Bistro de Paris - No Kids?

[JimmyV]

disneyfavforever:
Actually I believe it's quite legal for kids to sit at the bar in Pa.

I think it varies by state, since liquor laws are so locally controlled. I know in some places, minors can sit in the lounge area, but not at the bar. And in other places there are no restrictions as long as they are accompanied by an adult. It can also depend on whether food is served. There are "restaurant" licneses, "tavern" licenses, "bar" licenses, "cafe" licenses, etc. It gets complicated.

 

[snykymom]

In most states, it's legal for a minor to sit at the bar if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

I do agree that children should not be relegated to a "kid's menu" consisting of chicken nuggets, hot dogs and mac & cheese. But that's not the issue here.

First, remember that the kid's menus at Disney were morphed into what they are now by the dining plan; prior to the dining plan, there were more 1/2 portions and other interesting things for kids. How else could Disney charge $10/day for a kid and still make money.

Second, there isn't a restaurant on property that won't allow a kid to order off the adult menu. You just have to pay for it OOP. The only point is that it doesn't need to be at Bistro. Take your adventurous 4 year old to Morocco or Japan or England or anywhere else in Epcot, or Jiko or Sanaa or Wave or the other parks or the other resort restaurants. Or Swan or Dolphin or . . . you get the picture.

Question - when Bistro allows the child to order off Chef's kid's menu, do they take the dining plan for it? If parents had to pay OOP for the kid's items, they may think twice as well.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Question - when Bistro allows the child to order off Chef's kid's menu, do they take the dining plan for it? If parents had to pay OOP for the kid's items, they may think twice as well.

I don't think that Bistro participates in the dining plan program.

 

[snykymom]

I don't think that Bistro participates in the dining plan program.

Yes, I know that. But if the kid's meal is being produced by Chefs, which does participate, I was wondering if the bill or credits for that kid's meal is also processed by Chefs, even though it's sent upstairs for consumption.

 

[poohbear227]

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.

Ugh, kids taking up bar stools for an entire meal?? So, if I want to go to a bar in WDW just to get a few beers, I may not get a seat because your kid is drinking a milk shake or eating some chicken nuggets? Is there NO place in WDW to be able to have an adult conversation??

I just think that is rude, whether it is allowed or not. When I'm in the parks, I let kids go in front of me to watch the parades, I give up my seat on the bus without any issues. I step aside and let them go for any "kid things" that go on. I have no problem doing those things. Something has got to give for adults. There are just some experiences that are meant to be grown up experiences-at the very least to just give adults a break. A BAR is one of them.

I'll tell you though-if I'm sitting at a bar having a few drinks with my friends, I do not plan to change or limit the content of my conversation or my behavior because a kid is sitting next to me at a bar. I would encourage ALL adults to not feel they have to change anything about their conversations or behavior at a bar for the sake of little Jimmy taking up space at a bar stool. That is just ridiculous. Do they allow kids to take up a bar stool if they are not ordering from the bar as well???

Sorry, but there HAS to be limits with these things! Priority seating at all bars for ADULTS. A few restaurants that offer adults only after 6pm seatings. We are just talking about a few outlets for adults. We used to have Pleasure Island, but that is gone. I mean there are certainly a few kid only outlets in WDW-pirate cruises, princess tea parties, no alcohol in MK. There are enough adult-only guests at WDW that there should be a few adult only outlets for them.

I think I'm going to send a letter to WDW expressing my concern about this.

 

[nytimez]

Second, there isn't a restaurant on property that won't allow a kid to order off the adult menu. You just have to pay for it OOP. The only point is that it doesn't need to be at Bistro. Take your adventurous 4 year old to Morocco or Japan or England or anywhere else in Epcot, or Jiko or Sanaa or Wave or the other parks or the other resort restaurants. Or Swan or Dolphin or . . . you get the picture.

That's all well and good but without the half portions or kid-sized portions of adult menu items it makes no sense to order a child, especially a smaller one, anything from the adult menu.

That could lead to a lot of extra money and a lot of wasted food.

I'd pay $12 for my kid to eat a smaller serving of a regular entree -- but I'm not going to pay $18.95 knowing full well she can't eat the whole thing.

 

[stellablue]

That's all well and good but without the half portions or kid-sized portions of adult menu items it makes no sense to order a child, especially a smaller one, anything from the adult menu.

That could lead to a lot of extra money and a lot of wasted food.

I'd pay $12 for my kid to eat a smaller serving of a regular entree -- but I'm not going to pay $18.95 knowing full well she can't eat the whole thing.

They likely do not provide such an option because children are not encouraged to eat at these types of restaurants. If they were encouraged to eat there, they would have accommodated them like they do at other restaurants.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, I know that. But if the kid's meal is being produced by Chefs, which does participate, I was wondering if the bill or credits for that kid's meal is also processed by Chefs, even though it's sent upstairs for consumption.

Whether or not the food was prepared by Chefs it was being served at Bistro and the group is eating at Bistro, which doesn't take the dining plan. So they wouldn't have people going in and paying cash for the adults and DDP credits for the kids.

If all goes the way it's apparently set up to go (if the new place operates the same way as its already existing outlets), apparently by next year Downtown Disney is going to have a bowling alley that is adults only at night. A really fancy bowling alley with a restaurant and cocktails and a dress code. Still a bowling alley though.

If OOP guests were able to order half portions for children, that's what dining plan guests would want. At that point the dining plan price for kids would have to go up. They don't serve adult food for the kiddies because the dining plan is so inexpensive for children, and Disney's made it clear they don't want to have one menu for dining plan and one for cash guests. Bistro, although they don't take the dining plan, doesn't have a children's menu at all. So it's either the kids plate from Chefs, or they buy an adult meal.

 

[Uncleromulus]

poohbear227:
Don't want to make this an eating at the bar thread, but a couple months ago at a local Ruby Tuesdays, a family sat at the bar (waiting for a table thankfuly) and put an infant in one of those hand-carried cradles ON the bar itself.

Right up there with the mixed drinks and menus!!!

Back to the Bistro though--things seemed quite fine when they had NO kids menu. That alone cut down very considerably on kids eating there. I don't think banning kids altogether is really necessary.

 

[eangel12]

I actually think it is fine...if restaurants don't want my 2 year old there...then I wouldn't want him there. Know what I mean??

I also like the idea of the restaurants...that are "two credits/signature" to have something like, "7pm and later=no kids". We have two signature restaurants booked for our trip...and we planned both dinners for 5:30pm to avoid people who don't want kids in the restaurant with them. When we were young and single, we would always eat later...say 7pm and there were never any kids there!!

 

[SSRFred]

I am one of those people whose kids get bored with the kids menus but I am also the first person to say I love V & A without kids and we do at least one meal without our kids every trip. And we avoid Bistro on our "adults only" nights because of how loud the dining room has become in recent years.

 

[poohbear227]

poohbear227:
Don't want to make this an eating at the bar thread, but a couple months ago at a local Ruby Tuesdays, a family sat at the bar (waiting for a table thankfuly) and put an infant in one of those hand-carried cradles ON the bar itself.

Right up there with the mixed drinks and menus!!!

Back to the Bistro though--things seemed quite fine when they had NO kids menu. That alone cut down very considerably on kids eating there. I don't think banning kids altogether is really necessary.

That is so awful about Ruby Tuesdays!! Honestly, what is wrong with people? I don't think ANYONE should be able to sit at the bar unless they are ordering something. Just waiting for their table is taking seats away from adults who are planning to pay for a drink (whether it's alcoholic or not).

The problem with just no kids menu's though is guests going to those places with their 3 year olds demanding that the waiter go and find them kids food because there is no menu to accommodate them. & because WDW has the "customer is always right" policy, they run to the closest child-friendly restaurant & find a mac and cheese to send over. That happened to us at Artist's Point. Family came in with a 3 yr old. The waiter explained they do not have a childrens' menu, and the parents were outraged. Rather than giving into the scene they were causing, the kitchen ran over to either the CS place or the kid-friendly Whispering Canyons and grabbed them a child's meal.

I actually think it is fine...if restaurants don't want my 2 year old there...then I wouldn't want him there. Know what I mean??

I also like the idea of the restaurants...that are "two credits/signature" to have something like, "7pm and later=no kids". We have two signature restaurants booked for our trip...and we planned both dinners for 5:30pm to avoid people who don't want kids in the restaurant with them. When we were young and single, we would always eat later...say 7pm and there were never any kids there!!

I would be fine with early seating for children, later seating option for adults-only, but it would need to be earlier than 7pm. The reason why is you get a family with a bunch of kids make a 6:45 ADR and they are in there until at least 8pm. I would be OK with children seating before 6pm for a few signature restaurants.

The thing I don't understand is, your kids are going to grow up. In a few years they will be 8 or 9 or whatever Disney's cut off age is on the DDP. What is the big deal if you wait for your child to be a little older to enjoy a more grown up experience? They will have their turn in life to experience grown up events.

 

[kamik86]

The problem with just no kids menu's though is guests going to those places with their 3 year olds demanding that the waiter go and find them kids food because there is no menu to accommodate them. & because WDW has the "customer is always right" policy, they run to the closest child-friendly restaurant & find a mac and cheese to send over. That happened to us at Artist's Point. Family came in with a 3 yr old. The waiter explained they do not have a childrens' menu, and the parents were outraged. Rather than giving into the scene they were causing, the kitchen ran over to either the CS place or the kid-friendly Whispering Canyons and grabbed them a child's meal.

Then this is the policy they should be changing. Instead of no children just don't accommodate these requests. When the parents get upset suggest a few nearby places with kid friendly food.

 

[Imagineer7]

I think the early seating idea is a bit silly. Bistro is only open from 5:30 to 9 and dinners take 2 hours, if not more. Assume they institute a cutoff of 7pm for kids. If a family with kids is seated at 5:30, they will still be there when the first adult couple is seated at 7. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[gina2000]

I'm wondering if a "no kids' menu" at all deluxe restaurants may not be in order. It's pretty upsetting to head out to an expensive restaurant and have misbehaving children destroy a lovely AND expensive dinner.

I know the vast majority of posters wouldn't agree (as I would not when my son was younger) but the instances of children misbehaving is rising and it's truly unfair to adults who are looking for a relaxing experience at a good restaurant. Deluxe WDW dining should not be a zoo.

 

[JimmyV]

The thing I don't understand is, your kids are going to grow up. In a few years they will be 8 or 9 or whatever Disney's cut off age is on the DDP. What is the big deal if you wait for your child to be a little older to enjoy a more grown up experience? They will have their turn in life to experience grown up events.

Fine, if you are a DVC member, or go every year or so. But if you go once, or once every 5 years, it isn't a very satisfying solution to tell a parent of a 7 year old who loves fine dining that they can't try one of WDW's nicer restaurants until they are 12 or 13.

When I was growing up, a big part of vacations was dining out. And my parents made it a point to expose us to "fine dining" such as it was in the 1970s. And they always made us wear jackets and ties! I still remember my first visits to WDW in 1972-1975 where we ate at the Gulf Coast room (jackets required) and Trophy Room. They were very special evenings. And I was just a kid. There is no valid reason for making a parent (or the child) have to "wait" to be exposed to a nice night out. Learning how to set a table, which fork to use, where to put your napkin, how to order off a menu etc. are all part of growing up and learning. And I think that these things are best learned around the ages of 6-10. (Personal opinion, I know). So let parents expose their kids to fine dining from 5:00-7:00 and let the "get off of my lawn" crowd have the place to themselves from 7:00-10:00 (with the option of going from 5:00-7:00 if they choose). Easy solution.

 

[eangel12]

I was NOT exposed to any fine dining growing up...and it really showed and I had to work on improving my dining skills when I started working in a corporate setting. I don't want my son to grow up the same way...I would like to expose him to nicer restaurants at a younger age to cultivate not only a love of finer food, but also prepare him for entering a corporate setting where dining with clients or coworkers is necessary.

 

[Imagineer7]

I was NOT exposed to any fine dining growing up...and it really showed and I had to work on improving my dining skills when I started working in a corporate setting. I don't want my son to grow up the same way...I would like to expose him to nicer restaurants at a younger age to cultivate not only a love of finer food, but also prepare him for entering a corporate setting where dining with clients or coworkers is necessary.

He can start learning at age 8

 

[poohbear227]

Then this is the policy they should be changing. Instead of no children just don't accommodate these requests. When the parents get upset suggest a few nearby places with kid friendly food.

I think the early seating idea is a bit silly. Bistro is only open from 5:30 to 9 and dinners take 2 hours, if not more. Assume they institute a cutoff of 7pm for kids. If a family with kids is seated at 5:30, they will still be there when the first adult couple is seated at 7. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

They could either open at 5pm instead OR they could just say no kids at all and these families would be forced to choose amongst the 8,000 other choices of restaurants available in WDW

I'm wondering if a "no kids' menu" at all deluxe restaurants may not be in order. It's pretty upsetting to head out to an expensive restaurant and have misbehaving children destroy a lovely AND expensive dinner.

I know the vast majority of posters wouldn't agree (as I would not when my son was younger) but the instances of children misbehaving is rising and it's truly unfair to adults who are looking for a relaxing experience at a good restaurant. Deluxe WDW dining should not be a zoo.

I absolutely agree with you-deluxe dining should not be a zoo. & sure there are several families who know how to discipline their child, but unfortunately there are also several families who do not.

Fine, if you are a DVC member, or go every year or so. But if you go once, or once every 5 years, it isn't a very satisfying solution to tell a parent of a 7 year old who loves fine dining that they can't try one of WDW's nicer restaurants until they are 12 or 13.

When I was growing up, a big part of vacations was dining out. And my parents made it a point to expose us to "fine dining" such as it was in the 1970s. And they always made us wear jackets and ties! I still remember my first visits to WDW in 1972-1975 where we ate at the Gulf Coast room (jackets required) and Trophy Room. They were very special evenings. And I was just a kid. There is no valid reason for making a parent (or the child) have to "wait" to be exposed to a nice night out. Learning how to set a table, which fork to use, where to put your napkin, how to order off a menu etc. are all part of growing up and learning. And I think that these things are best learned around the ages of 6-10. (Personal opinion, I know). So let parents expose their kids to fine dining from 5:00-7:00 and let the "get off of my lawn" crowd have the place to themselves from 7:00-10:00 (with the option of going from 5:00-7:00 if they choose). Easy solution.

& I guess my question to you is: There are also plenty of adults who can only afford to go to WDW once every 5 years. How is depriving yours child's experience any more valuable than depriving an adult's experience of wanting to enjoy a grown up and adult meal? I would even be willing to compromise to say not all sig. restaurants ban kids, but just a few do. That gives adults options and also children some options.

One question about your time restrictions: are you saying to only have 2 seating times? A 5pm seating for children & a 7pm seating for adults? I would be fine with that as well. If it is not only two seating times though, it would not work.

I was NOT exposed to any fine dining growing up...and it really showed and I had to work on improving my dining skills when I started working in a corporate setting. I don't want my son to grow up the same way...I would like to expose him to nicer restaurants at a younger age to cultivate not only a love of finer food, but also prepare him for entering a corporate setting where dining with clients or coworkers is necessary.

I'm confused-is WDW the only vacation spot (or area) that offers fine dining restaurants??? Sorry, I'm not OK with your little one working out the kinks of learning how to behave in a fine dining restaurant while I'm trying to enjoy a romantic and grown up meal with my DF. I've experienced eating with little ones in signature restaurants-not something I hope to repeat again.

There has to be some compromise & guests need to understand that WDW is not "all about them."

Would you be OK if alcohol and bars started to be introduced in the MK?

Would you be OK with adults crashing Pirate Cruises or Princess Tea Parties?

If not, could you tell me why?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I've found the noise level at Les Chefs and the Bistro to be the product of adults not children.

Romantic, "quiet", lovely, intimiate dinners, its a Theme Park and you are in the park with children who at 10 paid as much to get in as you did!

The answer though simple won't happen because:

A: Some parents with unruly children don't care about the dining experience of others. Yes, if your kids can sit and behave through dinner then you should doggy bag it and leave. If you have picky eaters then obviously The Bistro de Paris isn't the place for you and your family. It's blunt but it's the truth! But then, that should really apply to drunks, loud and obnoxious people, and picky eaters of any age!

B. Many diners feel/demand that Disney cater to them with off menu items. IE: Les Chefs children menu if dining at the Bistro, should be a resounding "no" bit Disney doesn't want to offend or displease anyone so they cave!

C. Better yet, beg/demand that an exception to be made for their child and guess what Disney/Bistro will cave rather than have a scene at the door!

If you want a quiet, intimate, adult dinner without children, get a sitter and make reservations somewhere other than at a theme park!