Restaurant Marrakesh & a toddler

[Siouxstone]

Anyone take a toddler to Restaurant Merrakesh? We are going in September just before my DS turns 3. (Yes, we are squeeking in another free one with him a week before his birthday. It was free dining, free child, and I already had vacation time booked at work! Who could resist that?)
Anyway, he's generally good at restaurants, but he loves entertainment. Do they have any? I am thinking maybe music and bellydancing, but am not sure. He loved the Beirgarten at 17 months so much, we held his 2nd birthday in a beirgarten! I'm now wondering if I should move our ressies to go back to Germany.
Any thoughts?

 

[Golden Rose]

We haven't done Marrakesh with a toddler yet, but we're planning to do it with our two and a half year old in September, too. We've eaten there before (before we had him), and I think he'll do fine. There is lots to look at - interesting decor and a belly dancer, and I know we'll all enjoy the food. I think our son would enjoy Germany, too, but I like the food at Marrakesh quite a bit better.

 

[xyzabc33]

He will be fine. There is music and the belly dancer picked my 2.5 yr old DD to go dance with her. "MOMMA GO TOO" LOL Ask them to sit you on the floor up against the wall. That way he is contained LOL...we always ask for a booth over a table..lol The seating on the floor is all tables.

OH BTW...the male adult in your party will love the belly dancer. LOL

 

[Stephres]

We have taken the kids there several times when they were toddlers. The dancing starts on the hour, so try to get there 15 minutes before and then when he starts getting wiggly the music will start. The dancer always invites the children to come out with her: it's so cute. If he is picky I would bring a sandwich for him to eat: mine did not like the chicken fingers so we always packed a pb&j. We eat there everytime we go to Disney.

 

[meowzer]

We had no problem with our son at Marrakesh. They sat us right next to the dance floor where the kids could see the belly dancer and the musician. Because our son was 2 he was free and there was plent of food between the 3 of us for him. They are pretty quick getting you the food and the entertainment.

Our son likes to me constantly moving and doing stuff, but Marrakesh allowed us to take a break from constantly keeping up with him.

 

[tchrrx]

I think you should be fine. They seem to serve their food faster than some other places. Marrakesh is a favorite of DD7 & of DH . DD loves to belly-dance there. During our last trip, the belly-dancer took time to go over to a child in a wheelchair & spend extra time just visiting with her since she was unable to dance. Yet another magical moment from Disney

 

[meowzer]

Siouxstone, noticed you were from College Stn. Are you an Aggie? If so, you will see so many walking around WDW, wearing their Aggie Attire. We felt like such 2%'rs. we did not bring any marroon and white.

Hope you have a good time, you will enjoy Marrakesh

Class of '93

 

[Jenny]

i have 2 girls - ages 2 (3 in july) & 5. we went to marrakesh in may so our youngest was 2 turning 3 & we've been to biergarten 2x - jan. 07 & jan. 05 & maybe even another time in between.

we are big fans of the biergarten & i'd have to say that the biergarten is definitely more fun for the kids than Marrakesh but we truly enjoyed Marrakesh. it's worth a trip but i don't know if i'll go back any time soon whereas we'd go back to the biergarten, especially while the kids are young, without hesitation.

at marrakesh, the 2 musicians played background music prior to the belly dancer coming out for about 10 min i think. the kids barely noticed them. we sat on the upper floor w/ the booth against the wall so maybe that's why. we preferred the booth over a chair for our youngest who falls off of chairs. these seats are away from the dance floor. when the belly dancer came out, the kids went to the dance floor to join her. i think that it was all of 10 min. it went by quickly. they enjoyed her but i think that they enjoyed the band at biergarten more. - Jenny

 

[Jenny]

another plus of the biergarten is the food's ready when you are - a plus w/ small children.

 

[Siouxstone]

Thanks everybody! I think we'll stick to our ressies. DS loves, loves, loves dancing girls & he's always quite taken with Jasmine. I think I may try to move our time to 6:45 instead of 7 so we'll be seated when it starts. I am very excited to hear that the food comes quickly. It's one of the things we like about Garden Grill, Liberty Tavern at dinner, and the buffets. It works for us.
Wow! Now I'm all excited about trying a new place for dinner again!

 

[Siouxstone]

Siouxstone, noticed you were from College Stn. Are you an Aggie? If so, you will see so many walking around WDW, wearing their Aggie Attire. We felt like such 2%'rs. we did not bring any marroon and white.

Hope you have a good time, you will enjoy Marrakesh

Class of '93

Alas, Meowzer, I am but a Longhorn awash in a sea of maroon. But, we love the town and after 3 years are finally beginning to get over the shock of seeing Longhorns on the walls of restaurants with the horns sawed off. We chose College Station when we moved home to Texas from Atlanta. (Boy do I miss that short drive to WDW!) The town has very little crime, great schools & is close to Houston and Austin. I love UT, but I can't imagine raising a child within blocks of it. Here, we are close enough to TAMU to hear the band & crowds at Kyle field. And it's summer, so the place is empty!
I can't quite say "Gig 'em" but I do send you a great big HOWDY!

 

[cinjam]

We had a great time there when my youngest was a toddler! The belly dancer kept us all entertained!

 

[disney_family_1247]

I've taken my kids at various ages to Marakesh, and it's always been fine. I don't know about lunch, but during dinner we have always seen the bellydancer. A band plays while she dances, and they loved it. The restaraunt itself is beautiful and the food is great. My son is a picky eater, but even he was happy with a bowl of plain rice. They bring pita bread to the table too.

 

[daisax]

I always enjoy watching the little kids with the belly dancer -- the toddlers are the best, as the older children get a little self conscious. On one visit I saw the belly dancer give special attention to an older girl (?late teens?) who seemed to have Downs syndrome. She invited her out to dance and the girl really enjoyed herself, but got a little nervous when the music ended and people went back to their seats (I think she got turned around and forgot where her family was).

The dancer put her arm around her and walked her back to her table and everybody was all smiles.

Very nice people there, and the food is great!

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

We took our children, dd3 and ds1. They both did well. Half way into our meal the belly dancer came out and dd3 went out there to dance.

DD3 is the last one on the right.
I think they had a great time. Our lunch reservations were for Noon and I believe the bellydancer came out between 12:30 and 12:45.