Victoria & Alberts no kids!

[disneydopey]

Just read on www.doingflorida.com that Victoria & Alberts restaurant at Grand Floridian is saying "no entry" to kids under 10! Apparently adults need a more “adult-orientated atmosphere”. Excuse me but isn't Disney supposed to be for kids! If you don't want kids there just leave it expensive with no kids menu....no need for an outright ban!

 

[louey]

Even if I had kids under 10 it wouldn't bother me. One place out of how many that doesn't allow little ones is no big deal. I think you can find plenty for the young kids to do otherwise.

 

[Tricia1972]

There's another post about this here

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1676192


I am fine with the ban, and I have two (soon to be three) children all under 10. I think it's nice for adults to have a place that they know is just for them.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Just read on www.doingflorida.com that Victoria & Alberts restaurant at Grand Floridian is saying "no entry" to kids under 10! Apparently adults need a more “adult-orientated atmosphere”. Excuse me but isn't Disney supposed to be for kids! If you don't want kids there just leave it expensive with no kids menu....no need for an outright ban!

Why is it so terrible for ONE resteraunt to ban under 10's?

 

[Bill From PA]

Disney and its affiliates have decided that several places in WDW are suitable for adults only, V&A, JellyRolls, some of the PI clubs among them. I agree with their choices and I've got interests on both side of this fence, having 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren under the age of 6. We often vacation in WDW as a group and these adult venues offer a welcome break from whining rut rats and their meltdown parents. I've often said that Disney isn't for kids, kids are the excuse adults use to go to Disney.

Bill From PA

 

[haley123]

I don't get why this is a horrible thing. V&A isn't really for children anyways and they really shouldn't be there. The meal is also very long and wouldn't be a fun place for them at all.

 

[disneydopey]

Apologies if its posted somewhere else, I had a quick look first and couldn't see it.

I think Disney is for for the benefit of kids and adults are just allowed to tag along or join in. Going there is an adults excuse to escape real life and that includes pretending you're a kid again and remembering what its like to relax and laugh!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

these adult venues offer a welcome break from whining rut rats and their meltdown parents. I've often said that Disney isn't for kids, kids are the excuse adults use to go to Disney.

Bill From PA

Bill, you crack me up!

Seriously, I cannot imagine why this would upset anyone. I am a parent and I could care less. We wouldn't take our little ones to most of the signature restaurants, let alone V&A's.

And my opinion on why they could not just keep it expensive and have no kids menu? Because while normal functioning adults would take that to mean kids really were not welcome there, apparently, there are some people who would and did take their screaming 3 yr old there.

And I wouldn't pay over $250 bucks for dinner for DH and I to hear kids screaming. I can get a $10 pizza and have that at home.

The cruise line has an 18 and older restaurant. It is booked up immediately when it becomes available. That tells me that a ban on kids in at least one restaurant is a good move on Disney's part.

 

[DVC Jen]

Some places are just not adult friendly and it is perfectly acceptable for Disney to have a few adult only areas.

I am so NOT against children - I love them dearly - have my own. V&A is meant to be a romantic adult restaurant not Chef Mickeys.

And - we go to Chef Mickeys ever trip - have yet to dine at V&A.

 

[Laura]

Apologies if its posted somewhere else, I had a quick look first and couldn't see it.

I think Disney is for for the benefit of kids and adults are just allowed to tag along or join in. Going there is an adults excuse to escape real life and that includes pretending you're a kid again and remembering what its like to relax and laugh!

No, Disney is for the whole family to have fun, not just children. That was Walt's intent when he planned Disneyland, anyway.

I don't know how many children would enjoy Victoria and Albert's, and many adults' enjoyment of the restaurant would easily be disrupted by an unruly child bored by such a long meal. Personally, I think "under 10" is still too young.

 

[PlutoPony]

I think Disney is for for the benefit of kids and adults are just allowed to tag along or join in. Going there is an adults excuse to escape real life and that includes pretending you're a kid again and remembering what its like to relax and laugh!

Not sure that's what Disney thinks however, given they've cultivated a lucrative market for conventions, weddings and the like. It's in their best interests to appeal to the broadest market they can without alienating their core customers (whoever they are). IMHO I'd be astonished if this irritates more people than it pleases especially given V&A prices and their clientele.....

 

[Colleen27]

I'm with those that just don't care. I honestly can't see a kid under 10 enjoying V&A anyway! My kids love good food and the 9yo especially is quite the little foodie, but even he would be bored by the pace of service and probably uninterested in or turned off by some of the dishes at V&A.

Now I'll admit I would be upset if Disney put an age restriction on their signature restaurants, because we love doing those as a family. DS is really looking forward to Artist Point for the buffalo steak and to sharing my sushi at California Grill. But to me, V&A is in an entirely different class and just isn't the kind of place that young children belong.

 

[GQ's Ghost]

I'm with those that just don't care. I honestly can't see a kid under 10 enjoying V&A anyway! .

It all depends. Too many parents automatically skip to the chicken tenders and mac n cheese when they take little ones out.

I am not super parent, but my daughter eats what we eat, and has done so from the day she could handle solid food. We travel alot, and frequently dine with freinds and family in new places.

Parents need to parent and teach their kids to behave in places like V & A, and not treat it like a TGIF.

I would think if they removed the "childrens menu" it would have the same effect as an out right ban.

 

[ChrisMouse]

I actually think it's no big deal. I have two kids under 10 and wouldn't dream of going to V&A.

In fact, for our upcoming trip, DH and I were looking at menus, etc. trying to make a plan for our one "date night" without the kids...after trying to talk ourselves into something fancy we settled happily on House of Blues because it's just plain more our style. We don't want to have to dress up, etc.

I think people who want something fancy, exclusive, and QUIET should have it to themselves & shouldn't have to worry that my (or someone else's!) kids are going to raise a ruckus, whine about their food, yada yada yada.

(and, by the way, I fully admit that I don't even need to use my kids as an excuse to go to Disney. I'm just bringing them along )

 

[Colleen27]

It all depends. Too many parents automatically skip to the chicken tenders and mac n cheese when they take little ones out.

I am not super parent, but my daughter eats what we eat, and has done so from the day she could handle solid food. We travel alot, and frequently dine with freinds and family in new places.

Parents need to parent and teach their kids to behave in places like V & A, and not treat it like a TGIF.

I would think if they removed the "childrens menu" it would have the same effect as an out right ban.

You're preaching to the choir. My kids eat very well for their ages, and aren't generally interested in typical kids' menu fare because I've never gone out of my way to introduce it to them. Like you, we travel and we like a variety of restaurants, so our children have been exposed to a range of cuisine and settings from a pretty young age. But at the same time, some things just aren't age appropriate, and I think 5-star dining for 5-6-7 year olds is one of those things. No matter how well behaved, they're still kids and likely to get impatient with a 3 hour meal in a hushed dining room.

V&A has never had a children's menu, and still some people felt is was appropriate to bring young children (even toddlers!) to dine there. An outright ban on little kids was the logical next step.

 

[mrzrich]

I agree that simply having an expensive menu with no kids menu is not enough to drop the hint.

There are some people who still bring their kids.

I think V&A is absolutely right to do this. (And I have two of the most unruly boys I know!)

Now I wish only PI would go back to no kids. We were at the Adventure's club at midnight and there was a six year old in the front row.

 

[bdcp]

Wow, I don't understand why someone would get so worked up over ONE restaurant having an over 10 policy. I too have kids and there were plenty of places I wouldn't take them when they were young because not everyplace is for children. Bans like this are needed because some adults just don't get it. There is nothing wrong with an adults only restaurant. Disney parks are for everyone, Disney hotels are for everyone, but give adults who might be there for their anniversary or honeymoon a romantic dining experience please. I adore my kids who are now grown, but my DH and I enjoyed going out without them occasionally. Our relationship still flourishes after 27 years because we did.

What I'm unclear on is what the OP thought she was going to accomplish by starting this thread.

 

[Disney1976]

I think it's an excellent move on Disney's part, much like Palo's aboard the DCL is adults only. Disney World is for everyone to enjoy, so it's nice to see that couples or adults can go and have a nice, quiet dinner in an upscale, 5 star restaurant.

I have nothing against children, but think it should have been pretty obvious to anyone who did a little research into V&A's that it was never intended for children. The decor, lack of a children's menu, and menu choices (Iranian caviar, anyone?) were all pretty big clues.

 

[BarleyJack]

I can picture it now...lovely family out for dinner at V and A. With 3 y/o Billy and 4 y/o Susie in tow. Dad loads his spoon to feed little Billy, saying, "Open up Billy, here come the foie gras choo choo! Chugachugchuga!" Not to be outdone or overlooked due her little brother, sweet Susie grabs a handful of caviar and chucks it, narrowly missing the sommelier! Hilarity ensues. While Billy, Susie and said parents might be having a great time, I highly doubt the other patrons exposed to this would be.

I'm not flaming children, please don't even think that. The preceding scenario was meant to be humorous. I just feel that there is a time and place for everyone/everything.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney is for everyone.

I am of the opinion that Victoria and Albert's is not the place for very young children.

Apparently enough parents were willing to pay the high prices for the adult menu in order to bring little kids in. V&A had no children's menu. If the kids were there to eat, they were charged the same $150 as the parents. I never saw them myself (been to V&As three times, twice at Chef's Table) but I have read some stories on these boards about small children at V&A's. (Note: The age limit is 10. Not 16, but 10.)

WDW has so many places that are perfect for small children. Why take them to one place that isn't?