Signature Dining with Kids?

[shana398]

We have been going to DW yearly since 2011. This will be our fourth trip; however, we've never eaten at a Signature restaurant. We are considering it this time but are hesitant because, A, we will have a three-year-old and a 12-year-old with us, and, B, are a little worried about the dress code as we would probably go right after a park if we decide to do this.
Are Signatures somewhat kid-friendly? How strict is the dress code and will we feel under-dressed if coming straight from the parks? What Signature would would anyone recommend for our group? There are five of us, 45, 36, 24, 12 and 3.

 

[Itinkso]

We have been going to DW yearly since 2011. This will be our fourth trip; however, we've never eaten at a Signature restaurant. We are considering it this time but are hesitant because, A, we will have a three-year-old and a 12-year-old with us, and, B, are a little worried about the dress code as we would probably go right after a park if we decide to do this. Are Signatures somewhat kid-friendly? How strict is the dress code and will we feel under-dressed if coming straight from the parks? What Signature would would anyone recommend for our group? There are five of us, 45, 36, 24, 12 and 3.

You will find many guests who go straight from the parks to Signature restaurants. The dress code just states no tank tops, cut-offs, and flip flops.

It really depends on what type of food you enjoy. We have had great meals at Jiko, Flying Fish, Citricos, Hollywood Brown Derby, and Narcoossee's. It's best to check the menus and your park schedule to see what works best for you.

 

[davedmaine]

We have been going to DW yearly since 2011. This will be our fourth trip; however, we've never eaten at a Signature restaurant. We are considering it this time but are hesitant because, A, we will have a three-year-old and a 12-year-old with us, and, B, are a little worried about the dress code as we would probably go right after a park if we decide to do this. Are Signatures somewhat kid-friendly? How strict is the dress code and will we feel under-dressed if coming straight from the parks? What Signature would would anyone recommend for our group? There are five of us, 45, 36, 24, 12 and 3.

Thanks to the dining plan, more specifically free dining, the sigs aren't what they once were.. Dress codes are non-existent. Expect to see bathing suits, tank tops and ball caps worn backwards. And don't worry about your kids - plenty of others will be misbehaving

 

[figment_jii]

Are Signatures somewhat kid-friendly? How strict is the dress code and will we feel under-dressed if coming straight from the parks? What Signature would would anyone recommend for our group? There are five of us, 45, 36, 24, 12 and 3.

This is the language on the dress code:

Dress Code
Guests at this Signature Dining experience are asked to adhere to a business casual dress code.

Men may wear slacks, jeans or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jackets are optional.

Women may wear dresses, skirts or dress shorts with blouses or sweaters.

Not permitted in the dining room are tank tops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and shirts with offensive language or graphics.

In my experience, you will see some folks theme park attire, but the later you go in the evening, you're more likely to encounter folks that are dressed in business casual or date night attire. So, while you may run into folks in cutoffs or torn clothing, they aren't necessarily going to be all that common and they do tend to stand out (and not in a good way). So if you do plan on going to a Signature, especially in the later part of the evening, I would bring a change of clothes or at least something closer to business/resort casual. I have not seen bathing suits or swim wear in any of my visits to the Signatures.

All of the Signatures, except V&A, are children friendly. You'll see a mixture of guests (families, adults only, couples, etc.) at any of the Signatures. The most family friendly Signatures (to me) are CA Grill and Flying Fish.

 

[shana398]

Thanks to the dining plan, more specifically free dining, the sigs aren't what they once were.. Dress codes are non-existent. Expect to see bathing suits, tank tops and ball caps worn backwards. And don't worry about your kids - plenty of others will be misbehaving

Thanks for the info. I hope it's not that bad!

We wouldn't go that casual by any means! I was thinking more like capri pants and a blouse for myself and maybe a button down shirt for DH at the very least.

I hope there aren't lots of kids misbehaving! We don't allow our kids to misbehave in a nice restaurant. They know better . . . Even the three-year-old. Sometimes he can get cranky, but he still knows to behave. If he was really tired and cranky I would just take him back to the room and let the rest of our party enjoy their meal. We wouldn't allow one of our children to ruin other other people's dinner.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Capris and a blouse would be fine just about anywhere so long as they are clean which I am sure they will be. As for the kids, you know them best. If you feel they can handle sitting for x amount of time then go for it. I have only experienced bad children at a signature once and that was when mom allowed them to bust out their pirate swords and commence a swashbuckling battle in the middle of cali grill on a crowded night. So, no pirate swords and you're golden Honestly besides that, I don't have any memories of kids in signatures that stick out in my mind! They'll probably go totally unnoticed so don't worry!

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks for the info. I hope it's not that bad!

I've been to a Signature when children were misbehaving (doing jumping jacks in the aisle), but those experiences have been the exception, rather than the rule. So, while it is possible that you'll have to deal with unruly children, I wouldn't say that it is common place.

We wouldn't go that casual by any means! I was thinking more like capri pants and a blouse for myself and maybe a button down shirt for DH at the very least.

When you said "straight from the parks", I was envisioning a tank top/t-shirt and shorts with flip flops or something like that. You'll be fine in capris and a blouse or a button down shirt. You'll see a wide range of outfits, but most are in that resort casual level. I have seen guests in suits and cocktail dresses, but those are less common than slacks and a blouse.

 

[brown1442]

We have eaten at many signatures since my children were little (first trip they were 2 and 4). They are now 9 and 11. They've always been welcomed and treated wonderfully... but they know how to behave in fine restaurants. As long as your kids can stay in their seats and keep an appropriate volume then I think you are good.

 

[Kimosabe]

In terms of kid-friendliness, you might think about those Signatures that have potential "extra" benefits like direct fireworks viewing -- e.g., California Grill or Narcoossee's. Obviously, that requires a slightly later dinner time, but it's worth it if you think the younger one(s) can handle it (although CG will allow you to come back up to the viewing terrace with your earlier dinner receipt).

 

[Coconuts]

We have been going to DW yearly since 2011. This will be our fourth trip; however, we've never eaten at a Signature restaurant. We are considering it this time but are hesitant because, A, we will have a three-year-old and a 12-year-old with us, and, B, are a little worried about the dress code as we would probably go right after a park if we decide to do this.
Are Signatures somewhat kid-friendly? How strict is the dress code and will we feel under-dressed if coming straight from the parks? What Signature would would anyone recommend for our group? There are five of us, 45, 36, 24, 12 and 3.

The only signature we ever ate at was CG on our last trip. It was definitely kid friendly because families come to view the fireworks, although the majority were adults. My kids loved it, especially the desserts, and want to go back.

 

[sleepydog25]

I agree with what the others have posted about your intended outfits for Signature dining. Your clothing should be fine, and I can almost guarantee you that you'll be better dressed than many. (As a side note, while I've not seen swimwear in a Signature, I have witnessed running shorts, tank tops, ball caps worn the entire meal, cut-off jean shorts, dirty t-shirts, yoga pants, et. al.) I've noticed every Signature in which I've dined make a conscious effort to make smaller children feel at home, and though I've seen a couple of disruptive kids over the years, as a pp said, it's the exception not the rule. In addition to the restaurants mentioned, I'd add Artist Point. It's rarely crowded, has good service and food (including a kids' menu), and is located on one of the lovelier resorts in the World. After dinner, you can walk to the beach and take in the EWP or even see parts of Wishes from there, as well. Have fun narrowing down your choices!

 

[SouthJersey]

Take the above comment with a grain of salt, as I've yet to see anyone in a bathing suit at a signature, or even the nicer 1TS, except for one occasion at Yachtsman when the kids clearly must have put up a fight about changing as the parents were dressed very nicely.

I've never seen anyone in bathing suits at signatures on any of our trips and the only place I've seen tank tops/ball caps was Le Cellier. We've done 29 signature restaurant visits since 2010 and about 25 1TS lunch time meals.

Someone said plenty of others will be misbehaving, so I guess we've just been lucky on our nearly 30 signature experiences in the past couple years that we've encountered ONE child acting out and that was in Flying Fish

As long as people are presentable and well-mannered, I could care less if they have cargo shorts and a ball cap. I don't tend to stare at other diners at dinner for it to 'bother' me or hinder my experience. I'd rather a quiet, polite individual in a backwards ball cap sit next to me than a portly, loud snob in a suit with his wife pouring over the sides of her seats with whiskers in her chin, like the experience we had at Flying Fish next to a couple who was wealthy, dressed well, but completely ignorant and unsightly.

Anyway, to the OP. Children in park clothes is fine and common place. I've seen plenty of families dressed well and some in suits who've still allowed their children to 'relax' and 'be a kid' by wearing their mickey mouse shirt and light up sneakers. In Jiko, Artist Point, Yachtsman and Narcoossee's park clothing is the vast minority, but you're not going to feel 'out of place' unless you're really bumming it, like hill billy jean shorts and crab trap sandals and a park-sweat-stretched t-shirt.

With children, ultimately as long as they behave, they can wear anything without people paying any mind. I'd rather your whole family be in tuxedo t-shirts and swimtrunks with quiet children than a family in full-formal attire with children acting out, whining and pounding silverware.

Le Cellier and Hollywood Brown Derby are the most relaxed, with the most amount of patrons in park attire as they're located in parks.
Flying Fish would be the next most relaxed, as it's a more lively, bright and 'fun' atmosphere than it is romantic/fine dining, but the food and service is excellent. A large mix of park/business casual/formal dress here.
Jiko has mostly business casual with SOME park attire mixed in
Narcoossee's, Artist Point, Yachtsman tend to have very few guests in park attire, with Narcoossee's having the more suits in the restaurant than the other two that we've noticed.

Shula's is the most formal, second to Victoria and Alberts (heavily enforced dress code).

 

[sabcook]

We have dined with our kids at many signatures, including, HBD, Cali Grill, Artist Point, Le Cellier, Citricos, and Jiko. The kids have been anywhere from 2-9 years old at the time. We have always had good experiences, expect our children to behave, and have never had a problem.

 

[sleepydog25]

Finding someone's physical features offensive in terms of weight, facial hair, or any other such trite feature lacks grace. Boorish behavior, on the other hand, regardless of how one looks or dresses, is the true calamity and can make a dinner unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Since the OP appears conscientious, I'd guess all this discussion is quickly becoming moot.

 

[SouthJersey]

Finding someone's physical features offensive in terms of weight, facial hair, or any other such trite feature lacks grace. Boorish behavior, on the other hand, regardless of how one looks or dresses, is the true calamity and can make a dinner unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Since the OP appears conscientious, I'd guess all this discussion is quickly becoming moot.

*Off topic *

There's a difference between physical appearance being something uncontrollable and then there's neglecting to shave and having three inch whiskers coming out of your face as a female and twisting out of a mole that clearly wasn't overlooked.

My comparison wasn't that direct or cut and dry. It was about people being hung-up on things as if they're so horrible when there are things far worse. Would a ball cap really hinder your experience more than being sat next to a woman who wore the appropriate 'dress', which also happens to reveal a deodorant-matted bush of hair straggling out of her underarms?

Or the every popular digs at people wearing graphic shirts being unkempt in a nicer restaurant, but it's okay to be in a suit and requiring two chairs for one individual (save the medical excuse, the man who required two seats next to us in Jiko went on to order nearly a dozen soda's and two desserts).

My point was just about people being so critical of others when it really doesn't effect them or hinder their experience and if everyone got critical, there are far worse things than a ball cap or sandals. There are people on here who will be critical of a man wearing Reef sport sandals with jeans who with good hygeine, but will ignore a woman in a dress and 'dress' sandals whose crusted,yellowed talons are hanging over the front of her sandals and nearly tearing through her 1980's stockings.

I agree with you 100% on behavior though. I sat next to an arrogant, loud, obnoxious man bragging about his business venture and referring to others as 'peasants', but visually he'd be 100% respected over a nice guy, who feels out of place in a dress shirt and chose to wear a t-shirt.

 

[SouthJersey]

But anyway, OP

The dress code has sadly become more of a 'suggestion' than policy. It's pretty lax for the signatures being very nice restaurants. Jeans/dress shorts/kahkis, basically all you're stuck from if you chose to follow the dress code is jean shorts (which nobody should own besides John Cena) and cargo shorts.

For kids, it's really anything, I've seen families in full suits have kids wearing park clothing or in formal clothing and free of judgement.

 

[DakotaRose]

One thing to keep in mind with signatures is that the meals are a longer affair than at other table service places. 90 mins or more is the norm.

 

[shana398]

Thanks for all your input! We're thinking Yachtsman Steakhouse since DH is a steak lover. I guess we'll see how things go!

 

[DisneyParkLover]

We dined at three signature restaurants on our 8 day trip. We went directly from the parks and just took this into consideration when getting dressed. We just made sure those were more nicely dresses days. However, on our last day we did have matching Mickey head monogrammed shirts. I specifically called the restaurant to inquire if this would be okay, and they said "we would love that!". So we wore them and the waitstaff really seemed to like them (several complimented them). But they were nice t-shirts and obviously not offensive. So I think if you avoid tank tops, flip flops, swimsuits, and offensive clothing then you should be fine. Also, we took our 15 month old with us to every restaurant including signatures. He was very well behaved, but at a couple dinners one of us took him out a little early as he got restless. 2 hrs is a long time for a toddler to sit. I think as long as you are prepared and are considerate of other guests, you should be good to go!

 

[salamander3]

We took my 3 year old to HBD on our last trip. I do feel that being in the park made the dress code here pretty lax. It was an awesome experience. Our server went above and beyond with my daughter- she still talks about him. He gave her a pin and wouldn't you know it, we had to buy more before leaving. I wouldn't hesitate to take children, but I also wouldn't have hesitated to take her out had she misbehaved.