Restaurant not allowing kids 10 and under?

[Tink0102]

On a side note, I do apologize in advance if any of you ever see my son eat spaghetti in public.....he still hasn't gotten the hang of that and I actually call him "wolverine" when he is eating it cause he looks like he is attacking it....or it him. In either case, we are still working on that one.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I ended up cancelling our ADR at Cali Grill because I had such mixed feelings about it. I really wanted to bring my kids here so they could see the fireworks, but the ADR was for 9pm on a Friday night (only time available). While my kids are very well behaved, I felt like I would be getting evil eyes for bringing them there that late.

I've always tried to time it so that we'd be eating dessert by the time fireworks are starting up. We had an 8pm ADR the first time we did Cali Grill with our girls (Wishes at 10pm). They were ages 2.5 and 5 on that trip. We weren't seated until around 8:35p and were being served our desserts literally just as the lights dimmed. We never got any dirty looks or anything like that...at least not that I noticed. We were one row off from the windows and had a great view of MK, so the kids had a lot to look at. I also used the decks as my behavioral insurance policy. Rather than let them get antsy after coloring while DH and I ate appetizers, I brought them out to one of the decks before entrees were served. I used the same approach when we returned on our next trip.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I'm in a restaurant right now and there is a toddler next to me who has been screaming like a freaking lunatic for the past twenty minutes while the parents are acting like this is normal. I'm paying for a meal, not an ocean of blubbering tears. I'm definitely up for a no one under ten spot, but I can't afford Victoria and Albert. Maybe sitting families with toddlers in their own section is an idea? I know this has been floated around by the airlines.

 

[PMC0849]

 

[Epcot-Rules]

V&A I believe the age restriction is either 10 or 13, it says the limit on the site but I can't recall. I'll get ready for the tar & feathers but I wish there were more adult only dining options in the park. And I really miss Pleasure Island. I'd like there to be a bit more Disney nightlife after the parks are closed. Jellyrolls or ESPN Club is fine for a drink or two - but man I would be so happy if the Adventurer's Club was still around

Just think about all there is for children to do at Disney. What's wrong with adult only places for parents. My boys are 19, 17, and 14. They can come and go as they please! Let Mom and Dad have fun.

 

[psukardi]

I'm in a restaurant right now and there is a toddler next to me who has been screaming like a freaking lunatic for the past twenty minutes while the parents are acting like this is normal. I'm paying for a meal, not an ocean of blubbering tears. I'm definitely up for a no one under ten spot, but I can't afford Victoria and Albert. Maybe sitting families with toddlers in their own section is an idea? I know this has been floated around by the airlines.

But it's disney and they are on vacation.....

 

[Tink0102]

I guess one reason I don't understand the need or the desire for adult only places at WDW is because as soon as I drive on property I'm not an adult anymore. I revert back to around 10 or so for the duration of my stay. I have to be an adult every day, every where except for when I'm at Disney.
As far as spending time with my son....I want to spend every minute I can with him, while I can. It won't be long before he is asking for the car keys and wanting to hang out with his friends instead of with his mom and dad.

 

[MissingDisney]

I would rather be 'bothered' by an over-tired, hungry, kid who has no control over his/her vacation schedule because this is a once in a lifetime trip mom and dad saved up for over years than a egotistical, narcissistic, adult who loves the sound of their own voice. Kids have great days, good days and days that pretty much suck from beginning to end. Adults are no different.

 

[Potter]

I am still amazed at how many people actually visit these parks without children. Are you all NUTS???

 

[Prince-1]

http://www.grubstreet.com/2011/07/kid_policies.html is a good starting point for places in NYC that don't allow children.

I just can't believe the vitriol people spew when you suggest you'd like a child free dinner.

No I think its the rude, condescending, and childish way you present your argument. Almost....like a small child. Sorry couldn't help myself.

I have been to V&A twice and would not want small children there at all. It is truly the only real fine dining restaurant they have on property. The rest are very good places to eat that cater to families and that is the way it should stay. If they wish to open another adults only restaurant or change an existing one then I would be fine with that as well.

 

[psukardi]

I am still amazed at how many people actually visit these parks without children. Are you all NUTS???

I can't believe you'd take the time out of your day to post on this board. Are you nuts!?

 

[wm49rs]

Oh, the irony....

 

[Cesar R M]

But it's disney and they are on vacation.....

I did not know that "its disney" and "being on vacation" excuse gave you a free ticket to do horrible things (or act like a total to others).

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I couldn't care less if there are kids there...provided they behave. It doesn't matter if you're in WDW or Timbuktu, you have the right to enjoy dinner without screaming children running around the restaurant. That being said, loud children don't bother me at all at a place like, say, Chef Mickeys. I would probably be annoyed, however, if there was a screaming, loud, child at Yachtsman.

In the end, the child will behave as well, or as poorly, as their parents allow them.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

While I do understand that WDW is a family park first and foremost, not everything is targeted for families there. Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Space Mountain .... not for toddlers! The play area in Dumbo's tent, the Boneyard at AK, Kid Cot fun stops at Epcot... not aimed at adults! People who state that WDW is a family park and adults only restaurants shouldn't be allowed need to look at the whole picture! If you want to keep family only options, then you would need to get rid of everything targeted just for adults and everything targeted just for children and keep only everything that is family friendly. But that will never happen. Disney cannot make everything accessible to everyone. It's impossible.

As soneone posted above, if you go to Chef Mickey's, expect some louder, more rowdier behavior. If you go somewhere like Le Cellier, you should expect somewhere quieter and laid back. I should NOT expect (from my personal experience) a 5 year old girl climbing all over the bench seating, kicking me, putting her hands on and bumping into our table while grandpa sits there blowing his nose and Mom could care less. Or having a 3-4 year old child stand on top of the table next to us at Coral Reef and proceed to screech at the tops of his lungs a good 20-30 seconds before Mom or Dad did anything. While I understand that's a reflection of the PARENT and not the child, that type of behavior should NOT be displayed and I shouldn't have to deal with it, nor should anyone else dining there. I would be 100% all for children dining wherever they please, if they are well behaved but the fact of the matter is, MANY children this day in age don't know how to behave properly in a restaurant. Which is why having adults only options would be nice. I'm not saying turn 10 restaurants into adults only. Maybe like 3-4.

 

[Jrn14]

I agree with this sentiment … I do love seeing happy children at Disney World even though I don’t have my own it’s part of the fun and the experience. You expect to see misbehavior, angry kids, cranky adults randomly throughout your trip etc.. In a perfect world there would be none of this, but I can accept… there are a lot kids here and they get tired, it’s hot, it’s a lot of walking, it’s crowded.. etc.. … What I don’t think you expect is to sit down to a $35 steak at Narcosses, California Grill, or Artist Point and have kids running around the restaurant, screaming, and crying while their parents just do their best to block out the noise and avoid eye contact with their children and the other adults in the place. The one time I ate at California Grill there were children literally at our feet… crawling under our table.. they were like from 3 tables away.. and their parents couldn’t be bothered.. They ran around the restaurant the whole meal … talking to the different diners and every 8-10 minutes one of the parents would say.. “come back here” and then go back to their conversation.. It was so annoying… and a very awkward situation… I want your child to get away from me, but I don’t have it in me to be mean to a child… This shouldn’t be a group babysitting effort… I don’t mind kids being their if they behave.. and if the kids aren’t behaving that is the parents cue to leave… it’s only courteous. If your kid is acting like a brat time to go sit at a table outside cosmic rays with a burger in fries or better yet back to the hotel for a PBJ and a nap…



I too agree a basic dress code would be nice at the signature dining places… I’m not saying suit and tie, but at least a polo and khaki shorts… It slightly ruined the ambiance when we were at narcoosse and the guy next to us was wearing a Nascar T-shirt… no offense.



I also desperately miss Pleasure Island

 

[Phonedave]

Yes DUUUUUUUUUUUDE! I do! I believe Walt wanted EVERY part of the parks to be family-friendly.

But, they are not.

Take attractions for example. Some ban children under a certain height. Would you argue that all attraction should be open to all ages, and attractions such as ToT, or M:S have no place in a family park? Of course you would not.

That is the same thing with restaruants. No one is saying ALL restaruants should be adults only, but SOME should be. There should be something for everyone, just as with attractions. I would like to see one ENFORCED better dining establishment in each park. That means moderate dress code enforced, no kids under a certain age after a certain time, and decent food (maybe by keeping it off the DDP).

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

The following is just a lighthearted discussion and my views - sometimes hard to tell on these forums.

Sandals resorts are not just for adults, but they are adult orientated. .

Sandals are adult only - I don't recall if they are 18 or 21, but there is most assuredly a cut off age.

Beaches (by Sandals) are family resorts.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

Just another point of view. We at at Remy on the Dream (a similar experience to V&A), and although I brought my own suit, I wished I would have borrowed a jacket for the 2 hours I wore mine. It would saved me a lot of room and hassle!

Many places do that - not just V&A.

When I worked for the NY PSC, we could be call to give testimony at any given time. We used to keep a rack of "Emergency testimony jackets" in the office for just such an occassion.

Back when dress code was everything, the company I currently work for had a rack of jackets in case you were called up to the executive floor of headquarters for some reason.

I would not be suprized if Remy has a rack of (ill fitting) jackets somewhere.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

So there are a lot of restaurants in S.F. or theaters on Broadway that don't allow children? I did not know that!

There are plenty that if you kid acts up will have no problem with having you removed. That is the problem with WDW.

If restaruants would remove families with unruly kids (or better yet, maybe do some real parenting and remove your kids yourself (I sat in a car ONCE with each of my kids when they acted up while my wife and other kid continued to eat - they never did it again) then this would thread would not be an issue.

-dave