Infants in Sit Down Restaurants

[Nicsmom]

This will be my first time to WDW with an infant. My DS will be 3 months old. I've made quite a few PS's. What does my son sit in? Can I bring my stroller into the restaurants? Do they have infant high chairs? Do I have to bring his infant car seat with me? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jel0511]

Most restaurants won't allow a stroller in a retaurant, regardless of the age of the child. Usually they only allow a stroller to be brought in if the child is sleeping. The highchairs at most WDW restaurants are the wooden kind, which are not suitable for a 3 month old. Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's do have infant style highchairs so no need to worry there. When we traveled with our 4 month old, it definately was a challenge. He was too big to stay comfortable in his car seat, also it was August so too hot as well. He was in his regular stroller and we brought a portable bouncy seat with us. It folded up extremely compact, it fit in the bottom of the stroller. We'd set it up on the table next to one of the adults, and he'd stay there while he ate. Usually he wouldn't stay there the entire meal, so we'd end up holding him for some of it. If you're not going when it's going to be VERY hot, I'd recommend bringing the infant car seat. Also, these aren't the most comfortable for babies, so I wouldn't recommend planning on staying in the park all day with one.

Edited to add: I should clarify one thing. All counter service locations will allow a stroller to be brought in, it's just the full service, sit-down restaurants that won't allow a stroller.

 

[Jenn]

We actually found many places would allow us to bring in the stroller, especially if the baby was asleep. We would always ask of course, and in most cases they were happy to oblige and gave us a table with a little room so the stroller wouldn't be in the way of the server. In a few cases, they had highchairs with an infant seat attached to it, one in particular was Whispering Canyon. Those helped tremendously.

If your stroller is the kind with the infant seat attached, I would simply bring the infant seat in. Our stroller did not have that feature.

 

[tjmw2727]

Many of the "sit down" restaurants do have the infant high chairs but if you book your meals during off times the restaurant will be more likely to allow you to bring in the stroller. You won't have a problem with the counter service restaurants, just roll the stroller right in!


TJ

 

[herprettiness]

This is my first official post. Woohooo!!!

I know something about this one. There are two resturants that I might avoid taking a stroller into. Not that they won't allow it, but it's tricky.

#1 Biergarten - lots of levels here and you will be seated on top row. They ask that you park stroller in the front area of resturant.

#2 San Angel Inn. - Tables are very cramped, it will be a tight fit.

I thought all of the Buffet types of resturants were excellent for strollers, also resort resturants.

 

[DisOrBust]

I have never had a problem bring in a stroller from Cal. Grill to the Biergarden. HOWEVER, we have a VERY small umbrella stroller. When the last DD was in her Car seat/stroller at 3 months I was able to bring it every where. Granted we are not there during peak periods.
I have found going with a three month old easier then going with any other age including ADULTS.... . Have fun!!

 

[TJA]

When our twins were 7 mos. old, the restaurants let us bring our double stroller right to our table. All restaurants were very accomodating, in fact. We did try to hit the restaurants at off-times and went during value season. Some of these restaurants were LeCellier, Nine Dragons, and Portobello Yacht Club.

We also brought our car seats that fit right into the stroller. At 3 mos. old, you might want to consider doing that -- our babies were more comfortable in their seats and they were a much better fit than our stroller (our babies were born quite small).