Looking for a kid friendly TS..Input Please

[ladyfoundhertramp]

We are heading to WDW in January for 6 fun-filled days (never have I wanted the holidays to "fly" by so much!)

This will be DD3 first trip and DD12 5th trip. We have ADR at Cinderella Royal Table for DD3 (shes a princess freak), Chef Mickeys for DD12 (a must for her every trip) and 50s prime time for my meat and potatoes DH. We don't have a rigid schedule by any means for this trip (sometimes travel with a toddler puts a wrench in plans, so its better to just go with it, LOL) I am a foodie..a big one. I appreciate a great meal, but I am also aware of the fact that I am traveling with a 3 year old. So what I am looking for is a good TS with food I can appreciate (not signature, because again I am traveling with a 3yr old) but the atmosphere that won't be too serious for DD3. Thanks for the feedback!!

Oh and no more character meals. Not that I don't love them, but in January I can see plenty of them in the parks without waiting in huge lines

 

[Marthasor]

You really have a lot of options!!! Even signatures!! We have taken our DS4 to WDW 5 times and he has eaten in some great restaurants without a fuss. Here is a list of places we have taken him with success. I will * the ones that I think have the best food:

Hollywood Brown Derby* (great food, interesting wine list!
Kouzzina (sorely under rated - we had a great meal!)
Flying Fish* (had a particularly good kid's menu! and atmosphere is very laid back)
Tokyo Dining*
La Hacienda de San Angel (fun tequila tasting!)
Artist Point (kind of boring, but good food!)
Jiko* (one the best dining experiences we have EVER had!)
Sanaa (food is good, view of animals - AMAZING!)
Wolfgang Puck Dining Room in DTD

I hope that helps! Of the many meals we have had at WDW, we only had to take my son out of two restaurants - The Wave (I was able to settle him down and get through the meal - he was very distracted by the blue, lounge-like waiting area) and Citricos (I don't know if I could ever show my face in there again!)

I found with Hollywood Brown Derby, Flying Fish, Jiko and Sanaa in particular - they were very warm and welcoming to my son.

 

[jenjersnap]

That is a tall order since even the signatures are mostly not a foodie's paradise! It's better than most theme parks but it is still theme park food, you know?

I would break it into themed restaurants that have ok to fine food but do a good job of distracting a toddler/preschooler:

Biergarten
'Ohana
Coral Reef
Raglan Road (there are Irish dancing and a band in the evenings that my kids when preschoolers loved)

and restaurants that have better food but not as much distraction:

Les Chefs de France
Kona
Kouzzina
Grand Floridian Cafe
Rose and Crown

Along those lines The Wave and Sanaa are highly regarded but we have not eaten at either yet.

You can see the menus at allears.net. HTH!

 

[lemondog]

Ohana dinner would be my choice, but being that you are a foodie you will probably like Boma better. The food is amazing and there is a great selection. Plenty for the little one to eat, too!

 

[havoc315]

What's wrong with taking a 3 yo to a signature restaurant? Despite the "signature" label, these are not fine dining establishments where kids are unwelcome. In fact, they have the best kids menus on property. My daughter was 3 when she ate at California Grill and Narcoose's. For a real foodie, I'd go with Artist's Point, Jiko, or California Grill. California Grill is particularly good for a 3 yo, who will be entertained and distracted by the view of the Magic Kingdom, and it's a loud restaurant with tons of families.

 

[MJMcBride]

I would say Boma. Kids love buffets cause they dont have to wait for food, and they can check out the safari or better yet go on a noght where they can use the night visions goggles

the food is great

 

[Quin]

Buffets allow kids to be a little more active and provide the best array of choices for sometimes-picky palates. They also let the little one try more adult food and let the older one revert to Mickey mac-n-cheese if she wants some. Look at Boma, Biergarten, and Cape May (dinner).

For sit-down meals with some entertainment value and decent food, I'd say Ohana, Raglan Road, Coral Reef, Sanaa IF you like Indian food, Restaurant Marrakesh, Teppan Edo, and Tokyo Dining.

WCC is, um, boisterous, but I'm not loving the food there so much any more.

Do you like Cajun/Creole? Look at a dinner at Boatwrights followed by Bob Jackson's show in the lounge next door. He is suitable for all ages.

Finally, it's not "foodie" per se but it is good standard American fare with the best entertainment around: HDDR.

 

[nklooz]

Biergarten is a lot of fun. Le Cellier is very kid friendly. Boma would be nice, and you could walk around AKL to see the animals before or after.

We also really enjoyed Raglan Road and our DD loved the dancing!

Anything in the world showcase is fun and kid friendly.

 

[River Country]

Yea i agree whats wrong with a 3yo in a signature. I take my DD4 since she was 3 now gonna be 5 and thats pretty much all that on our list with a few exceptions.

Coral Reef usually hit or miss but kids love the huge tank
Ohana for Dinner, Lilo and Stitch are at bfast
Kona Cafe
Whispering Canyon
The Wave
Captains Grille
Liberty Tree Tavern

Those are my Faves

 

[whitney37354]

We did Mama Melrose & Tony's with a 5-year-old. DD was asleep at Tony's & they gave us a corner booth so she could lay down. The food was Olive Garden quality, so you might want something different. All of our other TS meals were character meals.

 

[magicalcouple]

Voting for Coral Reef- my DS2 loves it. Also voting for Restaurant Marrakesh- the music and dancing is good for the toddler and I very much enjoy the food.

 

[hushupu]

My kids are older but just judging by the crowds kids love Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. Good food for the grown ups and lots of fun and games for the kids. The menu leans a little heavily towards meat and potatoes but the quality is there.

 

[dvcHammer]

The problem with 3 y/o's in signature dining is not YOUR 3 y/o, it is all of the OTHER 3 y/o's who have not been taught how to behave in a restaurant.

I have been in too many Disney dining situations ruined by screaming kids melting down, food throwing, and mostly parents that refuse to be responsible for their children.

 

[ladyfoundhertramp]

What's wrong with taking a 3 yo to a signature restaurant? Despite the "signature" label, these are not fine dining establishments where kids are unwelcome. In fact, they have the best kids menus on property. My daughter was 3 when she ate at California Grill and Narcoose's. For a real foodie, I'd go with Artist's Point, Jiko, or California Grill. California Grill is particularly good for a 3 yo, who will be entertained and distracted by the view of the Magic Kingdom, and it's a loud restaurant with tons of families.

There is nothing wrong with taking a 3 y/o to a signature. I just know that my particular 3 y/o will want to be stimulated. And i personally don't want to be sitting there in a nice restaurant with a boisterous toddler and a couple dining without kids gets sat next to me and my kid is irritating to them. I can honestly say that at times she gets a little "wound up" and I wouldn't want to be seated next to her if I were a kid-less couple or group. And yes I can say that my child acts out at times, shes a toddler its what they do. Unfortunately you cant time it or control it perfectly so I would like to not be the family with "that kid" in a nice signature restaurant. I commend everyone that has toddlers that are angels in public, but I can say that mine isn't one of them at times

 

[nklooz]

There is nothing wrong with taking a 3 y/o to a signature. I just know that my particular 3 y/o will want to be stimulated. And i personally don't want to be sitting there in a nice restaurant with a boisterous toddler and a couple dining without kids gets sat next to me and my kid is irritating to them. I can honestly say that at times she gets a little "wound up" and I wouldn't want to be seated next to her if I were a kid-less couple or group. And yes I can say that my child acts out at times, shes a toddler its what they do. Unfortunately you cant time it or control it perfectly so I would like to not be the family with "that kid" in a nice signature restaurant. I commend everyone that has toddlers that are angels in public, but I can say that mine isn't one of them at times

I think it is fine to take young children to the signature restaurants, and I think the majority of people understand that kids aren't perfect all of the time. What I would find annoying is if a child starts acting out and the parent doesn't address it and remove them from the dining room. To me, that's a risk you take on when taking a toddler to a restaurant, you may have to stop/interrupt your dinner to ensure that your children don't ruin others' dinners. My DD2 is very well behaved in restaurants so id have no problem taking her from that standpoint. However, at Disney, it makes more sense to me to choose the restaurants where she will have the most fun, and though she may behave at a signature restaurant, it won't be a super fun experience for her.