... where do they come up with 8? My children 2 and 4 are generally well behaved when we eat out. They have been to a number of high dinning restaurants (non of even the signatures in Disney equate). Anyway I can think of one instance in May when we were at Flying Fish. There was an older boy (looked to be 10+) having a complete and utter meltdown at the table over something. He was crying so hard you couldn't understand him... but it wasn't for lack of volume. My 4 year old actually asked why he was behaving that way out. I just said I didn't know.... her response....

"Doesn't he know if you have to have a tantrum it has to be in your own home?!" Apparently there is a time and place for everything... and a well trained child can bet taught this early.

With that said we never go to Bistro so it wouldn't effect us ... but in general this stuff kills me. If a parent is being a "good" parent then its a non-issue and it's a shame that changes have to be implemented because there is a lack of parenting. (And my kids eat frog legs, goat cheese, mussels, tofu, and a bunch of other "weird" stuff.... and they ask for it!)

 

[redzinner]

Now if they could just limit the number of snooty French waiters, just the snooty ones, we'd go back.

 

[Bonnie151]

OK, that's officially the most impressive thing I've read all day.

Thank you!

Found a photo of the haggis, neeps & tatties (no I don't usually take so many photos of my children eating but DS had to bring in photos of Burns Night celebrations this year for a school project)

 

[Cafeen]

Now if they could just limit the number of snooty French waiters, just the snooty ones, we'd go back.

But, then others would complain about lack of authenticity! Just more Americanizing of the restaurants!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Now if they could just limit the number of snooty French waiters, just the snooty ones, we'd go back.

Unfortunately, that's another subject all together, I think it's part of the "authentic" French experience, trust me they are the same way in Paris! I guess we must endure the good with the bad all in the name of "cuisine" !

 

[JimmyV]

I agree that children under 8 shouldn't be forced to eat 'kid food', but even if they do make Bistro for over 8's only, that still leaves parents and kids with THIRTEEN other choices of restaurants inside that theme park. Thirteen other places where they can get all the adult food they want. Not to mention the options at BC and BW, a five minute walk from Bistro. How many of these other restaurants serve duck pate, rack of lamb, lobster risotto or escargot? If these are your 6 year olds' favorite foods (as they were mine), then why should I be systematically eliminated from takiing here there. (We no longer have a child under 8, so this is moot as to me. But it won't stop me from pointing out a bad change if indeed such change is coming.

There are many things that very young children can't do at WDW. They can't ride several of the most popular rides. They can't go on behind the scenes tours. They can't eat at V&As. They can't take out a rental boat on the lakes alone. They can't go horseback riding. Just like in 'real life', there are some things that you have to wait till you're older to do. Completely irrelevant comparisons. These other rules exist for safety sake. There is nothing "unsafe" about a 7 year old eating fine cuisine.

Eliminating the children's menu is all the change that is necessary. Yes, the cost of a $45 entree for a 5 year old will certainly deter the majority of parents who weren't already deterred by the lack of a children's menu. But for those who do not blink at allowing their 6 year old ordering roast duck or rack of lamb, there is no reason to prevent them. Personally? I never once...ever...told my daughter that she could not order something due to price. But I have an "only" and I can see how my parenting would not line up with others. Not here to debate that. I just don't want people pulling the rug out from beneath a lifestyle of fine dining just because there are plenty of places to order mac-n-cheese and hot dogs. It's hard for me to fathom why a child who has eaten at the French Laundry, Per Se and many other Five Diamonds should not be allowed in to Bistro. There are plenty of parents whose kids fit this description.

 

[stellablue]

I am 300% supportive of an age limit at just a few restaurants in WDW.

There are so many dining options, it's not like families are going to be hurting for a place to eat and a variety to choose from.

To me, it's just about offering choices for all types of guests who come to WDW. WDW is NOT only for children and I feel that should be accommodated. I went to WDW when my now DH proposed to me. He tried to do it in V&A's (spent all that money for a nice quiet and romantic meal) and ended up waiting until later because of the family seated near us in the dining room with a screaming baby and a young child yelling that his brother pushed him. What a waste of money that dinner was. It was very hard to enjoy it. I understand that some kids like the cuisine in V&A's, but that is clearly an adult restaurant. What is the big deal about waiting a few years and letting your child go to an experience like that when they are a few years older? These types of restaurants will will be there when your kid is of age to go.

I think what people need to realize is WDW is not all about children. It's also a very popular adult vacation-actually one of the most popular places to honeymoon. People need to learn to give a little.

Alcohol is banned from MK because Walt wanted there to be one park that offered a total kid experience. Sure some people can hold their liquor just fine-stop at 1-2 glasses of wine and remain well-behaved. But not all adults can behave that way. Therefore, to avoid those unfortunate incidences, alcohol is banned completely from MK. I am also 300% in support of this & to me this is no different than offering adults a few choices of dining experiences without children-to enjoy an adult experience. People just need to learn to compromise on that.

Those of you who disagree: Are you willing to allow all children at all restaurants all the time and also allow alcohol in the MK?? Are you OK with a bunch of adults crashing your kids' pirate cruise? If not, than I am inclined to think you are selfish and not willing to compromise. WDW is not all about you and it is certainly not all about children. That is why these compromises need to be put into place.

I notice that Disney Cruise Lines have kid only areas of the ship and also adult only areas of the ship. No one seems to complain about that and that is the same exact rationale.

I would also be willing to compromise to say no kids at signature meals after a 5:30 seating time. Nothing wrong with that as well.

The kids sitting at the bar thing is so inappropriate to me. An adult should lose out on sitting at a BAR that is meant to serve ALCOHOL because a kid wants a milk shake-really??? It's a BAR for crying out loud!!

Anyways, JMHO.

 

[Pugmalion1]

I am all for it, were Disney to institute the change. I think Disney really needs more adult-only restaurant experiences than Victoria & Albert's, even if that means simply seating only adults after a certain time in the evening in a two or three signatures -- maybe Flying Fish and Jiko?

I would be more likely to go back to Bistro were they to institute such a policy.

 

[Colleen27]

My wife and I have had very few issues with kids dining at Disney signatures over the years (I guess we are just lucky). The one thing that killed us back in May was Mom and three kids occupying the bar stools at the Tune-In Lounge so they could have their sodas and milkshakes. We walked out, went to Indiana Jones stunt show and came back and they were still there (no other seat available of course)...this is where we need a kid ban!

I agree. At the very least, even if Disney wants to maintain their lounges as glorified waiting areas with beverage service, they should ban kids sitting at the actual bar itself and banning them in the lounges altogether wouldn't bother me in the least. Bars aren't meant to be a kid-friendly setting and there's no reason families who want to take advantage of the food offerings at a particular location can't make an ADR and eat in the restaurant rather than in the lounge.

 

[wendydarling826]

There is such an abundance of family and child oriented dining choices that I think a couple of fine dining restaurants that are adults only would be appreciated by many people. If someone really wanted French food and wanted to bring children, there is still Chefs de France. I think it's a great idea.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Actually reading that Bistro is encouraging kids may have just marked it off my list.

As for the "age" thing..... They have to set some standards because parents today can't be trusted to do the right thing... all too often they think "no one will care if our beautiful child screams throughout the entire meal or runs around the resturant"

(And DIS's are NOT immune. One of the WORST behaved kids I ever saw in a resturant was accompanied by parents PROUDLY flying Lime Green Mickey Heads with thier screen name on it. Came back and did a search this parent claimed over and over again that her child was "well behaved, knows how to act in resturants etc" YEAH if you idea of right is "screaming and running"!)

 

[Pakey]

We used to love dining at Bistro but took it off our list once I read on here that they were allowing children to order from Chef's downstairs and that the entire atmosphere had changed.

I'm all for putting it back to the way it was, with no children's menu. I'm also ok with the age requirement. I'd love to return to dining here.

 

[World Showcaser]

I can see both sides of this issue. I'm with the parents who are thoroughly disappointed by the children's options offered at Disney. My DS2 eats what I eat and I'm a very adventurous eater. I wouldn't want to eat hamburgers and chicken nuggets for an entire vacation, so why expect that he would??

However, I would never dream of taking him to a place like Bistro, ban or none. I don't care how well behaved toddlers are, I don't think the most upscale restaurants are meant for them. It's more about the atmosphere than the food in this case.

So, I would love to see them put an age limit, similar to V&A's. I would love to go to Bistro without kids for a nice romantic French meal.

 

[nytimez]

Thank you!

Found a photo of the haggis, neeps & tatties (no I don't usually take so many photos of my children eating but DS had to bring in photos of Burns Night celebrations this year for a school project)

Wow -- and with a smile too.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't care how well behaved toddlers are, I don't think the most upscale restaurants are meant for them. It's more about the atmosphere than the food in this case.

But there is a BIG difference between a "toddler" and an 8 year old. I see no problem in doing away with the children's menu, no exceptions. I see no problem in not offering high chairs. I have no issue whatsoever in limiting the seating of families with children under a certain age (maybe 12? But I am really flexible on this) to dining prior to 8:00 p.m. (meaning no reservations after 6:30). So from opening until closing, there will be no children who are so young that they cannot sit in an adult chair. And there will be no children who insist on eating craptastic kid food. And there will be no children whatsoever from around 7:45 until closing. Seems like a fair compromise to me. I just don't get the whole "we adults want the whole place to ourselves, even us early birds who are going to come in at 5:00 and those of us who will ask the kitchen to hold this, or hold that, or dumb down the fancy French food so that it looks more like what we are used to at TGI McFunster's." There should be room for everyone.

 

[lpereira]

I think any problem could be resolved by eliminating any childrens menu, high chairs and booster chairs. Heck i could even live with adult after 8pm. We are normally 830/9pm dinner eats but we could move to 6/630 slot.
I have never taken my child to a bar or sat in the bar area of a restaurant simply because the primary purpose of those places is the consumption of alcohol.
I still say people with children can also be told prior to seating that any noise will result in removal.
But to something i said earlier people are already adding other restaurants to the list. So it wouldn't stop at Bistro. Chefs isnt the same as Bistro which isn't the same as V&A.

 

[lpereira]

Actually it just dawned on me i alliwed myself to be sucked into a 6 page thread about a rumor that if proven true probably wouldn't affect me in the end. It won't be implemented before we go and since my husband and daughter are going to brazil for a couple of years she will be 8 before we potentially go again.
I should have stuck too my rarely followed policy of 1 comment per thread.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I have to say the bigger issue is just what has happened... people saying then we can do it to a couple more signatures too. (And why Flying Fish was chosen I will never know as it is one of the loudest!) If you look at any signature before 7pm you will see ALOT of families. Many of the signature restaurants have openings the day of at just about anytime, especially early evening so then getting rid of families would mean empty tables. Disney would lose money if they started such a policy. So I don't see it happening.

Bistro has never been very child friendly with no kids meal. (Although from what people say it has changed some.) So the question is why did it change? Where they not making as much with the adults only?

V&A is a whole different beast. I take my kids out alot but there is no way I'd venture there.

 

[World Showcaser]

But there is a BIG difference between a "toddler" and an 8 year old.

Sorry...when I refered to "toddlers" I was talking about my own situation.

 

[Uncleromulus]

disneyfavforever:
Actually I believe it's quite legal for kids to sit at the bar in Pa.
We always eat at the bar wherever we go and more and more we see kids of all ages sitting at bars. Sometimes they are just waiting for tables with the adults--but other times they are right there eating w/ the adults.