California Grill observation....

[steves100]

Havent been to CG in a while.

Was there last week.

Is it me or does anyone else find it really weird that ALOT of families bring infants/young kids there?

For 1 of the more expensive restaurants it shocks me there is no age restrictions. Not that it made the night terrible, far from it. But watching kids run around tables at those prices seems ridiculous.

Just my opinion.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is it me or does anyone else find it really weird that ALOT of families bring infants/young kids there?

Not surprised at all. A lot of folks go to CG for the fireworks view. Presumably the kids love that too.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Since they offer kids meals why not bring them as long as they are well behaved. Running around or screaming should not be permitted in any restaurant. When our daughter was small we took her to CG and she wouldn't stop screaming. I took her out and did not return. She missed dinner as did I. She quickly learned appropriate behavior.

 

[minnie mum]

This has always been the case at Cali Grill, and the other signature restaurants too. I have no problem with having children there, but it seems that in recent years fewer and fewer parents are willing to control the behavior of their children. There are no age restrictions at any WDW restaurant, except for V&As.

Given that these little rug rats that are running around are a safety hazard for the wait staff (and other guests), I do wish that the restaurant managers would speak to these negligent parents about keeping their kids confined to their own table.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Always will be lots of children there. Especially with dining plans that they have now. Families want the fireworks view, and the view from the 15th floor. The big issue is going to be how the children behave. I do agree that a lot of parents bring very young children and then do not place any expectations on them regarding restaurant behavior. It is fine to bring children, but some of the parents allowing the kids to treat the restaurant like a playground is the issue.

 

[Nancyg56]

I do not find it odd at all. Disney is a family destination so why would families choose to leave their kids behind for meals? When my DGD was young we chose to take her to dinner with us everywhere we ate. I respected that other families may have liked a meal without the littles, but our DGD would not have been comfortable in any of the kids clubs, and her parents would not have been with that either, so we included her. Her table manners were way better than many of the adults we encountered at the signature restaurants, and as a night owl, she was perfectly content to stay away with the rest of us. AS a rule, when we included her in any meal, on vacation or at home, she ate whatever she wanted. As a member of the family, we felt she was just as entitled to an expensive meal as anyone else. Most of the time she wanted things on the children's menu, but if there was no children's menu offered or she wanted something else, we paid for it.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Not wierd at all that people who have children want to eat decent food. My DD had her 9th birthday at Cali Grill. We gave her a choice of any restaurant at WDW and this was her choice. We have taken her to similar caliber restaurants almost her entire life. She enjoys them as much as we do.

It is unacceptable however that people choose to let their children run around the restaurant or disturb other diners. We have taught DD from a young age that if she wants to eat at nicer restaurants she has to match her behavior to the venue. We don't allow screens at the table, rowdy behavior, getting out of your seat and running around, ect.

 

[goofy4prez]

I'm also another one who has no problem with children in a nice restaurant outside of Disney or being allowed in any of the Disney restaurants including the signature ones. The only exception I would have in Disney is at Victoria & Albert's. What I have a problem with is when the few parents allow their little " angels" to scream, holler, run around and toss food while in a restaurant without saying a word or putting an end to it. I've heard many a parent say, "kids will be kids." My DD who's now 18 grew up dining out in nice restaurants and knew what proper behavior was required in a restaurant, including a fast food restaurant. Be parent to the child, not their friend and put an end to it. And no, I don't mean drag them out of the restaurant by their are and beat them.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm also another one who has no problem with children in a nice restaurant outside of Disney or being allowed in any of the Disney restaurants including the signature ones. The only exception I would have in Disney is at Victoria & Albert's. What I have a problem with is when the few parents allow their little " angels" to scream, holler, run around and toss food while in a restaurant without saying a word or putting an end to it. I've heard many a parent say, "kids will be kids." My DD who's now 18 grew up dining out in nice restaurants and knew what proper behavior was required in a restaurant, including a fast food restaurant. Be parent to the child, not their friend and put an end to it. And no, I don't mean drag them out of the restaurant by their are and beat them.

When my DGD was 5 years old my son in law took us to dinner to celebrate DD's birthday. For some reason DGD was a bit of a pill, which was unusual. WE had not even ordered dinner when I though my DD was going to kill her, so I took her little carcass outside and explained that it was Mommy's birthday so we were not going home because she was unable to control her behavior. What we would do is give her an opportunity to compose herself, put her best manners front and center and stay and eat, or she and I could go to the car and relax while Mom and Dad enjoyed their dinner. She nodded and the two of us returned...her little face a bit red because she had been crying, and she apologized to the server and her parents and we all enjoyed a lovely meal. This was the first time that we ever needed to reprimand her like this and it was the last.

I will add that the patrons in the restaurant did smile at her as she and I walked back inside to the table. I still do not know who was more surprised that I took her outside that way... her parents or her! I generally never stepped in when they there to discipline but my DD was clearly nonplussed by the behavior and her birthday! LOL!

 

[nkereina]

If Cali Grill was located anywhere else, I'd agree with you. But the fact that it's in WDW means having kids around is inevitable. A bartender at the Poly once told us that kids are allowed everywhere in WDW (save for V&A), even at the bars. Makes sense since they try to promote a family oriented atmosphere, and they don't want to exclude people from their restaurants because they've brought their kids on vacation.

 

[steves100]

Yes I agree, the issue is kids RUNNING around tables with no parental supervision. This isnt an EPCOT restaurant or even BoG. I feel the staff should mention something about SAFETY to the parents.

 

[Tigger's ally]

This has always been the case at Cali Grill, and the other signature restaurants too. I have no problem with having children there, but it seems that in recent years fewer and fewer parents are willing to control the behavior of their children. There are no age restrictions at any WDW restaurant, except for V&As.

Given that these little rug rats that are running around are a safety hazard for the wait staff (and other guests), I do wish that the restaurant managers would speak to these negligent parents about keeping their kids confined to their own table.

My kids were always well behaved. I can thank my wife for that. However, she has never been able to control me! I can't run anymore but I am still wild and obnoxious, just ask her. I am sorry to anybody I have offended over the years. I may grow old, but I don't have to grow up!

 

[River Country]

The day that a CM tells a parent that their angel is a nuisance is the day that I stop breathing!!!! LOL In any event this question ha repeatedly come up here and always revolves around Cali Grill. Parents need to pay mind to their own kids and most of us parents do a good job but their are some that don't.

Here is an example we were eating at The Boathouse and happened to get the table that is in the back of the classic Wooden boat, that was a cool table. As we are seated and I think just got our appetizers there is a rope across the wheel house entry that says please do not enter. So some moron father thought it would be a good idea to let his little monster loose in the wheel house of this gorgeous boat practically on top of our table, the kid maybe was 18-24 months and was going nuts throwing things up in there.....no sooner did this go down but our waiter came over and was like "what is going on and who is this kid where are the parents....well they were looking at the menu and the waiter confronted them and told them that this was not a play area for children and that there were signs that say do not enter...the father was like "oh he isn't hurting anyone....." The waiter said it doesn't matter and please take him out of there or we will........... I gave this waiter a high five and great tip.....and there is the difference between a Disney Restaurant and non Disney....BTW The Boathouse was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

A bartender at the Poly once told us that kids are allowed everywhere in WDW (save for V&A), even at the bars.

The other current exception is Trader Sam's at the Polynesian after 8 PM. and seriously, on the stroke of 8 everybody with their kiddies are out of there.

That story above...parents let their kid into an area with a keep out sign, when asked to remove the child from the area they say "Well, he isn't hurting anyone." Never mind that sign. It doesn't apply to them or their child.

thank goodness not all parents are like that.

 

[epcotcenter1982]

I'm also another one who has no problem with children in a nice restaurant outside of Disney or being allowed in any of the Disney restaurants including the signature ones. The only exception I would have in Disney is at Victoria & Albert's. What I have a problem with is when the few parents allow their little " angels" to scream, holler, run around and toss food while in a restaurant without saying a word or putting an end to it. I've heard many a parent say, "kids will be kids." My DD who's now 18 grew up dining out in nice restaurants and knew what proper behavior was required in a restaurant, including a fast food restaurant. Be parent to the child, not their friend and put an end to it. And no, I don't mean drag them out of the restaurant by their are and beat them.

Totally agree. I also find many adults as obnoxious and foul as the children so it's not an age issue it's a behaviour issue. People who can't handle their alcohol and think everything is funny and have a foghorn laugh that goes off every two seconds is as bad to kill a mood in a restaurant as a child running amok because "kids will be kids"...

Sadly we are in a world of people not knowing how to respect one another and are ignorant of the impact theirs and their child's noise and ruckus is having on others.

 

[HopperFan]

Just ate there. Not our first time. Was very glad that we were not planning the usual multi-course slow paced meal. The table next to us was 6 adults and about 3-4 kids under 5. I'm not sure how many because they never sat long enough. They were often climbing up parents to the point of almost sitting on table. They did not use their indoor voices. Their parents were just oblivious ... and sadly this seems to be an ongoing issue at WDW.

I wish Disney had more adult only locations or at least hours, such as Trader Sam's offers. With the ever increasing adults only guest groups I think locations offering that would be very popular. It would be much easier to not allow children during certain hours rather than have to confront non-parenting adults.

 

[steves100]

Just ate there. Not our first time. Was very glad that we were not planning the usual multi-course slow paced meal. The table next to us was 6 adults and about 3-4 kids under 5. I'm not sure how many because they never sat long enough. They were often climbing up parents to the point of almost sitting on table. They did not use their indoor voices. Their parents were just oblivious ... and sadly this seems to be an ongoing issue at WDW.

I wish Disney had more adult only locations or at least hours, such as Trader Sam's offers. With the ever increasing adults only guest groups I think locations offering that would be very popular. It would be much easier to not allow children during certain hours rather than have to confront non-parenting adults.

Yeah places like Cali Grill

 

[Nancyg56]

WE encountered this when we dined at 'Ohana in August. I refuse to go back after being seated next to the table from Hades. 3 adults and at least 6 kids, all who were jumping (I mean jumping and tumbling) in the aisle shrieking clapping chanting. The waitress was hiding as much as possible. Parents were ignoring the little monsters, and the manager just watched. It was a nightmare. I would not have been as annoyed but the manager let that poor server swing in the wind, and that is not okay with me.
CRT dinner was similar with parents letting their kids use the aisles as a playground but servers continued to send them back to the tables

 

[North of Mouse]

This has always been the case at Cali Grill, and the other signature restaurants too. I have no problem with having children there, but it seems that in recent years fewer and fewer parents are willing to control the behavior of their children. There are no age restrictions at any WDW restaurant, except for V&As.

Given that these little rug rats that are running around are a safety hazard for the wait staff (and other guests), I do wish that the restaurant managers would speak to these negligent parents about keeping their kids confined to their own table.

I agree!! Parents are so afraid they will hurt their little sweeties' feelings, so they refuse to discipline them, but would be the first, and loudest to complain if there was an accident because of their behavior.

There should be no issues with 'any' restaurant not allowing children running around - just accidents waiting to happen with waiters taking loaded trays in and out - not to mention the rudeness of parents subjecting other diners to their children's out of control antics.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree!! Parents are so afraid they will hurt their little sweeties' feelings, so they refuse to discipline them, but would be the first, and loudest to complain if there was an accident because of their behavior.

There should be no issues with 'any' restaurant not allowing children running around - just accidents waiting to happen with waiters taking loaded trays in and out - not to mention the rudeness of parents subjecting other diners to their children's out of control antics.

I think the issues is more deepseated than simply being afraid to hurt the kids feelings. There is a group of people who feel that a vacation, especially an expensive vacation, is a license to do what they want. Who drags a sick 10 YO kid to dinner when they are at home? But a few years ago we had the pleasure of sitting near a family who insisted on eating their dinner at the Yachtsman while their child was sprawled in two chairs, clearly ill. They ordered her soup but let the poor thing try to sleep while they took their time eating. AS we were leaving a toddler was on a table, crying and Mom and Dad were trying to get her to lie down. It was after 9:30 at night, and I bet this baby was over tired. But it's vacation.....and they paid for it.

These same people who abdicate their responsibility as parents are really the same folks who are disruptive anywhere in the parks. Dad and two kids holding a place at ETWB for close to 60 minutes, making sure that all of us knew that Mom was enjoying her coffee and would join them later. Their little guy with a giant ipad laying on the ground, my feet and in my DGD space was not okay with me, but Dad paid for the trip and Mom was entitled to her rest. They are the adults who decide that vacation means they can do or not do whatever they want. No one knows them and no one will hold them accountable.