Dining and children

[sunny1016]

Are there any restaurants that you should NOT take children to? And/or are VERY upscale. My children are 6 and 9 and would like a sit down dinner but do not want to feel uncomfortable.
Also we were at Disney in 2007 and we didn't feel like there were any good sit down dinners. Now reading the boards I'm thinking we seriously missed something! I am trying to find some recommendations, any help is appreciated!

Christine

 

[KimR]

If your children are quiet and well-behaved, they will be fine anywhere except Victoria and Albert's. We've taken our children to many of the signature restaurants since they were toddlers and we've never felt out of place.

Some of our family favorites are Artist Point, Narcoosee, California Grill, Coral Reef, and Teppan Edo. Coral Reef and Teppan Edo are more casual and kid-friendly. At Coral Reef your children can watch the fish in the huge aquarium and at Teppan Edo the food is cooked Hibachi-style - the chef is very good at entertaining the little ones. The other restaurants I mentioned are more upscale but the food is better as well, IMO. Also, even though there may not be as much entertainment at the signature restaurants, they are wonderful at catering to the young children and we've always felt welcome.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'd only add to that POSSIBLY Bistro D' paris over in Epcot--although I've seen kids there as well.
The restaurants with the fewest kids we've seen are Shulas, Il MUlino, and Blue Zoo--all 3 at the SWan/Dolphin hotels.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Children will be fine at any of the "regular" Disney TS restaurants, and most of the Signature dining restaurants except for V&A where children under 10 are not permitted. The only issue with some of the Signature restaurants is that the meals are at a more leisurely pace and may take up to 2 hours. Most regular TS will be about an hour for your meal.

Which restaurants to go to depend on what type of food & experiences your family would enjoy Most of the character meals are a lot of fun, admittedly the food is better at some than others 50's Prime Time can be a lot of fun--my kids enjoyed seeing their father get in trouble for having his elbows on the table and wearing a hat at the table If you like steak, LeCellier is wonderful. There are choices for every taste: Boma is excellent and we've found adventourus and picky eaters can find plenty of things to try. Biergarten in Germany also has many things to try that you may not be able to get at home. We really enjoy dining at Disney, especially at places that we can't get that type of food or theme at home.

I'd recommend reading the menus here on the Dis & allears. See what appeals to your family and then give it a shot. Reviews are helpful, but just keep in mind that they're all very personal & subjective.

 

[crisi]

Also we were at Disney in 2007 and we didn't feel like there were any good sit down dinners. Now reading the boards I'm thinking we seriously missed something! I am trying to find some recommendations, any help is appreciated!

Christine

Where did you go in 2007? What sort of national chain restaurants do you think are good?

There are people who think Disney food is universally wonderful. There are people who think it is all barely edible - they aren't even fond of the signature dinners. There are buffetophobics and buffetaholics.

If you weren't pleased in 2007, it would probably help to know what you tried. If you were already eating in the signature spots and not impressed, you probably aren't going to be impressed by much. If you did a lot of character meals, it is probably going to be easy to upgrade your food experience.

Well behaved kids are welcome pretty much anywhere except Bistro de Paris, Shulas, Blue Zoo, Il Mulano (at all these place they will seat kids, but you may not be comfortable) and V&As (where they will not seat kids younger than 12). Meals can easily last two hours at the signature places - so if your kids get antsy easily, you may not be comfortable.

 

[sunny1016]

Oh I guess I worded that incorrectly! We didn't really "see" any sit down restaurants! LOL We mainly only had counter type meals and character meals. Although we made our character meal reservations(mostly breakfast) we didn't really make any dinner ones. Don't know what we were thinking there! We soon found out after being on are feet all day we wanted to sit down and enjoy our food and could never find anywhere to go!
Our children are used to going out to eat so I think they will be fine, I just wanted to find out where the "you really wouldn't want children" places would be. I myself am a steak kinda gal , and the dh is a seafood man! The kids are your basic kids - nothing too out of the ordinary.
That's interesting some people don't like any of the food! We are from the Pittsburgh area and I can honestly say we have a lot of good food around us! I don't really expect Disney to be top notch, enjoyable is what we are after!
Thanks for all the info, I really appreciate it. My head is already spinning from making plans and I just started last night!
The adventure begins!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Your children will be welcome by the staff at any restaurant on property except Victoria & Albert's - even Bistro de Paris, although it does not have a childrens menu.

If other Guests are annoyed at the mere presence of your children, that's their problem. Ignore them, and enjoy your meal and your family time.

If, on the other hand, other Guests are annoyed because your children are playing tag around their chairs, or crawling under their tables, or throwing tantrums in the aisles preventing servers from getting between the kitchen and the Guests - especially but not limited to while you and your husband sit there sipping cocktails and pretending you've never seen these children before, well, that IS your problem

Now - what kind of food do you like? As asked above, what national chains do you enjoy? We can offer some suggestions if you give more information.

 

[sunny1016]

Awww and we were so hoping to bring the light sabers with us so we could sling back a few while the kids saved the galaxy!!
Your post made me laugh!!
Well being that we probably consume maybe a drink a year, I doubt that will be happening! And no, if my children would decide to show their eh "dark" side, they would kindly be assisted out the door! And by a not too happy mother at that!
We don't really go to many"chain" restaurants.(other than maybe Dennys-lol) We have a lot of locals. And like I said in my pp, I am usually on the hunt for a good steak and the dh prefers seafood but will pretty much eat anything! I do not really like buffets though. I like to sit and relax.

Again, thanks!

 

[Atchley]

WCC in WL is a great restaurant for kids. We ate there twice last year. The kids get to swing their napkins in the air, they have pony races through the restaurant, the servers are funny, and lots lots more. Make sure to ask for ketchup. You can also ask for another fork. (They will bring you one about 3 1/2 feet tall) The first restaurant that my kids mentioned for this year was WCC.
Hint: Try to make your ressies for a non busy time. You can have quite a wait even with reservations.

 

[sunny1016]

WCC looks like fun!! The kids will surely like it!
Thanks!!

 

[Hopefully]

Check out the menus here on the DIS as well as at allearsnet.com.
This will help you to decide where you might like to eat. As others have said well behaved children will be welcome most everywhere. The signatures do take about 2 hours for a nice leisurly meal.
Try the 50's Prime Time Cafe in DHS. We found the food to be good and the atmosphere is lots of fun for a family.
We love the Hoop Dee Doo Review. It is all Disney. It is an all you care to eat Western themed dinner show at Fort Wilderness. It is good "down home" cooking with chicken and ribs, corn, beans salad and strawberry shortcake. It includes beer wine and sangria. The show is full of singing and dancing and corny jokes, with lots of audience participation. It is great fun and I can't wait to go again in October.
We love the International restaurants in Epcot. Biergarden in lots of fun with a good German buffet, There is also a show periodically which the kids can participate in.
For an upscale dinner, we love Jiko at the AKL. It is a beautiful restaurant that has warm friendly servers and excellent food.
Have a Great Trip

 

[TDC Nala]

V&As (where they will not seat kids younger than 12).

Unless the policy has been changed, Victoria & Alberts will seat kids age 10 and over.

 

[Pakey]

If you are looking for steak, seafood, nice TS, great atmosphere that your children would enjoy, you might want to look at Narcoosees at the GF. It's a quick monorail ride from MK, the restaurant sits on the water with gorgeous lagoon views that your kids would enjoy. You could even time it to see the Electric Water Pageant and Wishes from MK. The menu is seafood but they do offer a steak and a surf/turf combination with lobster. It is one of Disney's signature restaurants but it's not stuffy at all.

You might also want to consider Coral Reef at Epcot. One wall is entirely a salt water aquarium. They serve steak and seafood there also.

 

[crisi]

Unless the policy has been changed, Victoria & Alberts will seat kids age 10 and over.

Thanks, that's what I get for doing that from memory.



Signature places will have good food, but it will be pricey and take a while to eat.

There are good places - my kids like Teppan Edo, they like Sci Fi (which doesn't have great food, but does have a great atmosphere). We enjoyed Whispering Canyon and Spoodles is another favorite. The table service places in Epcot are generally pretty good - if you like German food the Beirgarten has a good buffet - though in general I'm not a buffet fan.

We also like to sit down after a long day and have a meal instead of eating counter service.

 

[ireland_nicole]

We totally agree w/ wanting to sit down and enjoy a meal. We're doing deluxe dining next trip because we could happily forgo CS altogether. I second the recommendation for Jiko; wonderful, "upscale" food and excellent service, but still not too stuffy; and you can ask to be seated near the exhibition kitchen. Also, at Cali Grill you can view wishes at MK, and even if you've eaten earlier, you can go back later in the evening to view them. We also love Le Cellier, and Cape May Cafe has an evening Clam Bake. For the signature rests, we bring a little "folio" for each of our kids w/ some colored pencils and plain paper for either drawing or playing games like hangman, tic tac toe, etc. We also put a movie (right now we have all the seasons of disney shows) on our iphones so they can watch them with the earphones if they start to get bored. (FWIW, I have two kids with severe ADHD and one w/ high functioning autism; so I figure, if I can keep my kiddos occupied, anyone can lol) Enjoy your culinary adventure, the options are so varied and wonderful. Involve your kids in the planning, too. For my kids it's one of their favorite things

 

[sunny1016]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I appreciate all the advice!!!