Victoria & Alberts - $$$ and waiting list?

[Blue Eeyore]

I was interested in making a reservation at Victoria and Alberts for Valentine's Day 2006. I called a number to be placed on a waiting list. Think I have a chance of getting in?

Also... we would be taking our infant son who will be 4 days short of his 1st birthday. I was informed that I will still have to pay full price for him even if he doesn't eat!!!! They told me it would be $100. Is it worth it ya think? I have the Disney Dining Experience card.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[puddleduck]

This is just my opinion and I have never eaten at V&A, so take it for what it's worth. If I am going to spend that much for a meal, I don't take my kids with me, and I am the type of mom who takes who kids everywhere. I also would never dream of paying $100 for my kid to not eat. It breaks my heart to buy happy meals and my kids not eat it. But, that's just me. V&A just strikes me as an adult experience that I personally would save for when me and my dh could go w/out the kids.

 

[jgalecpa]

I agree with the previous poster.

I'm sure the $100 fee is V&A's way of saying:

"There are 1,000 other nice places to take your kids, V&A is designed for the grown ups"

I'll bet the $100 would pay for some lovely babysitting, (even all night?!?)

Jim

 

[crisi]

I think its really selfish of you to consider taking a one year old to V&As at any time, but particularly on Valentines Day. People do not go to V&As to listen to a baby cry, or even coo.

 

[lookingforward]

If you are really going to enjoy the dining experience I suggest you do it adults only. The dinner is wonderful but it is time consuming. You will not get the full experience if you have to worry about your baby (who at 1 years old would be active and possible cranky after having to sit for so long). The room (there are two) is very small and if the baby cried it would really impact the other diners.(there is no "wiggle" room at all) This is the restuarant that people go to for very special occassions, engagements, anniversarys, even weddings. I bet there will be more than one ring given out that night!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I would not take a baby to V&As and be pretty miffed if someone else did. Esp on VDay. It truly is an adult restaurant with a price to match. I'd rethink bringing baby if you did get the reservation that evening.

 

[Blue Eeyore]

I appreciate your input. I certainly don't consider myself to be selfish. I asked the cast member if children often dined at V&As and she replied yes. I've never been there myself and am not familiar with the atmosphere. I wouldn't want my romantic evening spoiled by someone else's child either... but this IS WDW we are talking about and children are allowed at V&As. I was at Artist Point once and I remember sharing one of those long booths with some unruly children and it was not very pleasant. No worries though... we have a seating at the California Grill instead. I see kids there all the time so I don't have to worry about upsetting anyone else or going broke on a 6-course meal for my one-year-old!

P.S. I haven't posted on these boards regularly in a LONG time. Unfortunately, the few times I have lately, people seem very negative and quick to judge or blast other people. Too bad... everyone used to be very encouraging and helpful. Thanks to those of you who still are

 

[goofie4goofy]

I have never ever seen a child at V&A's ever. It is not for children. It is very expensive and romantic. It is not just a restaurant for a romantic dinner but a true dining experience which takes at least 3 hours. It is people dressed up, speaking in hushed tones listening to a harpest at a beautiful candle lit table. Many have booked months in advance and have saved up or this experience. The last time we were there in Sept our bill was about 700.00 for the two of us and we were there over 3 hours. Our seating was at 6:15 and we left aournd 9:30. I doubt a 1 year old could be quiet for that amount of time. To say that is is "wdw after all" is not quite true when it comes to V&A's. If you have ever dined there, you would know it is not a place for babies and children and you should respect other people and leave the baby at home or go to another restaurant. The atmosphere is very very different from CG, which is one of my fav's but can be very noisy as it is full of families.

 

[Skylarr29]

I thought children were not permitted in V&A's. I would check if that is even an option to begin with.

 

[**eeyore**]

I think its really selfish of you to consider taking a one year old to V&As at any time, but particularly on Valentines Day. People do not go to V&As to listen to a baby cry, or even coo.

Wow! I think its really unkind of you to post this reponse. Although I "might" agree with you, isn't their a nicer way to get your point across?

As to the original poster, I don't think there is anything wrong with the question you asked, and by your follow-up post, you made it clear that's all it was - a question.

If you're as lucky as us, your child is probably better behaved than most adults, even at the age of 1!

Best wishes!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Children--even infants--are permitted. But quite rare--I've only seen two children in that restaurant since we started going in 1988. And they were both girls in the 10-12 year old range. And one of them seemed absolutely bored while sitting thru a 2 and 1/2 hour meal.

 

[webray]

Please, if you are going to dine at V&A's and can afford a fine meal, then you can afford an in room babysitter for a few hours. Don't impose your 1 year old on other diners. A one year old typically will not sit still for a very slow, relaxed 3-4 hour dining experience.

 

[crisi]

My apologies. I assumed anyone willing to go on a waitlist and pay $100 a plate - including $100 for a one year old - would have done enough research or recognized that was V&As way of discouraging children. So the alternative was selfish. Apparently it was just "not well thought through."


Having had a good meal disturbed by children, I'm sure the OP will be sensitive even at California Grill if she has a crying baby and recognize she may spend a lot of time in the lobby. We have two kids ourselves and the youngest was six before we took her to a "nice" restaurant because we couldn't trust her not to go into full meltdown and end up eating $40 steaks out of styrofoam in the room or back at home. (The oldest was, and still is, one of those kids you can take anywhere - although now that I think back - not at one - at one he was a mover and wouldn't sit for long enough to eat anywhere the burger didn't come in its own wrapper - we spent about a year and a half chasing him through restaurants like TGI Friday's when we tried to eat out). I wish I could say our avoiding nice restaurants was completely selfless - but honestly, I could have never enjoyed an expensive meal stressing about the unpredictible behavior of my kids. Conversation punctuated with "use your inside voice" is not a relaxing experience.

I admit to being a little sensitive to this, the worst meals of my life have involved hiring a sitter for my own kids in order to have a quiet meal with my husband in the type of restaurant where children are allowed, but rare, getting great food, but not getting the peace we arranged the date for because someone else's child was noticeably seated next to us. Its one thing to be seated next to children at Olive Garden, its quite another at a place where the cheapest bottle of wine is $100 and they scoop the bread crumbs off the tablecloth between courses.

 

[DisOrBust]

I agree with the OP "the Dis" in general in the past was more friendly. Posting about kids in "fancy " WDW restaurants is right up there with posting about pool hopping and reusing refillable mugs,lol!

I had considered taking my 4 month old to V&A BUT at the chefs table only.

Another option would be a private Dinning Event thr the resorts. It would probably be in the same price range.

 

[tlbwriter]

I wouldn't do it simply out of consideration for my own child. What 1-year-old is going to be happy sitting in a restaurant for 2.5 hours? Why do that to the poor kid?

 

[lookingforward]

I just had a thought if you want to take kids, perhaps you could book the chefs table. It is much more private (in the kitchen). Not sure if they allow it, but it would be more relaxed.

I hope you give these boards a chance. There are controversial subjects and some times my feelings get hurt (and it takes a lot to hurt my feelings!) but the good outweighs the bad. I have learned so much about WDW, etc.
Whatever you do, I hope you have a wonderful trip. You will love the California Grill, hopefully you will see the fireworks from there, they dim the lights and play the music. It is magical and your baby will be mesmorized.

 

[Cinderella]

I was searching V and A's to see if it was worth doing for my honeymoon, as i haven't been for many years. I have already read two posts in my search where people are actually contemplating taking tiny tots to this lovely restaurant, and i have to add that if there's the slightest chance of young children being there on my honeymoon meal - i won't be going.

V and A's is the only true adult only restaurant in disney and i can't understand selfish people wanting to inflict their tiny tots on other diners, and i can't understand anyone wanting to have their small child sitting there for 2.5 to 3 hours completely bored.

There are many other great restaurants in WDW that families can enjoy, and i disagree that some of the posters on this thread have been unfriendly. If people want to be selfish, and insist on spoiling things for others by swimming in pools at resorts they didn't pay to stay at, or taking a baby to a restaurant designed for adults, then they can expect people to be slightly annoyed in their response. Sometimes it is the only way to get thru to some of these people, but in this case it doesn't appear to have got through at all.

Lets hope disney sees sense and makes V and A's totally child free. I will certainly be asking whether any parties with children are booked in for the night of my special meal, and if they are, I will be cancelling.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Wow, The poster was just asking a question,,, it could have been answered much nicer! It was a question! The proper response : V & A is not suitable for children.. People dining would be upset if you brought a baby into the environment. I'm sure you will find something else (lots of great dining in the World) that will be more suitable for you! Don't forget about in room babysitting if you have your heart set on V & A.

 

[Forever42]

I have the Disney Dining Experience card.

On a different note, you cannot use the DDE card on Valentine's Day.

I just had a thought if you want to take kids, perhaps you could book the chefs table. It is much more private (in the kitchen). Not sure if they allow it, but it would be more relaxed.

It's already booked.

 

[orljustin]

Can we join you?