Brenda,
Your dinner at Bistro looks amazing!! Definitely on the try-someday list!
Hi Lori! Thanks for reading - I think you'd really enjoy Bistro so give 'em a visit one of these days!
I'll jump on the bandwagon about kids at the finer dining establishments. We've been to WDW about nine or ten times since we had kids. They were 5 and 7 the first trip and are now 12 and 14. We have not taken them anywhere I don't consider kid appropriate, for a couple of reasons. First, it's not fair to expect them to sit through a leisurely meal, and it's not as enjoyable for the adults either. It's also a waste of money for especially my oh-so-picky son, who will get nothing out of it. They went to the Neverland Club once while we dined at Cali Grill (and they LOVED it!), but mostly we're just waiting until they're old enough for us to go without them or for them to be able to enjoy it with us. I would have never dreamed of taking them as toddlers!!
You're right, there's nothing at all wrong with having a couple of adults-only establishments at WDW! Ok, I'll get off the soapbox now!
Keep it coming, your reviews are fantastic as always!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it's nice to know that Jay and I aren't toally offbase. And although I didn't state it clearly in the review, we don't mind children being there in general as long as they can comport themselves appropriately. If they can't, then it seems like mom and dad have a pretty each choice to make: don't eat at Bistro at all or get the kids a babysitter / kids club appointment.
Ok -
First, I totally agree with you on the kids thing. (small children running around=bad. On many levels.)
Here is how it was when I was growing up...no fine dining until we were old enough to have lovely table manners, old enough to sit still and engage in conversation, old enough to be excited by the menu.
The first restaurant I remember was Le Ruth's (I think that is it...) in NOLA. (Long gone now, but revered among New Orlean's chefs
)I was 6. I had my first sip of champagne, my first escargo (a bite of Dad's) and I will remember that meal for the rest of my life. It was stunningly good, and my palate was piqued (although my mother's cooking did that as well.)
Were we the only children there? Yes. Did it impact others in a negative way? No.
so....small children shrieking and running around=bad. A chance for baby foodies to stretch their wings (and remember their manners!) is good.
The resolution? Stop serving items from the children's menu from Chef's de France. It would go a long way to solving the problem. (And would be easier than an age limit or whatever...some kids may be ready at 4 or 5 - some may never be ready!
)
I am such a snob.
Jaime
ps - Bendy, I realized I pimped you out on your own thread. I am SUCH a loser!
Hey there Jaime! Again, thanks for reading and for your thoughts; We've got no trouble with those kids who are ready for the experience, it's the ones who aren't that we feel for - it's pretty obvious that someone else wanted to eat there and didn't take the kids into account when making that decision.
I don't know when Bistro started offering that Chefs de France menu to families for their kids but I agree that the solution is to knock it off!
They're sending a mixed message and need to decide once and for all if they're going to be kid friendly or not.
Hey, you're not a loser; we can all use a little free advertising now and then!
Brenda - Loved the review of Bistro. So much so, that I am going from your TR to see if I can book an ADR for my older DD and me the night she arrives next month!
Hi Elin! Thanks for reading; I'm glad you enjoyed our Bistro review. And that's awesome ... you liked it so much you're going for an ADR!!
I think you will really like the experience but I strongly suggest you go a la carte rather than ordering the Chef's Tasting Menu ... the tasting menu looked pretty dull the night we were there.
As for the kids/no kids discussion: I am a Mom; I also teach children of varying ages. And I am in agreement with you. There need to be restaurants on WDW property that adults can escape to where they know it will be quiet and relaxed. And in my opinion it shouldn't be only at a location where they have to drop hundreds of dollars on a single meal. I see no reason why WDW cannot offer both V&A and Bistro as that haven.
Thanks for chiming in Elin - I like to know what everyone thinks. And I totally agree that it shouldn't just be a place like Bistro or V&A where adults (both those who have kids and those who don't) can have some quiet, relaxing time. That's what used to be so nice about Pleasure Island ... before someone decided that it was a good idea to allow people to bring their children into the clubs there. What was up with that???
I go back to
DCL ... there are huge areas on that ship where children aren't allowed and all you ever seem to hear is parents talking about how glad they are to escape from little flotsam and jetsam for a few hours of peace and quiet. I understand that it's a little different on a cruise ship as opposed to a sprawling resort area but the concept is the same.
I recommended both of those spots to a couple of friends when they were at WDW last year for a medical convention held at the Contemporary. They ate at California Grill, V&A and Bistro. Their take on those places? One good meal (CG) and two superb meals. In fact, they felt that V&A was ranked among the best they have ever experienced and Bistro was not far behind. Coming from them that is high praise indeed.
There is no reason they can't be adults only since very nice experiences can be had at other slightly upscale places all over the World!
Off my soapbox now too.
That's good to know Elin and another very good point. Thanks again for reading!
I have to follow up on Mrs. Spratt's well worded commentary! Our DDs have also been to fine establishments since they were quite young. However, I was always very careful to either make the reservation early in the evening or to call ahead to check on the status of the diners. They were well behaved and learned to eat well at good restaurants. I think it is the only way one can teach a child that kind of lesson. But I also agree that it = bad in many instances.
The difference between us and "them" is that we really did/do know our kids and were certain they would behave. "They" either think their kids will make it through the night or don't care how they behave as long as Mom and Dad get to eat where they want.
I agree with this entire post; thanks for sharing it!
Oh I so agree with you on the kids thing. And I have two of them.
There's no where adults can go at WDW anymore to have kid-free time.
I do have to say that I didn't realize that the Bistro didn't accept the dining plan, and that makes it an attractive option to me (because I hate the dining plan). But I'd have to bring my kids.
I wish you'd taken a picture of the Alps climbers. It really sounds like I'd fit right in at that restaurant. Sounds like home.
Hiya Jess! Thanks for reading and thanks for your comments. I think you make a great point, too, which is that each circumstance is different. Your kids would have no trouble at Bistro because they're old enough to behave appropriately and would probably really enjoy the food, too.
And I would have taken a picture of them if I could have done it without drawing attention to what I was doing.
They were a nice looking group, and well behaved, their bone-headedness on the bridge notwithstanding.
I think it's the statement I bolded.
Do I think my kids could make it through a dinner at the Bistro? Of course. But my kids have grown up differently than most kids. They're used to long meals with French waiters.
I agree with Elin's statement 100% and yours too.
Can't wait to go!
I guess we were just having so much fun that I forgot just how tasty it was until I looked at the pictures the other day! 
