Yes, this is true. Orlando Sentinel reports that Walt Disney World has banned children from one of the resorts restaurants, Victoria & Albert's in the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Disney the company that has in a way brought a new family vacation has changed this by banning children from the only restaurant with a five diamond rating from AAA travel service. Children younger than 10 are no longer welcome at Victoria & Albert's, this new policy took effect Tuesday.
I have mixed ideas about this ban, on one hand I agree with it, because well nothing about Victoria & Albert's, really does appeal to children.
And I have been a a few dinners at Brown Derby, Cinderella's, and at the resorts where kids are running around the resturant like it is a playground, while their parents sit there saying nothing.
On the other hand Walt Disney World is a family destination, and I can not understand this, from a company that promoted "family vacations, family destination" in their advertising.
For those who have not dined there. There is a dress code (men have to wear jackets and women must wear dresses or pantsuits). The dining room seats about 100 patrons, and features live harp music. The menu, changes daily and offers, seven course dinners that can last as long as three hours, prices for dinner start at $125 a person.
Here is the article: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-nokids0508jan05,0,1847874.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout
What are your thoughts on this.
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Comments: 74
Mind you I love and discipline my kids but some do not. I think it is a great idea.
There are millions of restaraunts around there that are "family friendly". I think they really need a nice, high end, let's have a nice date night without screaming kids and drink expensive wine restaraunt.
I bet it's a goldmine.
Yes I agree who wants to spend that much and listen to screaming kids.
I agree it is nice to have a "date nite" place while at WDW.
We went there once, it was busy, we have tried to go since and we could not get in on two different occasions.
I agree
I agree with you
And Disney wants to expand until it takes over the world, anyway - so it's now all kinds of things. Just watch, soon it will also have a "Pirates Gay Bar" ha ha (no kids there either).
Only thing I think is they should have made the place 16 years+, not 10 LOL
I like that idea for a bar ;-)
Yes it would be great to have one place no kids, I bet Victoria & Albert's gets busier because of the ban
Yes I agree with you.
It seems parents seem to check their brains when they get to Disney, they let their kids run everywhere - very out of control
Thanks for your comment.
I agree
It is not a place I normally go to, mainly because of price, because for the cost of one meal I can have at least two if not more. But like you say shorts & tee's when I go to WDW that is all I want to wear.
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Thank you ;-)
I just have a hard time remembering to bring ressy clothing when going to WDW, but hey I can go to the mall if I really want to dine there.
Thanks ;-)
Thank you
It is a very nice resturant, I agree with everyone about the ban, but part of me still see's WDW as for kids...
I think in all it was because of customer feedback that decided to ban kids.
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thank you
On the other hand, I do understand that there are some places kids just shouldn't be. And I certainly would not be willing to bring my kids along to a restaurant such as this and pay $125 per person just to eat dinner, espeically for kids who don't eat much anyway. But that's just me :)
But ultimately, it is up to the owners to decide who they want in their restaurant and if we don't like it, we don't have to dine there. And from your description of the place (dress code, $125/a person, etc.) it doesn't sound like a place for me anyway.
Let me pencil it in on my list of 'Places Not To Go To'.
Thank you
The dress code is what does it for me, when I am at Disney the last hing I want to do is get dressed up for dinner.
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Thank you ;-)
Thanks ;-)
thanks for your comment
thanks for your comment
The best margins at restaurants are found in alcohol. The presence of children tend to call adults, who are spending lots of money, to buy less, thereby damping the potential for higher margins.
As such, V&A is merely making a business decision to differently position themselves. There is no moral judgement being performed, they simply seek to serve a different market segment.
I can see your point, but I don't believe Disney caters to the younger children in all it does. Look at the "hidden messages"/suggestiveness in some of it's films! They are a brilliantly marketed company... they cater to EVERYONE willing to give them a buck!
I'm also a Mom that brought her kids up to be respectful and well-behaved, but I'm also quick to admit that too many families don't! I'm also going to admit that I would not take my kids to a $125/plate dinner in the middle of a family vacation that is supposed to be centered around fun and excitement! Heck, based on the dresscode and for a family of five, that's at least one more suitcase to haul around! Why?
What's wrong with a business establishing a policy, such as adults only?
I'm all for the ban! There are a gazillion places to eat at Disney (all overpriced in my opinion), so it's not like anyone will be denied an opportunity to eat!
Families, yes. And Disney caters to them very thoroughly.
But a restaurant in this category is simply not suitable for young children... and families who want to be together at Walt Disney World will surely find lots to do and lots of places to eat too...
I think it has to do with the fact that many people no longer think about what is or is not suitable for young children to experience. Sitting quietly in a very expensive restaurant (which probably doesn't even serve a lot of food the kids appreciate...) doesn't seem suitable to me, and even w/o the ban I would never take them there :-)
Disney= Do whatever we want.
I never allowed my kids to do this. That's what all that fat on their backside was put there for.
Yes, I know I'm probably fixing to get bashed for spanking my kids. But I did...not abuse: Discipline. For the most part, they are happy, well adjusted young adults. My son works for UPS, and both of my daughters are in college. No warping their personalities...etc.
OK I"m off my soap box now. Sorry. Just left Walmart, where I so desparetely wanted to tell a mother that if she'd quit giving the kid everything off the shelf to keep him from screaming that it would work better in the long run.