Types of seating for meals

[ecki]

I took Kayla out to eat yesterday and it occured to me that we always sit in a booth, unless we are at something like a mall food court then I always feed her in her stroller.

Do I need to get her used to sitting in a chair at a table for our WDW trip? She's too big to fit in a high chair and forget about a booster seat -- she hates those! We currently only have one ADR Table Service for Coral Reef, otherwise we'll just be doing Counter Service.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Almost half the seating at Coral Reef is booths (actually they are banquettes).

In most of the table service (including buffet) restaurants a stoller cannot be used, especially if it would be sticking out into the aisle. They do pack the tables pretty close together; they can remove a chair for a wheelchair, but the back of a stroller would stick out too much.

 

[KPeveler]

ecki - you are probly going to want to stop by guest services when you get there to get a GAC to allow you to bring the stroller in lines (you're renting a special needs stroller, right?)... it will allow the stroller to be treated as a wheelchair. otherwise you will have to take her out of the stroller for every line and restaurant. it still may be easier in some restaurants to carry her in and sit her in a chair, but if that stroller is her "wheelchair" that would give you more options...

technically a GAC is only for rides and attractions, not restaurants, but at the very least it will be something the CMs are used to seeing (as i remember you get a special tag you hang on the stroller) and may be easier explaining why you need to bring the stroller in...

 

[ecki]

I think my biggest concern is that I need to be right on top of Kayla when she eats. She doesn't like to self-feed and she THROWS things, especially her sippy cup. Or she's unbelievably messy! I was so embarrased by her mess I left a $20 tip at a DINER because she shredded a Belgian waffle all over the floor. It's just easier to manage her in a booth. But if I can get used to managing her in a tables & chairs setting, well, it's going to take a LOT of practice! Guess we'll be eating out a lot until then!

 

[ecki]

Oh, and yes, we are renting a Maclaren Major for our trip. We just got ours as a Christmas present from our ARC and I took it out for the first time yesterday. That thing is HUGE, but it maneuvers very well. I took it to a pizza place and it was actually easier to take Kayla out and put her in the booth than try to push it up to the table and feed her.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Many of the CS places have outdoor seating which you could bring the stroller to pretty easily. My daughter has a tendency to fall asleep in a stroller and I can't recall having any trouble eating at the CS places while she was sleeping. Although many of them can get crowded, if you eat early and not at peak times, I think you should be fine. Another idea, assuming you have extra hands with you, is to take some food to a nearby bench if that is easier for you.

 

[SueM in MN]

many of the counter service restaurants do not have booths.
Some I can think of that do are the counter service in China at Epcot

and the food court in The Land at Epcot

and the Commissary at the Studio

I don't think I have a picture of the high chairs, but they are not your average baby high chairs. They are wood and are more like toddler chairs. My youngest DD actually had a high chair just like those that she used until she was close to 4.
They look similar to this (Note: I don't expect this link to work very long).

 

[Schmeck]

Just one thing to be watchful for - if you are eating outside, and your daughter likes to throw her food, there will be very aggressive birds swooping in to try to steal all your food. It's happened to us at our resort (CBR, AKL, and BC) and at MK. My youngest daughter thought it was fun to throw one french fry at a nearby bird, and they swarmed us at CBR. She never did that again, but the birds come even if you just drop a fry. It's a bit Hitchcockesque...

 

[SmallWorld71]

Just one thing to be watchful for - if you are eating outside, and your daughter likes to throw her food, there will be very aggressive birds swooping in to try to steal all your food. It's happened to us at our resort (CBR, AKL, and BC) and at MK. My youngest daughter thought it was fun to throw one french fry at a nearby bird, and they swarmed us at CBR. She never did that again, but the birds come even if you just drop a fry. It's a bit Hitchcockesque...

So true and something I did not think of.

 

[mechurchlady]

Your best bet is to contact WDW and explain the situation. Youtube and googling will get you some restaurant views to help you decide. I think it would be best to let the staff at WDW help you make the best choices as they know the floor plan and what would best suit your dining plans.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you contact WDW, you will get someone in a call center who may or may not know the layout/floor plans. I would suggest to look for pictures and information on different web sites. If you look at the Restaurant Board, there are a lot of people with experience at different restaurants who should be able to help you, along with people here.

 

[ecki]

Thanks, she should still be able to fit into those wooden high chairs. She's not a very big 4, LOL. The high chairs at many McDonald's are way too small, but that type of high chair should be fine. And if not, well, we'll manage.

Must remember to watch out for those birds, too!!