Would you take kids to Club 33?

[AnneUCSB]

I posted below that we just found out our friend recently got membership to Club 33 He is looking into seeing if he can get us in while we are there in October. DH and I will be at DLR with our three boys age 6.5 yrs, almost 5 years, and 16 months. My parents will also be with us. I am thinking we should just try for a lunch reservation with DH and I by ourselves (my parents can watch the boys for a few hours) but DH thought it would be fun to bring everyone. I think my boys would have more fun in the park on the rides than at Club 33 but DH thinks it would be a fun experience for them.

Thoughts

 

[FoodLover]

While I've seen children in Club 33, they looked and acted bored... even most of the teenagers. I wouldn't take kids that young. It would just be a waste of money and time.

Sounds like a great excuse for an adults-only lunch to me!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[jetskigrl]

It depends on your kids (and only you know how they would do). It is a formal setting and ideally the meal can last 2+ hours (I think we spent 3 hours at lunch). I say ideally because there is so much to see and enjoy inside, you do not want to have to rush it. Will your boys be able to sit quietly at a table for that long? They still seem a little young for this type of meal. I would hate for you to miss part of the meal because you need to take a cranky child outside, etc. Especially when you are paying close to $100 a person to be there in the first place. This is definitely a meal where you need to be able to sit down, relax and enjoy it.

We went for my DS's 7th birthday (my DD was 12) and they both understood exactly what it would be like. They did a great job. We did get up and walk out on the patio mid-meal to let my DS stretch his legs (and take pictures, LOL), but otherwise he was able to sit quietly at the table the entire meal (not that he didn't talk, but that he understood that he was not to talk so loud as to disturb others dining around us, etc). It helped that the appetizers and dessert were buffet, because that also allowed him to get up and walk a bit. We are huge Disney fans so my kids have grown up on all things Disney. My DS really appreciated our meal there and still talks about it. But just knowing my own child, I would not have attempted it any earlier than we did. I don't think he would have enjoyed it and I would have been too worried about him disturbing the other diners.

 

[DizMe]

I *personally* would not take the kids. It's not a big treat for them but it IS for you--but not if you have to take care of kids instead of indulge yourself. I say give yourself this little treat and do something else special with your kids--something they would view as special! For my kids, that would be a McFlurry from McDonald's

 

[Malcon10t]

Here's the thing... Are they used to LONG, seated meals? If they aren't, I wouldn't take them. I have several nieces and nephews (as in 20+) in the age range you are talking. About 1/2 of them could handle the meal there, but that is because they are already used to going out to long boring meals. The other half wouldn't be able to handle it. Last time we went for lunch, it took about 2.5 hours. (July.) Can they sit quietly for 2.5 hours?

And remember, their meals will be about $85 each after tax and tip. (Not the baby, but the older 2.)

Oh, here are my nieces, younger one was 4 in this one...

ANd this year..

 

[pixiewings71]

Just a thought....it might be easier to get a reservation for 2 instead of a reservation for 5 or 7 (if you take the parents).

 

[rowan1813]

I saw your other post, wow, 10 years!!!

Just throwing in my 2 cents about this. I remember my four visits to Club 33 very fondly even though I was only about 8 years old. They had a special kids menu that I ordered from and I had a great dessert that included a Mickey cookie and ice cream. We had our dinner reservations right before Fantasmic! and were allowed to sit out on the balconey after our meal to watch the show. For a kid, that experience is incredibly magical and memorable. One of our dinners also included a little show in the form of a guy proposing to his gf with Mickey coming out, dressed in a tux, and bringing the ring out on a red velvet pillow. I still have vivid memories of that and consider that to be the ultimate romantic proposal. DF lost his connection to Club 33 after those visits so we have never been back and I wish everytime I visit DLR we could get in. I am not saying that you might lose your connections through your friend, but I would treat your visits like a once in a lifetime opportunity because for myself and most of us here on the Dis, it is, and your kids will thank you later.

All that being said, I agree with Malcon10t. If your kids are used to little more formal meals and can sit quietly, go for it, but if they can't, don't subject them to it.

I hope you have a wonderful time either way.

 

[DizMe]

I saw your other post, wow, 10 years!!!

Just throwing in my 2 cents about this. I remember my four visits to Club 33 very fondly even though I was only about 8 years old. They had a special kids menu that I ordered from and I had a great dessert that included a Mickey cookie and ice cream. We had our dinner reservations right before Fantasmic! and were allowed to sit out on the balconey after our meal to watch the show. For a kid, that experience is incredibly magical and memorable. One of our dinners also included a little show in the form of a guy proposing to his gf with Mickey coming out, dressed in a tux, and bringing the ring out on a red velvet pillow. I still have vivid memories of that and consider that to be the ultimate romantic proposal. DF lost his connection to Club 33 after those visits so we have never been back and I wish everytime I visit DLR we could get in. I am not saying that you might lose your connections through your friend, but I would treat your visits like a once in a lifetime opportunity because for myself and most of us here on the Dis, it is, and your kids will thank you later.

All that being said, I agree with Malcon10t. If your kids are used to little more formal meals and can sit quietly, go for it, but if they can't, don't subject them to it.

I hope you have a wonderful time either way.

I would agree with this except that there is a 16month old and a 5 year old. Maybe the 5 year old would remember it, but likely not. The 16 month old is not going to remember and there is a good chance he/she would not even enjoy it. I'm thinking of Mom and how enjoyable it would be for her. I think it should be more for her and not the kids at this point. I mean, they're going to DL which is a huge treat by itself and one they will likely appreciate much more than dinner at Club 33. I say let Mom have her relaxed dinner and just enjoy being at Club 33, and let Grandma have pizza with the kids!

 

[larina]

It depends on your kids, and maybe a little on your budget, and how you feel about it. I would say, leave the boys with the grandparents and go have a good time, enjoy the quiet with your spouse.

I'm still curious about your boys though. Are they seasoned restaurant vets who would appreciate the very long fine dining experience that this is? All kids are different. I could have taken my oldest (now 17) from the time she was born, no really, she was just that kind of baby/child. My middle daughter, could have brought her from about 7 on, although she'd still get bored with it now I think, but she'd make it through (the "special secretness" would get her by). My 3 year old son won't be ready until high school! He hates restaurants and that's that. None of these children were raised any differently, it is just their personalities (yea, I let 'em have those) and who they are.

I just keep seeing a couple, enjoying the quiet, and seeing the boys, running DL with the grandparents. Take advantage of being lucky enough to have parents willing to watch your boys and that you are willing to travel with (we are VERY lucky you know, have you met some of the parents out there? LOL).

 

[mnasf]

We've been once and brought our three kids. They knew it was special and they were lucky to go there. They knew they may never get to go again. We celebrated my youngest's thrid bday there. Other kids were 7 and 12. They loved it. But our kids our used to going out and are quiet. It was cool.

I posted below that we just found out our friend recently got membership to Club 33 He is looking into seeing if he can get us in while we are there in October. DH and I will be at DLR with our three boys age 6.5 yrs, almost 5 years, and 16 months. My parents will also be with us. I am thinking we should just try for a lunch reservation with DH and I by ourselves (my parents can watch the boys for a few hours) but DH thought it would be fun to bring everyone. I think my boys would have more fun in the park on the rides than at Club 33 but DH thinks it would be a fun experience for them.

Thoughts

 

[jory29]

I tend to agree with the others here - we were very, very fortunate to have the opportunity to dine at Club 33 to celebrate our 15th anniversary almost 5 years ago, and at the time, we took our 2 kids, a girl, who was 5 and a half who has the patience of a Saint, and our boy, who was 11 years old, who doesn't always have patience (ok, rarely has patience) but I educated him on Club 33 ahead of time so he would know how special it was, and both kids did really well. It was hilarious when one of the servers dropped a small desert on the floor, and Tuxedo Mickey began pointing to it, shaking his head in an 'oh no!' motion, basically making a big commotion over it, and our kids really enjoyed the character interaction. Pluto was awesome, too!

Would I go to Club 33 with 3 younger kids, including a baby? My bet is your baby is going to be the easiest to entertain, while sitting. 2nd and third children tend to be more 'easy-going' by nature. My concern is for the 2 younger boys, and put all 3 kids together, and it could be a recipe for trouble. If this is not a once in a lifetime opportunity for you, as it does not seem to be, I would wait to take the kids until they are older, and enjoy the quality time with your spouse. I have never - ever - had a more enjoyable cup of coffee than I did there. The food was perfect, everything was awesome. You will have such a great time there, enjoy!!

You have someone there who can entertain the kids -maybe Grandma & Grandpa would enjoy taking them to the build a bear or that car building place in Downtown Disney. (?) You are really lucky to have someone with you that you trust, who doesn't mind keeping the kids.

In any event, whatever you decided to do, have a great time!