Disney bans kids from restaurant!!!

[Planogirl]

I think that Disney should at least try to cater to all wants. That will make money IMO.

I don't think that V&A's not allowing young kids and perhaps someday a few more restaurants not allowing younger kids past a certain time on certain nights will affect any family's vacation. Actually it might just make the Disney experience a little more pleasant for some people.

Goodness, you'd think that Disney might have ruined a great restaurant in World Showcase by turning it into a Princess Mecca or something....

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Well, it is a good thing that all these "nay-sayers" have 96 other Disney restaurants to choose from...including 4 others at the GF.

This has to be the silliest argument ever! Like it or not, there are places that children are not allowed. There are things that children are not allowed to do. There are some experiences that children have to wait for. I would love to take my kiddos to Discovery Cove, but my little one is too young to swim with the dolphins. Should I start stomping my feet? No! I realize that there are some things in life that kids have to wait for. And, *gasp*, I think that is good for them!

 

[babieemelly]

Goodness, you'd think that Disney might have ruined a great restaurant in World Showcase by turning it into a Princess Mecca or something....

That I agree with!

 

[tiggersmom2]

I think that Disney should at least try to cater to all wants. That will make money IMO.

I don't think that V&A's not allowing young kids and perhaps someday a few more restaurants not allowing younger kids past a certain time on certain night will affect any family's vacation. Actually it might just make the Disney experience a little more pleasant for some people.

Goodness, you'd think that Disney might have ruined a great restaurant in World Showcase by turning it into a Princess Mecca or something....

Exactly!!! After the loss of the Akershus....well, there is not restaurant that can compare, imo.

 

[kpm76]

Are you taking the descending opinion for the sake of debating this topic or is this your actual position on the subject ?

I don't honestly understand people getting all worked up because they way not be able to have dinner somewhere one night. Do people place that much importance on food? Honestly, I can't imagine allowing that to make or break my vacation.

Honestly, I am guessing that is has little to do with food and fine dining and more to do with the fact that some people get bent when they feel their kids are not welcomed. There are folks who don't go anywhere without their kids. While I love DD and cherish spending time with her, I want her to learn that there are times when mommy and daddy need time alone and there are going to be adult only occasions.

 

[MareQ]

I can NOT imagine anyone bringing their child to V&A! I think WDW is being pretty liberal letting children 10 and over attend. This is a 2-3 hour FINE dining experience, my children are next to saints but even they would be antsy for that long.

I do take my kids to Jikos and they are wonderful (there are many other kids there too) and we are in and out within 1 - 1 1/2 hours. That is MY definition of "fine dining" with kids.

I agree. We've NEVER had a problem with our kids in restaurants - in fact they are at their absolute BEST while eating in a restaurant for some reason. They love eating out and pretty much beg every day after school to go out to eat. (They're 4, 6 and 9)

Despite that - I wouldn't dream of taking them to V&A.... V&A is not a restaurant IMO- it's an experience. Anybody that cannot fully appreciate that does not belong there. Since DH wouldn't appreciate the experience as he's a picky eater - we don't even go - lol. (I would love to go but I am not about to go by myself )

 

[momto2girls]

Honestly, I am guessing that is has little to do with food and fine dining and more to do with the fact that some people get bent when they feel their kids are not welcomed. There are folks who don't go anywhere without their kids. While I love DD and cherish spending time with her, I want her to learn that there are times when mommy and daddy need time alone and there are going to be adult only occasions.

I can't speak for anyone but myself obviously, but as I said before, I have NO problems with V&A becoming an adult-only restaurant. I wouldn't even consider taking my children there at their ages. I've been there before and it is definitely a "grown-up" environment. My comments about not banning kids from restaurants only applied to the other Disney restaurants. I do agree with you that there are times that moms and dads like to be alone. On our last trip, we left our girls at the Polynesian Kids Club, so we could have one of those evenings. It was lovely and I'm sure we'll do it again. However, when we go to Disney we eat at the signature restaurants or "nicer" restaurants our whole trip. And as much as I like having a night alone with DH, I wouldn't want to put my girls in the Kids Clubs virtually every single night, kwim? And I don't think that the rest of the Disney restaurants are inappropriate places for kids. Like another poster said, they may be more expensive, but the atmosphere is appropriate for children IMO.

 

[TDC Nala]

First off, I wonder if this ruling also extends to the Chef's Table at V&A? After all, it would be isolated, just involving one's family and since it's a bit noiser & more hectic it'd be a good compromise.

Yes it does.

However, I was under the impression that they didn't allow kids at the Chef's Table due to liability issues regarding access to the kitchen area. But I can't find any corroboration of that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would like to know a couple of things. First, how on earth did they come up with 10yrs old as the cut off? If they want to keep it an adult only experience, wouldn't 18 make more sense? Second, how do they plan on enforcing this rule? For the really young ones it will be easy, but what about the children right at the cusp? How are the parents supposed to prove their child is 10? Are they supposed to bring their birth certificate?

As long as the people with the reservation are on any sort of package which involves buying tickets, the birth dates of the children are on file. Since a child ticket is Age 3-9, if the parents have purchased a child's ticket for them that is automatically evidence that the child is less than ten years old.

 

[babieemelly]

Honestly, I am guessing that is has little to do with food and fine dining and more to do with the fact that some people get bent when they feel their kids are not welcomed. There are folks who don't go anywhere without their kids. While I love DD and cherish spending time with her, I want her to learn that there are times when mommy and daddy need time alone and there are going to be adult only occasions.

I don't think that's the case. There's a difference between wanting along time, and being on a family vacation across the country from home. For a lot of families vacations are special because no one's working, no one's in school, no one's at extracurricular activities or friend's houses - the family's actually all together. Luckily it was never like this for mine, but for some families going on vacation is one of the only ways to get the entire family together for an extended period of time, and eating together is something fun and special. If you want alone time away from your kids then no one's forcing you to bring your kids to eat with you. But just because you don't want to eat with your kids while at certain Disney restaurants doesn't mean that other families don't.

 

[M 'n C]

I'm not against the new rule at V&A. I do not have kids, I often go to WDW with my parents or with my bf (I am 26 by the way) so take this idea with a grain of salt since I do not have kids.

But what about a childfree section vs. a section with kids at some of the restaurants? It wouldn't have to be half the restaurant maybe a quarter and could take the place of the old smoking vs. nonsmoking that use to be in place before everyone started passing nonsmoking bans.

 

[M 'n C]

double post

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I don't think that's the case. There's a difference between wanting along time, and being on a family vacation across the country from home. For a lot of families vacations are special because no one's working, no one's in school, no one's at extracurricular activities or friend's houses - the family's actually all together. Luckily it was never like this for mine, but for some families going on vacation is one of the only ways to get the entire family together for an extended period of time, and eating together is something fun and special. If you want alone time away from your kids then no one's forcing you to bring your kids to eat with you. But just because you don't want to eat with your kids while at certain Disney restaurants doesn't mean that other families don't.

Then those families can choose from the other 96 restaurants on property. They can wait to experience V&A's as a family until the children are of appropriate age. Just as they would have to wait for any Richard Petty, paragliding, and bungee jumping.

 

[kpm76]

I can't speak for anyone but myself obviously, but as I said before, I have NO problems with V&A becoming an adult-only restaurant. I wouldn't even consider taking my children there at their ages. I've been there before and it is definitely a "grown-up" environment. My comments about not banning kids from restaurants only applied to the other Disney restaurants. I do agree with you that there are times that moms and dads like to be alone. On our last trip, we left our girls at the Polynesian Kids Club, so we could have one of those evenings. It was lovely and I'm sure we'll do it again. However, when we go to Disney we eat at the signature restaurants or "nicer" restaurants our whole trip. And as much as I like having a night alone with DH, I wouldn't want to put my girls in the Kids Clubs virtually every single night, kwim? And I don't think that the rest of the Disney restaurants are inappropriate places for kids. Like another poster said, they may be more expensive, but the atmosphere is appropriate for children IMO.

Yeah, that's makes alot of sense. It sounds like you got lucky with well behaved little ones and you also sound like you have enough sense to know when your kids might have had enough and would not do well in certain situations. I guess I was directing my comments to the parents who drag their kids to the 9pm ADR at a signature place knowing full well that their kids have had enough. It just ruins the experience for all.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Then those families can choose from the other 96 restaurants on property. They can wait to experience V&A's as a family until the children are of appropriate age. Just as they would have to wait for any Richard Petty, paragliding, and bungee jumping.

ITA

I have 3 kids, ages 3, 4 and 7. No way would I ever would I ever take them to V&A. They're very well behaved but it's just not the right atmosphere with little kids. Plus it's way too long for them to sit for a meal.

 

[babieemelly]

Then those families can choose from the other 96 restaurants on property. They can wait to experience V&A's as a family until the children are of appropriate age. Just as they would have to wait for any Richard Petty, paragliding, and bungee jumping.

I already said more than once that I agree about Victoria and Alberts. It's truly "fine dining" and when you're paying that much money I can't see anyone even wanting to bring kids. I'm talking about the other nice restaurants in Disney. They're nice, but they're still not fine dining and I don't think families should be banned

 

[JR6ooo4]

What if they just had cots by the tables. Wear the kids out all day then let them sleep while adults eat.

Individual dvd players with every disney movie on demand, and headphones/earphones, of course.

I think one or two restaurants would be ok. Full time-no kids so people are not surprised because they dod not read the fine print.

Heck they need one most at each allstar!!!!

Mikeeee

 

[Nancyg56]

I raised three children into adulthood and now have one DGD. My own behaved well in restaurants and my DGD is well behaved in a restaurant. Right now we choose restaurants where we can all go together, but that is a choice we make. If there were some restaurants that were adult only I would not be offended, nor would I feel that my family has a right to that restaurant simply because we exist and demand to be included. If there are close to 100 choices to eat and of those there are a few that exclude children there are still plenty to choose from.

I have never understood why every establishment must welcome children when the vast majority already do. There can be some places set aside where those who would appreciate a child free environment are accommodated. That slight accommodation is not a slight against children nor should it be interpreted that way. It is simply one more way that people can enjoy Disney in their own way.

I am not a gambler but I would bet the farm that if a few places were to go child free they would be selling books with tips on how to get ADR's and those books would sell faster than those with tips about booking Breakfast at the Castle.

 

[BettyCv]

Are you taking the descending opinion for the sake of debating this topic or is this your actual position on the subject ?

I don't honestly understand people getting all worked up because they way not be able to have dinner somewhere one night. Do people place that much importance on food? Honestly, I can't imagine allowing that to make or break my vacation.

I guess you'd say it's just for the sake of debate, since I didn't and don't plan to eat at V&A (with or without children). However, some of the people who have responded have made it sound as though the mere sight of a child at a restaurant could ruin their meal - that really surprises (and saddens) me. But of course I realize that everyone is entitled to their opinions, and a lot can be misinterpreted on a forum.

As far as your comment "Do people place that much importance on food?" That is how I view some of the responses - like being able to enjoy their food (with no children around) is more important than a family being able to eat together where they want to.

As far as thinking V&A is any place for children - no. I don't think ANY child would make that their No. 1 choice for dining.

 

[BabyPiglet]

It's a family park. I don't get why kids are so annoying to some people.


Just my opinion!