Infant Friendly Restaurants

[Disneylvr]

We area planning lots of counter service meals with our 7 month old but what WDW restaurants are the most infant friendly? I am thinking the character buffets would be good. We want to avoid the more quiet/upscale restaurants so we won't be annoying other guests should Madelyn have a meltdown. Would 50's Prime Time be okay? Thanks!

 

[BevS97]

I would think 50's Prime Time would be fine, or the Sci Fi cafe, any of the buffets, in fact most places except the really expensive sit down places which are mostly at the resorts.

In the parks, the Brown Derby is probably not a good choice, and some of the fancier Epcot resturants (the french one springs to mind), but you should be fine most places.
I can't think of anywhere in MK that would be too quiet or fancy for you.

Bev

 

[ducklite]

Here's a list a good sit down restaurants that would be good to take an infant or younger child to:

Any character meal
50's PT
Mama Melroses
Cape may Cafe
Kona Cafe
O Hana's
Concourse Steakhouse
Whispering Canyon
Yacht Club Galley

There are others, but this is a good start!

Anne

 

[Disneylvr]

Thanks for the suggestions! We are first time parents and very inexperienced traveling with young children. Madelyn may or may not be able to sit up in a high chair by 7 months. Will some of these restaurants allow her stroller in?

 

[ducklite]

It depends on how crowded they are. Many have the reclining type high chairs as well. If you get there early (4:30-5:00) you've got a much better chance at being able to take in the stroller than if you get there at 6:30. Some of the restaurants are just too narrow to have a stroller parked at a table and allow other patrons to get by comfortably and safely.

Anne

 

[Webby]

We just went to Crystal Palace July 5th, and had no problem bringing in an umbrella stroller. My son is 3 months, and he slept most of the meal, then he woke up and sat on my lap. Then when the meal was over I was able to pop next door to the baby center and feed him.

Also Crystal Palace has plenty of open space for wheeling the stroller in and although our PS wasn't till 5:45 it still did not seem crowded.

 

[Disneylvr]

Madelyn's stroller is pretty big a bulky(part of a Graco travel system), so yes in some restaurants it could be a hazard. We plan to eat early dinners or lunch so hopefully it won't be as crowded then. So far we have dinners at Chef Mickey's and 1900 Park Fare planned. Now I am thinking about adding Crystal Palace.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Depending on your daughter temperment, you might could take her most places except for V&A and maybe a few of the finner resort resturants. Disney is used to babies and small children and 7mo is a pretty easy time to take her with you. She can't go anywhere.Right? I don't think you would have trouble anywhere in the parks even WS at Epcot.

Of course if she would become dispruptive, you would take her out and calm her down. There are also lots of things you can do to make dinning with her easier. The most #1 is your timming. If she is tired and sleeply you are in trouble. Try going out to eat after she has a late nap and is well rested.Also try to go at time that are less crowded and will have a shorter wait. Make PS's and go early. Another idea might be to get her to sleep in her stroller before you arrive and she might just sleep though a nice quite meal for mom and dad. Most all places will let a baby asleep stay in the stroller.

She should be about ready for some finger foodsat 7 mo. and they can be a life saver. Feed her her baby food while you wait for your food and then put a handful of cherrios and her tray for her to try to get into her mouth. That is asumming that she is ready for a high chair by then. All babies are different and many are not yet at that stage by 7mo.

I think that you will find eating out with her easier that you think and in fact, might be the easiest time for the next 10 years.

Have a magical trip


Jordan's mom

 

[BevS97]

I think that you will find eating out with her easier that you think and in fact, might be the easiest time for the next 10 years.

I think Jordan's mum maybe onto something there!

if you have the carseat with your travel system, then you can take that into the restaurant with you, if she can't manage a highchair at that time, Although at 7 months she will probably be fine - the only problem being most of the highchairs at WDW are those wooden lowbacked kind, which are a little harder to sit in then a big padded one like you may have at home.

We usually ask for a booth when possible and then just put the carseat on the seat next to us. Of course, not all restaurants have a booth, but many do.

Bev

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I think that you will find eating out with her easier that you think and in fact, might be the easiest time for the next 10 years.

Oh I so agree. You watch and see. LOL
I sometimes long for the days when they were that age- 2, 5 and 9 are so NOT as easy as the days when they were babies. LOL They are pretty good kids- but it's just the ages... it's hard to go to a nice restaurant and expect them to be as quiet as needed for such a long time (nice restaurants aren't fast food- ie: isn't fast. LOL)

 

[Disneylvr]

One more question.. Should I avoid the Cinderella breakfast in the Castle? The idea of of taking my little princess to a princess meal sounds like fun but I need advice from the experts. She is probably too young isn't she?

 

[BevS97]

if you want to go, and you can get a PS, then go - I bet you would get some lovely photos of the Princesses holding your baby, and the restaurant is certainly suitable for a baby. But, I think it's fair to say the baby won't get much out of the experience at this age. I would think that when your Princess is 3 or 4 then the CRT will be the highlight of her vacation.

Bev

 

[deb305]

We took 12 month old in a big stroller in January. Granted it was not as crowded as summer, here is what we did:
At the character meals/breakfasts things we packed in tightly. He had to be put in the modified (no back support) high chair meant for toddlers. Not sure we would have stayed in it at 7 months.

The exception was the Princess Breakfast at Arhaus, we had more space and could have brought the stroller. We did have the stroller in Mama Melroses.

We did most of our lunches at fast food with big seating areas. He enjoyed Tuskerhaus (sp) Barbeque (sp) in AKL the most. We sat outside so he could watch the birds and wildlife.

We tried to eat meals at nap times which were usually mid afternoon. The restaraunts were less busy and we actually had time to eat quickly.

 

[sters]

A couple of years ago, we went to the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge with our children, then ages 1, 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. What a great time! There was a nice Brio train table that kept my boys entertained while we waited for our table. There was some kind of a pony race, where the kids could run around the restaurant on those horses on a stick. It gave them a chance to stretch their legs and they got a little certifcate, something about the pony express, which was a really great keepsake. But what was REALLY cool was that they gave my 2 1/2 year old a free meal !!!! (My one year old was on jar food, so that wasn't an issue.). I left with a really good feeling and I know the kids has one of their best dining experiences here.