Nomad lounge with young kids?

[mi*vida*loca]

I agree, but there are obviously many parents who don't adhere to this "rule".

I know many people who consider "family friendly" to mean that their kids can run around and be loud because "that's what kids do". By extension, they may think everything is "family friendly" because it's Disney. So, I think imbelle's post was helpful to make the distinction.

I have absolutely no issue with kids visiting bars/pubs/lounges, but it's not appropriate for every kid. If you have a chill kid who enjoys relaxing and having a conversation, this would be a perfect location. If you have kids who are constantly bouncing off the walls and super loud, maybe enjoy a few drinks at your resort pool instead.

Yea I wouldn't haven taken my son to a lounge at 5 or 3. He would've been bored to tears and he was a very active kid who needed to move around. We actually didn't eat out much when he was those ages so we stuck to character meals at Disney. That way he had opportunities to stand and move around when the characters came around. We never let him run wild. So certainly No lounges. But DD is the complete opposite.

 

[imbelle]

Um, thanks for the warning about December DisneyWishes? If you think licking all of the spoons at Captain Cook's is amusing, I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on what constitutes appropriate behavior. The original poster was courteous enough to be concerned about weighing her wishes against the comfort level of her children and that of the surrounding patrons. She requested opinions. Mine is that a venue that does not offer a kids' menu expects their clientele to be composed of adults. If a venue offers a kids' menu, then they are expecting families, and anyone who patronizes that venue should expect children. Just because my opinion does not match yours it is not rendered invalid.

 

[Marthasor]

I agree, but there are obviously many parents who don't adhere to this "rule".

I know many people who consider "family friendly" to mean that their kids can run around and be loud because "that's what kids do". By extension, they may think everything is "family friendly" because it's Disney. So, I think imbelle's post was helpful to make the distinction.

I have absolutely no issue with kids visiting bars/pubs/lounges, but it's not appropriate for every kid. If you have a chill kid who enjoys relaxing and having a conversation, this would be a perfect location. If you have kids who are constantly bouncing off the walls and super loud, maybe enjoy a few drinks at your resort pool instead.

While the 3 and 5 year olds swim?! Really? Typically when kids are acting like that in restaurants and lounges it's because the parents aren't supervising them and you want them to do that at a pool? I mean, I understand what you are saying, but I would question your alternate location. Do you remember the man who was arrested at the AoA bar? He got drunk, left his toddler unsupervised and the child ended up in the hospital with severe sunburn.

Anywhooo . . . my beef is with people on these boards who, straight out, proclaim certain spaces in Disney are inappropriate for children or try to dictate their own rules for behavior and dress (the never-ending signature dress code debate) when WDW policy doesn't back them up.

 

[georgina]

It simply doesn't matter what your opinion is.

How nice. I believe the OP asked for opinions. Some of us don't want to see little brats running all over in a lounge. I expect it in a QS place. Some of your questions/examples are irrelevant and silly.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Um, thanks for the warning about December DisneyWishes? If you think licking all of the spoons at Captain Cook's is amusing, I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on what constitutes appropriate behavior. The original poster was courteous enough to be concerned about weighing her wishes against the comfort level of her children and that of the surrounding patrons. She requested opinions. Mine is that a venue that does not offer a kids' menu expects their clientele to be composed of adults. If a venue offers a kids' menu, then they are expecting families, and anyone who patronizes that venue should expect children. Just because my opinion does not match yours it is not rendered invalid.

You've utterly misinterpreted what I wrote. I stated that I wished the child who had licked all of the spoons at Capt. Cook's had been asked to LEAVE. It wasn't amusing at all. My point was, just because a restaurant has a kids' menu doesn't mean a melt-down will be prevented or bad behavior will be circumvented somehow.

In all honesty you and I probably agree on what is "appropriate" behavior. What we don't agree upon is who has the right to step into Nomad and that would be anyone of any age. It is simply not up to you to dictate who goes to Nomad based on your personal opinion about kids' menus.

And the lounges do not have dedicated kids OR adult menus because they do not accept the dining plan. If they did not want children there or expected their clientele to only be comprised of adults, they would impose an AGE RESTRICTION. My opinion matches Disney policy - people of all ages are welcome BY WDW at Nomad. Your opinion is a judgement call on what is "appropriate" and "inappropriate" for children that may work for your family, so please feel free to impose it on your own children, but not on others'. I take my DS everywhere (except the places on WDW that impose age restrictions) and I am a STICKLER regarding his behavior. I am so tired of reading "DIS"police posts on here telling people they can only take children to certain places on WDW property if they adhere to their personal "DIS"police rules. Children are welcome EVERYWHERE on WDW property except 4 restaurants/venues with age restrictions, period.

And, BTW, Nomad (which I'm willing to bet you've never been to) does not have a bar-type atmosphere at all. It is very family friendly and very appropriate for kids of all ages. OP, you and your kids won't feel uncomfortable there at all.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

How nice. I believe the OP asked for opinions. Some of us don't want to see little brats running all over in a lounge. I expect it in a QS place. Some of your questions/examples are irrelevant and silly.

So don't go to the lounge and stick to Trader Sam's after 8 pm. Yes, my opinion is Nomad is family friendly. I've never seen anyone running around there or in any other lounge for that matter. Your opinion, apparently, is don't go there because I don't want to see your brats there - nice. Too bad. No age restriction. Everyone is welcome.

 

[tzolkin]

While the 3 and 5 year olds swim?! Really? Typically when kids are acting like that in restaurants and lounges it's because the parents aren't supervising them and you want them to do that at a pool? I mean, I understand what you are saying, but I would question your alternate location. Do you remember the man who was arrested at the AoA bar? He got drunk, left his toddler unsupervised and the child ended up in the hospital with severe sunburn.

Anywhooo . . . my beef is with people on these boards who, straight out, proclaim certain spaces in Disney are inappropriate for children or try to dictate their own rules for behavior and dress (the never-ending signature dress code debate) when WDW policy doesn't back them up.

Good Lord, it was the first thing that popped into my head as someplace kids could run around where you could also get a drink. Maybe a playground at Epcot during F&G? If you seriously don't think one of two parents can have a drink while the kids are playing in a splash area or on a playground the other parent is more intensely supervising, then I don't really know what to say.

And if we're basing every parent having a drink on your example, that would be like implying that everyone at this lounge is getting drunk and allowing their kid to wander into danger unsupervised. It's a bit extreme. I think most people can handle having one alcoholic beverage and still function as an effective parent.

As for the bolded... Perhaps I'm totally missing something, but I haven't seen where anyone in this thread has said that any location is inappropriate for children or is trying to impose that on anyone. One person said that this location is more adult-oriented and that kids might be bored. I cannot see where that is imposing on anyone else's freedom to bring their children along. It was just an opinion.

 

[Marthasor]

Good Lord, it was the first thing that popped into my head as someplace kids could run around where you could also get a drink. Maybe a playground at Epcot during F&G? If you seriously don't think one of two parents can have a drink while the kids are playing in a splash area or on a playground the other parent is more intensely supervising, then I don't really know what to say.

And if we're basing every parent having a drink on your example, that would be like implying that everyone at this lounge is getting drunk and allowing their kid to wander into danger unsupervised. It's a bit extreme. I think most people can handle having one alcoholic beverage and still function as an effective parent.

As for the bolded... Perhaps I'm totally missing something, but I haven't seen where anyone in this thread has said that any location is inappropriate for children or is trying to impose that on anyone. One person said that this location is more adult-oriented and that kids might be bored. I cannot see where that is imposing on anyone else's freedom to bring their children along. It was just an opinion.

Sorry, LOL! Yes, absolutely, one of two parents having a drink at the pool. Sorry, I was looking at it from the perspective of a mom who travels solo with her kids a lot! I don't drink at all when traveling alone with them. And I've actually never seen anyone drinking to get drunk at any of these lounges (walking around EP is another story!). We did have a scary experience with some unsupervised kids at the Poly pool once, though, so I think I conflated everything - sorry!

I think I'm speaking of these threads in general. Very frequently people post on here asking about bringing children to signatures (or lounges in this case) or dress codes for signatures and instead of stating facts (there are no age restrictions except very few cases and Disney has a dress code that typically goes unenforced) many people tend to state what they would LIKE to see in these places as if it's WDW policy and, IMHO, try to scare parents away from going to these places. Stating things like, "they are welcome IF they don't do this or that". The fact of the matter is, Disney staff will welcome them with open arms at all of these places and it's not up to DIS'ers as to who is welcome or not.

Just my opinion, but Nomad is no more boring than your standard WDW restaurant - the Wave, Kona, etc. - and you aren't in there for as long as a typical meal, so I'm not sure what the concern is in bringing children there.

 

[imbelle]

DisneyWishes. let me repeat; Just because you can does not mean that you should. Have you ever gone to an adult cocktail/dinner party and a guest shows up with an uninvited child? Maybe they thought their child was entitled to go everywhere they went, maybe they were too cheap to hire a babysitter, maybe they were just oblivious to social mores. Regardless, the host is too polite to turn them away but it creates an uncomfortable vibe for the other guests who showed up expecting an adult atmosphere and adult conversation.
The kids' menu, no kids' menu rule is actually from my sister who was a nanny for 3 children and later had 3 kids of her own. The first charge she had was the son of affluent amateur chefs. She brought him on his first vacation with us when he was 5. This child had a palate more sophisticated than most adults and impeccable manners. He would politely decline the kids' menu and order off of the adult menu. He later went to culinary school himself. Obviously this child was exceptional and would have been fine at a restaurant of any caliber. But my sister still chose to patronize only restaurants with kids' menus because she believed the absence of a kids' menu to be an indication of the expectations of both the restaurant and of their potential clientele.
I am not telling the original poster that taking her children to Nomad lounge is forbidden. Nomad Lounge (which I have been to several times) has what I consider to be a very peaceful, adult atmosphere and I find it doubtful that it would be enjoyable for a 3 and a 5 year old. The original poster is free to consider that opinion and weigh it along with her own wishes, and her knowledge of her kids' temperaments and tolerance levels.

 

[Runnsally]

Thanks for all the spirited responses! Actually sounds like an atmosphere our kids would like/do well in, so will definitely stop by if the touring plan gods allow.

 

[tzolkin]

Sorry, LOL!...
so I think I conflated everything -

I think I'm speaking of these threads in general.

No problem. I understand.

I just read a thread the other day stating that there should be no alcohol served ever in the parks because Disney should be "family friendly" so that may also have colored my reading of your post as well.

They were implying that if a parent enjoys a drink with their child present, they must be some horrible neglectful monster. My oldest has successfully made it to adulthood (and the younger two are well on their way) despite the fact that DH and I enjoy craft beer and have taken them to many breweries.

 

[jsmla]

The kids I saw were having dinner at Nomad. As far as I remember they pretty much just sat there and ate. My experience wasn't affected in any way. Their presence certainly didn't turn the lounge into a Chef Mickey's type experience.

I am an older adult who visits WDW without kids regularly and, from my experience, if you want a child-free vacation you aren't going to find it there.

 

[Minnesota!]

My only add - while it doesn't have a designated "kids menu", all the things on the lounge menu seem to be child-friendly (whatever the hell that is...). So, I don't think taking your cue from a menu is the best way to determine if a child would enjoy/behave/be welcomed.

FWIW, my kids come with us to all the places. And sit at the bar, too. It's how we Midwesterners roll

 

[DisneyWishes14]

DisneyWishes. let me repeat; Just because you can does not mean that you should. Have you ever gone to an adult cocktail/dinner party and a guest shows up with an uninvited child? Maybe they thought their child was entitled to go everywhere they went, maybe they were too cheap to hire a babysitter, maybe they were just oblivious to social mores. Regardless, the host is too polite to turn them away but it creates an uncomfortable vibe for the other guests who showed up expecting an adult atmosphere and adult conversation.
The kids' menu, no kids' menu rule is actually from my sister who was a nanny for 3 children and later had 3 kids of her own. The first charge she had was the son of affluent amateur chefs. She brought him on his first vacation with us when he was 5. This child had a palate more sophisticated than most adults and impeccable manners. He would politely decline the kids' menu and order off of the adult menu. He later went to culinary school himself. Obviously this child was exceptional and would have been fine at a restaurant of any caliber. But my sister still chose to patronize only restaurants with kids' menus because she believed the absence of a kids' menu to be an indication of the expectations of both the restaurant and of their potential clientele.
I am not telling the original poster that taking her children to Nomad lounge is forbidden. Nomad Lounge (which I have been to several times) has what I consider to be a very peaceful, adult atmosphere and I find it doubtful that it would be enjoyable for a 3 and a 5 year old. The original poster is free to consider that opinion and weigh it along with her own wishes, and her knowledge of her kids' temperaments and tolerance levels.

This is a WDW establishment with no age restriction, not an adult, invitation-only cocktail party. Children are invited. If WDW wanted to turn them away (like they do at Trader Sam's at 8 pm or at Atlantic Dance Hall and JellyRolls), they would.

Your sister does not establish the rules for WDW dining establishments. WDW does.

Your sister chose to do this. It doesn't mean other parents have to.

You have argued time and time again that Nomad is not appropriate based on your own personal beliefs and rules and that, somehow, Disney is indicating to people that children shouldn't go there or are unwelcome and it's simply false.

It appears OP has chosen to take her children there and I applaud her for that. So tired of the DISpolice coming on here trying to enforce their own beliefs on where we can and cannot bring our kids when WDW's own policies do not back them up (nor does FL state law). Perhaps read up on Disney history to discover Walt's intent of families enjoying their time together in his parks?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I have no issues with places being adult only. I actually enjoy adult only places but we're talking about a lounge IN a theme park. Kids are certainly welcome.

 

[Miumiu4me]

I knew that I would probably get flamed for this but since RunnSally had the couth to ask, I wanted to give her an honest answer. DisneyWishes, you say that the lounges and their menus were designed for families to enjoy. Some would argue that bars are never appropriate places for children. But my point is more about the enjoyment level for the kids and that of the nearby patrons if the child is bored and restless. So if there is no kids' menu at a venue, would you agree that perhaps this is a place not best suited to the enjoyment of a 3 or 5 year old? I think it's a formula for a meltdown situation.

The wine cellar in Italy actually does have a kids menu.

If kids are rowdy, they should be asked to leave. On the very rare occasions my child has acted up in a lounge, we have stepped out. But my kid has been going to restaurants since she was six weeks old. Unlike many of the adults we have encountered in lounges and bars, she knows how to behave.

Disney is a family place. Plenty of the lounges have kid friendly items on their menus. I expect to see kids pretty much everywhere when I am at Disney, including lounges and bars. If Disney doesn't want kids in certain places, they impose an age restriction.

I personally don't think it's a good idea to seat kids on the bar stools though (those seats are designed for adults, not kids and people at the actual bar are generally just there to drink). But that's my own preference.

 

[Marthasor]

Yeah, I'm not getting the it"s-quiet-so-your-kid-will-act-up they don't have a kids menu so they're not welcome argument. My kid is more apt to have a melt down in Chef Mickey's than a place like Nomad where he can chill and take a break and they have a kids' menu at restaurants like Monsieur Paul and Yachtsman which I would argue are far more "adult" than Nomad. I've seen a ton of kids in Nomad happily and quietly drinking their mocktails and eating apps. It's truly an oasis for my kiddo.

 

[999_Happy_Haunts]

The kids' menu, no kids' menu rule is actually from my sister who was a nanny for 3 children and later had 3 kids of her own. The first charge she had was the son of affluent amateur chefs. She brought him on his first vacation with us when he was 5. This child had a palate more sophisticated than most adults and impeccable manners. He would politely decline the kids' menu and order off of the adult menu. He later went to culinary school himself. Obviously this child was exceptional and would have been fine at a restaurant of any caliber. But my sister still chose to patronize only restaurants with kids' menus because she believed the absence of a kids' menu to be an indication of the expectations of both the restaurant and of their potential clientele.

Everyone is entitled to their own "rule", but I think the better one is based on time instead of printed menus. And this is especially true at WDW where the "lounge" in question is in the heart of an amusement park. (Sometimes I think people overlook this reality because WDW is a really, really great "theme" park. But at its core, applying a self-coined phrase to the place does not alter the fact that it is an amusement park). The "time rule" simply has to do with what time you bring your little ones, and it goes like this. No adult, under any circumstance, should feel intruded upon by a family with children dining there between the hours of 5:00-7:00. If you are an adult who wants to have a quiet, romantic evening, or you are planning on popping the question, or you want a child-free environment, don't book a table between 5:00-7:00. And if you want to dine with children at a nice restaurant with an upscale vibe or at a place where you might suspect that adults might want to enjoy a more "adult" atmosphere, make your dinner plans between the hours of 5:00-7:00 when there is less chance of tired kids and meltdowns. Under this approach, no adult should roll their eyes when they see kids at 6:00, and conversely, parents should think long and hard about sitting down to dinner with a 5 year old at 8:30. This keeps everyone happy. And this works really well at WDW. Under this approach, your sister could have taken her child anywhere at 5:30. This is what we did with our food-precocious kid. She was able to eat in some of the world's finest restaurants with no children's menus, but we always did so before 7:00. Never saw an eye roll or an irritated adult.

 

[NotBaroque]

Sorry, LOL! Yes, absolutely, one of two parents having a drink at the pool. Sorry, I was looking at it from the perspective of a mom who travels solo with her kids a lot! I don't drink at all when traveling alone with them. And I've actually never seen anyone drinking to get drunk at any of these lounges (walking around EP is another story!). We did have a scary experience with some unsupervised kids at the Poly pool once, though, so I think I conflated everything - sorry!

I think I'm speaking of these threads in general. Very frequently people post on here asking about bringing children to signatures (or lounges in this case) or dress codes for signatures and instead of stating facts (there are no age restrictions except very few cases and Disney has a dress code that typically goes unenforced) many people tend to state what they would LIKE to see in these places as if it's WDW policy and, IMHO, try to scare parents away from going to these places. Stating things like, "they are welcome IF they don't do this or that". The fact of the matter is, Disney staff will welcome them with open arms at all of these places and it's not up to DIS'ers as to who is welcome or not.

Just my opinion, but Nomad is no more boring than your standard WDW restaurant - the Wave, Kona, etc. - and you aren't in there for as long as a typical meal, so I'm not sure what the concern is in bringing children there.

I agree. I open every dress code thread to make sure someone tells the OP the truth about what is actually stated (which is... not much, and rarely enforced) versus what they would like the dress code to be.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

... you are allowed to take your children into the bars at Disney???? I can't even take my daughter into the foyer of our liquor store!