Victoria and Albert's bans children under age 10

[jillluvsdisney]

I just read this on the AP wire. I wonder what brought that about? I don't think it's a bad thing. I can't imagine many adults would bring a child to dinner there. I hope this isn't a slippery slide to other restaurants like California Grill or Artists' Point.

[dteed]

Interesting. I don't see California Grill or Artist Point doing this though.

[Goofeygal]

I hope also that it will not become something alot of the resort restaurants do.

[garymacd]

Like Jill said, I can't see a lot of parents bringing their children there. I also can't see a child getting their money's worth of the food served at V & A. What would they serve? Elk or Moose meat burgers and french fried french fries?

[SurferStitch]

I actually already thought that was the policy.

I don't think the policy is a big deal at all. In all of the times we've dined there, I've only ever seen one teen, and she was around 14 or 15.

Personally, I see (and hear) plenty of children at all of the other resort and park restaurants, and it's very nice to dine in an all-adult restaurant one night....... especially when we're paying over $500 for a gourmet meal.

[DisneyLuver91]

Children under 10 are no longer allowed to dine at Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian.

I think that its a little silly to ban kids from a hotel restaurant.

Opinions are great!

[Tinkermom]

I actually thought this was already the case. V&A's is a wonderfully romantic and very gourmet restaurant. It is the one place on Disney property to go and enjoy a quiet adult meal. Kind of like Palo on the Disney Cruise Line. Palo is also an adult only restaurant.

[Wayne]

Personally, I see (and hear) plenty of children at all of the other resort and park restaurants, and it's very nice to dine in an all-adult restaurant one night....... especially when we're paying over $500 for a gourmet meal.

Agreed.

[dkfajr1]

I think it's appropriate. It's a gourmet restaurant, I would NEVER bring my young children there. They wouldn't understand the atmosphere, food, etc. I know I can't get my young one's to sit still for that long.

[DizneyRox]

We got married at WDW. On the invitation, it said, "Children are not welcome at the reception." Yes, we made alternate arrangments for them (and we paid for them) but nobody seemed to complain. It turned out to be a nice peaceful meal, I would expect the same at V&A or any formal restaurant at WDW, it's not too much to ask.

[teambricker04]

I wouldn't ever bring my three year old or 6 month old, but I think that it is silly for a place known for being kid friendly to ban kids.

Sure it is expensive, and most people wouldn't be crazy enough to bring in a small child, but as the article states "Only about three families a month ever brought young children to Victoria & Albert's, said Rosemary Rose, Disney's vice president for food, beverage and merchandise operations." Then why ban them and get all the negative publicity? And... like jillluvsdisney, I hope this doesn't become a "thing".

Who made this terrible decision? Dumb... just dumb.

[#1donaldfan]

That's just silly !!!!!!!!!!!! Is Disney for kids and the kids that are still in us?????? If you want to fork out several hundred dollars for your child to eat there, then that should be your decision. Really, 99.9% of people go to Disney for fun and relaxation, not to be winned and dinned, if you want that, go to an all adult resort. What if someone has a youngster who loves that type of food, the parents want to treat themselves there, well, now they can't go becasue of a ban???? I agree that sometimes kids will be kids and "act up", but most of the times I feel that those parents who have kids that tend to act up while eating, won't take them there.....What if you have two kids, one that is 15 and one that is 7....do you just leave the 7 yr old in the room????? I think that an exclusion from a place to eat is a bad thing at Disney !

[Meteora]

I have no problem with this. While Disney is obviously a child-friendly place, it tries to provide experiences for people of all ages, and I think having an adult-only restaurant provides a nice option for couples visiting without kids or with older kids that would like to have a fancy dinner. There are plenty (PLENTY) of other dining options for families.

I agree that sometimes kids will be kids and "act up", but most of the times I feel that those parents who have kids that tend to act up while eating, won't take them there

If this were unequivocally true, I might agree, but unfortunately, not everyone is like our beloved Intercot posters. I have seen many families take their young children to fancy restaurants and let their youngsters scream or carry on during the meal. In addition, usually well-behaved kids might start acting up if they are brought to a place where they have to sit still for several hours without much entertainment. I would find it hard to believe that V&A would set this policy if they had never had problems with kids acting out or had never received a complaint about young kids disrupting the dining atmosphere. And, as I said, there are plenty of other options, including leaving your kids with a baby-sitter or at one of the child-care centers while the adults enjoy a meal, or just going to a different restaurant. I was a first grade teacher, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say it would be a rare seven year old who enjoyed a 3 hour dinner of gourmet food anyway.

[PetefromRI]

I have to agree with the new policy.Out of all the places to eat in Disney it's only this one restaurant.I'd hate to spend 300.00 or better for dinner and have it spoiled by one unruley child.As long as this doesn't trickle down to other restaurants which I doubt it will.

[#1donaldfan]

I think I am just afraid that with this, it just makes it easier to enforce future bans, for all sorts of different reasons. I just feel that if it's at Disney, then all ages should be welcome, I guess now with the exception of PI, and now V&A's......also, I doubt too, that a 7 yr old would like this atmosphere, but again, shouldn't it be up to the parents? I just don't like seeing places being banned....and hopefully this is not a future trend at some of the more "upscale" eateries.....every parent needs some "alone" time and time without the kids, but if your on vacation at Disney, why is it necessary to exclude them while there???? I know I'm being rash or hard on those who go without kids and want to enjoy the time they've alloted for their vacations.....so I'll just stop here........please everyone, don't be too hard on me for "sticking up for the kids"....

[jedigrrrl]

I ate there last January and I would have been super upset if there was a child in there running around and screaming which happens at every other TS in WDW. While I don't mind at other TS places that are more casual and less expensive (even Cali grill has a MUCH MUCH more casual loud vibe that is totally appropriate for children. And Our meal for 2 at Cali cost HALF of what it cost at V&A). It takes 3 hours to eat at V&A and it is quite a boring place. Children under 10 have no business being there and parents who take them, even if it's 3 a month, are inconsiderate to the people shelling out hundreds of dollars for a quiet gourmet meal. And if your child is into gourmet meals, then take them elsewhere and wait until they are 11 to eat at V&A.

I like the new policy.

[SBETigg]

Banning under-tens from V & A is absolutely no indication that they're going to do it at other Disney establishments. The only other restaurant on property that doesn't offer a children's menu is Bistro de Paris. All other restaurants, including the Signature dining places, are obviously child-welcoming and family-friendly. Why not have one or two places that are more adult-oriented or even adult-only? I see no problem with it and no need to worry that it will be a trend.

[Catzle]

I don't really have a problem with this new policy, but as a parent of young children while on vacation I would NEVER go any where without them. Since most families have very limited time together throughout the year while on vacation I just couldn't justify leaving my children with strangers so I could go out to dinner.

[SBETigg]

I don't really have a problem with this new policy, but as a parent of young children while on vacation I would NEVER go any where without them. Since most families have very limited time together throughout the year while on vacation I just couldn't justify leaving my children with strangers so I could go out to dinner.

Yes, but this isn't the case for every Disney visitor. It's a top honeymoon destination as well as a favorite place for a lot of travelers without kids. When your kids are older, like mine, you may still be headed to WDW for vacations and welcome the chance to have a nice adult meal while your older teens have a chance to go explore on their own. WDW will always be a family vacation destination, but they can't ignore the great number of adults who do travel without kids. It's nice to have one or two options for adults who seek a peaceful respite and enjoy fine dining. This doesn't mean that those same adults don't expect and even enjoy being surrounded by kids for the rest of their Disney vacation.

[BethieTink]

I totally support this policy and I wouldn't mind seeing it trickle down to a few other Disney restaurants. I know I am in the minority here and that is fine. I also would love it if Disney did Adult Only days at some of the parks once in a while.

My DH and I have no children (except for 3 felines) and have no intention to. Our favorite vacation spot, however, is WDW. We like to do a couple of Signature meals a trip and we wouldn't mind if we knew that there wouldn't be a lot of kids there. I think the age of 10 for the Signature restaurants is extreme, but what about 5. I for one don't want to be sitting trying to enjoy $80 Chateaubriand at the Yachtsman with a crying infant next to me. That would totally ruin my evening.

There are plenty of restaurants on property that cater to families with kids. We eat at them and enjoy them (including watching the kids have fun), but some night we don't feel like doing that.

Some parents don't have the sense not to bring the kids everywhere. Case in point, I invited some friends to a group birthday dinner for myself, at a restaurant that would not be appropriate for children, since we were visiting their city at the time. She declined because she didn't think her youngest (who won't even be 2 at the time) would enjoy it. I am glad she did decline, because our 10 other friends who were all coming without children, would not have been happy, but couldn't believe that she would even consider bringing the kids there.

IMO, kids shouldn't be taken everywhere, even at Disney.