Disney World Says No to Kids

Published on Monday, January 7, 2008, by Traci Vogel / Edit Post

Benjamin Disraeli once declared that “children of under ten years of age should never be allowed to pass through the front doors of any respectable restaurant.” This week, Disney World, of all places, is taking his advice to heart. Victoria & Albert’s restaurant, at Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort, has decided to stop serving children under 10. The news makes for a mildly amusing headline (AP’s: Disney World Restaurant Bans Children), but it just seems to be common sense for a place that serves seven-course meals and charges a minimum of $125 a head. A Disney spokesperson says, “We find that our guests are really looking for an intimate experience and an adult-oriented atmosphere, and we want to make sure we meet those expectations.”

Interestingly, it’s hard to imagine “real-world” restaurants getting away with this kind of ban, but some would argue that they should.

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  • I prefer Gary Danko's (I think it was his restaurant) policy: while they welcome diners of all ages, they expect all of their guests to behave in manner conducive to fine dining. And I would fully support them tossing out any obnoxious parties. That policy should also be a flag for parents considering bringing squirmers out with them. But if they have a little fine-dining princess, it won't...+READ

    I prefer Gary Danko's (I think it was his restaurant) policy: while they welcome diners of all ages, they expect all of their guests to behave in manner conducive to fine dining. And I would fully support them tossing out any obnoxious parties. That policy should also be a flag for parents considering bringing squirmers out with them. But if they have a little fine-dining princess, it won't bother me.-COLLAPSE

  • Good for them. Finally a palce that recognizes somne diners want a screech free environment. Disney has TONS of other things to offer the ankle biters, I doubt they'll miss out on much.

    Funny that a place named after two rather fertile and prolific people bans kids, though.

  • I have had the pleasure of eating at V & A (without children) and can state that it is an absolutely wonderful experience. From the setting to the service to the food, it is worth the price. If you look at some of the Disney websites, you can see a sample of their ever-changing menu. When you are seated, they hand you a menu with your name printed on it. A harpist plays quietly throughout the...+READ

    I have had the pleasure of eating at V & A (without children) and can state that it is an absolutely wonderful experience. From the setting to the service to the food, it is worth the price. If you look at some of the Disney websites, you can see a sample of their ever-changing menu. When you are seated, they hand you a menu with your name printed on it. A harpist plays quietly throughout the meal, which lasts 2-3 hours. After several days of high activity at WDW, it is a "foodie" sanctuary.-COLLAPSE

  • For $125 a head, the least they could do is publish the menu, or if it changes frequently, a sample menu. I looked at the link and couldn't find anything that gives any indication of what the "luxurious" ingredients could be.

    I eat at places this expensive a few times a year (without children), and usually spend some time on the website perusing the menu beforehand.

    But, I'm also not a...+READ

    For $125 a head, the least they could do is publish the menu, or if it changes frequently, a sample menu. I looked at the link and couldn't find anything that gives any indication of what the "luxurious" ingredients could be.

    I eat at places this expensive a few times a year (without children), and usually spend some time on the website perusing the menu beforehand.

    But, I'm also not a Disneyworld frequenter.-COLLAPSE

  • There are still plenty of other places to spend $500 dollars on dinner there, just one haven for those who would prefer a little more of an assurance of their desired ambience when they drop their $500.

  • Oh, good, then the temptation of spending $500 on a dinner at Disney World, should we ever visit, is off the table, so to speak.

  • Kudos to them for sacking up despite the possible PR hit, though I would have raised the age to twelve. Perhaps this will start a trend at other pricey restaurants, though when not at a place like Disney, children are probably infrequently brought into establishments which are serving $100pp fare.

  • Fine.
    But I wouldn't pay that much just to have a kid-free dining experience.