Kids/No Kids Restaurants

[denimore]

I agree..some posters have said beautiful things about children and families and appreciate everyone is trying to have a wonderful time.

I can't imagine planning a family vacation and wanting to not share every moment with my kids.

Actually I lie...they like to shop, so that part of the trip we separate at the mall. They get their spending money and I'm not around to be cajoled, pleaded to etc for just a little more

 

[denimore]

If I recall CG has 2 windows facing the Castle...we sat in the middle of the back section near the cooking station and while we were surrounded by windows we didn't see a bit of Wishes.

So my recollection is off or someone (kid's side or adult side) is not going to be able to share in Wishes. So who will it be? Who's going out on the balcony like we did.

Maybe the balcony should have a kids side and an adult side too

 

[ducklite]

If I recall CG has 2 windows facing the Castle...we sat in the middle of the back section near the cooking station and while we were surrounded by windows we didn't see a bit of Wishes.

So my recollection is off or someone (kid's side or adult side) is not going to be able to share in Wishes. So who will it be? Who's going out on the balcony like we did.

Maybe the balcony should have a kids side and an adult side too

Your recollection is off.

The restaurant extends along the 15th floor of the GR. There are three views/"windows." The longest runs the full length of the front of the restaurant along the front of the CR and faces the NW. All tables along that window have an equally good view of WISHES. The windows facing the SW have a wonderful view of Illuminations. Some of the windows facing NE also have a view of WISHES, but it's mostly obscured by the architecture of the hotel and the observation deck.

From the same distance "back" in the restaurant on either side would have no, or a rather obscured view, which side won't matter. In all honesty, the side you were on can also see Illuminations, which you might have actually had a better chance of seeing had you known to look from your table.

So really both sides are pretty even. I would suggest the NE side be the "adult side" only as it's got about 1/3 of the table capacity. There are actually less views on that side though.

Anne

 

[denimore]

Anyone actually interested in the statistics regarding Orlando visitors including the economic impact of the different groups...might want to check out

Orlando Info-Annual Report

or a breakdown of the visitors at Visitors

 

[Brooknwdw]

I'm not advocating shutting kids out of all restaurants. I do believe that having "adult only" seating areas in signature restaurants is a very fair and equitable solution. I haven't seen anyone yet give me a logical reason for Disney to not implement this solution.

Anne

I like the idea of an adults only restaurant more than an adults only seating area. I think the resturant would be very popular with the "don't want to be around any kids" crowd.
If you just had an adult seating area section in a restaurant, you would probably still hear a young kid across the room pitching a fit or something.

Though I have to say I've eaten at alot of DW restaurants & haven't ever witnessed a scene bad enough to disturb my meal.

Someone earlier said something about why doesn't a restaurant make an unruly guest (child or adult) leave? I say, I think if it was truly THAT bad of a scene & bothered a bunch of people, they surely would make them leave. At least I would hope.

 

[tinker&belle]

Wow...what a great discussion about the subject without flaming! I participated in the other thread, and have to say I think the idea of an adult's section would be a nice alternative. As long as the 'regular' section was still held to acceptable behaviors.

 

[graciespeaks]

I must say I am a PROFESSIONAL at eating out! And I have seen a few instances of "bad behavior", but have never seen anything that actually caused me to not enjoy my meal.
I wonder if some of the complaints aren't largley unfounded, for the most part children are fine in restaurants.

Maybe there just needs to be a SOLO Restaurant, you know, sit alone, and only talk to the servers. (of coarse no cell phones) Then maybe it would be truly a quiet, stressfree dining experience. LOL (no flaming necessary, I am kidding!)

 

[denimore]

I can't see adult only restaurants...just can't get the concept

DH and I discussed this recently and he came up with adult only resort. That's the only way that you can be assured that of an 'adult only experience.'

 

[Brooknwdw]

This seems like a good idea to me. If management were more firm in their commitment to maintaining some kind of order in their dining rooms, would adults only hours and/or sections be necessary? After reading this thread and the one that was closed recently, it seems very clear that the majority of the upset here is over poorly behaved children and not the presence of children in general. And that they realize that unexpected tantrums occasionally, and are accepting of them so long as the parents handle the situation adequately. Management should be impowered to removed unruly diners, but child and adult alike. No one should have the right to ruin the experience of everyone else present.

I really don't get this "Disney is for kids so you must be expected to tolerate obnoxious behavior from children" mentality. To be sure, Disney does attract millions of families ever year, but it was my impression that opening restaurants like Citricos or Yachtman's Steakhouse was a subtle move on their part to create restaurants that would appeal to adults and give them a spot to relax and enjoy themselves after long, nosy days at the parts. I mean, there's nothing really about them that directly markets at families apart from their location (I mean, how often is it the child begging to eat there?), but I don't think their location enough justifies the assumption that it was intended to be yet another family dining experience. Disney recognizes that they have an adult market, not only from the singles, college kids, business people and empty nesters that travel there without kids, but for the parents who have brought their children there for a vacation but want to enjoy a night out on their own too. Why else have all of the babysitting services? Surely people can't think V&A (which is sadly out of the budget for a lot of us!) was provided by Disney as the only outlet for that. No these restaurants don't have age limits or restricted areas to keep kids out, but neither do most nice restaurants in our home towns. It's just expected that adults who bring their children to them will recognize what kind of establishment they're in and only bring their kids if they can be trusted to behave like tiny adults, and if they don't, to make other arrangements that don't avoid making a scene in the dining room.

The view that Disney is for kids and only kids and thus just about anything a kid can do should command toleration from the rest of us seems incredibly myopic. But then, I *am* just a childless college student who's planning her first ever trip to WDW without her parents and sibling after having been away from her favorite vacation destination for the better part of a decade. What do I know?

I don't think anyone except maybe one poster thinks that DW is only for people with kids. Neither are they saying that outrageous behavior should be tolerated.

Where do you draw the line though...a tired kid from a day at the parks (even an early seating such as 5 or 6pm) whines alittle bit at the table, cries & starts to throw a tantrum before parent gets it under control....even this is going to bother some people, thats why I think there should be an adults only resturant.

Oh, & I can't believe that there are parents who take their kids to PI all hours of the night...I thought PI was for adults only!? I've never been.

 

[ducklite]

I can't see adult only restaurants...just can't get the concept

DH and I discussed this recently and he came up with adult only resort. That's the only way that you can be assured that of an 'adult only experience.'

I've suggested that for years on these boards. I think it would be extremely popular with honeymooners and empty-nesters.

Anne

 

[denimore]

I can't help thinking about how church used to be...and we all sat quitely and got a spanking if we misbehaved in church.

Now people bring Cheerios for their toddlers...little ones are invited to sit down in front of the alter. People actually bring their toddlers in their sleepwear and our Priest welcomes thems and thanks the parents that made efforts to join. We aren't condemned because the kids aren't perfect little saints. It's a welcoming place.

To the poster that said I really don't get this "Disney is for kids so you must be expected to tolerate obnoxious behavior from children" mentality., I have to say - no one said this..even when things got a little hot ..no one said this!

 

[ducklite]

I can't help thinking about how church used to be...and we all sat quitely and got a spanking if we misbehaved in church.

Now people bring Cheerios for their toddlers...little ones are invited to sit down in front of the alter. People actually bring their toddlers in their sleepwear and our Priest welcomes thems and thanks the parents that made efforts to join. We aren't condemned because the kids aren't perfect little saints. It's a welcoming place.

But if a child became disruptive, it's expected that the parents would remove them until they were able to regain control of themselves. Perhaps not a beating in the parking lot, but certainly a howling child or one poking the kid next to them and causing a scene would be expected to be removed. That's simply the polite thing to do, regardless of the situation.

Anne

 

[graciespeaks]

I can't help thinking about how church used to be...and we all sat quitely and got a spanking if we misbehaved in church.

Now people bring Cheerios for their toddlers...little ones are invited to sit down in front of the alter. People actually bring their toddlers in their sleepwear and our Priest welcomes thems and thanks the parents that made efforts to join. We aren't condemned because the kids aren't perfect little saints. It's a welcoming place.

Amen!
Children learn from us, they should be present, if they are to learn the way to behave.

 

[graciespeaks]

But if a child became disruptive, it's expected that the parents would remove them until they were able to regain control of themselves. Perhaps not a beating in the parking lot, but certainly a howling child or one poking the kid next to them and causing a scene would be expected to be removed. That's simply the polite thing to do, regardless of the situation.

OF COARSE! This should also be done at home, if the child becomes unruly remove them from the situation for a few minutes and give them an opportunity to calm down.

 

[brymolmom]

Interesting thread...

Very similar to one on the Families board about DVD players on planes (and proper plane etiquette).

A couple comments:

-It's all about the numbers. There is going to be a certain percentage of young children (who are still LEARNING to behave properly) who act up at any one time. At WDW you simply have a HUGE pool so that percentage leads to a higher number in a more confined area.

-There are also going to be more RUDE people (with or without kids) that you will see for the same reason.

-Many on this thread have commented that they've seen very little actual behavior that has even affected their dining experience. There are always going to be those that look for things to complain about. There will be people who hear a newborn crying across the way and will say that it is ruining their meal. I'm not saying that behavior never gets bad enough to do this - I'm just saying that IMO it is rare and that some are just overly sensitive to things.

-If WDW makes adjustments for those who want a kid-less dining experience, I hope they also consider a rude-less dining experience too. Oh yeah, and also a special area for those who are not (how do I put this delicately) taking care of their own personal hygeine. Let's face it - people walking around in the hot sun all day long leads to more than just tired kids - it leads to sweaty people.

My point - there are some things that might hurt a dining experience, BUT, luckily most things are minor enough to be easily overlooked (unless people choose to focus on it instead and I'm just not sure that these people will ever be satisfied).

 

[denimore]

In situations like that I'm inclined to offer assistance to the parents. I have never encountered a situation I couldn't deal with in a positive matter. Sometimes an outsider can bring excellent results. To sit and stew isn't something I would do.

 

[denimore]

brymolmom My point - there are some things that might hurt a dining experience, BUT, luckily most things are minor enough to be easily overlooked (unless people choose to focus on it instead and I'm just not sure that these people will ever be satisfied).

I think we are on the same train of thought and I wonder if anyone can maybe share bad experiences that were set right with a little kindness and understanding.

On another thread..I told of a time I was in MacDonalds and while I was trying to get boots on one, the other took off their coat, and the other took off their hat, and the baby who couldn't take anything off..screamed because they were boiling in the snowsuit and the hat and the boots.

I was getting very frustrated and tears were starting to well up. Why would I ever think I could take four kids out in the dead of winter and have a nice little outing? I looked at some of the other people in the restaurant..feeling what I thought were their glares and some were actually looking with sympathy..some smiling.

By the time I got them all out the door people were laughing...including myself.

 

[graciespeaks]

I have always felt like an adult only restaurant was more like a place that the adults didn't act very "adultly". More of a party, party place.
But a restaurant at Disney World?? But dont get me wrong, I would no way be opposed to the idea, its not my theme park! I just don't think its necessary.

 

[schoen]

I don't think an adults only section would go over very well in any of the signature places, or otherwise. Segregating families is only going to make them feel like second class citizens. I would avoid a place that relegated me to a certain area of the restuarant because I might bother other guests.

I don't think that the problem we are discussing is children, or families at restaurants. I think the problem is that some people lack the ability to behave well in public. This can mean oblivious parents, the ubiquitious cell phone ringing, or loud/obnoxious laughing from an adult or a child. The problem we are dealing with is rudeness. Plain and simple.

You can't regulate rudeness in a pubic facility-you just can't. All you can do is decide if your hard-earned dollars are worth the risk of sitting by rude people in a public place. If you decide that is not the case-there are plenty of options for you. Private dining at WDW, country clubs, etc.

 

[crisi]

You can't regulate rudeness in a pubic facility-you just can't. All you can do is decide if your hard-earned dollars are worth the risk of sitting by rude people in a public place. If you decide that is not the case-there are plenty of options for you. Private dining at WDW, country clubs, etc.

Technically and legally, Disney is private property. They can regulate behavior. All it takes is to start throwing people out over it. And they are completely within their rights to do so.