Is this possible?

[momhmmx2]

Please don't flame me! Just had this thought..

We are staying at AKL at the end of the month and traveling with another couple with same age children. Our kids are extremely well behaved and responsible. They have stayed at AKL numerous times and know this resort like the back of their hands...

We are on the Deluxe plan for one night only and we are thinking of sending the kids ages 12 &13 (4 of them) to Boma to eat by themselves. We(adults) would check them in, get them settled, meet with server etc..., they would have their KTTW cards to pay for dinner and $$ for tip. Then the adults would head to JIKO for dinner 15 minutes after their reservation starts.

Would this be allowed? This would save us lots of $$$$ as we have Jiko ressies later that visit (without ddp) and thus oop...

Again, just a thought..
Thanks

 

[TDC Nala]

Are you all on DDP or were you planning to use your dining credits to pay for meals for the other couple's children? That's not allowed per Disney's rules.

This is my personal opinion - I don't know what the actual rules are on minors dining without supervision, but I would not send kids that young to eat in a restaurant by themselves unless you are going to leave Jiko to check on them often and make sure they are not misbehaving.

 

[mom2ee]

nevermind

 

[Hannathy]

I'm not sure what you are trying to do and I'm too hot to think about it BUT I did want to say that my kids at 12 and 13 were and since my youngest is 12 are perfectly capable of eating alone in a restaurant so that part I think you are good to go on.

 

[deedeetoo]

This summer I took my 2 children, ages 12 and 9, with me to a 3 day business conference. They slept in while I went to early breakfast and my meetings. They went down to breakfast by themselves (pre-paid buffet for which they had tickets) for three days. I received many compliments from those who saw them about how mature and well-behaved they were. Not one person questioned them going in by themselves. The kids said they were seated and served as if they were adults.

I think if your children can handle themselves well at the restaurant it should not be a problem.

 

[Nadjalu]

Not going to flame you, but thought I would just mention this.

WDW and it's resorts do attract people who, let's just say, don't have your child's best interest at heart.
With it being outside of a park, anyone wanting or looking to do something doesn't have to pay to go into a park.

It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. People prey on kids at WDW and any amusement park. (so no flames of WDW is perfect please)
Perverts, cons, anyone looking for a mark knows that kids are vulnerable at these places.
And look for them that aren't with an adult.

Just for their safety, it really isn't wise to not have at least 1 adult with them. I know it would save you $$ and be convienent, but what happens....IF? You know?

People are so busy with their own vacations, they may not pay attention to something happening right in front of them. So don't count on others stepping in.

Have a good trip.

 

[Jennasis]

Disney is probably the only place safe enough to do what you are describing. Besides, Jiko is across the hall not in a different resort. If they need you, you're right there.

 

[plutolovr]

I think it would be fine, but just make sure you instruct the kids to leave a tip for the server and how to do that. You may just want to give them cash for that part and since you know how much it will cost it shouldn't be too hard to figure out the tip part.

 

[Euphoria027]

As a 21 year old, I can honestly say that I was perfectly capable of eating dinner by myself at the age that your children are going to be when you're at WDW. My friends and I used to go to TGIFridays and knew how to tip and everything all the way back in middle school.

I say, go for it!

 

[lpereira]

Only you can know how responsible and well mannered your children are. The kind of people who have ill mannered children are usually the ones who wouldn't control them at a restaurant if they were present anyway .
I think they should do fine if you think they can handle it. It is a great way for your children to learn how to navigate in the world by themselves while being in one of the safest places on earth. You aren't going to be unreachable. I think of it as more of a different dining room of the same place. I'd leave the server your cell phone number and a little something extra above the tip though cause they are going to have to pay attention to your children. Leaving the server an extra $20 is still way cheaper than taking your kids to Jiko

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Yes, it should be fine. There is no reason to think that kids that age would come to harm in a restaurant. No different than school or other activities.

 

[LuvLDM]

If you are confident that they can behave appropriately in a restaurant by themselves then I don't see a problem w/ it.
It sounds like fun for them

 

[TDC Nala]

I'd leave the server your cell phone number and a little something extra above the tip though cause they are going to have to pay attention to your children.

This is a restaurant server, not a babysitter. They have other tables to wait on and they don't have time to watch your children. It's up to you if you want to do this but I can't see asking the server to be responsible for a bunch of minor kids dining unsupervised. I'm assuming the kids will have a cell phone with your number in it so THEY can call you if necessary, if they're old enough to dine alone they're old enough to be given the responsibility themselves.

 

[wendydarling826]

If you are confident that the children will behave themselves, I see no problem. Jiko is close enough that you could even check on them at some point during the meal.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I don't think it would be a problem unless the kids weren't well behaved (and you already said they were well behaved) and ruined the dining experience of other guests. As far as safety, I think the kids will be fine. I do disagree that the waitress/waiter should be asked to keep an eye on them. That's not his/her responsibility.

You're close by. They'll probably have cell phones and I know most of my students (I teach high school) go to restaurants/ the diner with friends. I certainly did when I was 14/15 etc. I think it is good practice for when they'll be wanting to go out to dinner with friends in a few years and I say go for it. 10 and 11, I'd say are too young, but I don't think kids 12 and 13 need a babysitter. At that age, I WAS the babysitter! (At age 13 I was babysitting my newborn nephew). IMO it is a good idea and you'll save $. Enjoy Jiko! I love the food there!

Some of these responses remind me of Marlin in "Finding Nemo". You can't have "nothing ever happen".

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

Not going to flame you, but thought I would just mention this.

WDW and it's resorts do attract people who, let's just say, don't have your child's best interest at heart.
With it being outside of a park, anyone wanting or looking to do something doesn't have to pay to go into a park.

It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. People prey on kids at WDW and any amusement park. (so no flames of WDW is perfect please)
Perverts, cons, anyone looking for a mark knows that kids are vulnerable at these places.
And look for them that aren't with an adult.

Just for their safety, it really isn't wise to not have at least 1 adult with them. I know it would save you $$ and be convienent, but what happens....IF? You know?

People are so busy with their own vacations, they may not pay attention to something happening right in front of them. So don't count on others stepping in.

Have a good trip.

But with that many kids at a table I doubt someone you are describing would approach them at their own table. I would feel safer doing this at Disney than any other place.

 

[Vijoge]

I think it depends on the maturity level of the kids.

I have two granddaughters, ages 11 and 13. There's no way I would let them eat at Boma without an adult present because they would get into an argument at the very least, especially when the older one tried to "boss" the younger one! And the younger one would certainly not be "minding her manners", I can promise you. However, they would not act up when I was with them and FWIW, I would control them, contrary to a PP's opinion.

Many children can and will behave in a similar situation and only you can determine how yours will act. I don't think it's unsafe from a "stranger danger" standpoint, though.

Have you eaten at Jiko previously? If not, be aware that it's a long meal, probably close to two hours, so that might be something to consider if you think the kids are going to want to eat and run.

 

[declansdad]

Not going to flame you, but thought I would just mention this.

WDW and it's resorts do attract people who, let's just say, don't have your child's best interest at heart.
With it being outside of a park, anyone wanting or looking to do something doesn't have to pay to go into a park.

It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. People prey on kids at WDW and any amusement park. (so no flames of WDW is perfect please)
Perverts, cons, anyone looking for a mark knows that kids are vulnerable at these places.
And look for them that aren't with an adult.

Just for their safety, it really isn't wise to not have at least 1 adult with them. I know it would save you $$ and be convienent, but what happens....IF? You know?

People are so busy with their own vacations, they may not pay attention to something happening right in front of them. So don't count on others stepping in.

Have a good trip.

You have got to be kidding me! Not only are we talking about 12 and 13 year olds, WDW would probably be one of the safer places you could do this. Who would grab someone in a crowded restaurant from a table that had three other people at it?

 

[angierae]

At 13 I would let my daughter and a group of friends go out to the movies (if they were being dropped off/picked up by an adult) and I don't see how going to a restaurant is any different. Especially since you're in the same resort and available if there's a problem. Unless the kids are generally unruly, I wouldn't even think twice about this. Go enjoy your adult meal and let the kids feel "grown up" by getting to go out to dinner together.

(Make sure they know how to tip, though.)

 

[princesscharming]

Are there cell phones? Even if the kids don't have one, do the adults at least have cell phones, so that the kids could have one, just in case?

I can see that age being responsible. I can also see soe of that age not being responsible. I think by 15/16 they largely are able to be by themselves. If you think they are responsible enough, I think that is good enough.

Does anyone know if Disney has some kind of policy on this?