Rethinking Epcot restaurants... with 2yo daughter!

[Veronique]

We have the dining plan with one table meals a day and we're planning 3 dinners in EPCOT. One of those will be Akershus

We have a 7 years old son and a 2 years old daughter who is, let's say not patient (or as I call her "my little monster") !

So we locked it down to 5 restaurants but can't decide!

1 - Teppan Edo: we love japanese cuisine, but we fear my daughter will not enjoy the show and just try to touch the grill.

2 - Chef de France: but we think it will be too "quiet" and my picky kids might complain.

3 - San Angel : We both love the look, theming and ambiance. We know the food do not get the best reviews.

4 - Biergertan: I'm not a fan of german cuisine, but the music and dancing might keep our daughter occupied!

5 - Via Napoli : Everyone should love the food and I think the restaurant is not too quiet.

Any thoughts and experiences on those restaurants with toddlers?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would go with Biergarten, as it's also buffet and it'll be easier to feed the 2-year-old. It's the most appropriate of your list for a squirmer, and no one will have to "wait" for food.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We have the dining plan with one table meals a day and we're planning 3 dinners in EPCOT. One of those will be Akershus

We have a 7 years old son and a 2 years old daughter who is, let's say not patient (or as I call her "my little monster") !

So we locked it down to 5 restaurants but can't decide!

1 - Teppan Edo: we love japanese cuisine, but we fear my daughter will not enjoy the show and just try to touch the grill.

2 - Chef de France: but we think it will be too "quiet" and my picky kids might complain.

3 - San Angel : We both love the look, theming and ambiance. We know the food do not get the best reviews.

4 - Biergertan: I'm not a fan of german cuisine, but the music and dancing might keep our daughter occupied!

5 - Via Napoli : Everyone should love the food and I think the restaurant is not too quiet.

Any thoughts and experiences on those restaurants with toddlers?

I would do Via Napoli. I agree with your assessment. Via Napoli is bright, casual and not particularly quiet (but not chaotic) either. If your 2-year old gets squirmy, you can walk her around the courtyard right outside the restaurant.

I would probably also consider San Angel. The food isn't great, but watching the boats go by is fun and you can walk her around the pavilion if she is antsy.

I wouldn't do Teppan Edo. If she gets antsy, you'll miss the show and, yeah, touching the grill would be bad. Have you considered Tokyo Dining? It's an a la carte Japanese restaurant. It's really nice and the service is wonderful. Personally, I would do that over San Angel just for food quality.

If you think your kids will complain at Chefs, I wouldn't do it. I'm not a big fan of the food and I think you will have better luck at some of the other restaurants.

My concern with Biergarten is 1) you don't like the food and 2) it's a buffet, so you will be negotiating getting your food, your kids' food and managing the 2-year old. When DS was younger, I started avoiding WDW buffets like the plague because it was so much up and down. I'm afraid that between going to the buffet and trying to entertain your 2-year old on the dance floor, you'll never get the chance to eat the German food you don't like!

 

[robl45]

Honestly, I don't think any of them are super for kids. Never been to the norway princess one. My daughter would love it, but none of us would eat anything there. That would probably be a good choice. Garden grill could be good as it has characters. The coral reef restaurant might be good as the kids can watch the fish. Teppan Edo has the show although we stopped going as the kids food was terrible and my kids wouldn't eat the steak and we enjoy pretty much any other hibachi better than teppan edo. My kids almost managed to get a crayon on the stove. That was interesting as they cleaned melted crayon.

We have the dining plan with one table meals a day and we're planning 3 dinners in EPCOT. One of those will be Akershus

We have a 7 years old son and a 2 years old daughter who is, let's say not patient (or as I call her "my little monster") !

So we locked it down to 5 restaurants but can't decide!

1 - Teppan Edo: we love japanese cuisine, but we fear my daughter will not enjoy the show and just try to touch the grill.

2 - Chef de France: but we think it will be too "quiet" and my picky kids might complain.

3 - San Angel : We both love the look, theming and ambiance. We know the food do not get the best reviews.

4 - Biergertan: I'm not a fan of german cuisine, but the music and dancing might keep our daughter occupied!

5 - Via Napoli : Everyone should love the food and I think the restaurant is not too quiet.

Any thoughts and experiences on those restaurants with toddlers?

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I am one of the few I guess who likes the food at San Angel Inn. Both my kids ate well there, but I would caution you that for little monsters it is kind of dim lighting for a public place.
All the others are good choices too. The tables at Teppan Edo have a generous amount of space between the hot surface and where you sit, but you know your kid best!

 

[Veronique]

Thanks everyone! This is why I love this community so much

 

[Pipkin]

I've taken my kids at all different ages to many of those restaurants. From an early age they loved Teppan Edo. The grill is far enough away that I can't imagine she would be able to reach out and touch it. There is enough activity and other guests that I doubt she would get bored and your seven year old would love it.

 

[LilyWDW]

One thing to take into account is that at Teppan Edo and Biergarten you will most likely be sat with other guests to fill the tables. If your child is as you describe, I would stay away from such situation as it may bother the others.

 

[Veronique]

One thing to take into account is that at Teppan Edo and Biergarten you will most likely be sat with other guests to fill the tables. If your child is as you describe, I would stay away from such situation as it may bother the others.

I think I'm making it out to be worst then it is lol. I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst!

 

[Hopefully]

I personally would think long and hard about taking "my little monster " to TS restaurants. Not only would I think I could not enjoy an expensive dinner, I would also be concerned about disrupting dinner for others.

 

[nco91590]

First of all, I've never been to a restaurant in WDW that was quiet lol. Probably Bistro de Paris 12 years ago, off season. I wouldn't feel self conscious about a feisty toddler. I promise she won't be the only one at ANY of the restaurants listed.

Second, I had the best luck with buffets at that age. Lots of choices and a variety of food. Biergarten is fun and the food is good. But honestly, she would be fine anywhere.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Honestly, I don't think any of them are super for kids.

I don't know that kids must have near-constant stimulation at every turn, and a TS dinner can actually be a nice switch from the noise, smell and color of the park.

I do agree that it would be really hard for a kid to touch the grill at Teppan Edo unless you are, no offense, completely being THAT parent and not paying attention to your kid CLIMBING ON THE TABLE. Please do not be THAT parent, especially at TE, where as a family of 4 you will likely be sharing a table with another family of 2-4 and, well, they probably will judge if you allow that. (Those shoes WALKED through EPCOT and are on the table; they ought to judge.)

In general, if you have to let your kid move around, you should go with them to keep them from getting under the waitstaff. That's why Biergarten has its moments -- the dance floor is exactly that, and no one has to carry a tray of beers across it!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I have been to all of those except Tappan Edo (I'm not really a fan of Japanese food.)

Biergarten is actually one of our family favorites! I think it is a great place to bring kids! The first time we went, our youngest child was 3 and our oldest was 9.

I've seen some of the negative reviews about the San Angel Inn food--and I don't understand it! I thought the food was actually very good! I wonder if people are expecting more "stereotypical" Mexican food like Tacos and burritos? That being said, when I went, it was with my son who was 16 at the time and it was a fairly quiet atmosphere.

If I were to rank choices for a family with a toddler I would say:
1. Biergarten
2. Via Napoli
3. Chefs de France
4. San Angel Inn
5. Tappan Edo

The ONLY reason I am putting Tappan Edo at the bottom is because you mention her burning her hands--and the thought of that freaks me out! Maybe other posters who have actually been there can put your mind at ease about that!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The ONLY reason I am putting Tappan Edo at the bottom is because you mention her burning her hands--and the thought of that freaks me out! Maybe other posters who have actually been there can put your mind at ease about that!

Only way she gets burnt or cut is if everyone at the table is neglectful to the point of being a future DIS horror story about "that time I shared a table at TE with this one family..."

 

[Minniemoo15]

Biergarten!! My dd at 2 LOVED the music and getting to go dance on the stage. Dh loved the beer. I loved the food ( we all did actually, it's much better than it sounds and I was wary too). We all left really happy and she talked about the "dancing restaurant" all year. We went back when she was 3 and it is her only request when we go again this year (she will be 4).

FWIW - I really like buffets with kids because we dont have to wait for the food.

 

[nco91590]

Only way she gets burnt or cut is if everyone at the table is neglectful to the point of being a future DIS horror story about "that time I shared a table at TE with this one family..."

Maybe OP could put her daughter in a high chair? That would keep her well away from the grill too.

 

[MamaJessie]

Our next visit my youngest will be two and we are going to try Coral Reef in hopes that the fish viewing will keep her entertained, though when traveling when our other girls were toddler Akershus was a big hit too. Out of your list I would go with Teppan Edo, San Angel or Via Napoli.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

One warning about Via Napoli (and, yes, I know it could happen anywhere.)

We waited 20 minutes for a server to take our order after we sat and 55 more for our food to come out. We had a squirmy 1yo and it was a total bust.

I would choose San Angel. It's noisy, plus the ride is right there if your kiddo needs a break from being at the table. We have a 2yo and a 1yo now and chose San Angel for our upcoming trip. I actually love the food there.

Biergarten is fun but I dislike the food. Love Teppan Edo and Chefs de France and think those are solid options too.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I personally would think long and hard about taking "my little monster " to TS restaurants. Not only would I think I could not enjoy an expensive dinner, I would also be concerned about disrupting dinner for others.

Really? All of these restaurants are geared to families and there will be tons of little kids. These aren't Victoria & Albert's.

OP, so many people are understanding and in the same boat (I have a 2yo & 1yo - totally get it) A wise woman once told me that the best way to get children comfortable in restaurants is to take them to restaurants. The worst thing you can do is stop going. That's how they learn!

I am sure OP is considerate of others and would take the 2yo for a walk if needed. And at all the WDW restaurants (especially in WS) there's so much to see and explore just outside of them! Plus, you never know. Your kid might just surprise you and be totally into it!

Have fun

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

I would vote Via Napoli! Love the pizza there!