Disney's Victoria and Albert's Restaurant Bans Children... so what?

There has been quite a lot of press recently from the announcement that Walt Disney World's Victoria and Albert's restaurant, a 5-star designated restaurant, has decided to "ban" children under 10 from dining there. Now, I should reveal that I am a current Disney Cast Member although I have nothing to do with the restaurants or any decisions they make. However, when I heard that announcement I thought it was a good decision.

For those who have never dined at Victoria and Albert's (I have, twice), it is a very high-end restaurant with an ever-changing prix fixe daily menu that runs over $100 per person, even without any drinks. It is comprised of several courses served over a 2-hour period. They also have a strict dress code requiring gentlemen to wear a jacket (and if you don't, the "community" jacket will be provided for you to wear that night). I am quite sure they do not have a children's menu and I believe when they have made reservations in the past, they have always discouraged guests from bringing their children. Apparently, some guests didn't take the hint and must have brought their children. And some of those children must have acted up and other guests must have taken notice. And so, the recent "ban" was enacted.

This could only happen in Walt Disney World, I believe. I would hope that when parents are in their hometown, they would not think of bringing their 4-year-old with them to an exclusive, expensive, 5-star restaurant, no matter how well-behaved they believe their child to be. I know I wouldn't dream of taking my 4-year-old to a place like that. And now, the ban makes sure of that at Victoria and Albert's.

Parents who sit at separate tables from their children at restaurants

I just came from a less than enjoyable experience at a local fast-casual restaurant. It wasn't the restaurant's fault - it was the group of parents next to us that decided they wanted all the adults to sit together so they could chat. So, they parked their nine children, all under 10 by my guess, at two separate tables near them. I just don't understand that. Why would you put your young children at a table all by themselves? The kids were loud, kept getting up and moving around chairs, and, worst of all, were helping themselves to the hot sauce bar (despite the sign that clearly stated no children were allowed at the hot bar). That lead to little girls squealing that their lips were hot and trying to dig out the ice from their drinks to soothe their lips. Meanwhile, the parents were talking amongst themselves oblivious to all of this. You know, I have two young kids myself and I would never do this. They always sit at the same table with me and most of the time I make sure there is an adult sitting in between them - they have a tendency to fight if they sit together. Parents, if you want to have adult conversation at a restaurant, then get a babysitter and leave the kids at home.