Ideas for *Nice* Restaurant w/ Toddlers?

[cbteel]

We are celebrating my parents' 40th anniversary during our May trip to Disney World. We want to treat them to a nice restaurant, but my brother and I will have our kids (ages 4, 3, 1 and 1) Any suggestions for an on the property restaurant that won't panic when they see us coming?

 

[BCV23]

What a special occasion.

I don't think there is a single restaurant at WDW with the exception of V&A's that is not used to having family groups. No one will panic and in fact I think you'll be welcomed with open arms. The last time we had dinner at Yachtsman's, there were two young families at the round table next to us with 3 children that were certainly all under 2....a pair of twins and a cousin or little friend. The waiter was great with the toddlers and for that matter so were the parents....not the type to ignore their kids nor fawn on them either. Very pleasant experience for everyone.

I think Yachtsman's, Narcoossee's and California Grill would all be nice choices depending on your parents tastes. Really lots of other choices but those come to mind.

 

[Luv_Tink]

I agree that you'll be fine no matter where you choose to dine. We took DD (2.5) to LeCellier with no problems in December. At 9 months old we took her to California Grill for Valentine's dinner and had a great time. I don't think having kids should ever deter you from eating at nice restaurants. Just lay the ground rules out ahead of time for the older ones and let your kids know what kind of behavior you expect from them. As for the younger ones, just bring along a few toys to keep them occupied. You can always request that the kids' dinners be brought out ASAP so they don't have to wait.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree-your toddlers won't raise an eyebrow at any WDW spot.
Lots of choices--and a lot depends if $$ is a problem, and/or what sort of food you have in mind.
Anyway--in the resort hotels I recommend JIko, California Grill, Citricos, Narcoosees, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Artist Point,or Palio (if Italian is what you want).
Flying Fish on the Boardwalk is a nice spot. In DD Portobello yacht Club would be nice.

 

[crisi]

Personally, I don't need the stress of having my very young children in any of those restaurants. On the not so off chance my DD would have a flying tantrum, spoiling our meal as well as the meals of those around us. But my DD was the sweetest angel in the world at two and three and four when she was sweet. And prone at any time to becoming Mr. Hyde for forty minutes at a time (she is now five and MUCH better - she did the Disney cruise without a problem - and actually managed her WDW trip at four with only one incident - unfortuately in the back of Boma where we couldn't remove her). Since I wouldn't be comfortable with her in the restuarant in that state, and because the option was to leave an expensive meal sitting cold while we let her scream in the lobby (also not pleasant), we always elected to eat "down a tier." Le Cellier, San Angel Inn, and Spoodles all worked really well and were decent meals with decent atmosphere.

But my children are my children, sweetness and temper and all. And I am me.

 

[webray]

With that many small children..why not hire and in room sitter for dinner that evening. That way all the adults can enjoy there meal instead of dealing with children who may/may not behave and disturb their dinner or someone elses.

 

[jeepgirl30]

What about O'hana? It is not as upscale as California Grill (which is hands down my favorite!) but it is a very fun atmosphere. The food is great, the entertainment will keep the kids busy and you can see the fireworks from there.

As far as living the kids in the room with a sitter, my own parents would shoot me! They'd rather go to McDonald's to celebrate if it meant the grandkids came.

Kids will be kids and the servers at Disney know that by now! I personally would not take my kids to the upscale places because I know I would be too stressed out to enjoy my meal. If I'm stressed the kids would sense it and probably act up, embarassing DH and then stressing out everyone else!

 

[BostonRob]

we always elected to eat "down a tier." Le Cellier, San Angel Inn, and Spoodles all worked really well and were decent meals with decent atmosphere.

But my children are my children, sweetness and temper and all. And I am me.

Yes, I've read that the San Angel in Epcot's Mexico is a good one for young toddlers - they like the atmosphere or something. I can see it, I mean it really feels like you're outside, and there's a lot going on witht he marketplace and the river. We're going to try it with our two year old this year.

 

[eeyore0062]

How about 'Ohana? It is nice, they are very family oriented and everyone should have a great time!

I personally wouldn't enjoy myself at Jiko, California Grille, Citricos, Flying Fish, Narcoosees, Palio, the Yachtsman or the like. I would stick with the tier lower, such as the above mentioned 'Ohana, Cape May Cafe, San Angel Inn, Mama Melrose, etc. That is just me... you know your kids and their temperments. I know that when my DD went anywhere with anyone outside of the immediate family (meaning me and DH) she tended to "show herself" and of course the grandparents would coddle her, just making a bad situation worse. You know your family, so that should help you choose accordingly.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thanks for asking this. I have been to WDW man times, but we are looking for places that are good for adults, but fun for the kids. (aside from CM, we are doing a 3 of those, but we want some sit downs too.)

What places are the most fun for kids, but still good for adults.

I was thinking The Living Seas, but I have heard some not so good reviews of it lately. My kids don't like Mexican food. We are doing Italy. We will have 2 preschoolers (almost 4 years old) and 2 babies. (6 months.)

 

[punkin]

My kids love Flying Fish. The first time I took them there, they were 2 and 8. The place s really very loud so children would have to be having a huge meltdown to even be heard over the din. California Grill is also loud, but it has a more upscale feel to it, so you may be more uncomfortable. Jiko is extremely quiet and has nothing interesting for the kids to look at while eating, so I would not reccomend that.
A second tier place may be your best bet.

 

[dznymom1]

Coral Reef is my son's very favorite and has been since he was very small. He is always mesmerized by the aquarium He is now 13 and we are taking his best friend with us to WDW for school vacation and he can't wait to take him to Coral Reef. Maybe we have been fortunate, but service has always been good to excellent, and the food has always been very good. I would say we have eaten there close to a dozen times.

Oh, and the kids meals usually include goldfish crackers (big hit with my guy) and they have neat desserts for the children and the adults!

 

[crisi]

My kids love Flying Fish. The first time I took them there, they were 2 and 8. The place s really very loud so children would have to be having a huge meltdown to even be heard over the din. California Grill is also loud, but it has a more upscale feel to it, so you may be more uncomfortable. Jiko is extremely quiet and has nothing interesting for the kids to look at while eating, so I would not reccomend that.
A second tier place may be your best bet.

We risked Narcoossee's with four year old "tantrum girl" for the same reason. Its loud, so only screaming tizzies need to get removed, inside voices are optional. And it doesn't feel as "upscale." And we ate right when they opened and they sat us by the door . It went fine, although the pace of the meal was long for kids; it was easier, the food was as good, and it was a lot cheaper at Le Cellier a few nights later. The theme park restaurants seem to turn their tables faster - bringing courses quicker.

Artist's Point was also quiet the evening my husband dined there with my dad (my Mom and I were out with kids). But the restaurant was pretty empty when they ate.

BostonRob - San Angel Inn, kids love the river and volcano. Its dark and really noisy - so you are in having a meltdown or throwing food territory before your kids cause a scene. The ride almost never has a line, so one parent can wait for food while the kids take a quick boat ride. The downsides, not everyone likes the food and the tables are really tight.

DisneyPhD - my family (grown up and kid) favorites are Le Cellier (because of the chocolate moose for the kids) and Teppenyaki - although both are better for the preschooler set, personally I'd worry too much about toddlers and the hot grill at Teppenyaki (they put the kids on the end where the grill is cooler - but that made it difficult to help my five year old with anything). We all like watching the belly dancer at Marrakesh. In the hotels, we've eaten at Spoodles and Whispering Canyon Cafe. Can't say the food was really excellent at either restaurant, but both were comfortable with kids and the food was decent. The only places I'd avoid with little kids are the top tier - because leaving a good (and really pricey) steak or peice of fish getting cold is a shame - and buffets, because one buffet plate is a lot to handle, with little kids you have yours and theirs and then they eat nothing but grapes which you get up for every six minutes.

I'll give out my hints....unlike other kids, mine were never sufficiently distracted by crayons, toys, stickers or cheerios. (They will draw now, but that didn't happen until around four). These are great things if your kids are distracted though!.....we would often decide what we wanted before we got into the restaurant. Then explain to the hostess that the kids have a limited attention span and send the waiter right over. Explain again to the waiter and order. If the kids are still doing fine, order dessert. If they are doing ok, dessert in a box. If things are dicey, pay the bill and go. My kids wouldn't sit for four courses, if we were ordering appitizers we wouldn't make it through dessert.

 

[BCV23]

I think it is funny how this thread has morphed into what restaurants will make the kids happy!

It is a 40th anniversary celebration. The focus should be that I think!

To the OP, you asked if restaurants would panic if they saw toddlers. No they will not.

We have been dining at the "1st tier" restaurants as well as 2nd, etc. since 1983. We have seen young children at all of them... most of them well behaved. I think MOST children can understand that this is a special party for their grandparents. If some of the toddlers get antsy, perhaps one of the adults can walk them between courses.

This sounds like a meal when the focus should be on the GGPs, not the children.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

What about O'hana? It is not as upscale as California Grill (which is hands down my favorite!) but it is a very fun atmosphere. The food is great, the entertainment will keep the kids busy and you can see the fireworks from there.

As far as living the kids in the room with a sitter, my own parents would shoot me! They'd rather go to McDonald's to celebrate if it meant the grandkids came.

Kids will be kids and the servers at Disney know that by now! I personally would not take my kids to the upscale places because I know I would be too stressed out to enjoy my meal. If I'm stressed the kids would sense it and probably act up, embarassing DH and then stressing out everyone else!

My vote is for O'Hana's! Beautiful dining room and quiet but still fun for the kids (coconut races and hula hoop contests) with a great view especially at night with the fireworks and all of the lighted torches outside. Also they're really good about getting you macaroni and cheese or anything else your children might want to eat other than what they're serving.

 

[elf]

There are just certain places I wouldn't take my kids, while restaraunt CM's wouldn't panic there is definefly a more adult atmosphere at places like Palios, LeCellier and the French Restaurant in Epcot. I agree with the above poster I hate the stress of meltdowns it places those places, although I love them I do those as adult only night.

My favorite special sitdowns meals with kids are:
1. Morrocco, it is a fun place and special, it has table service not buffet. For the kids (and adults) there is belly dancing (my kids always were asked to get up and join), outside there is a kidscot station for a craft mask, which we get signed by Alladin (sometimes Jasmine too).
2. Bomas while it's a buffet the food is exotic and different. Before the meal we enjoy watching the animals outside.
3. Coral Reef- kids just love them fish. We've only been there twice but liked the food.
4. Japan's dinner where you watch the chef cook is fun for everyone also.
5. I liked the flying fish at the Boardwalk as well.

 

[judben821]

Another vote for O'Hanas. The food is great and the kids will love all the activities - coconut races, hula dancing. We've gone on our last 2 trips - it's now a must do for us.

 

[crisi]

I think it is funny how this thread has morphed into what restaurants will make the kids happy!

It is a 40th anniversary celebration. The focus should be that I think!

To the OP, you asked if restaurants would panic if they saw toddlers. No they will not.

We have been dining at the "1st tier" restaurants as well as 2nd, etc. since 1983. We have seen young children at all of them... most of them well behaved. I think MOST children can understand that this is a special party for their grandparents. If some of the toddlers get antsy, perhaps one of the adults can walk them between courses.

This sounds like a meal when the focus should be on the GGPs, not the children.

The point I'm addressing is that if you are walking your toddlers outside because they are getting antsy, you aren't enjoying the meal and neither are the grandparents - at least my own and my inlaws wouldn't enjoy an anniversary dinner where half the guests aren't in the restaurant. I haven't enjoyed any of our "meltdown meals." And I enjoy them much less when I have the expectations and bill I have at the California Grill.

But I freely admit that other people have children where the risk of walking them outside is less, and may have never had to leave a restaurant in their lives - if we had only had my son, we've eaten at the California Grill when he was a toddler, too. Perhaps all four of the OPs young guests are more like my son. In which case that is a lovely choice. Then there are the people who don't care if their child has a meltdown in the middle of the California Grill for twenty minutes - and that's a different issue.

 

[BCV23]

Crisi, I think both you and other posters had some great tips for most dining situations with young kids. And in your case with your daughter, I can understand your concern. One of our children was always an angel in public. Really, really good as well as very polite from a very early age. But at home, she sometimes had total meltdowns! When I would describe them to my friends, everyone was always astonished because she really seemed like an angel...except sometimes at home!!! So I feel your pain.

I just think that this is such a special occasion that if one adult has to get up for a short walk and makes it appealing to the antsy child to return to the table (would you like to go back and have fun with your cousins and Nana and Grandpa now, etc.), it would be worth it in most cases so that the dinner could be really special. I know that I would rather be able to hear my loved ones speak rather than be at a noisy restaurant in order to cover the sounds of children.

I think some of the restaurants also have alcoves where a larger party could be seated. YSH has some smaller areas. Jiko has that seperate space in the front. CG has a "wine room."

Then there are the people who don't care if their child has a meltdown in the middle of the California Grill for twenty minutes - and that's a different issue.

Oh, I so agree! Or wanders around the tables, etc..!

 

[Luv_Tink]

One thing to keep in mind is that everyone's child is different and every stituation is different. My 2.5 year old daughter is normally very well behaved in restaurants because we take her out often at home and we've told her what kind of behavior is acceptable and what is not. There are times when she is just plain tired or cranky about something and she does have a meltdown. In those instances we make sure she gets her food first and do what we can to calm her. If we can't get her calmed, one of us takes her out of the restaurant early while the other waits for the bill. Its just something you have to do as a parent if you ever want to eat out with your child.

As for the OP's situation, I would plan the dinner for an early seating so the kids are not tired and make sure they get some down time or naps that day. Also, try taking the kids out to restaurants at home before your trip so that you and the children know what to expect. It is a special occasion and I'm sure the grandparents will want the kids there to celebrate as a family. Its also been my experience that when cousins or grandparents are present at the restaurant the kids are well entertained and cause fewer problems because they're having fun with all the attention.