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

[disneyfan62]

My DH and I also think this is a great idea and wish some other Disney fine dining restauraunts would follow such as Jiko's at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Yachtsman Steakhouse etc...there are PLENTY family oriented restaurants in Disney that a few adult only are not going to cause a problem. The Disney cruiseline has Palo's and adult only and there were never any complaints about that..right? Many couples love to go to Disney for a honeymoon, Anniversary or just a special getaway & I am sure would enjoy to see a few more be adult only...

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I find it silly that the article seemed to say THIS move was going against it being a place for families to do things together and now the kids and parents will be separate.

What about the Petty Driving, parasailing, waterskiing....young kids are not allowed to to do those things either.

A couple of the nicer, but less expensive than V&A's restaurants going 10 and up would not destroy everyone's vacation.

We have been advised to change our California Grill reservation for our anniversary. The reservation is late, after 9. But I have been warned by no less than 10 different people (some here, some on another board, and a lady on my team for work) that when they went there during the fireworks, it was a bit of a zoo and we would be best served eating elsewhere for such a special occasion.

That's kind of sad.

 

[GreatLakes5]

I will allow that one of the poster's has the world's best behaved 6 year old, only because my 6 year old turned 7 recently I have three children, 12-9-7, very well behaved, very well mannered, and the boys even like wearing suits (freakish - yes, I know...) All of that said, I think this is a good decision.

Time breaks won't work - as said, what do you do with the people with the 8:30 resv. who come with kids, the cut-off being 9? Just doesn't work.

I would hate, however, to see all fine dining go kid-free, in large part because children have to learn somewhere. If parents really want to teach their children how to behave in a restaurant it will be tough to do in Sci-Fi theater or Whispering Canyon (talk about un-doing some of that work... ). Other thought - allow for lunches with kids - dinners without.

Finally, we all know that life (unfortunately) is filled with rules that are not enforced. I can think of some extreme laws which existed for years 'on the books' where governments are concerned which we would all be thankful are not enforced. It sure would be nice though if management at various places would get a back bone and approach the rowdy tables - tell the family their four year old cannot be in the restaurant in a wet bathing suit or (YUCK - I've seen it) barefoot. Stop children from putting their fingers in buffet food.
And of course there's the always controversial refillable mug rules.

 

[rwrocksme]

Well if Disney inforces this like they do the dress code at signature restaurants, then I am sure you will have no issue bringing a 3 year old to V & A's.

B.

Plus, you'll be able to wear Heelies during dinner....

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

Sometimes it is just nice NOT to have other people's kids around. Period.
.

then you need to re-think your vacation plans to somewhere other than Disney World if you have a problem with children. There are plenty of adult only vacation destinations.

I think its very crappy to insist that a family vacation destination make policies that are not family friendly.

I would never take my kids to V&A...and I do not disagree with that particular decision to make it adults only. V&A is a different league...but to start including other signature dining? no way

We had an adults only dinner at Narcosse's and there were plenty of very well behaved children even at 8pm.

I plan on taking my kids to Jiko's next Fall...and they've eaten in many nice high end restaurants around where we live...we go to Disney because DH and I can enjoy adult experiences WITH our children.

 

[D&R love Disney]

I think it's a great decision. I'm enjoying taking my step kids to nicer restaurants and this past summer, they had a great time at both YSH and Jiko and enjoyed the more adult dining (they are 11 and 14). Still, I wouldn't dream of taking them to V&A because they wouldn't like any of the food. Hopefully when they are adults they will learn to enjoy that type of food and we can take them.

 

[MapleGirl]

I would like to see restaurants have two sections: "children" and "non-children" (similar to smoking/non-smoking). This way families with children can enjoy the restaurant when they want without getting the evil eye from other patrons, and childless families can enjoy their meal without having children running around and what not. And please don't tell me that childless families can go to the bar, I think adults deserve a nice table too. It's important that these two rooms be separated by a wall. I would also like to see airlines have flights that are child-free.

 

[Markstudy]

I think its very crappy to insist that a family vacation destination make policies that are not family friendly..

I think its a numbers game. Disney has 97 restaurants and 38 resorts.

California Grill on any evening is like going to a Day Care center at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon. Kids gone wild !LOL

Wouldn't it be nice to have 2 restaurants for adults and 1 resort?

95 restaurants for the kids isn't that bad?

I'm still waiting for that one "adult only" resort at Disney

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Awesome. That's where we booked for our anniversary night dinner. The guys at AKV CL are trying to get us a late reservation though, so hopefully it won't be bad.

I second the wine room. It's awesome and usually very quiet

 

[jrmasm]

Wouldn't it be nice to have 2 restaurants for adults and 1 resort?

Fine with me, you can have Nine Dragons and ASMusic.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

then you need to re-think your vacation plans to somewhere other than Disney World if you have a problem with children.

I don't have a problem with children. I have four, between 3 and 15. Which is why, on the rare occasion DH and I get a couple of hours at a restaurant to ourselves, it would be swell if there were not kids running all over the place.

Sitting and behaving? Sure, I rarely notice what is going on at other tables. Unfortunately, it seems more and more kids are NOT sitting and behaving at these places. I honestly had many people warn me from wasting my anniversary dinner at Cali Grill.

Why does wanting 1 signature restaurant that does not cost HUNDREDs of dollars for 2 people mean anyone has a "problem with children"?

Ugh. Like a PP said...there are 100 restaurants in Disney. If you couldn't take your young child to V&As and say, Yachtsman, is that REALLY a huge inconvenience? Seriously???

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Well if Disney inforces this like they do the dress code at signature restaurants, then I am sure you will have no issue bringing a 3 year old to V & A's.

B.

One of our funniest memories is the guy that came in and was seated and ate in a pair of overalls and no shirt at Artist Point

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I second the wine room. It's awesome and usually very quiet

Thank you! We have decided to forego California Grill ON our anniversary. We will spend that evening elsewhere and go there on another night. But we will still try for the wine room if we can.

We have 4 days in WDW for this trip, so we went with the Deluxe Dining and are hitting as many restaurants as we can that we normally wouldn't WITH the kids.

 

[Markstudy]

Unfortunately, it seems more and more kids are NOT sitting and behaving at these places.

Kids in the seat....now that's the problem

Every time your wait staff comes by and a child is not in his seat.... they add an extra $4.00 tax to the bill for annoying everyone else in the restaurant.

 

[tzvdmd]

I am just wondering how many of the complainers have actually eaten at V&A.

 

[yearbook50]

I am just wondering how many of the complainers have actually eaten at V&A.

I've eaten there at least a dozen times.
In fact, my wedding reception is there next month & you can bet I will make a comment to them about this.

 

[tzvdmd]

I've eaten there at least a dozen times.
In fact, my wedding reception is there next month & you can bet I will make a comment to them about this.

So now you are upset that you can't take your kids in there?

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I've eaten there at least a dozen times.
In fact, my wedding reception is there next month & you can bet I will make a comment to them about this.

So they wait until they are 10. Why is that a big deal? It might make it special that they are finally allowed to go to such a fancy place. Like I said DD15 would LOVE Palo. She has to wait until she is 18. It gives her something to look forward to that year.

DD4 wants to ride TOT. She has to wait until she is 40 inches. No big deal. When she DOES get to ride, she will be the same way she was when she made it to 36" for Goofy's Barnstormer....proud and excited that she was a bigger girl now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sometimes it is just nice NOT to have other people's kids around. Period.

then you need to re-think your vacation plans to somewhere other than Disney World if you have a problem with children. There are plenty of adult only vacation destinations.

: I'm not so sure wanting a two or three hour child-free dinner equates to needing to rethink one's entire vacation?

 

[yearbook50]

So now you are upset that you can't take your kids in there?

I do not have children yet.

As I stated before, I went to V&A at 7 years old. My parents instilled in me the social graces and etiquette required for such an experience along with the taste buds for it. I was expected to try to new things...if I didn't like it, that was ok, at least I tried something new to expand my tastes. My parents also used to take me to the Empress Room in the Marketplace, which sadly is no longer around.

I plan on raising my children similar to how my parents raised me, especially when it how it comes to 5 star dining. However, many parents nowadays do not punish their children when they act out in public and it has become more noticeable while out in restaurants.

You all don't have to agree with how I feel. I know I am the odd man out in this. I will make sure V&A knows how I feel in a nice professional manner this February.