Strollers in Restaurants

[STLMom3]

Can anyone please tell me if you can bring a stroller into a restaurant up to your table? My sister-in-law will have my 3 month old nephew with them and she doesn't what to bring her baby carrier just the stroller. Has anyone had any problems with any restaurants asking you to leave your stoller at the door. We recently went to Chevy's in STL and we were told no strollers allowed inside the restaurant. We had to leave our stoller full of shopping bags at the front door.

 

[Princess Amy]

Maybe with an infant it would be different. But when I had my two year old son with me, strollers were either left outside or put in a stoller parking area. This was at Kona, Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier, Crystal Palace, Coral Reef..and a few others.

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

Most table service won't allow you to bring in a stroller. The restaurants are packed and I think the issue is that strollers would trip up the wait staff. I guess the many thing is if they let one person bring in a stroller than everyone would want to do it.

 

[ukwildcat]

In my experience it is on a case by case basis, as well as a restaurant by restaurant basis. A few weeks ago we were in the MK and had lunch at The Plaza Restaurant. DS (21 months), and DD (3 months), were both asleep in our tandem double stroller. They let us bring the stroller in, they said, because they were both asleep. Same thing happend at the Yachtsman Steakhouse on July 4th. Now, I've also had the opposite happen, where they won't let you bring in a stroller for any reason.

I think it depends on the restaurant, the situation, and the CM you are dealing with. All in all, we've had good experiences.

 

[inloveindisney]

I'm so glad you brought this up because it was something I hadn't really considered. We have a few restaurants around here that are against it because of fire code. That really bothers me, but I understand why they do it.
The other thing that bugs me is that you can't put one of those slings at the end of a table at most restaurants. We really like to sit in a booth and many times it prevents us from doing so. Sometimes we get lucky and her seat will fit next to us in a booth though.

 

[STLMom3]

What options does someone have with a baby carrier at the sitdown restaurants? Can you turn the highchairs upside down and put the carrier on top? Should you put the carrier on the ground or table? I am not sure what you are referring to when you talked about a sling. We are already a group of 12 and will be taking up alot of room. What works best and what is frowned upon with a baby carrier? It is not like an infant can sit in a highchair and now I know we can't bring in the stroller. What to do?

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I have not been to one disney restaurant where they made me leave my dd3's stroller outside. She was two when we went last July and we ate at LeCellier, Chef Mickey's, CRT, Ohana, 50's Cafe, Concourse Steakhouse. We went in sept of 04 and she was 13mths and we brought the stroller in everywhere we at that time as well. I have never been asked to leave the stroller outside either. My dd is disabled and I have never even had to show our GAC. You really wouldn't know anything was wrong w/ my dd but we bring her stroller in b/c she can't sit in a highchair or at the table. It is quite obvious that 3mth old can't sit in a high chair but as PP said it may depend on the restaurant and/or the cm. I may also be harder to go into the restaurants w/ a twin stroller rather than a single stroller.

 

[ukwildcat]

What options does someone have with a baby carrier at the sitdown restaurants? Can you turn the highchairs upside down and put the carrier on top? Should you put the carrier on the ground or table? I am not sure what you are referring to when you talked about a sling. We are already a group of 12 and will be taking up alot of room. What works best and what is frowned upon with a baby carrier? It is not like an infant can sit in a highchair and now I know we can't bring in the stroller. What to do?

I would use a sling, it's like a hammock specifically made to put the baby carrier in. It is really much more stable than flipping a high chair upside down. You should be fine with the slings, assuming they have them. Otherwise, just put the carrier in one of the seats at the table. When you make the reservation, you should tell them how many are in the party, regardless of their age. That way a seat will be there for them. Also, Disney likes to keep track of the kids under 3, as they do not get charged for meals. This is especially good at buffets and family style meals, where you can get them their own plate of food. Although this probably isn't a consideration in your case. But, for kids eating table food that are under 3, it is great. HTH.

 

[n2mm]

I feel your pain. We are in the same situation with our August trip. New grand daughter will be just under 3 months old and I recently asked this question on the boards. I also wrote to WDW and asked about accommodations and was sent an email and told there are NONE. I asked about an "infant" highchair (the reclining type similar to the infant carts at the grocery store and some of our local restraurants). WDW wrote back and said they do not have any thing like that, only standard highchairs are available. I did find this strange when my local cracker barrel and MacDonalds can accommodate infants, but WDW, one of the biggest family destinations haven't filled this obvious void of what to do with a non sitting infant. We really didn't want to lug the carseat carrier into the parks every day. We wanted to be able to lay the baby in a reclining position in the stroller because it will be August and thought there would be more air flowing (if that's possibile in August). I do believe it will be a case by case situation. I guess we could just pass her around the table as each of us takes a bite of food.

 

[ukwildcat]

I feel your pain. We are in the same situation with our August trip. New grand daughter will be just under 3 months old and I recently asked this question on the boards. I also wrote to WDW and asked about accommodations and was sent an email and told there are NONE. I asked about an "infant" highchair (the reclining type similar to the infant carts at the grocery store and some of our local restraurants). WDW wrote back and said they do not have any thing like that, only standard highchairs are available. I did find this strange when my local cracker barrel and MacDonalds can accommodate infants, but WDW, one of the biggest family destinations haven't filled this obvious void of what to do with a non sitting infant. We really didn't want to lug the carseat carrier into the parks every day. We wanted to be able to lay the baby in a reclining position in the stroller because it will be August and thought there would be more air flowing (if that's possibile in August). I do believe it will be a case by case situation. I guess we could just pass her around the table as each of us takes a bite of food.

I know for a fact that the Crystal Palace has these type of "infant" high chairs. I saw them there just last week. I wouldn't put too much stock in what CMs tell you. The vast majority of people on this board know more about WDW than the average CM. It's sad, but true.

 

[maxiesmom]

In my experience, it totally depends on the restaurant. Also keep in mind that certain pavillions (The Land, for example) will not allow you to bring a stroller inside either. You must park it outside, and carry your child in. It is a pain, but I can see why. There is only one small elevator in the Land, and it would be crazy if you had tons of strollers trying to fit on, in addition to the people in wheelchairs. Your sis-in-law should definately invest in a baby sling or carrier of some sort. It will make things much easier.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I know for a fact that the Crystal Palace has these type of "infant" high chairs. I saw them there just last week. I wouldn't put too much stock in what CMs tell you. The vast majority of people on this board know more about WDW than the average CM. It's sad, but true.

You're dead on! For infants, most table service restaurants have the infant highchairs (C'mon...this is Disney we're talking about!!). If they don't, the restaurant will allow you to bring your stroller in and let the baby sleep/lay in it. We did it all week over the July 4th holiday without a single problem!

 

[n2mm]

You're dead on! For infants, most table service restaurants have the infant highchairs (C'mon...this is Disney we're talking about!!). If they don't, the restaurant will allow you to bring your stroller in and let the baby sleep/lay in it. We did it all week over the July 4th holiday without a single problem!

Thanks for the info. I will report back on our success. I did find it strange that they told us no. You would think when you email them with a particular question, that they would put a little research into it.

Here is the email they sent me:

Dear ,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

While we understand your concern, the highchairs available at our
restaurants are standard highchairs.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

***** name removed

WDW Online Communications

 

[hildarumpole]

The best thing would be to plan for not being able to take the stroller in to the restaurant. Every TS we ate at in June (LTT, Coral Reef, WCC, Biergarten, R&C, H&V, Ohana, Crystal Palace), strollers had to be parked at the entrance. The only place that allowed strollers table side was Raglan Road at DTD. At WCC, there was an infant in a carrier at the table next to us. The carrier was placed on top of a regular chair. CMs at some restaurants may make exceptions, but don't count on it. A sling would be a good investment for the trip. As a previous poster mentioned, there are a lot of places in Disney that don't allow strollers, not just restaurants. Your SIL and nephew will be much more comfortable not having to play juggle the baby while trying to eat or watch a show.

 

[maelstrom]

We brought my cousin's umbrella stroller into Chef Mickey's when she was two (and asleep; it was her birthday) with no problems. I can't see bringing it in for a seven year old (well, I don't know why kids that age are in strollers to begin with, but that's a whole nother rant), but definitely for a three month old, as long as it isn't some gargantuan thing that is going to block up the aisles.