Please Rank Signature Restaurants for Small Children

[aheape1979]

We will be visiting in September (upgrading to deluxe dining) for 11 nights with our 2 daughters. They will be 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 at the time. Both are used to eating in sit-down restaurants. We want to try a few signature restaurants while we are there, but do want to keep in mind the restaurants that are most kid-friendly. We are doing CRT and multiple character meals, but want to please our palates as well as theirs!
Please rank the following in your experience as the most kid-friendly:
Jiko
California Grill
Narcossee's
Brown Derby

Feel free to add any other signatures that you feel are appropriate. I'm trusting you guys! Thanks so much!

 

[2manypets]

We've only eaten at Narcoossees and can tell you there were lots of young children there. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

 

[aheape1979]

We've only eaten at Narcoossees and can tell you there were lots of young children there. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Thanks! That is my one "must do" restaurant! I will be celebrating my 30th birthday and that's my top choice!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I haven't eaten at all of those restaurants. But my 11 month old has eaten at Hollywood Brown Derby and did fine there. We have also eaten at Yachtmans Steakhouse that place was a little boring for them. However, they liked the kitchen at Flying Fish. Also, we've eaten at Coral Reef which they loved but I didn't love the food. I think, you'll be okay if you plan your dinner early like around 5 pm. This way you'll get the younger crowd. I just wouldn't go to dinner around 8 pm when they will be more cranky. Have fun!

 

[Leanne1977]

The Cali Grill is very child friendly. We have dined here several times with our boys and there have always been lots of families dining. The restaurant is busy and pretty noisy and we love it there.

We have also been to the Yachtsmans and whilst you wouldn't be out of place there with children, I didn't feel as comfortable with small children. It is a lot quieter and I feel the atmosphere is more geared towards adults. We have since dined here alone while our children were at the Neverland Club and found it more comfortable as an adult dinner.

I wouldn't hesitate to take my boys to Narcoossees or the Brown Derby but I wouldn't take them to Jiko. Mainly because I get the feeling this is more geared towards adult diners. But you will find children at every single Disney restaurant with the exception of V&A perhaps.

This year we will be taking the children to Cali Grill as its their favourite. We will also be dining alone at Jiko, Citricos and the Yachtsmans while the boys are with my MIL.
We are there in July/August for 4 and a half weeks so 3 evenings alone will be a lovely change for us.

 

[joecatz]

Califorina Grill is probably the most kid friendly restaurant of the sig dining spots. They have little added things like snacks, etc... Plus its extremely bright and open.

Flying Fish has the most diverse, and affordable childrens menu of all the sig dining restaurants, and our kids love the colors and open kitchen.

Narcoose is very kid friendly, but it can be dark, and honestly, the food is not on the same level as flying fish and Cali grill.

jiko is geared more adult, but they are extremely kid friendly as well.

Unless you are doing the Brown Derby with preferred fantasmic seating, it is not worth the two points. Probably the worst food of any of the sig dining restaurants.

 

[Uncleromulus]

California Grill
Narcoossee's
Brown Derby
JIko
The fireworks guarantees plenty of kids at California Grill and Narcoossee's, while Fantasmic guarantees plenty of kids at Brown Derby. We always see lots of kids at all 3, most especially California Grill.

 

[septbaby]

I have not been to CG so I cannot compare per se, however I have been to Narcoossee's and definitely recommend it for children.

The restaurant seemed very child friendly and our 6yo enjoyed dinner there. If you are there in time for Wishes you will also see the Electric Water Parade, a much bigger hit with the young ones than Wishes. He was excited about the colors and "floats" in the parade. I think he was just in awe, but not giddy about Wishes. Yours are even younger so I think the parade will be a hit there too. By the way Narcoossee's has deck, best place to view Wishes and the parade (though it easy to see the parade from your table). If you aren't staying at Narcoossee's I highly recommend taking the boat over from MK, its a very nice ride and it let's you off right outside of Narcoossee's.

If you are on the DP and think you'll end up paying OOP for a child's TS meal along the way, make it the Signature. 2TS credits are worth more for character meals, etc. We paid $6 for his TS meal, used his TS credit at Chef Mickey's.

 

[goofygal531]

Brown Derby, although a signature restaurant, doesn't have the same upscale feel as the others simply because it's inside the theme park. The food is excellent. My kids have dined there several times. It's loud, noisy and perfect for kids!

Narcoossee's is another one that's loud and noisy. It's beachy-casual, not really a place people dress up for, which makes it more kid-friendly.

I've heard Jiko's is very quiet. I don't know how my kids would do there.

You also have to consider WDW is much different than dining at your local restaurant. Your kids will be tired from the long hot park days, they will soon realize that they can dine with characters and will wonder why every meal is not with Mickey. Also 2 TS meals are dining experiences. They can last 2 to 3 hours, easily. My boys could never sit for a meal that long. We hire Kid's Nite Out sitters to enjoy a 2 TS meal without them or order Narcoossee's from Room Service.

Just some things to consider.

 

[JanB]

Certainly your children will be welcomed at any of those restaurants. Of the ones that you have listed, I am neutral on Brown Derby (it's been too long since I've been) and Narcoosee's (I haven't yet been). I'd say that CG would be the most kid-friendly experience. And if your children happen to get wiggly or loud, it will be fine. CG gets kind of loud, and everyone enjoys the view.

I wouldn't take small children to Jiko. It is darker, a bit quieter, a more intimate setting, tables are a bit closer together. To fully enjoy your dining experience there, you need to plan plenty of time.

One signature that you did not mention is Artist's Point (at Wilderness Lodge). In my opinion, that is a pretty kid-friendly experience. The soaring ceiling gives the room a feeling of spaciousness. It doesn't seem too noisy --- I think maybe the sound travels up to the ceiling rather than around to the other diners. Also, there is a nice outdoor porch where you can take children if they need to move around a little bit. I believe that it overlooks the pool or the lake (I don't recall which). And the Wilderness Lodge is a visually interesting place for children to visit.