Kids at Citricos??

[Disney_Mousketeers]

My husband and I would love to try Citricos, but will have our three girls with us (8, 6, and 2). Will they totally stick out. We eat out a lot and they are well behaved in a restaurant. However, the 2 year old is 2 and will not be picture perfect.

Any thoughts?? Thanks!!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Dh and I went in May to celebrate our anniv. It was the lst time we were there. We have 3 ds who are older, so we are pretty tolerant etc.

Our adr was for around 6 I think. The place was starting to fill up more. Its not very noisy.

There was a little boy at the table across from us who started crawling all over the floor. his parents did nothing. He bumped into my chair leg. I of course said nothing also. But I did look.

I then saw a manager I believe come over to this couple and ask them how their day was going (The manager didnt seem to approach anyone else but them) and I took that to mean, maybe in disney speak - Please control your child etc.

Honestly if you think your children can behave then its all good. Just bring something to occupy themselves. I kept wondering why this family didnt have anything for the kid to keep busy.

We have been to a lot of signatures and I never hear any cast members or see a manager say anything to the kids. Had a real screamer next to us at Flying Fish in May. No one said anything to that family either. Its just part of eating at Disney.

Enjoy your meal. The food at Citricos is amazing.

 

[koolaidmoms]

We were at Citrico's for our 15th anniversary dinner in June. There were several large groups around us that had children with them (I am guessing about ages 18 mo. - 3 years old). They were all well behaved and no one seemed to take notice of them at all.

Bring lots of things to keep all the kids distracted (crayons, small games and toys) and if anyone acts up you can always walk them around the hotel outside the restaurant.

Have a great time. We loved it there.

 

[JimmyV]

Just make a relatively early (before 6:30) ADR. In the earlier time slots, there will be more children, so yours won't stand out, and people are (or at least should be) far more tolerant of OPK's (Other People's Kids) at 6:00 than they will be at 8:00 or later when they might want and expect a more "adult" environment.

 

[Karabee]

Last time I ate here there were children at tables, but they were very well behaved. I think as long as the adult is there to make sure the child isn't crying or screaming then it won't seem weird that you brought young children. Citricos is fantastic and romantic - have you thought about using the hotel services so that you and DH can eat there alone?

 

[KathyK]

We were just there with our 2 daughters last night. They have been there many times, and they have always been welcomed and the waitstaff takes good care of them. Last night, our biggest problem was that we weren't seated until an hour after our adr time, and my 8 year old fell asleep during the main course. The waiter wrapped up her meal, threw in some cinderella stickers, and offered to make a pillow for her out of a table cloth.

 

[Pakey]

We expect a very quiet dinner when we dine at Citricos. Well behaved diners of any age do not bother me. This is a place we go for a romantic dinner.

 

[Cafeen]

While dining solo (which is 90% of the time ), I have no problems at all at any of the restaurants I choose. Again, echoing everyone, so long as they are well behaved and you do your part to control them (including taking them for a spin around the lobby if they are too much).

 

[canoe86]

Here is the keys......

1. NAP
2. NAP
3. NAP
4. The EARLIEST ADR. Not the earliest available....THE EARLIEST.
5. Bring something to do.
6. Tell the wait staff to bring kids dinners with the adult dinners.
7. Tell the wait staff, no problem with rushing things.
8. Be prepared for one of the adults to leave if the 2 year old has issues.

Have Fun!!

 

[Hopefully]

We expect a very quiet dinner when we dine at Citricos. Well behaved diners of any age do not bother me. This is a place we go for a romantic dinner.

We do as well.
If your 2 year old behaves as a "typical" 2 year old, you may want to reconsider

 

[3SmilingFaces]

We ate there with our 3 kids (7, 5, 18 mos. at the time) last fall. We were not the only family with kids there. We took the baby out in the stroller 3x during dinner when she acted up. The staff was very nice and accomodating. No funny looks from other diners that I noticed. The dinner though, is long. By the end of the meal all 3 kids had had enough. This was our first trip to Disney, and this was our 10 year anniversary dinner. For us, now that we know what to expect, we will probably have our kids go to the Neverland Club at the Poly if we were to dine here again. The entire dining experience at Citricos is SO lovely and romantic with the most delicious food, I think my husband and I would have enjoyed it even more if we were alone and not so worried about how our kids were acting every minute of the meal, making sure they were well behaved and occupied with things to keep them that way!

 

[Disney_Mousketeers]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! Unfortunately, our 2 year old is not old enough for the Kids club at any of the Disney resorts which would be ideal and we already have Kid's Night out planned for the night we are going to the Swan and Dolphin Classic so I was hoping this would just be a great night out with the kiddos. I think we will try it very early in the evening knowing that this was Walt's plan to be able to enjoy things with your children. If my 2 year old does not agree, we are both very used to stepping out for awhile until she wants to enjoy what the rest of us are.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

DH and I ate there this trip (we didn't care for it) and I would've NOT wanted to bring my rambunctious 3 year old there, for my own sanity. I felt that it had a very upscale vibe whereas at Cali Grill and Narcoosee's I didn't feel that way. This is all totally my personal experience, not trying to say one way or the other what you should do, but I personally would not take my 3 year old there. 6 year old, maybe.

 

[hollywoodpc]

Children that age should not be allowed . But , they are and obviously the parents want to take them so , go ahead .

 

[vinotinto]

It's Disney. There are kids everywhere and the servers are very good at catering to them. We had dinner date at Citricos in June. Our kids went to the Mouseketeer Club (next year you can do that - my youngest was 3). There were kids at about 1/3 of the tables, including some younger kids in high chairs. There were also 2 large groups of adults - very noisy groups - which I wasn't expecting. I thought it would be quieter and more romantic. I think kids who are used to dining out will do fine. I agree with pp, get an early ADR time, make sure the kids are rested and happy, and bring a couple of things for the kids to do. We have some portable activity books with fancy markers that we only pull out when we dine out (and are therefore "special"). If the 2-year old gets tired of sitting down, someone can walk him to look for hidden mickey's in the lobby for a little bit.

 

[LilyWDW]

As long as you don't let your kids scream, cry for extended periods of time, throw food, crawl on the floor, or play tag around the table... then no one will have an issue with them. If they do act up, then please remove them from the restaurant until they calm down. In other words, if your kids are well behaved and can deal with a long meal OR if you are willing to do as needed if they decide to act up, then go for it. If not... then please don't.

I mean, it IS Disney and there will be kids... but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have to behave.

 

[canoe86]

As long as you don't let your kids scream, cry for extended periods of time, throw food, crawl on the floor, or play tag around the table... then no one will have an issue with them. If they do act up, then please remove them from the restaurant until they calm down. In other words, if your kids are well behaved and can deal with a long meal OR if you are willing to do as needed if they decide to act up, then go for it. If not... then please don't.

I mean, it IS Disney and there will be kids... but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have to behave.

Doesn't this seem obvious? I'm not being smart when i say that, I'm agreeing with what you say, it just seems THAT obvious. I mean, I think this should hold for ANY restaurant.....Burger King, Subway, etc. Our expectations at ANY place is the same, and it has translated into extremely well behaved kids in restaurants, and yes, even our 2 year old who will be 3 this fall for our trip.

It helps that our older kids model great behavior, AND at the very first , slightest hint of an issue, we take care of it. This may be pulling out something to do, taking a walk to the bathroom until the food comes, or at the very worst case, removal of the child from the restaurant. This of course means one adult doesn't eat. In all our years, and 4 kids, we had to do this ONCE. Our oldest daughter was 2, and it was a Big Boy in northern Michigan.

Regardless of what some snobby posters on here may think, kids are very capable of behaving and eating in places like this. For the non-kid crowd at Disney, there is Victoria and Alberts, and also the upstairs french place in Epcot, right?

Finally, I can't emphasize enough about getting ALL the kids a nap. PLUS, another tip....DRESS UP!!!! I think this puts everyone in the frame of mind that something special is happening.

That's all.............

 

[LilyWDW]

Doesn't this seem obvious? I'm not being smart when i say that, I'm agreeing with what you say, it just seems THAT obvious. I mean, I think this should hold for ANY restaurant.....Burger King, Subway, etc. Our expectations at ANY place is the same, and it has translated into extremely well behaved kids in restaurants, and yes, even our 2 year old who will be 3 this fall for our trip.

It helps that our older kids model great behavior, AND at the very first , slightest hint of an issue, we take care of it. This may be pulling out something to do, taking a walk to the bathroom until the food comes, or at the very worst case, removal of the child from the restaurant. This of course means one adult doesn't eat. In all our years, and 4 kids, we had to do this ONCE. Our oldest daughter was 2, and it was a Big Boy in northern Michigan.

Regardless of what some snobby posters on here may think, kids are very capable of behaving and eating in places like this. For the non-kid crowd at Disney, there is Victoria and Alberts, and also the upstairs french place in Epcot, right?

Finally, I can't emphasize enough about getting ALL the kids a nap. PLUS, another tip....DRESS UP!!!! I think this puts everyone in the frame of mind that something special is happening.

That's all.............

You would think it would be obvious... but from the stories on here, it seems to escape a few people. I agree with you. It doesn't matter WHERE it is. A child should be required to behave or should be removed. However, it doesn't happen, which is sad because it impacts other people.

I don't think anyone really believes that a child will be perfectly silent for the whole meal. It's when it will obviously negatively impact the diners around you that something should be done.

Oh, and another thing... if you bring a game system or DVD player, please bring headphones or turn the sound off. It is just as annoying to people as a misbehaving child.

 

[MikeOhio]

Of all the signature restaurants I would say kids stick at the most at Citricos. That being said you will probably not be the only people there with kids. Places like Cal Grill have lots of kids.

 

[Macprincess]

I'm a Mom of three. I've eaten at Citricos twice. I would not take my children there.

My kids are older now 13, 11 & 8. They do know how to behave when dining out. I'll fess up we did a have a few moments when they were younger when hubby or I sat with a child in the car while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner out.

I't just my opinion but when I'm going out for a nice adult night out I don't want to deal with my children. I have no issues with others bringing their children if they are well behaved. It does drive me nuts when I'm spending a lot of money on dinner out (as Citricos isn't cheap) and parents are not taking care of their children's needs. Let's face it from time to time that need means leaving the restaurant to deal with a child's behavior issue. As long as the OP is willing to accept that one adult may have to leave with a child I see no issue with bringing the children. This may not be my choice but as long as you are parenting your child and not letting your child bother others it's your special night out enjoy it the way you feel is best.