Least Kid Friendly

[Leota]

I hope my post didn't come off as anti-child. I am a Mom & a Grandmother. I love kids. I love to see kids in WDW, it's one of the reasons I love WDW. I loved bringing my son to WDW as he grew up & I love bringing my Grandchildren now. I have no problems with kids at signature or any other restaurants. I think it's great for parents to teach their children how to behave in these settings. In fact, in most situations, the only time I notice children around us on an adult evening out is if they are particularly out of control or particularly well-behaved.

My only problem is & the only place it's really been a problem is CG, is when parents push their children past their limits & then ignore the melt-downs. I feel sorry for the children because I know they're over-extended. I feel sorry for the parents too, because I know they want to enjoy a nice evening & they want their families to enjoy a spectacular view of the fireworks. But, regardless of how much empathy I feel, I am still spending a couple hundred dollars on an evening out & would like if parents in these situations thought about & handled them in the best interests of the other diners at these finer restaurants. I don't let it spoil my night, I try to be patient & understanding & non-judgemental. But I think when we are discussing least kid-friendly or most adult-friendly, we should be honest about these things to others looking for a quieter night out & perhaps break from parenting.

 

[crisi]

Depends on the kid, but also the ages.

Personally, I don't think any signature restaurant is toddler or even preschooler friendly. These restaurants deserve two hours of your time, and unless your toddler is catatonic or extraordinarily well behaved, it isn't fair to them to spend two hours pinned down for a meal. They are also at a price point where you don't want to be disturbed three times during the meal to check out the bathroom. By elementary school, that changes for many of them and you get to the most kids can be well behaved enough to eat almost anywhere point. However, there are some kids (and some adults) that just don't have the temperment or manners to be pleasant to sit a table over from.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DGD was fine at CG and at the Yachtsman. She does like eating out though and is well behaved for the 2 hours. We had excellent service two weeks ago at the YS with some attention paid to her. There were several children there, most dressed for a special occasion meal.

One issue I saw, and was a bit disturbed by: We were leaving about 8 PM and there was a line waiting to be seated. At one table a little girl, maybe 18 months was sitting on the table crying while an adult was holding her and yelling at her. It was sad really, because while I do not know what was wrong, I wondered how the yelling would make the little one stop crying.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I hear what you are asking, and wanted to say it is WDW. Shame on any restaurant that does not make children feel welcome. It should be open to all guests and everyone should be made to feel welcome.

Personally, any restaurant that I have eaten at and I have probably done them all over the 25 years of going at one time or another, there are always children there.. I brought my daughters to V & A when they were children... I have saved the menus through 3 house moves.... I never let anyone dictate to me where I eat or who I bring. I remember vividly them sitting in their long dresses and so excited over the fact that the menus had their names on them..

I have eaten at Citrico's many times and have seen children there with their parents eating well and just enjoying. I am not saying I have not seen my fair share of meltdowns too, but those are not as prevalent as seeing children enjoying their food at a family meal.

 

[MiknMinMouse]

My kids always enjoy LeCellier, lots of the servers are from Canada & will tell you about their province.

We've always found earlier seating times to be populated with more children, seems more welcoming IMO>

We have a 5:10 seating so that should be good. My littlest one is 2 and my nephew is 5 and they can be rowdy especially if they're close together, so I'll keep them apart . But my other two do fine especially since the oldest is closer to an adult (sigh - 15).

 

[Demosthenes]

I have eaten at Citrico's many times and have seen children there with their parents eating well and just enjoying. I am not saying I have not seen my fair share of meltdowns too, but those are not as prevalent as seeing children enjoying their food at a family meal.

This, for the most part, is absolutely true. Most kids are perfectly fine through the meal (even a long one). But all kids will have there night off. Or DS will normally sit through a dining expereince without making much of a fuss or distrurbing anyone...but every once in a blue moon, look out! When that happens, we get up and leave (I cannot stand to have him put out our family at the meal, but will not abide him putting out someone else's family). I think most of us focus on the exceptions to the well-behaved rule; but those exceptions can be awful, and are certainly memorable.

 

[keishashadow]

We have a 5:10 seating so that should be good. My littlest one is 2 and my nephew is 5 and they can be rowdy especially if they're close together, so I'll keep them apart . But my other two do fine especially since the oldest is closer to an adult (sigh - 15).

Might want to ask if you could be seated by the window so kids could look out @ pool area/lake.

@ times, my teenagers were the most annoying @ dinner

 

[NCRedding]

Might want to ask if you could be seated by the window so kids could look out @ pool area/lake.

I don't think there is a window in Le Cellier, is there??

 

[keishashadow]

Might want to ask if you could be seated by the window so kids could look out @ pool area/lake.

I don't think there is a window in Le Cellier, is there??

I thought we hopped back to discussing the yachtsman - my bad!

They do have a few windows on front side of le cellier but, they're colored (yellow?) leaded glass panes, can't see out. We like the atmosphere there - alot!

 

[bicker]

They do have a few windows on front side of le cellier but, they're colored (yellow?) leaded glass panes, can't see out.

Ah yes. It reminds me of the old days, when my mother would lock me in... uh... never mind.... worked through though issues long ago....

 

[momomonster]

Shame on any restaurant that does not make children feel welcome. It should be open to all guests and everyone should be made to feel welcome.

I would *applaude* Disney if they created ONE childfree restaurant out of the hundreds of places to eat onsite. What is so outrageous about that? Kids don't belong in bars or r-rated movies, so for you to say every single place under the sun should be kid-friendly is silly, IMO.

Sure, most folks have the sense to remove a screaming child from a restaurant, but the ones who do not RUIN meals for people on a routine basis. Just like everything, it's the few who ruin things for the rest of us and sometimes rules are put in place to protect us from others. Having ONE childfree restaurant out of several hundred should not create so much controversy. It just makes sense.

Thanks.

 

[bicker]

Oooo... now you're in trouble!

There is always animosity when there is something which someone feels they could enjoy if they weren't precluded from it. Even if there are dozens of other alternatives, being blocked from one is enough to raise some folks' ire. Legimitate? No. Human? Perhaps.

 

[flortlebap]

I guess some people would say Prime Time. But it depends on the kids

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"I would *applaude* Disney if they created ONE childfree restaurant out of the hundreds of places to eat onsite. What is so outrageous about that? Kids don't belong in bars or r-rated movies, so for you to say every single place under the sun should be kid-friendly is silly, IMO.


Sure, most folks have the sense to remove a screaming child from a restaurant, but the ones who do not RUIN meals for people on a routine basis. Just like everything, it's the few who ruin things for the rest of us and sometimes rules are put in place to protect us from others. Having ONE childfree restaurant out of several hundred should not create so much controversy. It just makes sense."

The last thing as a veteran moderator on the Restaurant Board I want to do is to recreate a discussion that we had lots of issue with about children eating in restaurants etc. We will have to agree to disagree on this one....As far as Bars and R rated movies, I would hope that parents would have the good sense to not bring children to either......I think what I said was restaurants in WDW should be kid friendly.......not, every single place under the sun..

Also....one more thought here, just so we are clear.....it is just my husband and myself that go to WDW now....no more little ones for us, kids are grown and are living on their own....

And Bicker, you made me laugh right out loud.....lately I have been getting your sense of humor and enjoying it..

 

[melomouse]

Respectfully, Mackey - yes, we disagree.

Nonetheless, I am delighted that the OP ASKED the question, in contrast to so many who think their little darlings should go everywhere and anywhere - not because it's WDW and a family-friendly venue, but because the adults will not give up a thing for their vacation, no matter what the age or needs of the child.

It's that mindset that drives me

 

[raidermatt]

Regardless of what any of us think personally, excluding children from a restaurant at WDW is risky for Disney. When you start putting places on property that don't allow children right next to places that do, it's going to irk some people.

Further, there aren't very many restaurants on the outside that ban children, so it would be highly questionable for Disney to do such a thing at WDW.

As far as the original question, V&A would certainly qualify. Haven't eaten their myself, but from all accounts and based on the price, not really the place for younger children.

To a lesser extent, Bistro. We ate there with our then 3 1/2 year old son and it was no problem, but they don't have a kid's menu and it is pretty quiet.

Shula's also does not have a children's menu. But they do have large portions and side dishes that can be shared. Its also more noisy than Bistro. We eat there every trip with our children and have had no issues. The hostesses were wonderful with our 16 month-old daughter last time.

Other than that, everything that I know of is fair game, provided of course the child can handle it, or the parent is prepared to go outside with the child if things get rough.

 

[bicker]

I agree about the risk. I also think it is unnecessary to ban children outright. Rather, restaurants should instead simply make clear their expectations with regard to patronage: No child menu, every guest must order something (or pay a plate charge), dress code (the same code applied to all regardless of age), etc. V&As and Bistro de Paris pretty much follows this path (though not all of it). I do think there is room at WDW for about four restaurants with these types of rules, vigorously applied in full, rather than just two, haphazardly applied in part.

 

[DVC Sadie]

V&A's at the gf due to the cost & entrees, although we did see a child there on our disneymoon. i know its disney but cant there be one adults only restaurant for romantic evenings.

We have been to V&A's a lot over the years but have stopped dining there in the last year. The last 4 times we dined there were small chidren so we deceided to stop for awhile and chose to eat offsite or have room service.

I agree that Disney needs at least one restaurant out of the 100 that they have to accomdate those that wish to dine childfree.

 

[raidermatt]

I think a challenge is that the demand might vary depending on the time of year. During the busy summer months and spring/winter break, the % of families with children is likely higher. In off-season times, its probably lower.

I'm of the opinion that given the dynamics of the resort as a whole, strictly enforcing those types of rules in WDW restaurants isn't the best idea. People who are otherwise well-behaved and considerate find it difficult to comply with these rules in the midst of visting theme parks, water parks, etc. Sure, they have other choices, but its still going to be upsetting to some of them to not have the option to eat at certain restaurants without taking significantly more time out of their day.

If Disney is going to place these restrictions and enforce them, the resorts are a better choice than the parks. Though I also think its important that there be a nice sit-down restaurant at that resort that doesn't have those same restrictions.

Bistro is somewhat of an exception in that there are a lot of other sit-downs at Epcot, including another French restaurant, and Bistro is tucked away. Given that, it appears to work as a lower volume/high margin restaurant without alienating guests. Again, I'm not sure I think this is the optimal direction, but the execution is good.

 

[raidermatt]

V&A's at the gf due to the cost & entrees, although we did see a child there on our disneymoon.

I agree that Disney needs at least one restaurant out of the 100 that they have to accomdate those that wish to dine childfree.

Just to clarify, the real problem for you is ill-behaved children, or at the least children who aren't old enough to know better, right?

I mean, its not that we need to have a restaurant for those who wish to dine senior citizen free as well, is it?