New policy: No young kids at Victoria & Albert's

[stellablue]

Good points-thank you for bringing them up and I apologize for the duplicate idea-thread was way too long for me to go through all of it!

I guess I'm a believer in "meeting in the middle"-some sort of compromise where both sides might need to sacrifice something for a greater good in the end.

I like the certain nights restrictions idea as well.

Now, that all being said, I've never actually eating at V & A, nor would I care to (NOT my taste in food at all). I have seen it from the outside though, am familiar with the general menu, and read reviews. I am also aware that you are paying alot of money for the atmosphere and experience that is advertised. As an aside, I'm surprised that young kids would even find something on the menu to eat!

But, I do enjoy romantic dinners with my DBF and as much as I love children (I'm a special ed teacher), I definately DON'T love screaming babies next to me interrupting dinner. It floors me when I see a couple trying to calm their screaming 3 month old in a fancy restaurant. As I and others have mentioned, there is a time and place for everything.

I wonder though-and please chime in whoever can answer this-have CM or restaurant staff ever kicked a family (with a misbehaved or loud child) out of a restaurant or at least gave them a talking to?? I'm only referring to restaurants where this type of behavior is unruly towards other guests (not referring to restaurants with loud rowdy atmospheres).

I'm just wondering because Disney CMs seem like they rarely scold guests for poor behavior.....but I don't know this for sure-it's just an assumption based on stories I've seen people write on here.

I do have to say that (with only reading a few pages on this post), it does seem like most people know better and do not bring their young children to settings like this. But, this must not be the majority if it has posed as an issue at places like V & A....but then again, us Dis'ers are a rare breed with good common sense!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is it really a 3-hour meal at VA's?

My family often travels with my parents, and I would BEG my parents NOT to take me to a 3-hour meal while I was at DISNEYWORLD . . .

and I'm 39!!!!

About, yeah. There are only two seatings at Victoria & Albert's - one at 5:30-5:45, and one at 9:00-9:15.

 

[bicker]

The WD Mission statement, as of the last paperwork I have on file is:

"To make people happy." Not children, not families, but people.

Thanks for pointing this out. It is a critical fact that a lot of people don't know or choose to overlook.

 

[raidermatt]

I do have to say that (with only reading a few pages on this post), it does seem like most people know better and do not bring their young children to settings like this. But, this must not be the majority if it has posed as an issue at places like V & A....but then again, us Dis'ers are a rare breed with good common sense!

According to the Disney VP of food, beverage and merchandise operations, it's "no more than two or three families a month." (from the Orlando Sentinel article)

So I guess that means sometimes a month goes by without a single child under ten being brought into the restaurant.

Yet a ban is needed to provide an adult only experience for most guests?

Seems odd, but as it has very little practical impact since so few people bring their kids I guess it's not much more than that, odd.

However, I do find it interesting (not bad, not good, not anything...just 'interesting') that any adult(s) would come to WDW and expect a fully adult experience. Not because they shouldn't be there and experience all that is Disney, but it seems as oxymoronic as going to a foreign country and just expecting that residents there all understand/speak English. I mean, great when I find an English speaker, but nothing I should expect. Same for Disney - great if you find the adult experience, but nothing you should expect.

Yes, I've always found that interesting myself. It's like going to a ballgame and expecting peace and quiet.

There's a tremendous sense of entitlement going around these days. We see it everywhere. Many people believe they should get what they want simply because they want it, without regard to anyone else.

I think in this case there's some of that on both sides of the discussion, but as you point out, WDW seems an odd place to fight the "no kids" battle. Regardless of what the company mission statement says, WDW primarily markets itself as a family vacation destination, and certainly not as a place to go to escape children.

 

[PaulaSB12]

According to the Disney VP of food, beverage and merchandise operations, it's "no more than two or three families a month." (from the Orlando Sentinel article)

So I guess that means sometimes a month goes by without a single child under ten being brought into the restaurant.

Yet a ban is needed to provide an adult only experience for most guests?

Seems odd, but as it has very little practical impact since so few people bring their kids I guess it's not much more than that, odd.



Yes, I've always found that interesting myself. It's like going to a ballgame and expecting peace and quiet.

There's a tremendous sense of entitlement going around these days. We see it everywhere. Many people believe they should get what they want simply because they want it, without regard to anyone else.

I think in this case there's some of that on both sides of the discussion, but as you point out, WDW seems an odd place to fight the "no kids" battle. Regardless of what the company mission statement says, WDW primarily markets itself as a family vacation destination, and certainly not as a place to go to escape children.

But then again the Disney cruise ships are also marketed as a family destination but manages to run succesfully an adult only resteraunt. It is possible that parents want to have some time together without the children to connect to each other as adults in love not just mummy and daddy.

 

[bicker]

Yet a ban is needed to provide an adult only experience for most guests?

There could be several things at play here. First, this publicity probably has almost no direct negative impact on Disney. With the exception of a few sensationalistically erroneous reports, the vast majority of folks will read about this and say, "Who cares?" A good number of folks will read about this and actually consider, for the first time, WDW as a vacation destination, simply because it is finally clear to those people they're doing something for families without children (something we here at the DIS have known for a while).

Another angle on this is that a recent incident at V&As with a child could have perhaps been the cause for the restaurant to lose a star. The presence of certain clientèle while a restaurant is being reviewed could indeed have a very significant impact on its status, and therefore on its ongoing business.

There's a tremendous sense of entitlement going around these days. We see it everywhere. Many people believe they should get what they want simply because they want it, without regard to anyone else.

Absolutely. However, in this case, what I think we're seeing is people willing to pay extra for what they want. That's not entitlement -- that's commerce.

Regardless of what the company mission statement says, WDW primarily markets itself as a family vacation destination

And there are many families without children, and quite a few without children by choice. Again, if enough are willing to pay a premium for accommodation according to such preferences, then capitalism dictates that they be so accommodated.

 

[Uncleromulus]

That 5 star rating could very well have had a lot to do with the decision. Imagine the "rating team" coming to V&A and finding a pair of kids throwing food or running around the tables playing tag.
And I still think the announcement itself is drawing more attention than it truly deserves. The decision will probably impact less than 1 /20th of 1 percent of folks actually wanting to dine at V&A.
And lets keep in mind--it's not "no kids". It's no kids UNDER 10.

 

[Laura]

Another angle on this is that a recent incident at V&As with a child could have perhaps been the cause for the restaurant to lose a star. The presence of certain clientèle while a restaurant is being reviewed could indeed have a very significant impact on its status, and therefore on its ongoing business.

Honestly, I was wondering if that were the case. From the sounds of it, young children didn't exactly fill the restaurant every night but were rare visitors. It's very possible that they'd had a rash of badly behaving children lately or one truly awful meltdown.

 

[Tinkerspell]

And lets keep in mind--it's not "no kids". It's no kids UNDER 10.

Unfortunately though, the headline on the article read "Disney World restaurant bans children." Mind you, in the article, they do clarify that it's 10 and under, but man, what a splash if you're just browsing the news and see that. (Personally, I think it's irresponsible reporting to go for the sensationalism like that, being as I work for a paper, but that's a rant for a new day.) It jumped off the screen at me when I saw it on Yahoo News.

I agree it's a good move though. If I were paying $125 per person for a calming relaxing meal, I would be furious if that experience were disrupted by wailing (or poopy) infants or unruly children. That old cliche about there being a time and a place for everything... yep.

 

[bicker]

That 5 star rating could very well have had a lot to do with the decision. Imagine the "rating team" coming to V&A and finding a pair of kids throwing food or running around the tables playing tag.

I don't think it needs to be as dramatic as that. One reason why the GF doesn't get as highly rated as many think it should is because it doesn't keep non-hotel guests out and because the guests it allows in often dress more casually than is customary for higher rated hotels. The same could apply for restaurants, i.e., that V&As got rated lower simply because there was a child there who was not in a formal suit. Alternatively, one crying baby is surely enough for many (though not all) reviewers to knock a restaurant down a notch.

We may not feel that such expectations are necessary, but we don't hand out the stars.

 

[maddhatir]

Boy- this thread took off over the weekend!

With that said- I have not read all the pages, I left on page 2- however, I just have a comment that may get me flamed----or may have been said already.

Why are parents calling those of us who do not wish to put up with misbehaving children- child haters etc, however, I am certain, they would NOT want to tolerate a "drunken" "disorderly" or "annoying" adult while dining- or anywhere else for that matter - to me it is the same thing, no one wants to deal with either.

I have read several posts about the F&W getting out of control with drink adults misbehaving in front of children- so that is OK to complain about- but we CF people can't also want a moments peace in the parks and enjoy ourselves b/c we are do not have children in tow?

 

[LSchrow]

Boy- this thread took off over the weekend!

With that said- I have not read all the pages, I left on page 2- however, I just have a comment that may get me flamed----or may have been said already.

Why are parents calling those of us who do not wish to put up with misbehaving children- child haters etc, however, I am certain, they would NOT want to tolerate a "drunken" "disorderly" or "annoying" adult while dining- or anywhere else for that matter - to me it is the same thing, no one wants to deal with either.

I have read several posts about the F&W getting out of control with drink adults misbehaving in front of children- so that is OK to complain about- but we CF people can't also want a moments peace in the parks and enjoy ourselves b/c we are do not have children in tow?

an excellent analogy!
(& btw, we're not CF )

 

[lutherlovr]

Why is everyone paying so much attention to everyone else while eating? I normally find the conversation at my table stimulating enough to not have to pay attention to what the people at the next table are doing...

If Hooters should be adults only, then so should the local beach. (if the skin factor was what you are referring to?)

I have children, not always well behaved, I probably would not bring them to V&A's, but I just don't understand why people are so engrossed with what everyone else is doing while dining?

This has been said on other threads, but if you truly want something "adults only" then there are many places for that, I am just not sure whether Disney World should be one of them.

 

[eliza61]

I have children, not always well behaved, I probably would not bring them to V&A's, but I just don't understand why people are so engrossed with what everyone else is doing while dining?
.

I only become engrossed when the lil darlings are out of control, then it does directly affect me. I think it's a wonderful policy and Disney is actually way behind the times in this. Most cruise lines and all-inclusive even if they are family friendly have many "no children" zones. It will definitely get my consideration because there are times when Dh & I would love a romantic dinner sans children, even when we are at Disney.

 

[Hixski]

Why is everyone paying so much attention to everyone else while eating? I normally find the conversation at my table stimulating enough to not have to pay attention to what the people at the next table are doing...

The reason is because so many times what happens at another table now becomes my table or the table next to it........maybe you have never had a kid crawling around under YOUR table but we have. Maybe you have never had a kid crawl over his side of the booth and put food in your hair but I have. DH and I can find our conversation stimulating but only if I can hear it over the toddler screaming NOOOOOO at the next table.

The reason so many people want an adult only restaurant is because too many parents choose not to parent. Kid friendly should not mean putting food in your neighbors hair friendly.

 

[maddhatir]

Why is everyone paying so much attention to everyone else while eating? I normally find the conversation at my table stimulating enough to not have to pay attention to what the people at the next table are doing...

If Hooters should be adults only, then so should the local beach. (if the skin factor was what you are referring to?)

I have children, not always well behaved, I probably would not bring them to V&A's, but I just don't understand why people are so engrossed with what everyone else is doing while dining?

This has been said on other threads, but if you truly want something "adults only" then there are many places for that, I am just not sure whether Disney World should be one of them.

Whoa! don't even go there telling us CF people to find another place to vacation!

And not only must your conversation be "stimulating" it would have to be "hypnotizing" to not hear kids misbehaving around you!

But then again, usually those parents who ask us why misbehaving children bother us- are the parents who are ignoring their misbehaving children and having stimulating conversations at their own tables

 

[oybolshoi]

The reason is because so many times what happens at another table now becomes my table or the table next to it........maybe you have never had a kid crawling around under YOUR table but we have. Maybe you have never had a kid crawl over his side of the booth and put food in your hair but I have. DH and I can find our conversation stimulating but only if I can hear it over the toddler screaming NOOOOOO at the next table.

The reason so many people want an adult only restaurant is because too many parents choose not to parent. Kid friendly should not mean putting food in your neighbors hair friendly.

Well said!

And I would just like to add that we have been in the dining room at V&A when a toddler was present and it did create a distraction - dropping china and flying flatware tend to have that effect on me.

Fortunately his family removed him from the restaurant to allow the other patrons to enjoy what they were paying for: a fine dinner in a restaurant with an atmosphere that is intimate and elegant. To my mind the service and ambience are just as much a part of the prix fixe menu at V&A as the food.

I think setting an age limit to reinforce the fact that this one WDW resort restaurant is not small-child friendly is entirely appropriate.

 

[Hixski]

Whoa! don't even go there telling us CF people to find another place to vacation!

And not only must your conversation be "stimulating" it would have to be "hypnotizing" to not hear kids misbehaving around you!

But then again, usually those parents who ask us why misbehaving children bother us- are the parents who are ignoring their misbehaving children and having stimulating conversations at their own tables

You go girl!!!

 

[maddhatir]

You go girl!!!

I have tried hypnotizing tapes to fly- I guess I should pop one in before I go to dinner

 

[PaulaSB12]

Why is everyone paying so much attention to everyone else while eating? I normally find the conversation at my table stimulating enough to not have to pay attention to what the people at the next table are doing...
.

Having someone's little darling smash a fist into a plate of MY food is going to get my attention as is running round the table screeeming Iwant icecream at the top of their adorable little go through your head scream. Its been stated that people like the adult only resteraunt on the disney cruises if it works there why will it not work at disney. Even with 2 resteraunts child free there are many other places where children can go.