Kids/No Kids Restaurants

[BensMom]

So, just looking at the numbers, I think Disney should do lots more for us Floridians! We are obviously the weekend warriors, the "regular" bread and butter people. Resident perks have been substantially cut back.

 

[denimore]

Bensmom

I didn't get that at all...and felt that the people to market are the International visitors particularily the UK

Domestic Leisure Visitors

Compared to 2003, domestic leisure travel volume grew 6.2% in 2004, to 35.2 million. The most popular reason for visiting Orlando was for a general vacation (42%), followed by a getaway weekend (23%), and visiting friends and relatives (13%).
The average length of stay among overnight domestic leisure visitors was 4.3 nights. Non-Florida residents stayed longer in Orlando (5.2 nights) than their Florida counterparts (2.5 nights).
Theme parks, dining, general entertainment, shopping and touring were popular activities among Orlando's 2004 domestic leisure visitors. Florida residents spent on average $671 per party per trip ($241 per person) and non-residents spent on average $2,636 per party per trip ($908 per person) on their trip to Orlando.
Convention/Group Meeting Visitors

Domestic business travelers totaled 10.0 million in 2004, an increase of 4.4% over 2003 (9.6 million). Of the total, 5.66 million were group meeting attendees (conventions, seminars/training and other group meetings) and 4.34 million were in Orlando for transient business purposes (sales/consulting, government/military and other business).
The measurement of Orlando's total convention/group meeting industry is based on the overnight group meeting category, which in 2004 represented 3.64 million. Convention/group meeting visitors generated $2.63 billion in economic impact with an average length of stay of 3.3 nights and an average party size of 1.7 people.
Overseas Visitors

Metro Orlando welcomed 2.6 million international visitors in 2004, of which 2.0 million were from overseas markets. The United Kingdom remained Orlando's top overseas country of origin.
The majority of Orlando's overseas travelers were visiting for leisure purposes (82%) while 9% were traveling for business or convention purposes.
Overseas visitors stayed an average of 11.7 nights in Orlando in 2004, a sizable increase from 8.9 nights in 2003. While in Orlando, overseas visitors spent an average of $898 per person per trip, or $2,245 per party based on the average party size of 2.5 people.


I'd be spending my advertising dollars on getting more non-residents and overseas travellers.

 

[denimore]

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.

Maybe they can get Sheriff Woody to do it so they don't terrorize the little ones.

 

[ducklite]

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.

The adult only section would be the segregated section. Adults would have an option to be seated in that section or not, and possibly have to wait for a longer amount of time for a table there if they chose to--my guess is that while some will, many won't bother. It would NOT be a matter of "you've got kids, you've got to sit in the kids section." The main portion of the dining room would be open to everyone, and have more or less the same dynamic and demographic that you find now. A smaller section of the room would be open only to adults.

No one is telling anyone they have to sit in the "kids section." There is no kids section. There is a restaurant dining room. A restaurant with a percentage of tables being set aside in an area away from the rest and open only to adult patrons.

That doesn't mean that those sitting in the main dining room have any less of a duty of using appropriate behaviour.

Anne

 

[graciespeaks]

Maybe they can get Sheriff Woody to do it so they don't terrorize the little ones.

Or maybe they could get Sheriff Woody to start taking the kids out one by one as they misbehave, some kind of "kids jail". That would teach them! LOL

 

[denimore]

We have adult only areas in alot of our family restaurants here in Canada. They are called the lounge and offer the same menu as the full service restaurant.

 

[ducklite]

So, just looking at the numbers, I think Disney should do lots more for us Floridians! We are obviously the weekend warriors, the "regular" bread and butter people. Resident perks have been substantially cut back.

What that doesn't take into consideration are the true locals who spend a day or just a meal there. That's a number that I'd be curious to see. My guess is that it's substantial. Offhand I'm sure we've spent about $1500 on F&B between two of us this year so far. And we're just one of tens of thousands. If ten thousand "true locals" spend $500 each a year just on dining, that's $5 million a year, and doesn't consider park passes, occasional rooms, gifts/souveniers, etc.

Anne

 

[denimore]

Or maybe they could get Sheriff Woody to start taking the kids out one by one as they misbehave, some kind of "kids jail". That would teach them! LOL

And Buzz would threaten to send them to "infinity and beyond'

 

[graciespeaks]

And Buzz would threaten to send them to "infinity and beyond'

ROFL

 

[ducklite]

We have adult only areas in alot of our family restaurants here in Canada. They are called the lounge and offer the same menu as the full service restaurant.

Most "lounge" areas at WDW signature restaurants do not offer the full menu, and have only a bar or a table or two to sit at. It is not nearly the same level of service or atmosphere. And they are often loaded with kids waiting for tables. A few don't even have a "lounge" the bar is located within the confines of the dining room.

Anne

 

[denimore]

Theme parks, dining, general entertainment, shopping and touring were popular activities among Orlando's 2004 domestic leisure visitors. Florida residents spent on average $671 per party per trip ($241 per person)

Did I miss something

 

[calgarygary]

I am not going to enter the discussion but I would like to correct some information regarding Club 33. Club 33 was developed by Walt prior to his death as a private (by invitation only) club where he could entertain corporate sponsors and dignitaries. He at no time designed the club as an adult only facility nor is it today years after being changed into a private members' club. I believe this link will show a happy family (with maybe not so happy young boy) enjoying their time at the club. Walt Disney and the company that bears his name is all about families. Yes there will be adult only options, and eventually probably some restaurants in the future. But the $ that drives the Disney empire is spent by families. Let's face it folks, the marketing $ spent to attract conventions and golfers is small in comparison to what is spent on attracting families. Otherwise most of the resorts would have convention facilities and on site golf clubs if that is where the money is.

 

[ducklite]

Theme parks, dining, general entertainment, shopping and touring were popular activities among Orlando's 2004 domestic leisure visitors. Florida residents spent on average $671 per party per trip ($241 per person)

Did I miss something

That takes into account ALL Floridians. Florida's not a small state. It's four hours from here to Miami, six to the panhandle.

My definition of LOCAL meaning someone who pops in for a few hours after work for a meal and a nightcap, not someone staying on a "visit." That takes into account all spending for all Floridians in the Orlando area economy, including the malls and movie theatres, which doesn't really account for per diem spending at WDW.

Putting it into terms you can understand, take the West Ed Mall. Use the scenario showing all spending for everyone from Alberta. What you are trying to drill down to is the spending of those from Edmunton, what you are getting is the spending of them plus Calgary, Red Hat, Lethbridge, Drumheller, etc. It's not giving you a clear picture of what the local spending really is.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Otherwise most of the resorts would have convention facilities and on site golf clubs if that is where the money is.

ACtually a substantial number do have conference facilities.

Can't wait to see you at V&A's next month. The kids are looking forward to saying hi from their neighbors to the north.

Anne

 

[calgarygary]

A-C-T-U-A-L-L-Y Disney only has one hotel with proper convention facilities. There are of course Disney hotels with meeting (not convention) facilities and there are non Disney hotels with convention facilities. I see by your threat to disrupt the meal you can not let it go.

 

[Merriwind]

Wouldn't all this be much simpler if we could have some restaurants for well-behaved children and adults and others for those children and adults who cannot behave?!

 

[ducklite]

A-C-T-U-A-L-L-Y Disney only has one hotel with proper convention facilities. There are of course Disney hotels with meeting (not convention) facilities and there are non Disney hotels with convention facilities. I see by your threat to disrupt the meal you can not let it go.

Actually, you are wrong. There are true convention facilities at the YC, CR and CSR. I've attended conventions, not meetings, at the CR and CSR, and toured the facilities at the YC. There are extensive meeting facilities at the GF and BWI, and the GF could host a *small* convention. There are also pretty extensive convention facilities at the Dolphin.

And for someone who thinks children should always be included everywhere, I'm not sure why you'd have a problem with a couple of them dining in the same restuarant with you. I'm not threatening to disrupt your dinner, we we have just as much right to be there as you do--isn't that what you've been saying all along, that kids should always be included at all restaurants?

Anne

 

[graciespeaks]

Disney was invented for CHILDREN, no bones about it! Sure Singles, Honeymooners, Empty-nester all MORE than welcome, the recent commercials are calling their names....the more money the better! (not a bad theory to me)
BUT Disney...where theres Cinderella, Belle, Buzz, Mickey, and all the rest is the place where children should be allowed to be children!
It's a theme park for heavens sake!

 

[calgarygary]

Actually, you are wrong. There are true convention facilities at the YC, CR and CSR. I've attended conventions, not meetings, at the CR and CSR, and toured the facilities at the YC. There are extensive meeting facilities at the GF and BWI, and the GF could host a *small* convention. There are also pretty extensive convention facilities at the Dolphin.

And for someone who thinks children should always be included everywhere, I'm not sure why you'd have a problem with a couple of them dining in the same restuarant with you. I'm not threatening to disrupt your dinner, we we have just as much right to be there as you do--isn't that what you've been saying all along, that kids should always be included at all restaurants?

Anne

First, Anne I did say Disney has meeting facilities but the only proper convention facility on site, and even at 220,000 square feet it's not particularly large for conventions is CSR. Disney referrs to 4 other hotels as convention hotels but their combined meeting space totals to CSR. Although the CSR facility is nice, it too is not particularly large as a convention facility. I didn't realize Disney owned the Dolphin - when did that happen.

Secondly Anne, You did threaten to disrupt my dinner as this quote demonstrates:

Oh my! When is it?! I'll arrange to borrow a couple kids I wouldn't even take to McDonalds to dine there that night. Somehow I think that his opinion on children disrupting meals would quickly change.

. You may not have enjoyed my sense of humour the other night but at no time have I threatened or attacked you. Guess you can't say the same. But please, let's stay on topic.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you ask me if WDW ever seperated some of their restaurants into a section for familes & a secction for non familes & I would assume it would at some restaurants in WDW Resorts, wouldn't these same people want the same for restaurants in WDW Theme Parks? I mean if you go to any restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney MGM Studios or Animal Kingdom there will be children there & chances are some might be screaming, crying & etc. So would these same people who want seperate seating at some restaurants, wouldn't it be just a matter of time before they want it at every restaurant in WDW?