California Grill observation....

[North of Mouse]

Have absolutely no issues with children being in restaurants - we took our three nearly everywhere we went, but they knew what correct behavior and manners were. We expected it of them at the dining table at home, so really they didn't have to act any different.

Our g'children were raised the same, so have never had to feel embarrassed by their behavior in public either.

Really surprised at least that Disney won't enforce the 'running around around' rule, as it's clearly a danger to everyone around. The 'boorish loudness' at the table usually reflects the 'boorish loudness' of the parents that never learned to be respectful of others themselves.

 

[aretha30]

I have no issues with children being allowed in restaurants. Maybe the parents want to enjoy a good meal and don't feel comfortable leaving their children in the care of strangers; I know my kids were never in anyone's care but close friends or family. As others have said it's a matter of their behavior. We wouldn't tolerate running, yelling, or jumping around. Those are outside behaviors and need to stay there, the managers need to ask parents to control their children or pay their bill and leave.
I do think that a quick email to guest relations about your concerns (maybe if they get enough of them) will prompt a change in how they approach these types of situations. We've all worked hard for our vacations should be able to enjoy them without these types of situations.

 

[jacinda824]

When I am paying a lot for dinner at places such as California Grill, there are a few things I will NOT put with. If your little angels are running around and "just being" rude children, I ask to be reseated. Sorry but unless you are paying for my meal, I am not putting up with your adorable children who are ruining it. Secondly, I am do not want to be sat by the serving station or in a the bar area. Just because we are a table of 2 does not mean I want to sit in the bar area with a lot of loud tvs and noise. We do not go out to eat alot so its a treat. I am not paying to hear the loud tvs or the servers making a lot of noise by refilling drinks, grabbing silverware etc. I am extremely polite when I state, I do not want to sit here and this is why but I am firm. My money is being spent which means I deserve a decent meal with a normal amount of restaurant noise. We have been to Morimoto Asia twice at Disney Springs and both times, they wanted us to sit right in front of the refilling station. Both times, I said something about I would like another table and here's why. Guess where I did not have to sit. We were EASILY moved to a nearby table and had a much better experience.

 

[Shanti]

I'm a teacher and see this kind of thing all the time. Many kids behave better in class with the teacher than after school with their parents around, because there are rules and consequences with the former, but not the latter. If you think dining in it is bad, then imagine teaching a classroom of kids who come in trying to behave like that. Think of that next time a friend complains about her child's "too strict" teachers.

My DS11 likes to eat in nice restaurants (he loved Yachtsman Steakhouse, which was quiet, btw), but he has been taught to behave accordingly.

 

[B-Ride]

I notice the same thing about WDW in general. Lots of kids running around without that much adult supervision. At these prices you would think there would be some age restrictions.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

At the end of the day, Disney is still a very, very popular family vacation destination. I'd say California Grill is a bit more upscale, but it isn't 'fancy' like Victoria and Alberts. It's not really surprising.

I agree with others in that I have no issue with children dining at any of these venues, but have a particular distaste for children who are allowed to be rude and disrespectful and the parents who allow it.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I misread the question. I was thinking you said garden grill. Of course people take kids to garden grill!! Lol

As far as Cali grill I personally wouldn't take my young kids there because they would completely ruin the meal. Now that my kids are older I would. They are 12,8,&8.

I can block out other people's kids though. Unless they come grab food off my plate I don't really give them a second look.

 

[disnut8]

Has anyone who has been disrupted in their dining by kids running and yelling and jumping actually spoken to a manager or to their server about the meal not being to their liking?

My husband and I are just two now (only child grown up and gone with kids of his own) but if a child is spoiling our dinner and the parents aren't paying attention, we will nicely ask the child to stop. It's fine to complain on a board about dining manners but unless something is done at the time the disruption is taking place, it's kind of a moot point.

 

[epcotcenter1982]

Has anyone who has been disrupted in their dining by kids running and yelling and jumping actually spoken to a manager or to their server about the meal not being to their liking?

My husband and I are just two now (only child grown up and gone with kids of his own) but if a child is spoiling our dinner and the parents aren't paying attention, we will nicely ask the child to stop. It's fine to complain on a board about dining manners but unless something is done at the time the disruption is taking place, it's kind of a moot point.

We complain about it and the obnoxious "parents" do bugger all. Also the staff do nothing because the USA is a litigious society. Of course should precious Miss 3 fall on her face and smash her teeth in they will sue Disney won't they.....
We've had children kicking and running around in the theatre where we were about to watch Mary Poppins in NYC. We firmly stated that this behaviour would NOT be continuing once the performance started and the "parents" told us we were English snobs...I assure you....none of us were born in England...but having proper grammar and speaking clearly with enunciation can confuse people at times.
After a number of reaffirmations of the behaviour stopping and glares it did stop...

 

[Disneytam]

Has anyone who has been disrupted in their dining by kids running and yelling and jumping actually spoken to a manager or to their server about the meal not being to their liking?

My husband and I are just two now (only child grown up and gone with kids of his own) but if a child is spoiling our dinner and the parents aren't paying attention, we will nicely ask the child to stop. It's fine to complain on a board about dining manners but unless something is done at the time the disruption is taking place, it's kind of a moot point.

Our worst experience with wild out of control little ones was in Italy at EPCOT. We were sitting at one of the very close tables at the original Italian restaurant (the name ??) when a couple with a young child of maybe four sat beside us. Within a minute or two the child was at our table with his little plastic toy running it up our table and across the bench seats. I tried my best evil mom look but it didn't faze him and when the toy ended up hitting my plate I spoke up to the completely oblivious mother. She jumped all over me about how this was Disney and kids will be kids and if I didn't like children I should vacation somewhere else. Not pleasant by any means and I swear the kid had a smug look on his face the whole time. We ended up leaving without dessert and when I mentioned it to the manager on the way out he just shrugged and said it happens. I haven't been back there since and try to stay away from places with this type of seating.

 

[goofyintoronto]

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.

Amen to that!!! Management really SHOULD speak to the parents about that as its most definitely a hazard to both the wait staff AND the children!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I like children fine, I just don't want someone else's child playing with their toys on my restaurant table. it's not up to me to watch their child.

Disney management will generally not speak to parents unless the child is endangering him/herself or someone else. Maybe not even then. I've read a few reports here of restaurant servers/managers who said they can do nothing about unruly children in restaurants because "Disney is about kids."

really, if the child is encroaching on other tables, screaming constantly, crawling on the floor, running around the restaurant, or throwing food/objects, they ought to be removed, sometimes for basic safety reasons. I remember being at Citricos once and there was a large party allowing a baby to crawl between tables. All that had to happen was for a server to trip over the baby, possibly carrying hot food or fragile drinking glasses.

 

[cleopenn]

We just returned from our first trip. We ate at table service restaurants for every lunch and dinner. Two of the lunches and all of the dinners were at signature/fine dining restaurants.


Being that we took our son to every one of those meals, I am not at all surprised that people would take their young kids to California Grill. (I tried very hard to get an ADR for the CG but no luck.)


I think part of it is parents who don’t mind paying those prices are the same type of parents who want to expose their kids to good food and better restaurant experiences.


I also wonder how much “business” is driven to the signature locations due to the dining plans. Every server we had did a double-take when we said no, we weren’t on the dining plan. (More on that later) Do you think people are more likely to go to a signature when their food costs are controlled and pre-paid?


All that being said, count me in as annoyed by bad behavior. I can think of three times behavior at adjoining tables was notably bad.


Back to the dining plan – Is it popular? I didn’t even consider it for a couple of reasons but since every server was surprised we weren’t on it, I gather we were the minority. In chatting with the servers, they told me they hate the dining plan because everyone argues about it, wanting to swap items and the like and generally complaining about the structure as if the servers had a say in the policies.

 

[OKW Lover]

Perhaps the best response to a situation where children at a nearby table are disrupting your enjoyment of a meal is to just decide to leave. Yes, pay your bill for whatever has already been served, but don't put up with it any longer. On the way out tell the manager why you are leaving.

 

[Jetta8300]

We have a 2 year old and I would never ever attempt it. We know him and we would be miserable worrying about his possible meltdown. But a lot of people have kids that would be ok with it. We have never had any experience of an overly loud child At a signature, but it happens. Better that it's not our kid.

 

[epcotcenter1982]

Back to the dining plan – Is it popular? I didn’t even consider it for a couple of reasons but since every server was surprised we weren’t on it, I gather we were the minority. In chatting with the servers, they told me they hate the dining plan because everyone argues about it, wanting to swap items and the like and generally complaining about the structure as if the servers had a say in the policies.

I USED to think it was good...about 5 years ago...but since they started messing with it more and more and restricting it more and upping the prices I find it's not worth it. Our trip in February will be OOP.
I don't need or eat crappy sugar laden processed snacks and I only want to dine at the nicer restaurants so it's better to just pay OOP rather than be on the plan if you are like that.