FINE Dining and Infants?! Your thoughts?

[tomman710]

My wife and I and our new baby are going to WDW in October. The young lad will be around 6 months and I have read the threads about going with a baby of this age but one thing I have seen talked about extensively was about dining.

I know for my wife and I, about 50% of the enjoyment in WDW is the fantastic dining experiences, now obviously I won't be going to Victoria and Albert's but I definitely am planning on going to a few steps below that, i.e. Jiko, Narcoossee's, Le Cellier, and possibly the Yachtsman Steakhouse.

My feelings are the young guy is so young he will probably be asleep through the whole thing, or at least thats what he does now when we go out to eat, but I have never had a 6 month old baby before, this is my first, so I don't realistically know how he will be in 3 months.

My questions to all of you are specific and opinion based, here they are:

Has anyone attempted the finer dining with an infant? If so, how was it, did you get dirty looks?

If not, would you? How do you feel about this?

I don't want to not do the stuff we love because of the baby but at the same time I don't want to ________ people off and ruin other people's trips as well.

Thoughts on infants and fine dining?

 

[corey154]

I've not done it yet but I would. this is your vacation too and you both deserve something you like. Who cares if people give you dirty looks? you'll never see them again! And it IS DISNEY, it was build for kids of all ages!!! (just my opinion)

But with that being said, I'd say if your lad starts to scream that you or your wife should take him outside. My hubby and I always do that with our kids. I've even had to take my dinner to go because our son wasn't calming down any time soon. It's just a nice thing to do for those around you paying alot of $$ and trying to have a good dinner too.

 

[tomman710]

Oh definitely, we are already NOT those parents that let their kid scream it out. The second he starts squawking we get up with him wherever we are at ... that's a given.

 

[Master Yoda]

I have done it and had it go both incredibly well and horribly wrong. Unfortunately, there is no way you can tell which way it is going to go. All you can do is prepare for the worst. The best piece of advice I could give you is to be considerate of the people around you. While your child crying might not bother you much it can be like nails on a chalk board to others.

My youngest daughter was an incredibly easy baby to car for. She was not really fussy, very quiet and as a general rule quite easy to be around. On one particular evening when my wife and I were dining at Emeril's Orlando that little angel turned into the spawn of Satan. My wife and I pretty much had to eat in shifts. One of us would take her outside for a little while and then we would switch places. We did this simply to be kind and considerate of those around us that did not intend a screaming infant to be a part of their $200 dinner at Emeril's. As long as you are considerate of the others around you, you can't go wrong.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Oh definitely, we are already NOT those parents that let their kid scream it out. The second he starts squawking we get up with him wherever we are at ... that's a given.

From someone who has young kids and experienced what you are talking about, thank you for being a responsible parent.

Even now, if our kids start getting out of order, out we go to the restroom or lobby for a bit of an attitude adjustment. With infants its much different and generally associated with the need for a bottle or a diaper change.

We were at EPCOT one time when our little boy was about 18 months. It was a later seating and it had been a long day. He was acting up while we were waiting for our seating at Le Celliar and it was painfully obvious it was not going to get any better. We cancelled and allowed someone else to have our table, and allowed the guests inside to enjoy their meal without having to bear witness to a meltdown. I would rather miss a meal at Le Cellier than have to deal with the dirty looks and thought that I made someone else's experience less than magical because my child decided it was time to loose it.

 

[happymom52003]

One of the great things about Disney World is that you can eat at nicer restaurants without worrying about if it is okay to take kids. Just go into it knowing that if the baby has a crying fit, one of you will have to take him out or you might have to leave early. Try to make your adr times earlier in the evening, when more kids are at the restaurants vs. couples. Or eat at the nicer places for lunch rather than dinner, since lunch is more casual and save the more casual, nosier places for dinner time. Take the baby and have fun! It sounds like you are the type of parent who will be aware if their child is disturning other guests, so I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I agree with the other posters, if the baby gets cranky just take him outside so others won't be disturbed. Please remember that babies change and the baby that you have now at 3 months of age and sleeps through your evenings out may not be so content at 6 months old. Your baby will have a different schedule while on vacation no matter how hard you try to keep things on track. They are also in unfamiliar surroundings and there is ALOT of stimulation (lights, sounds, crowds). Some babies adjust well and some don't. I say play it by ear that day, if he seems to be having a bad day then just skip the ressie for that night. Good Luck!!

 

[tomman710]

Thanks for the responses, I think you all are pretty much generally in line with my thinking. I guess the fundamental principle that I was focusing on was just getting up and leaving if he gets fussy.

And yes I definitely understand that my little boy now could be totally different in 3 more months, thats why I was so curious if anyone else had attempted it.

I think when you have kids you have an idealogical shift, because I think pre-children I might have looked at people odd if they were bringing a child into Narcoossee's or Artist Point or etc ... but now I have a different view. I don't think its fair to ask someone to blow off one of the best parts of their trips because of a baby but with that in mind the person with the baby needs to be on top of their game and make sure its not a distraction to others.

So thanks all, I appreciate it. I think we are going to give it a shot and see how it goes ... in fact I think our trip is structured around the food so we'll make it work.

Anyone else have any more experiences or opinions please shoot them along.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for the responses, I think you all are pretty much generally in line with my thinking. I guess the fundamental principle that I was focusing on was just getting up and leaving if he gets fussy.

And yes I definitely understand that my little boy now could be totally different in 3 more months, thats why I was so curious if anyone else had attempted it.

I think when you have kids you have an idealogical shift, because I think pre-children I might have looked at people odd if they were bringing a child into Narcoossee's or Artist Point or etc ... but now I have a different view. I don't think its fair to ask someone to blow off one of the best parts of their trips because of a baby but with that in mind the person with the baby needs to be on top of their game and make sure its not a distraction to others.

So thanks all, I appreciate it. I think we are going to give it a shot and see how it goes ... in fact I think our trip is structured around the food so we'll make it work.

Anyone else have any more experiences or opinions please shoot them along.

You have no idea how right you are. Before I had kids I would have never dreamed of bringing an infant to WDW or to a nice restaurant. Now that I have 3 I don't think twice about it. The key is knowing what to do when the crying starts. It looks like you have that one down so you will be fine.

 

[kstella]

I'm not sure I would risk the chance of having my expensive dinner interrupted by my crying of fussy child, but it's up to you if you want to give it a shot. Thank you for being considerate of other diners by saying you will take your child out if he starts fussing. I do not miss that at all now that my kids are olders. Now if they start getting fussy or whining I just tell them to shut up and knock it off!:lol:

 

[tomman710]

I can't pass those meals up ... most of my best dining experiences ever have been at WDW, and I have been to some of the most alleged best restaurants in the world ... I'll take Narcoossee's, Citrico's, California Grill over them any day ... so yea I think I am gonna do it and as long as I am good and take care of him I won't worry about what anyone thinks.

 

[corey154]

I can't pass those meals up ... most of my best dining experiences ever have been at WDW, and I have been to some of the most alleged best restaurants in the world ... I'll take Narcoossee's, Citrico's, California Grill over them any day ... so yea I think I am gonna do it and as long as I am good and take care of him I won't worry about what anyone thinks.

Exactly, you shouldn't worry about what anyone thinks!!! It's your vaca too!!!! I hope you have fun, let us know how it goes when you get back. I took my 1 yr old to some nice places to eat (it wasn't disney) and i haven't had a problem yet, i just bring his gerber snacks and bottle of mile to keep him snacking while we wait for food and he did fine.

 

[tomman710]

I think I will just reason with my son, something like, "Look, you need to behave while mommy and daddy enjoy this meal ... or you'll never see us again, can you spell adoption?" You know reason with him, parenting 101.

 

[corey154]

or you can give him some wine, it'll help him sleep:ROFLOL:

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Most options have been covered. I would go ahead and as Master Yoda said, just prepare for the worst. I have never been in any of those restaurants without some infants and young children also being present. Sometimes fine...sometimes not so fine. You will by no means be alone.

 

[justdru]

or you can give him some wine, it'll help him sleep:ROFLOL:

:lol:

 

[LivFreeorDisney]

we went to the California Grill last year and my daughter was 5 months old at the time. She pretty much slept through the entire thing so it went very well.

Now the 10 year old kids next to us....not so much. :hammer:

 

[mickey7879]

Our first trip to Disney was when our ds was 6 months old. He did great at the character dining and didn't need entertaining from us at all. But, that was the only time. We would have to eat in shifts. He didn't want to be put in a high chair for very long and would get quite cranky, so one of us would eat while the other one held him. Out of the restaurants you've named, I've only been to Le Cellier and Yachtmans. I'd take him to Le Cellier but not Yachtmans. I did see strollers and babies in Yachtmans, but I wouldn't bring my baby there. We almost went in December when he was 15 months old, but things just didn't work out well (he got sick for about a week while we were there). You'll know more when you baby reaches that age that you'll be going. If he is ok with other TS restaurants and you know ahead of time that you may be taking your meal to go or eating in shifts, then go ahead and try it. You could always cancel your other fancier ressies if you need to.

 

[mpeters]

Follow the wise advice of Master Yoda and the other posters.........they know their stuff.
We took our twin sons for the first time when they were 18 months........my wife and i had the dining plan and we were at every restaurant possible. Most of the time our kids were asleep. The fabulous CMs let us bring our double stroller in and park it next to our table so the kids could just sleep. There were times when they were awake and were "not so magical" at which point we took shifts outside (like the other psoters) to calm them down. There was one particular time where we had to leave even before we got our food and the CMs did not charge us for the meal which was great. Just goes to show you the magic of disney. Most people down there realize what it is like to be a parent so they know the frustrations of screaming kids. Just use your head when it comes to that. You sound like a concerned parent as well as a good person with regards to others. Good luck.