California Grill with kids.

[Andrew*A]

My family will be in WDW during Nov 2010. While we are there we will be celebrating my daughters first birthday and my birthday.
I like the idea of eating at California Grill and then watching the wishes fireworks from the balcony at the restaurant.
We have not been there before and was wondering is it would be a suitable place to take kids. We will have a 1 yr old & 7 yr old with us. Also, is there a dress code for this location?

We will be having character meals for the kids, but i thought this might be nice for the entire family.

 

[GailT]

CG is go for everyone, I was there Christmas eve last year and there were kids everywhere, isn't that whats Disney is all about. Go enjoy your meal and dont worry about it.

 

[madalex]

Most nights, there are so many families with kids at CG (many of them there to see the firerworks) that the restaurant gets very loud and the fine dining experience is all but ruined.

 

[AppleSister1]

We've done it with kids twice. No problems at all.

 

[GailT]

Most nights, there are so many families with kids at CG (many of them there to see the firerworks) that the restaurant gets very loud and the fine dining experience is all but ruined.

It isn't romantic popping the question type of dinner but you can take kids there.

 

[StacyMarie]

We went last year to celebrate my daughter's 13th B-day! The atmosphere was great and the show was great from the balcony. We dressed for dinner. My girls wore sun dresses!

 

[TY31088]

DW and I ate their last September. We ate early, had a 5:30 ressie, got a table by the window. We arrived early (before they started seating people) so we had a cocktail and looked over the menu.

IMO dress code would be resort casual. I would not go in jeans but I don't know if they would turn you down.

We both enjoyed our meal and the experience. Service and atmosphere good too. The dining area is nice but not stuffy.

You check in on the second floor (i think it was the second floor) and then someone will 'take you up' in the elevator. A young lady escorted us up. That was a touch of class I hadn't experience elsewhere.

Now for the downside. I was disappointed with the balcony area. It was much smaller than I expected. It was long and kinda narrow. Crowded too. I guess I was expecting too much, I just had a much larger area in mind.

As for kids, if they are rested and typically do well in restaurants everything should be fine. DW did experience one mother dragging a young girl into the restroom for a scolding and threatening to whip her if she didn't straighten up.

We have a ressie for July 2 this summer.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We absolutely love going to Cali Grill (it is my DH and I's favorite restaurant in Disney). With that said, we have taken our DD8 and DD6 there twice, the third time will be in September. My Girls love Cali Grill just as much as DH and I do. They love looking out over to MK while eating (we always get an ADR for 5:30pm which allows us to get a table by the window), and they also love going out on the balcony to watch Wishes. My kids are somewhat picky eaters, but they do have a favorite dish that they eat each time we are there. As for dress code...I agree with the PP that it is business casual, khaki pants and a nice top for men/boys, and capris or a skirt for women/girls will be just fine. We have witnessed them turning away a young gentleman because he was wearing basketball shorts and a basketball jersey. You are going to see many kids dining there too, and we never have a problem with the other children there because most of the time they are all well behaved. The one really good thing about Cali Grill is that they give out a dish of gold fish crackers to the kids and a coloring booklet with crayons to keep them entertained. Have fun

 

[honeydiane1953]

Most nights, there are so many families with kids at CG (many of them there to see the firerworks) that the restaurant gets very loud and the fine dining experience is all but ruined.

COULDN'T have said it better.