Private dining rooms?

[sajilunni]

I'm trying to plan a post- vow renewal dinner for 17. I'd like to get a private room, but most of them are available for parties under 12 or over 20 it seems. From what I've gleaned from mouseweddings the only ones available to us are Jiko with a minimum of $2500. California Grill with a minimum of $2000. And surprisingly the least expensive was Victoria and Alberts with a minimum of $1650. My DH was fine with that price but we have 5 children in our party and I've heard that some people are very hostile to the idea of children at V&A.

I've also heard that Narcoossees is very accomodating to large parties (and only $65 per person) but they don't have a private dining room. I worry about not having one if the children start running around.

Any suggestions?

 

[Lynne M]

I don't know if there's a private dining room at V&A's - if there is one, take it and bring the children. No one but your party would know that the kids are there, and they wouldn't be disturbing any of the folks in the main dining room.

People are not hostile to the idea of well-behaved children at V&A's, but your fellow diners would be VERY upset if there were little ones running around the main dining room, or being noisy, as little ones can be.

I would be concerned about the menu, though. V&A's does not have a children's menu, and unless you've made special arrangements to provide kids meals in the private room, they'll be eating what the adults eat.

 

[ElizabethB]

The private dining room isn't really a private dining room in any true sense of the word. It's is a area of the main dining room that can be closed off. People would definitely know children are there. I've eaten there numerous times and it is not for children. The meal takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours -- far too long for most children to sit still. It would help if they are in the area of the dining room closed off with door for your party, but I still think they'll be very bored.

As for the fact that the minimum is low -- I don't really think that means anything. V&A has a set price per person with no children's menu, although I have heard they will vary the menu somewhat for a private party with children.

Unless you cut a special deal with the manager, you'll still be paying the set price at least for each adult, which I think is somewhere around $125 per person with another $70 or so per person if you have the wine pairings. Then you have to add tax and tip. It will be a very pricey evening if you do it at V&A, considerably in excess of the minimum.

 

[sajilunni]

I had read a thread from Mr. Disney that said that on the night he went, so many kids were ordering the V&A mac and cheese that he asked to try one for himself. Although they don't have a children's menu, it kind of sounds like they will make accomodations for children. With the private room minimums I thought that meant that as long as we ordered over $1650 worth of food we could have the private room. There will be 12 adults and 5 children (3 under 3) but I would still be fine with that price. What I worry about is the stuffiness of the experience. We have booked private rooms at upscale restaurants in Chicago. We just close off the room and let the kids walk around and visit all the relatives during dinner. Sometimes they sit on the floor and play. If that was allowed for 2 1/2 hours they would be fine. However, if they were expected to remain at their seats for the entire time, I'm sure they would get very antsy. If the doors to the private room are glass, maybe they would be a distraction to the other patrons, not in sound, but in looks.

My perfect combination would be upscale meal with a fully private room. It seems like most of the places that offer that are expecting far more guests that what we have.

 

[minniesota]

Have you considered contacting Private Dining at the GF? It's my understanding they can do almost anything for any size group. They have a variety of areas at the resort they can use for these kinds of events. If you do a search on the GF thread under "Janet2K" you may find some helpful info. She has orchestrated a few group events through GF Private Dining that sound fantatsic!

 

[ElizabethB]

We have dined at V&A -- main dining room and chef's table at least 12 times. I've only seen children there once -- two children were in the waiting area with their mother on our last visit. The mother was in jeans and refused admission by the manager until she came back in acceptable dress. Since we were at the chef's table, we went on into the kitchen and I don't know what happened. I think they just left. The other visits, I've never seen children there at all. I think Mr Disney was jokingly exaggerating.

V&A is not for children. It's that simple. If you can have the private room totally shut off and can keep the children completely quiet for over three hours, then it will be okay. But, diners spending over $500 all in for dinner for two do not want to hear other people's children, and since the room is only closed off with glass doors, they kids will have to be very quiet for a very long time.

I just noticed you said three of the children are under three. Yikes! Unless they sleep, there's no way they won't be noisy.

All you can do is call the manager and see what they'll do for you. If you're spending the minimum, they'll probably work with you on the kids.

I'd still go someplace else. I'd never try to keep three under three quiet for three hours so as not to disturb other diners. CG has a completely private room away from the rest of the restaurant. That's where I'd go. The fireworks will be fun for the kids, the food is wonderful, the setting much more informal than V&A and the private room a truly private room as opposed to a closed off part of the main dining room.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Are you staying on property and is there a concierge that maybe you could contact and ask for advice?? I wonder would it be less expensive to get a larger room and have private dining deliver food to your room....there must be other options for someone and I would call Disney and try to get answers on what is available for a party of your size for a celebration..

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) V&A would not be practical for you
. . . the private room is just an area with glass doors
. . . it does not seal-off noise from kids
. . . it does not screen off kids walking/running around
. . . if I was a diner at V&A, I would complain vehemently
2) You would be better off paying the minimum at CG or Jiko's.
3) Unfortunately, WDW doesn't have a lot of private rooms.
4) However, for even more bucks, there are options, such as in Epcot.