Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [115]
You have a child under the age of 3. That’s the cutoff point for most group programs.
You plan to be out after midnight. Most kids’ clubs close down before then, some as early as 10 PM.
Your kids are exhausted. If you know in advance that you plan to employ an all-out touring schedule or your kids fall apart after 8 PM, hire an in-room sitter who can make sure they’re in bed by their usual time. Most of the kids’ clubs try to put preschoolers down in sleeping bags by 9 PM but this involves moving them, and probably waking them, when parents return.
You have a big family. Even with the add-on per-child rate, you can come out cheaper with an in-room sitter than you will if you book four kids into a group program.
For those staying on-site, Kids’ Nite Out (407/828–0920) provides trained sitters for all the Disney hotels; the service suggests calling two weeks in advance but can sometimes accommodate more last-minute requests. And prepare for sticker shock. The rate is $16 an hour for one child, plus $2.50 per hour for each additional child, with a four-hour minimum. A $10 transportation fee is also common, meaning that in-room sitting for two kids for four hours runs about $85. Not cheap, but for many parents it’s well worth the cost under the circumstances.
Insider’s Secret
No matter what child-care option you choose, the key point is to make your plans in advance. If you suddenly get an urge for fine dining at 4 PM on a Saturday in July, it will be hard to find a sitter or get into a kids’ club.
If you’re staying off-site, you can also call either Kids Nite Out or Fairy Godmothers (407/277–3724), another service that has received consistent praise from readers. Or simply contact your hotel for help with in-room sitting. Most Orlando properties have relationships with reputable services. Not only does this save you a bit of hassle, but the person at the Guest Relations desk is also apt to know a lot more about who to call than you; if former guests haven’t been pleased with a sitter, the hotel was undoubtedly the first to hear about it, so most family-oriented hotels use the same services over and over.
Dining Without the Kids
The following five restaurants are especially adult-oriented and a good choice when the kids aren’t along.
Bistro de Paris
The Bistro, upstairs from Les Chefs de France and accessible by a back staircase, is so lovely and secluded that you might forget you’re in a theme park. The wine list is one of the best in Epcot and the classic French fare is fabulous.
California Grill
Not only does the California Grill offer marvelous cuisine with stylish preparation, but the views from the top of the Contemporary are unparalleled. In terms of the quality and variety of the food, it’s superb. A mom from New York agreed: “I’m a caterer so I know food, and I consider the California Grill to be by far the best restaurant in Disney World.”
Citricos
Citricos, in the Grand Floridian, is excellent, but because of its proximity to Victoria & Albert’s, the restaurant can be sometimes overlooked and is thus easier to get into. The menu features Mediterranean cuisine and is updated frequently. The wine selection is noteworthy.
Jiko
The “cooking place,” as the name means in Swahili, serves truly innovative, sophisticated, well-spiced food based on African cuisine. A collection of the unusual and tasty appetizers can make a meal, or your server will help you pair your main course (maize-crusted halibut, for example), with a superb South African wine. Jiko has roomy booths and a cooking island whose seats afford views of the busy chefs.
Insider’s Secret
Couples who are dining late may find themselves leaving a resort restaurant after the transportation system has closed down. You can either drive your own car or use Downtown Disney (whose buses run until 2 AM) as a transfer station. Your best bet, especially if you’ve had wine with dinner, is to let the valets at