Dining with a toddler....

[supersuperwendy]

So we are a couple of months away from our trip with some great ADRs planned. Well our 22 month old has hit the stage of not being easy in a restaurant. Lately she doesn't eat anything and just throws everything on the ground from her food to placemats, toys, etc. UGH! She will turn 2 the week prior to our trip and I'm wondering what I should do with my ADRs.

Did anyone keep their ADRs but then as the week went on you just didn't go to them? How did your toddler do at dinnertime? I'm worried!

 

[whodat1229]

We went when my daughter was almost 2, and we just went with the flow. We kept all of our ADRs, and if she wasn't having it, one of us would go outside and let her walk around. We didn't schedule any restaurants where it would be really noticeable if she was noisy. We did a lot of character meals, which she loved loved loved. I say just go with what you have, and if she is having a bad night, eat fast and get out. I'm sure Disney servers are accustomed to rambunctious kiddos.

 

[laine&connorsmom]

I would stick to the busy and loud spots, may keep her occupied We always did character meals along with Biergarten WCC and O'hana when the kiddos were small. There is plenty going on to keep her entertained and if not you can get up and walk around without being noticed. I wouldn't be concerned at all

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Overall Disney restaurants aren't your typical. There are games, music, strange looking ambience, and noise at all of them. There are also TONS of kids around to watch. I'd not worry about them. We try to eat at normal times and that really helps. If it becomes too much then we drop them. There have been a few times that I knew better. We ordered a pizza in the room or had counter service. Just go with the flow and don't worry.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I agree with what people have said here. While we haven't yet had issues at Disney restaurants, when my older one (he's turning 7 in January) was 2 years old, we took him to Red Robin for dinner one night (not on vacation), and he carried on the entire time. This was out of character for him, but DH and I took turns going out to the front lobby with him, showing him the different things they had hanging on the walls, etc. It seemed to calm him down. Sometimes they just need a little movement and then once they burn off some energy they are fine.

If you stick to restaurants that are more noisy, and also if you stick to buffets, you have a better chance of things going smoothly. I say that because some places are so noisy anyway that she will just blend right in, and at a buffet you can quickly eat and leave, without having to rely on your server bringing out your food first. I wouldn't go to any signature restaurants if I wasn't sure, as those meals take longer. Character meals and louder places like Ohana, WCC and Biergarten are great. All of those places have things to entertain your daughter, and activities where she will be welcome to leave the table with you...like a dance floor at Biergarten, horse races at WCC, and napkin parades and such at character meals. I think they have some kind of coconut races at Ohana, though we haven't been there yet.

And of course, if you feel the need not to go to one of your ADRs, you could always call Disney Dining and cancel, or tell the concierge at your resort (if you are staying on property). Then you could always grab some CS.

 

[glk2009]

A tip that I think I read here was to ask for the check at buffets as soon as you're seated or early during your meal. That way, you can eat and run if needed.

Good luck!

 

[MissouriPrincess]

When we take our toddler out to eat, I bring ring pops and a mini Magna- Doodle. I use the ring pop as a last resort, and small items to play with have stopped a few meltdowns. Last night, I gave her Finding Nemo fruit snacks that she had never had before. New items get her attention.

 

[meggybear17]

When we take our toddler out to eat, I bring ring pops and a mini Magna- Doodle. I use the ring pop as a last resort, and small items to play with have stopped a few meltdowns. Last night, I gave her Finding Nemo fruit snacks that she had never had before. New items get her attention.

OMG the mini Magna Doodle was a lifesave for us! Just returned this morning and that $7 toy saved us on the plane ride down and during many bus rides too. My 16 month old was pretty good at most meals. At Crystal Palace the characters occupied him. He LOVED the Hoop De Doo review. He was clapping and dancing and shoveling food into his mouth there, lol. I found the buffets were best for him. For one thing we didn't have to worry about ordering him A separate meal or ordering a meal for ourselves just because we knew it was something we could share. They are usually quicker meals and we could get him food ASAP. He started acting up a bit at Chefs De France but some crayons and some special snack plus dessert held him over until DH and I could finish.

I would really just go with the flow and your gut. We ended up switching around some readies while we were there depending on his moods. Like we had a late magic kingdom night and were supposed to go to Ohana the next morning at 9:20. Well from our hotel tha would have meant leaving at or before 8 to get to the magic kingdom and transfer and we knew I wouldbt work out so we had to cancel and ended up at Boma for their last breakfast seating.

 

[ccgirl]

So we are a couple of months away from our trip with some great ADRs planned. Well our 22 month old has hit the stage of not being easy in a restaurant. Lately she doesn't eat anything and just throws everything on the ground from her food to placemats, toys, etc. UGH! She will turn 2 the week prior to our trip and I'm wondering what I should do with my ADRs.

Did anyone keep their ADRs but then as the week went on you just didn't go to them? How did your toddler do at dinnertime? I'm worried!

We never had an ADR past their bedtime. We also mainly did buffets where we didn't have to wait for the food. We tried LeCellier and I ended up having to get my meal and dessert to go. I wasn't about to ruin other's meal because my son was not behaving (not saying you would). If you know you are not going to use an ADR, please cancel so someone else may take that reservation in your place.

 

[meljean]

Our 1 and 1/2 year old was difficult for the ADR's. Luckily, we didn't wait more than 10-15 min for our food! He did like the neat things in the restaurants. We ended up taking turns walking around with him till dinner or lunch came. He wasn't interested in our distractions! Your 2 year old might surprise you! Have a great trip!

 

[TravelGrl]

We are going with two 22 month olds next summer and I got some great tips from this thread. I will look into getting mini Magna Doodles for them.

As for ADR - we have decided on mostly buffets and most are also character meals. As well as WCC. The good thing about these places besides the fact that kids can get up as they get restless, they eat for free until the age of 3, so there is a cost savings there too. At the other restaurants they can share meals from any adult plates but buffets are easier because the selection is so big.

Enjoy! I am sure you will have a great time.

 

[sarmat1]

Well our 22 month old has hit the stage of not being easy in a restaurant. Lately she doesn't eat anything and just throws everything on the ground from her food to placemats, toys, etc. UGH!

That sounds about normal. No need to worry - they'll be plenty of other kids doing similar things. My DS3 threw himself on the floor at 1900 Park Fare (prompting Lady Tremaine to question my 'parenting skills"), hid behind his chair at CRT (prompting Cinderella to ask him if he was her mouse), and slept through a couple of other meals (including the entire dinner at Biergarten). Don't sweat it. Keep your ADR's. She'll probably surprise you.

 

[alfwhoa]

I feel for you, on our recent trip my 1 yr old decided she wanted to feed herself. I was so embarassed by the mess she made, but on the other hand was happy I wasn't the one to pick it up. We did alot of character meals and that kept her entertained. I also recommend taking a coloring book or small toy that will occupy their attention. They tend to let you enjoy the meal until you get bored.

 

[Colleen27]

I will join the others in recommending the mini Magna Doodle. That is my standard restaurant distraction and it works wonders with an ancy toddler! We also have a busy book for DD3 with activities like buttoning, lacing/tying, braiding, etc. that works well for times we want to keep her quietly occupied in her seat.

 

[angieoatman]

I always bring extra snack for the kids to eat while we are waiting for the food to arrive...sometimes you may have to wait and that is hard to explain to a very hungry toddler.

 

[tiggerdad]

Will be bringing our then 1 y/o in June 2012, soaking up the info here. Thanks for the input and suggestions.

 

[MSSANDRA]

A couple of thoughts:
Depends on where your ADR's are for. I would not want to take a difficult 2 year old into a signature restaurant, but most of your 1 credit places you can work with.

You have 2 months, start working on it now. All 2 year olds can have their moments but you CAN teach a 2 year old not to throw food, scream at the table etc.

Make sure your times work for your child. Stick to your schedule as much as possible.

Try to be sure you child is hungry, but not too hungry. A few crackers as soon as you sit down may be a life saver.

Have lots of reinforcements. New toys, a sucker, your iphone, movie on your cam recorder (with the volume off), its your vacation too. It will not hurt your child to be entertained for an hour!

Limit the time at the table. Ask for check when you order, order then take a walk to the lobby or outside etc. Head back for the food, eat and get going. Can't lenger over dessert with a toddler.

If you see as the week goes on it is more stress than fun, call and cancel you ARD's, that way someone else can get them!

 

[lauralong81]

Two things have helped me survive toddlerhood at restaurants -

The Ipad, or any other electronic device that they can play with. Even at that age - a Leapster, a gameboy or a portable DVD Player. (WITH headphones)

New toys from the dollar store. We go and buy 10-20 and pull a new one (or two or three) out every meal. Pipe cleaners, little craft supplies/kits. Even silly things like blocks or confetti/party supplies... things you wouldn't think they'd be so intrested in, they really are! Especially if it's "grown up" things they usually don't get to play with. Zip ties, etc.

And if all else fails, get it to go

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Along these same lines, how do you keep your toddlers in the highchair? My ds is usually pretty well behaved for a toddler (I've earned it after 3 girls - lol). However, he is quite the Houdini and can slip out of shopping cart and highchair buckles. At home, his highchair has a buckle and a tray that slips over the seat, so he can't get out. I wish they had these at restaurants! Anybody have a trick for these wooden restaurant highchairs?

 

[SnipsNSnails]

1. Dining with a toddler - Pick an early dinner time so that your child isn't tired and starving. All our ADRs were as close to 5:00 PM as possible. We also did 4 buffets, 2 family style, and our one menu meal was a lunch and that one by far took the longest. The buffets and family style get food to you very quickly, thusly minimizing the amount of time with nothing to do. Choose restaraunts with "entertainment." We did WCC, Ohana, and two character meals. The characters and the games kept him busy, though we did have an accident at WCC during the pony race (you can read about that with the link in my siggy if interested). Take a long a little entertainment. Most restaurants provide crayons which work for awhile. Grandma's iphone was very helpful. At the buffets we let him eat his meal and then when he starts to get restless we offer dessert to space the meal out a bit more. Amazing how quickly ice cream or a cookie will settle them back down again.

2. Highchairs - The key IMO is not forcing them to sit in the highchair the whole time! I usually start out holding him until the food arrives. Then I put him in the chair to eat and try to keep him there until someone is done and can hold him again. The main thing I want out of the highchair is to eat my food without holding him too. If he's done before me, then I give him something else to do and hope he stays put longer!