Jiko with kids? Should we?

[zakatak]

Hi!

I am surprising my DH with a stay at AKL the last night of our trip. We will have our kids with us (6, 4 and 3). I know that Simbas Club takes kids ages 4 and up. So, even if we put our two older ones in it, it would still leave the little one with us for dinner.

Question... Should we put the older two in it and eat dinner with the 3 yo (more $$) or enjoy dinner with all of our kids?

Our kids can go either way at dinner... whiney or great. It will be the LAST day of a 10 day trip, though... Are there other kids in JIKO? We will have had two nights out (using Fairy Godmothers) but I don't want to use them for the last night at WDW.

What would you do?

Karen

 

[opal]

We ate at Jiko a few weeks ago. I don't think I would take small ones there. We had a very leisurely dinner. Rather dark inside. There wasn't a lot to occupy little ones there. It wasn't really geared to kids and I think they would become bored and fidgety there. But you know your kids best.

 

[SuiteDisney]

If your youngest is potty trained, Simba's Cubhouse might let them stay. It wouldn't hurt to ask. That's the main reason for the age limit, they don't want kids in diapers.

 

[CPM]

personally I'd take them . I think they have the best children's menu in all of WDW. they offer salmon & steak in addition the regular kids items, the salmon & steak are only $6.99. Jiko was my six year old son's birthday dinner of choice. He loves watching the color changing lights. I would take the older two & leave the younges tin Simba's.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Always kids at Jiko whenever we eat there--looks like they give them coloring books, etc

 

[zakatak]

Thanks for all these opinions... now I am wondering if I should just stay at POR and use the Fairy Godmothers for another night... this would free up our FIREPLACE at AKL... one of our most romantic places to be and allow a quiet, no stress dinner at JIKO. However, we wouldn't be staying at AKL the last night (which is ok, I guess).

I think sometimes I get more stressed about my kids' behavior than anyone else around them.

Thanks again, everyone... it is nice to know that I could ask Simba's Club about my youngest... she is potty trained.

It's also nice to know I could bring them too.

Karen

 

[Hadjii]

What about Boma's. It's a nice choice too. They gave the kids crayons and a drawing paper while we were there. There was a decent children's section at the buffet and the atmosphere was nice. Lots of family's so you wouldn't feel out of place if it was one of their rambunctious nights lol. We loved it and went twice. The food was great and we loved trying new exotic things we had never had before. Hope you love AKL. We'll be there in October. Have fun. - Nancy

 

[akasleepingbeauty]

I believe the age limit at the kid's club is due to state regulation - they are only insured to care for children over the age of 4. That does not mean that there are no exceptions but I would not assume that potty-training is the key to getting in.

We are taking our almost 3-year old dd to Jiko during our trip at the end of the month. She loves salmon and is quite well-behaved in restaurants so I am expecting all should go well. We take her to lots of places and at Disney I think well-behaved kids should always be welcome at restaurants (except for V&A, IMO). Perhaps you could make an early PS so that the restaurant won't be too crowded and there won't be as many "romantic" diners present.

Good luck and have a great trip,

 

[CarolMN]

Looks like I am in the minority here, but FWIW, I would not take most (there are always exceptions) young children to Jiko.

I'm sure the restaurant can accomodate them, but IMHO, Jiko is too expensive to have to rush through the meal. There really isn't anything to entertain children there (other than what you bring or perhaps some coloring materials). Unless your children are accustomed to sitting quietly for 60-90 minutes, you probably will not enjoy the meal.

My DH & I enjoyed Jiko very much this past December and plan to return again. We did see two young children there, and they were well behaved. However, the children were ready to leave long before the parents finished eating. I'm sure it impacted at least the mother's experience. (She seemed to be the one who was most involved in trying to keep them entertained). When we spend over a $100 for two for a meal (and that's without any alcoholic beverages), I want to enjoy it and not be worried about "antsy" or bored kids.

Again, it's JMHO, but my advice is to eat somewhere else (less expensive) if you cannot make other arrangements for the children.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[LAinSEA]

Jiko was our 2nd favorite (behind Citricos) from our last trip.

We do not have children of our on, but I think being a parent is got to be the toughest job there is. Here are my observations of toddlers at the nicer restaurants at WDW (and wow, there were a lot of them there last May!):

1. Kids do great when they aren't asked to wait for their food or wait while there parents draw out the dining experience.

2. If the parents ordered appetisers along with dinner, the kids meals comes out along with the appetisers - not with the parents' main course.

3. Kids are finished eating their meal about the time the parents' main course arrives and are not interested in coloring or any thing else.

4. If parents order desert, kids are really cranky at that point and find some way of letting everyone know it.

By asking the question you show that you are obviously a really concientious parent. I hope you and your family have a wonderful vacation together!

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by LAinSEA

2. If the parents ordered appetisers along with dinner, the kids meals comes out along with the appetisers - not with the parents' main course.
3. Kids are finished eating their meal about the time the parents' main course arrives and are not interested in coloring or any thing else.

Okay, but why would you let them get their dinner first? I am always amazed at this when a waiter says "would you like the kids meals to come right out?"
I'm like "NO WAY"!!! then it's over. they should learn to wait & enjoy the meal like we do. My kids enjoy the bread, color, we talk then they eat their meal when we do. if we order appetizers, they might try them but they still have to wait for their meal. Luckily my little one loves caeser saad so he usually gets one when we get apps. A few WDW restaurants have kids size salads.

 

[zakatak]

Thanks again! I know that even IF the kids SEEM well behaved, Mom's always on edge! That doesn't make for a relaxed meal. So this time, we will either use the Fairy Godmothers or wait for another trip. We will be doing BOMA's (HAVE to do it! yum, yum) with the three year old. We did that in October and she was GREAT! Much more of a loud, family atmosphere, with no waiting for food! She enjoyed the Mac and Cheese (three plate fulls!).

Thanks again... You have helped me make my decision. (The couple diners will be happy!)

Karen

 

[Gillian]

Tough decision, wasn't it?? The parents on this board are so considerate of others. It's really nice!

As much as I wanted to eat at Jiko we decided it just wasn't worth it with a 2 year old. We had already done a very expensive night out (fairy godmothers + Cirque + dinner at Pebbles, which we love) & just couldn't swing more babysitting. DS is generally well behaved & is easily amused, but we were afraid of disturbing others & not enjoying ourselves.

I'm with CPM about making the kid wait! I find that it's easier to entertain DS while we all wait together. Once he is done eating, that's it! He just wants out, which will not happen, unless he starts getting loud. So we prefer to all play together until we get our food. We eat out a lot & this works much, much better than him eating first.