Dining in Disney World can be harder than you may realize!
Disney’s BoardWalk
Not only are there countless restaurants inside Disney World’s four parks, but there are MORE restaurants located at each hotel on property, as well as in Disney’s BoardWalk area and Disney Springs. So how do you decide where to go? Well, that’s what we’re here for! We’ve eaten at every Disney World restaurant and can give you the scoop on what’s worth your time and money, and what you may want to skip. It’s important to remember though that while Disney World is a family park, there are certain areas that kids aren’t allowed (namely, bars), and while we love going to Disney World with our families, we do think there should be an age minimum placed at these restaurants at certain times of day.
Now, to start, we want to preface by saying that we’re not saying kids shouldn’t be allowed at these restaurants AT ALL — we’re just saying that a certain late hour of the night, maybe it’s time for an 18+ or 21+ experience (and kids are usually exhausted and need to go to bed by this time anyway). Something similar to what Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Bar at Disney’s Polynesian Village does! After 8PM each night, only guests 21+ are admitted to Trader Sam’s, and we think that would do well to be applied to a few more places (with maybe a slightly later start time).
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
First up on our list is California Grill. This restaurant is typically open until 10PM most nights, with dinner being served from 5-10PM. That’s relatively early, but we do think maybe starting adults-only (or 16+) reservations at 8PM could be beneficial, OR having certain days a week where dining is adults-only. Families wouldn’t be able to book a reservation on those particular nights and add their kids on, so just in case they miss the statement saying that 1-2 nights a week it’s adults-only dining, they wouldn’t be able to make a reservation only to be disappointed later.
California Grill
While the panoramic views at this restaurant can be enjoyed by everyone, it is a more upscale environment, which some kids find to be more boring, and sometimes the menu doesn’t appeal to their tastebuds either. However, if you’re an adult visiting and you want to dine here, and hope it’s a little quieter, you can also always check out the lounge! Kids are, of course, allowed in here as well, but since it’s first-come, first-served, many families will prefer a solid reservation to ensure they’ll get to eat.
Fireworks out the windows at California Grill
Getting a spot at the lounge is never guaranteed, but the earlier you arrive that evening, the better chance you’ll have!
Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Next up on the list is also on the Magic Kingdom Hotel area Monorail loop, but we also think Cítricos could benefit from some adults-only or 16+ dining every once in a while, especially around dinner time. Now, this restaurant is typically only open until about 9:30, so for here, we think having adults-only reservations begin at 8PM 1-2 days a week could be beneficial.
Cítricos
This is another fine-dining establishment, although it’s not as expensive as California Grill, which sits at $60+ per adult for its prix-fixe meal. Attire is expected to match the upscale environment, and while there is a kids menu, it may not what you want to be spending this money on (for example, a Grilled Cheese Sandwich meal served with JUST a Small Lowfat Milk, Small DASANI® Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice, is $13.50).
Cítricos Lounge
There is a lounge here as well, so if you’re visiting soon, be sure to get in line and request a spot in the lounge close to when they open at 5PM.
Flying Fish at Disney’s BoardWalk
Many guests forget about Disney’s BoardWalk, but it’s just a few minutes away by foot from EPCOT, and is easily accessible by Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well. You don’t need to be staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn to check out the dining options over here, one of which is Flying Fish. This is another fine dining restaurant that serves gourmet seafood.
Flying Fish
Now, the kids menu here is a little more tied to the restaurant’s seafood theme (but there are other options as well, for kids and adults), but again, since the restaurant is open until 9:30PM, we do think adults-only reservations beginning at 8PM (or adults-only dining on certain days of the week) may be a good idea.
Flying Fish
While Abracadabar is right next door, it doesn’t have the same menu as Flying Fish, which DOESN’T have a lounge. So if you’re wanting to try out this menu, dining at the restaurant itself, which ranges in price of $35-$60 per adult, is your only option.
Chilean Sea Bass at Flying Fish
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What other restaurant would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!
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Generally, we expect to have kids around when we dine at Disney. One of our worst experiences with kids occurred at Coral Reef. We were seated next to the aquarium glass, not our request just happened. For some reason parents thought it fine to allow there kids to run around our table, squeal at the sea turtles, and reach over our plates. One kid practically climbed into my lap. His mother thought it was cute. I think no matter the time or which restaurant, they need to stay at their table unless it’s like Ohana or Whispering Canton where cast members have them participating in an activity.
Get out of here!! That is a horrible opinion! If anything, how about adults can have Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace & Coral Reef? Those can be the adult only spots. What’s the justification to the best spots on property?
Why can’t kids have the good food? We are already super upset that we had to wait until 10 to bring our son to V&A. We go to Capa all the time and it’s Michelin Star, no issue.
Honestly I think it’s a jealousy thing, not an age of child thing. People become jealous they didn’t get to dine in nice restaurants as a child. More likely than not, because of the price tag associated with it.
And I think that’s the biggest issue… people thinking that expensive, means adults only. As if kids can’t enjoy money. People who act like their money is greener, are the worst.
It is WDW, act like it and know one’s place.
We were at WDW last week and I said I think there should be a rule that children under the age of 4 should not be allowed in the parks between the hours of 1 & 3 with the following disclaimer – “If you’re not smart enough to know that your kid need a nap, we’re telling you … YOUR KID NEEDS A NAP!” Same thing with restaurants – kids should have had dinner LONG before 8 PM. I don’t care if you ARE on vacation. Kids get cranky when their schedule is messed with – and other people shouldn’t have to put up with your cranky kids because you’re feeding them dinner too late. People expect their kids to all of a sudden be good with a different schedule just because they paid a fortune for a trip the kids won’t even remember.
Topolinos- 100 percent. We love it there but numerous times after 9pm. the table next to or near us had small children- cranky and crying. When my husband and I are spending $200 to $300 on dinner, I would prefer no kids. It is one of the reasons why we try to make later dinner reservations… The hope that children will not be in the restaurant at 10 PM
I remember dining many years ago at Victoria & Albert’s when there was a screaming infant at the table next to us. It was distracting to everyone inside the restaurant, both Guests and Cast Members alike. I should also note that young children were allowed to dine there too. Fast-forward a number of years and Disney eventually made it a requirement that a Guest must be 10 years of age and older in order to dine at Victoria & Albert’s.
So, should Disney add an age requirement of 21 years of age and older to some of their fine dining establishments? Yes.
I understand adults want some time away from kids at night. This is Disney World, created for family and kids of all ages. If parent want to take kids to restaurants late night that is there choice. There are cultures around the world that come alive late night. If you want to the experience without kids go to Universal or many Orlando restaurants around. Don’t start banning kids from Disney locations!!!!!
Good thinking! I think they should also have kid cards at the casinos in Vegas, where is free to play slot machines for fun. If would be so much better for parents to be able to enjoy the casinos with their kids and not have to worry about who’s watching them!
It’s a shame that parents won’t remove a cranky, crying kids from the restaurant, instead they will subject the entire restaurant to disrespectful parenting. If my daughter ever acted up in public, I would just remove her from the experience (grocery store, restaurant), without hesitation. It’s rude at best to keep a screaming ill-mannered child in the restaurant.
I don’t know if banning children, or having an age limit is the answer, I don’t know. I remember one instance where our waitress had an obnoxious table of rude adults (yes, loud and screaming at the kids, etc.). I wish they could have been asked to leave.
There are merits to both sides of the conversation. I would be okay with it for the top one or two restaurants at WDW, but it won’t happen. But one can dream, right?
There is no reason that plenty of places couldn’t have adults only hours or nights, and still leave plenty of time for families who want to dine in the same places. Too many people don’t take care of their children, including keeping them from bothering others, in the parks. If the children were well rested, well tended, and well behaved, no one would care, right? My parents took us everywhere they wanted to, and they admit it was because we would behave ourselves, and they admit that things are different now. I had plenty of upscale experiences as a child because my parents ensured that we would behave ourselves and that we were equipped with the rest, supervision, generally whatever we needed in order to ensure that was the case. Everyone should be prevented from ruining the experience of anyone else, and that includes children. If adults-only places and hours are the only way to keep that from happening, then they should exist.
Money can’t buy manners!
Kids at the California Grill doesn’t bother me. The Prix Fixe menu bothers me. For decades, the California Grill was a mandatory stop every trip. NO MORE! Recently, we did do the Prix Fixe menu. I’m not a sushi snob, but I’m positive the sushi I had at dinner had been prepared by the day crew – – hours earlier. That’s unacceptable for sushi. We used to sit at the sushi counter, dating back to when Yoshi was the sushi chef. We will not return until the CG cleans up its act, and dumps the prix fixe menu in a return to ala carte.
I agree with all of this. Plus I don’t think it’s too much to ask that children not be allowed to sit at the bar. It’s fine if they sit at a table in the bar area but the bar itself should be reserved for adults. That’s also fairer to the bartenders than having prime tipping seats taken by children.
Just a wild guess here…You’re childless.
I know I am showing my age but was there not a section of what is now Disney Springs that used to be called Pleasure Island which was only for adults only why can’t there still be an area like that I’m not saying the entire Disney Springs but just a section
Keep in mind while some are flippantly critiquing stranger’s parenting that some parents are managing children with disabilities. Something that may look like misbehavior or disruption to you could just be a symptom of their child’s disability. It may seem inconvenient for you in the moment but you might think about trying to have empathy for those living with the disability themselves.
It may also benefit some patrons to exercise companion and understanding. Some people save for years to be able to bring their children to Disney just for a few days.
As you may know, coveted restaurant reservations are difficult to come by and may only be available at later times.
While certainly I can sympathize with a restaurant patron listening to a fussy child in a restaurant. In those fleeting moments I would quickly remind myself that I am at a restaurant in Disney World. This is a venue that was created for children. In most other circumstances I would understand your frustration.
BUT if they DO decide to have adult only dining, I believe they should also have child only rides AND character experiences. There is nothing worse than paying nearly $200 for a photo pass and wait over an hour on line just to have a 40 year old man block your kids face to put his hands up only for the camera on ride that 3 year olds can get on. Or waiting 45 minutes in direct sun to meet Goofy with a 3 year old in a line of all adults.
These places aren’t really for kids anyway. I wouldn’t take my two littles (11 and 8) to any of these restaurants because 1) it’s expensive; and 2) they wouldn’t eat the food anyway. When we go we eat at Ohana, Tusker House, or any of the other kid-friendly places. The forementioned places aren’t really designed with kids in mind. They are more for the couples who have some extra money to spend on food that they will eat.
I was celebrating my 60th birthday at California Grill with my party of adults. There was a baby there celebrating it’s first birthday. Why on earth the parents didn’t choose a character dinner for the child is beyond me. The celebration was more for them than the child.
If you are at Disney and complaining about kids then you are the problem. Kids can be jumpy and loud and all kinds of annoying, but if you want to avoid that then stop going to places that cater to them.
Pleasure Island was open to everyone, BUT, you had to have a wrist band to be able to buy alcohol. My sister and I brought my daughter, niece and nephew many times. We went to all the dance clubs too. They were young teens at the time. We went for the entertainment. If you all can’t take the kids, go to Club Med!
Pleasure Island was not “adults only”. My son was 7 the first time we went to WDW and we went to Pleasure Island.
I absolutely agree!!! I’m so tired of screaming kids everywhere.I go to dine!!! When I was a child my parents controlled my actions.There was no running around and screaming today, most parents don’t do that.Not all parents , just MOST of the ones i’ve seen. There was a person who commented about. Why can’t children dine in expensive places? That’s not the purpose of this Article, it’s the way they act!!!
No, Disney World was not created just for children.I’m sorry, Disney World was also created for adults because guess what?We pay for it.Children don’t …adults pay!!!
Walt wanted a place where children AND adults could enjoy themselves. There were plenty of places that were just about kids, and he wanted to create a place where the adults would also enjoy themselves. If he had known or seen the upscale dining evolution that has occurred at WDW, I am sure that a man of Walt’s generation would have expected that after 8 or 9 at night, children would not have been in the restaurants. Twenty years after he passed away, people wouldn’t have taken children to an upscale restaurant at that hour – the children would have been at home with other relatives or a sitter while the parents went out. Walt would not have envisioned – or I believe, endorsed – children of an age where they couldn’t be expected to behave to be in settings like that, especially at later hours. I think most people who passed away by 1966 would be appalled at what much guest behavior is like today, adults and children.
Disney is not “created for children” and there is NOTHING wrong with expecting children to behave properly out of respect for other people. I fully endorse adult only dining.
And in response to the comments about disabilities — having a child with disabilities does not give you a free pass to inconvenience others and ruin their experience. Coming from experience, it might be difficult and feel unfair to skip or remove a child from certain things because of their disability but it is what should be done. The effect of a disruptive child is the same regardless of the reasons and you should also remember that others with disabilities could be deeply disturbed by those behaviors. They should be respected. If my child is melting down, get upset, is loud…we leave. Period. I don’t explain why and demand people deal with it.
Part of me agrees with this in principle. And I will admit, I have on occasion asked my server if there is any way that I could order a poison apple for the table next to us. A comment here caused a light bulb to go off for me. Like so much with WDW these days and don’t get me wrong, I still love it…but this is a purely economical decision. People usually define adult as 18+ or even 16+. How are adult admission tickets defined, 9+. That’s more than likely why that one restaurant has a restriction of 10+. Logically, if you are charging a 10 year old with adult admission prices, you are defining the age of an adult and what they can experience while on your property. If the accepted definition of adult was to become 16 or 18, think about the amount of money that Disney would forfeit because at least one person whose child is considered an adult for park admission but not for dining options is going to sue. And well since Florida is what it is right now, it’s gonna be a hard case to argue – it’s okay to have cranky kids in the park who are paying “adults” but not in a restaurant where they are considered not adults?
The potential for lost revenue from the difference between a child’s ticket and an adult ticket isn’t worth it for Disney.
Quite a controversial subject. We never went to signature restaurants when my son was a child, we don’t even go now as it’s so much money. We did do table service restaurants though and are pleased to say that our son was always very well behaved even when he was at the age of sitting in a high chair. Lots of independent cafes and restaurants here in the UK say that they “welcome well behaved children “ (and dogs, come to that). I think that makes people think before they make a decision to dine there. What I really object to is children getting down from the table and running round restaurants. It’s dangerous. If they run into a server carrying a tray of hot food and that gets dropped, the hot food & broken crockery could hurt both the server and the child. Eating at home, we always used to ask”please may I leave the table?” when we had finished eating but we’d never have asked that in a restaurant because you only left when your whole party left.
IF YOUR CHILDREN ARE WELL BEHAVED AND STAY IN THEIR SEATS LIKE LITTLE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, then I have no issue with children in these finer dining places. If they are going to run around like heathens and their parents are going to turn the other cheek to their behavior, then the parents and the children should be asked to leave. What a lot of people DO NOT UNDERSTAND is that your children running around like holy terrors is a danger to them as well as staff and other patrons. I was a waitress in a local restaurant and once saw a child and the staff member get burned by hot food when the MISBEHAVING BANSHEE ran into the server and a plate of sizzling fajitas fell onto both the server and the child. The parents attempted to sue the restaurant, but video presented in court clearly showed the child running around and into the server and the parents had allowed the child to misbehave (child was running around the restaurant for over 10 minutes and parents did NOTHING). The judge ruled that the parents were negligent in their parenting of their child and were ultimately responsible. Now, in a place like California Grill, most people want to take advantage of watching fireworks during or after their meal, but the viewing area can be a serious danger to the child!
No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I get that if you’re trying to have a special romantic night out you might not want to hear children, crying, or see kids running up and down the restaurant. And yes, I’ve seen some parents let their kids run wild, sometimes because they can’t control them, sometimes out of neglect because they’re just too busy having fun them selves to supervise. But it’s still Disney and everyone knows that going in. The most I could see is, similar to a stated dress code, certain upscale restaurants posting a code of behavior at the front desks and on the website and app that mentions that children are expected to act like young ladies and gentlemen, not raise their voices, not leave their seats unless accompanied by an adult, blah blah blah. It couldn’t really be enforced because there are simply times when a baby will cry or a toddler will break down, but it would set a level of expectations that might make some parents think twice about choosing those places over some others. And it could make it easier for staff to confront parents when their children are disrupting other guests with possibly hazardous behavior. It just takes one child underfoot to bump into an elderly person and cause a fall, or to trip up a server carrying hot food, causing a burning spill on the child, other guests, or the staff. All lawsuits waiting to happen. But no, unless there is specific adult entertainment (like at the Edison) or it’s specifically a bar that I don’t think it makes sense to ban all children from Disney restaurants, even late, because SOME parents can’t control or haven’t taught their children how to behave. My wife and I always brought our only child with us to nicer restaurants and the staff would often mention how well she behaved and how surprising it was she would be eating foods like rack of lamb, fried oysters, steak tartar etc. (all her decision) at the age of 10. Sometimes traveling from NY, or just a long park day, meant we’d be eating late and it would have been a shame if we couldn’t have brought her to Cali Grill for a meal and the fireworks, or just to experience watching the chefs in Flying Fish’s open kitchen.
I don’t have a problem with that. But Disney say children are adults when they are 10 years old. So the cut off should be 10. Not 16/18/21.
Most age 10+ can sit at a table nicely.
Also, if an adult only romantic meal is wanted I’d suggest Disney isn’t the best option. It’s a family amusement park.