Hearing Loss - restaurants to avoid?

[Lsyves]

My husband lost his hearing in one ear this Summer and has a very hard time hearing in situations where there's a lot of people talking at once. We will do some outdoor dining and avoid places like ABC Commissary, but I am wondering if anyone has any "aha" reactions and can list some restaurants that you've found particularly loud. Thanks in advance!

 

[unrequited23]

I'd avoid Chef Mickey, T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, Sunshine Seasons, BOG...pretty much anywhere that has hit has high ceilings and can seat a lot of people.

I would recommend The Plaza and Nomad Lounge as quieter options.

 

[fly girl]

Via Napoli is loud.

 

[Jennasis]

Geez, that's a tough one as we find all of them incredibly loud. What we have done is to pick restaurants we want and eat at off times. We've had places practically to ourselves doing that even at busy times of year and one of the main reasons is so we can hear each other talk. Eat dinner at 4/4:30. Lunch at 11.

 

[cgattis]

My husband lost his hearing in one ear this Summer and has a very hard time hearing in situations where there's a lot of people talking at once. We will do some outdoor dining and avoid places like ABC Commissary, but I am wondering if anyone has any "aha" reactions and can list some restaurants that you've found particularly loud. Thanks in advance!

Has he tried using one of the foam earplugs just lightly inserted into his “good” ear? That might help damp some of the background but still let him hear folks right at the table. Sorry to hear about that; best wishes that his hearing returns.

 

[cgattis]

My husband lost his hearing in one ear this Summer and has a very hard time hearing in situations where there's a lot of people talking at once. We will do some outdoor dining and avoid places like ABC Commissary, but I am wondering if anyone has any "aha" reactions and can list some restaurants that you've found particularly loud. Thanks in advance!

Has he tried using one of the foam earplugs just lightly inserted into his “good” ear? That might help damp some of the background but still let him hear folks right at the table. Sorry to hear about that; best wishes that his hearing returns.

 

[sponica]

Le Cellier can be loud because of how many people they cram in. Raglan Road is loud.

I think places that stand out for being quiet are Tiffins, especially at lunch. Garden Grill is fairly quiet, or I don't remember it being loud.

 

[jimmymc]

I'd avoid Chef Mickey, T-Rex, Rainforest Cafe, Sunshine Seasons, BOG...pretty much anywhere that has hit has high ceilings and can seat a lot of people.

I would recommend The Plaza and Nomad Lounge as quieter options.

Adding to this, if you really want to see BOG then request the Rose Gallery room, it's a smaller space and there are things dividing the room to help absorb sound.

 

[Lsyves]

Thanks everyone. It will be a fun trip in spite of the hearing loss after a long few years!!!

 

[JennyDrake]

I'll agree that more ARE loud than not! I have very sensitive hearing and I can't tolerate Raglan Road at all not matter when...Tusker House is LOUD as are most buffets. Teppan Edo is more quiet as are Spice Road and Paddlefish, Homecoming, and Boathouse at DTD. Kona Cafe isn't too bad.

 

[cruisin5]

STK is like a nightclub, I'd stay away from Jaleo, too.

WineBar George along with Ale and Compass were two of the quieter restaurants. Sci-Fi could be another good choice, there's not a lot of talking going on since everyone is watching the cheezy movies. Upstairs at Morimoto's, outside at The Boathouse and Il Mulino outside were all nice and quiet.

Some of the TS restaurants offer mobile ordering (to-go), where you could eat poolside.

 

[barb969]

Brown Derby can get noisy. There are some small rooms where it would be quieter.
Jiko is usually quiet especially if you go early.
Sci-fi is quiet.
50s Prime Time is loud.
Skippers in Mk is quiet for an early lunch.
Be Our Guest sounds like a cafeteria in the main room.
Tiffins has smaller rooms which helpskeep the noise down.
Le Cellier tables are close together and tend towards noisy.

 

[MomOTwins]

The loudest place we've ever eaten (at disney or elsewhere) was the Boathouse. DH and I were literally yelling at one another from across a small table to hear one another, and even then had to repeat ourselves several times. Sooooo many people packed into that room all talking. In general, Disney Springs restaurants are pretty loud, and I've noticed they pack in the tables a lot closer than some of the on-property restaurant.

 

[Lsyves]

The loudest place we've ever eaten (at disney or elsewhere) was the Boathouse. DH and I were literally yelling at one another from across a small table to hear one another, and even then had to repeat ourselves several times. Sooooo many people packed into that room all talking. In general, Disney Springs restaurants are pretty loud, and I've noticed they pack in the tables a lot closer than some of the on-property restaurant.

I was wondering about that one. I wish I could specify an outdoor table ressie - the menu looks good. That’s one place we haven’t been to.

 

[MomOTwins]

I was wondering about that one. I wish I could specify an outdoor table ressie - the menu looks good. That’s one place we haven’t been to.

I wish we could reserve outdoor too. We asked but they said we could be seated at our reservation time indoors or wait an hour for outdoors

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I'll agree that more ARE loud than not! I have very sensitive hearing and I can't tolerate Raglan Road at all not matter when...Tusker House is LOUD as are most buffets. Teppan Edo is more quiet as are Spice Road and Paddlefish, Homecoming, and Boathouse at DTD. Kona Cafe isn't too bad.

I also have sensitive hearing and agree with your DS picks. Any place with high industrial ceilings and a lot of people tend to be very noisy. People tend to be loud in restaurants at WDW…IMO.

 

[bumbershoot]

The only place I've ever NOT been able to hear was Via Napoli.

I have a hearing loss. 3 years ago I got hearing aids. Best decision ever. It gives me the full richness of sound, and makes it easier for me to hear in places I thought I wouldn't be able to hear in. It doesn't just turn up the bad volume and make it harder. It gives me back most of my hearing. (I have "mild to moderate" loss in both ears, though with my last hearing test we found that it's a "profound" loss in my left ear at 3 of the higher registers)

If he hasn't been to one yet, I strongly suggest finding a good audiologist and considering a hearing aid if they say it can help. If the hearing is absolutely gone, Phonak makes an intriguing hearing aid set where you wear them on both ears, and it takes the sounds from the side you cannot hear on and sends it to the hearing ear, so you're hearing everything.

Also, and this just happened with my son, see if a chiropractor can check out his TMJ/mastoid area. My son was having sudden hearing loss, and we had already done the audiologist appointment, he was on prednisone in case it was inflammation behind his eardrum, and he has an MRI scheduled along with a hearing aid appt. He went to our chiro (full disclosure, I'm a retired chiro and know that modern day chiropractic started BECAUSE of a deaf man regaining his hearing after a certain set of circumstances caused him to lose the hearing), mentioned his ear. Our chiro did a couple adjustments (similiar to what they can do with babies/toddlers to help them stop getting ear infections) and he had his hearing back instantly. It's worth a try.

 

[The Jackal]

Via Napoli is loud.

Yes but there is some outside seating that is much quieter

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was at Garden Grill with someone who was hard of hearing. We were first given a table, which she had major problems with, and asked for a booth. Shortly thereafter, we got a booth, which was MUCH quieter and better for her. So if you go to GG, make sure you request (to put it nicely) a booth.

 

[Lizgistix]

I don't even have hearing loss and I thought Skipper Canteen (the main room) was rather loud. 50s Prime Time can get loud. Not sure about ABC Commissary because I ate outside since it was nice out. Satuli Canteen was okay-ish. Geyser Point I think it depends if there's a game on and who's sitting at the bar, tbh. The perimeter tables weren't too bad.
Ale and Compass at Yacht Club was at a peaceful level but that was still during social distancing so I don't know if that changed.