Is California Grill an okay place for small kids, or not? (ages 2 and 6)
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Is California Grill appropriate for small kids?
- Thread starter happymom52003
- Start date
As a "default" reply I would say no but in truth it all depends on your kids. If they can sit quietly through a 1 to 2 hour meal then yes it will be fine but if they are like most kids that age CG would not be the most appropriate dinning location.
Vernonpush
Well-Known Member
It depends on the kids (and adults). Are you going there for the food or the view? If you are going for the food (nuevo cuisine)(I assume for the adults) then be aware that you will have to dress approprietly (business casual). If you are going for the view, then may I suggets Chef Mickey's (Character Dining), It may be more up your alley.:shrug: There is a viewing area for Wishes on the 4th floor (North end) of the resort.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
Personaly I think it would be a waste of money, no matter how well behaved your kids are. If they play up being "disney" tired, you have the double whammy of a pricey meal and the "worry" that you may be being judged by others.
However there only one way to find out, especially if its something you must do.
However there only one way to find out, especially if its something you must do.
Douglas Bray
Member
We went to California Grill with our son who was two last September, and we are going to go again this September with him and this time he will be three.
We are very lucky and our son is happy to sit and play quitely so long as he has his own things to eat in front of him and that we let him try a few things off of our plates also.
Last year we at beside a table with a little girl (maybe 4) and a small boy (maybe 8), the waiter brought out a kids book for the boy read once he was done eating (which was about three minutes after the food arrived at the table), and during the first course he brought a table cloth to cover the girl who had fallen asleep while eating.
All the restaurants in Disney World are very used to having children at them, but California Grill went above and beyond in dealing with children at different ages and in very differnt moods.
Go and enjoy your meal as I am sure that you will, don't forget to save room for the desserts.
We are very lucky and our son is happy to sit and play quitely so long as he has his own things to eat in front of him and that we let him try a few things off of our plates also.
Last year we at beside a table with a little girl (maybe 4) and a small boy (maybe 8), the waiter brought out a kids book for the boy read once he was done eating (which was about three minutes after the food arrived at the table), and during the first course he brought a table cloth to cover the girl who had fallen asleep while eating.
All the restaurants in Disney World are very used to having children at them, but California Grill went above and beyond in dealing with children at different ages and in very differnt moods.
Go and enjoy your meal as I am sure that you will, don't forget to save room for the desserts.
Sloan
Well-Known Member
probably not ideal
I do NOT want to seem anti-child on a Disney web-site, and I will admit that I am w/o kids of my own, so I might not be the ideal judge, but I will say that the California Grill does not seem to me to be geared towards kids. I suppose that if you went 'early' you might be better off - about the only thing I can envision being attractive to the kids would be the view. I assume that there is some sort of kids menu - but am not sure of this.
California Grill is great for a 'date night' for the parents - it is romantic, and a special treat to be able to watch the fireworks if you're there at the right time.
I think that Victoria and Albert's is the only place that you really shoud NOT take kids at all of the World.
I do NOT want to seem anti-child on a Disney web-site, and I will admit that I am w/o kids of my own, so I might not be the ideal judge, but I will say that the California Grill does not seem to me to be geared towards kids. I suppose that if you went 'early' you might be better off - about the only thing I can envision being attractive to the kids would be the view. I assume that there is some sort of kids menu - but am not sure of this.
California Grill is great for a 'date night' for the parents - it is romantic, and a special treat to be able to watch the fireworks if you're there at the right time.
I think that Victoria and Albert's is the only place that you really shoud NOT take kids at all of the World.
rwdavis2
Active Member
We took ours when they were 4 and 7. The kids' menu was fine for them. We also took a bunch of things for them to do and our reservations were timed to see the fireworks about halfway through the meal. The wait staff was superb and paid special attention to them. This was all over a 2 hour meal.
But mainly, it depends on the kids. I'm not sure they'd be as patient now that they are 13 and 16. ;-)
Bob
But mainly, it depends on the kids. I'm not sure they'd be as patient now that they are 13 and 16. ;-)
Bob
ljs1691
Active Member
I agree that it depends on your children. This last trip mine were 10, 7 and 6 months and everyone loved it. It helped that after dinner we watched the fireworks at MK. My oldest also went with us when he was 3 and he enjoyed it as much as we did. The staff there is very good at helping to prevent any meltdowns.
If you think your kids can handle it and it is somewhere you really want to go, then go for it. If you know your kids can't behave, then out of respect for yourself and others around you, skip it.
If you think your kids can handle it and it is somewhere you really want to go, then go for it. If you know your kids can't behave, then out of respect for yourself and others around you, skip it.
Unplugged
Well-Known Member
If your kids can handle the time (we're Central Standard, so a trip to WDW means all is 1 hour later), then you may be able to have a nice meal and catch the MK fireworks while at the Grill.
Our son was 1 when we went to WDW last year. We could not squeeze the trip in to California Grill, but he did very well at equally nice restaurants. We took him to The Yachtsman Steakhouse, Artist Point, and Jiko. Our son, while equal to most kids with nap-time and excitement issues, does very well with dining experiences and was a real trooper with the schedule when we had to flex it a bit. He also prefers bolder flavors, eating most of my Smoked Portobello soup, Lobster Bisque, and enjoy the various flavors at Jiko.
My though on California Grill is as others have mentioned...CM's are used to kids, it's Disney. In my opinion, if you're kids are well behaved, enjoy something new and understand the idea of it being "special", then I'm sure it's a meal you can enjoy as a parents night out. We treat it as a special family night out and don't separate "family meals" from "parents meals". It's always a family experience.
As other have mentioned, if your little ones can't handle it, respect other guests. There are a lot of people who don't. In fact, last year, after 8 days of WDW, our little caught a slight head cold and wasn't feeling well forcing us to cancel our priority seating at California Grill. We simply did a counter service that evening, which worked well for him as he got more attention, could sleep in the stroller, and was a quicker meal requiring less effort.
I say schedule it a few days into your trip, and play it by ear.
Good luck & have a great time!
Our son was 1 when we went to WDW last year. We could not squeeze the trip in to California Grill, but he did very well at equally nice restaurants. We took him to The Yachtsman Steakhouse, Artist Point, and Jiko. Our son, while equal to most kids with nap-time and excitement issues, does very well with dining experiences and was a real trooper with the schedule when we had to flex it a bit. He also prefers bolder flavors, eating most of my Smoked Portobello soup, Lobster Bisque, and enjoy the various flavors at Jiko.
My though on California Grill is as others have mentioned...CM's are used to kids, it's Disney. In my opinion, if you're kids are well behaved, enjoy something new and understand the idea of it being "special", then I'm sure it's a meal you can enjoy as a parents night out. We treat it as a special family night out and don't separate "family meals" from "parents meals". It's always a family experience.
As other have mentioned, if your little ones can't handle it, respect other guests. There are a lot of people who don't. In fact, last year, after 8 days of WDW, our little caught a slight head cold and wasn't feeling well forcing us to cancel our priority seating at California Grill. We simply did a counter service that evening, which worked well for him as he got more attention, could sleep in the stroller, and was a quicker meal requiring less effort.
I say schedule it a few days into your trip, and play it by ear.
Good luck & have a great time!
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
In my experience as a non-kid-owning adult 
I've seen the staff of CG make every effort to accomodate children's needs wants and attention spans. But that's just as much to accomodate the other patrons in the restaurant, none of whom want to have an unruly or screaming child ruin a 100-plus-dollar meal.
You know your kids better than we do. As others have said, if they're the type to behave themselves - whether they're where they want to be or not - and appreciate a nice meal with parents or other grownups, then go and have fun. If they're the type of kids who can start making a scene at the slightest provocation, the moment they're not having fun, then do yourself and the patrons of CG a favor and wait until they're older, or hire a sitter.
I've seen the staff of CG make every effort to accomodate children's needs wants and attention spans. But that's just as much to accomodate the other patrons in the restaurant, none of whom want to have an unruly or screaming child ruin a 100-plus-dollar meal.You know your kids better than we do. As others have said, if they're the type to behave themselves - whether they're where they want to be or not - and appreciate a nice meal with parents or other grownups, then go and have fun. If they're the type of kids who can start making a scene at the slightest provocation, the moment they're not having fun, then do yourself and the patrons of CG a favor and wait until they're older, or hire a sitter.
Deadmanwalking
Member
Personaly I think it would be a waste of money, no matter how well behaved your kids are. If they play up being "disney" tired, you have the double whammy of a pricey meal and the "worry" that you may be being judged by others.
However there only one way to find out, especially if its something you must do.
Frankly I would say if you don't mind wasting the money go for it... Nothing makes me happier now than allowing my little demonic crew to raise h@#l and all me that little revenge for all the times I had been forced to listen to others kids scream on planes and stare across seats in dinning facilities... It just brings a smile to my heart. So bring them all... share the joy... and if you lucky you'll convince the happy newlyweds at the table across the way to think twice about starting that family.
WDWFigment
Well-Known Member
Using the justification that it's Disney so people shouldn't mind is one thing, but calling it revenge is quite another. These aren't the same people (most likely) whose kids made noise on the plane to bother you, so how are they getting their "just desserts"? This reminds me of a poster a while ago who was upset that their kid lost a camera and it wasn't turned in to lost and found, and followed it up by saying that to make up for it, they kept a hat they found on the ground. Uhhh...doesn't work that way. Don't make everyone else miserable just because it's happened to you in the past. If you have other reasons for bringing the kids to CG, that's one thing (and I agree with most of the other posters here, it all depends on the kid, and most people will be sympathetic even if they are noisy, etc), but don't act out of spite.
Timothy Q Mouse
Member
No. Do everyone else in the restaurant a favor and go down to Chef Mickey's. That's the place for a 2 and 6 year-old.
Thanks for all the info! I have never been to California Grill, so I was just wondering if it was common to see younger kids there or not. Thanks again for all of the replies.
I want to join the "No" crowd, but must agree that it really depends on your kids (and if you go, enjoy and have a great time).
As children my siblings and I went to nice restaurants with our parents and knew how to behave properly (and we knew that misbehaving was not an option). We have friends planning a trip to CG with their kids, and will be ordering off of the regular menu for them, as their kids are not picky eaters and they trust their children will do well. And as already mentioned, Disney tries their best to accommodate children, so there are kid friendlier items too.
That said I do find it a bit off putting at times to see kids running, playing, crawling under tables, throwing food (not joking: CG, Jiko) or even just being fussy and uncooperative. Hate to say it but I kinda find fault with the parents; for better or worse, the kids are just being kids. It's the parents who've kept them out too late, took them out to an inappropriate place, or just ignored the behavior (not necessarily bad per se, just bad for a place like CG) without any attempt to stop it. FWIW.
As children my siblings and I went to nice restaurants with our parents and knew how to behave properly (and we knew that misbehaving was not an option). We have friends planning a trip to CG with their kids, and will be ordering off of the regular menu for them, as their kids are not picky eaters and they trust their children will do well. And as already mentioned, Disney tries their best to accommodate children, so there are kid friendlier items too.
That said I do find it a bit off putting at times to see kids running, playing, crawling under tables, throwing food (not joking: CG, Jiko) or even just being fussy and uncooperative. Hate to say it but I kinda find fault with the parents; for better or worse, the kids are just being kids. It's the parents who've kept them out too late, took them out to an inappropriate place, or just ignored the behavior (not necessarily bad per se, just bad for a place like CG) without any attempt to stop it. FWIW.
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
We're planning our first trip to CA Grill in September (free dining 16 of us). The kids are well behaved, but I'm wondering why a few people have mentioned how long dinner is. Is it longer then other sit downs? I just want to be prepared.
WDWKat26
New Member
Honestly, i'd say no. I've been to many restaurants in Disney, and California Grill is the one where people go to enjoy a nice quiet and upscale dinner. It's where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks, have a few drinks, etc.
I really don't think bringing 2 children would be appropriate.
I really don't think bringing 2 children would be appropriate.
