California Grill with Kids?

[griffs95]

What does everyone think regarding taking kids to California Grill. Kids will be 14 and 10....thanks.

 

[liamsaunt]

Why not? I take my niece and nephew every year. This year they will be 7 and 9. If your kids are well behaved and know to use their "inside voices" they won't be a problem. At your children's ages, I am sure you are past dealing with these types of things.

There are always people of all ages at California Grill. Have fun!

 

[livie1205]

we are going in dec and we have 3 kids 2,10 and 11 and all three will be with us and I hope very well behaved! lol Its your vacation and if you want to take your family to eat there then do it...If someone wants a 100% kid free meal they always have V AND A at the GF .

 

[Subrbnmommy]

I've been with kids & without kids, I've had ADRs from 5:00 to 9:00. There has never been at time when there weren't any kids in the restaurant. So, don't worry and have a good time.

 

[SydneyFalco]

At 14 and 10 you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Younger kids--specifically between, say, four and eleven--I sometimes have to wonder why parents would bring 'em. Especially direct from the parks and without a nap, or a restful afternoon (if that's possible at Disney). Nothing really wrong with it; I just don't get why they wouldn't spring for a sitter (Disney must have sitters?) and make a better evening for them AND their kids.

Then again, I'm deliberately spawn-less and cannot easily understand the ways of the "bespawned." The best I can do is remember when I was that age, and few words were as magical to me as "room service."

NEW: In the course of "researching" this post I discovered on AllEars that CG has a Child's Menu. For crying out loud, if they have a kid's menu, who's to argue its wrong to take kids?

(At worst I'd argue that they shouldn't have that menu, if only to give adult-only eaters a second place to go besides Victoria and Albert's. Guess that too many people wanted to take their kids there regardless and the management gave in. If that's their decision, why think twice?)

 

[robinbutterfly]

I am taking my kids and they are only 3 and 4.
Should I not? Is there a reason not to take them?

 

[MomofCKJ]

Absolutely take them! I took my then 10,8, and 5 year old this past March. We all enjoyed it. Great food (little ones loved the Rice Krispie Sushi for dessert), the view and Walter, the best waiter ever!

Allyson

 

[kbeverina]

We've been taking our kids there since they were 9 and 7 (they're now 15 and 12). The older one is an adventurous eater and the younger one very picky. They both love it.

 

[griffs95]

As always...awesome advice. This is our first Thanksgiving in a few years not at the Poly too...so change is good right? I find that the older my kids get, the more particular they are with food choices / preferences. It used to be "lets eat in the cars at Sci Fi", now it's "we'd really like some great food and a good view Dad" ...High maintainence I say

Hit me with some more ideas on food experiences at the next level with kids. Narcoose's, etc.?!

 

[livie1205]

At 14 and 10 you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Younger kids--specifically between, say, four and eleven--I sometimes have to wonder why parents would bring 'em. Especially direct from the parks and without a nap, or a restful afternoon (if that's possible at Disney). Nothing really wrong with it; I just don't get why they wouldn't spring for a sitter (Disney must have sitters?) and make a better evening for them AND their kids.

Then again, I'm deliberately spawn-less and cannot easily understand the ways of the "bespawned." The best I can do is remember when I was that age, and few words were as magical to me as "room service."

NEW: In the course of "researching" this post I discovered on AllEars that CG has a Child's Menu. For crying out loud, if they have a kid's menu, who's to argue its wrong to take kids?

(At worst I'd argue that they shouldn't have that menu, if only to give adult-only eaters a second place to go besides Victoria and Albert's. Guess that too many people wanted to take their kids there regardless and the management gave in. If that's their decision, why think twice?)

why? because its our vacation too and we would like to eat there, our kids will not be running all over the place and why should we pay for a sitter when we are at wdw on a family vacation?We are there to spend family time together and have a nice meal...they like to have nice meals also,and last but not least so we can get a great view of the fireworks from the top of the resort.I do not think kids should be free to run wild but at wdw there will be more kids than not.oh and they have a good kids menu instead of those ickey chicken fingers and mac and cheese.We also made our ADR for a day when we had no parks planned so everyone is nice and rested.

 

[Lmichele]

why? because its our vacation too and we would like to eat there, our kids will not be running all over the place and why should we pay for a sitter when we are at wdw on a family vacation?We are there to spend family time together and have a nice meal...they like to have nice meals also,and last but not least so we can get a great view of the fireworks from the top of the resort.I do not think kids should be free to run wild but at wdw there will be more kids than not.oh and they have a good kids menu instead of those ickey chicken fingers and mac and cheese.We also made our ADR for a day when we had no parks planned so everyone is nice and rested.

But some kids will be. DH and I have been there three times and in two of those visits there were kids "roaming" around and the parents just didnt' seem to care. I think its great that your kids are behaved, but that is not always the case.

 

[inkkognito]

There are always tons of kids at CA Grill...after all, it's WDW. I am purposely childless but I suck it in when we eat there because Disney and kids go hand in hand. I only get a little cranky when the misbehavior of someone else's spawn has a direct impact on me. The worst I ever saw was at Citricos when the parents sat at a table in one diningroom and their kids were at a table in the other! They literally had a food fight, among things. But that level of insanity is pretty rare. Usually it's kids running around and a screaming baby or three...at ages 10 and 14, I'm figuring that won't be an issue. The dining plan has very much increased the kid population in the Signatures.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

We've taken kids when they were 2,3 and 8, then 9 months, 4,5 and 10, then 21 months and 5 (in laws didn't come with us this trip). Had good experiences all 3 times. Just remember it is a LONG meal...little ones were getting a bit ansy toward the end!

 

[kbeverina]

As always...awesome advice. This is our first Thanksgiving in a few years not at the Poly too...so change is good right? I find that the older my kids get, the more particular they are with food choices / preferences. It used to be "lets eat in the cars at Sci Fi", now it's "we'd really like some great food and a good view Dad" ...High maintainence I say

Hit me with some more ideas on food experiences at the next level with kids. Narcoose's, etc.?!

We ate at Narcoossee's for the first time two years ago and both kids loved it. They also love Brown Derby, Artist's Point and Jiko. My husband is not the biggest Disney fan, but he loves good food, so I try to work in a restaurant like that every day to keep him happy and wanting to go again.

The amount of time spent at the meal would definitely be a factor with younger kids. My BIL, SIL and nieces were with us at California Grill two years ago and my nieces, 7 and 5, were a little antsy by the end of the meal. It really helped that they had their older cousins to keep them entertained, but the entire process, between the wait to be seated and the meal itself with a party of 10, was several hours. But they never left their seats, except to go watch Wishes on the observation deck, and I wouldn't hesitate to go with them again.

 

[mutley]

I took my five year old this year, as long as they are well behaved I don't see a problem.

 

[madalex]

I am taking my kids and they are only 3 and 4.
Should I not? Is there a reason not to take them?

The only reason not to take them is if they will be unable to sit quietly for a meal which will likely take at least 60 minutes and perhaps as much as 90 - 120 minutes. If you kids can be well behaved that long, then you should absolutely take them to CG.

 

[ElizabethB]

As far as ambience goes these days, California Grill is about on a par with Chef Mickey's. So, definitely bring the little ones! The more the merrier!

DH and I either avoid CG or go very late after the fireworks are over and the insanity has died down a bit.

 

[crisi]

We choose not to do signature dining with our kids until they were about six and seven. Its a fairly long and expensive meal for a young child to sit through - and for me it isn't about other guests - its about me being selfish enough to want to take the time to enjoy the meal - two hours of good, quiet, dinner behavior with a toddler or preschooler was too much to expect from my kids.


About six or so, my kids started to be able to sit through three or four courses and two hours worth of dinner. At nine and ten they are pretty much experts - they don't have the polished manners for a state dinner, but they won't disturb their parents or nearby guests.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

The first time my DD went to the California Grill she was 9 mos old. It was for a engagement celebration. She was fine. We've eaten there multiple times with 2, 3, 4 year olds. We were there two years ago for a my aunts birthday and stayed for the fireworks..It was great.

Its Disney and anyone that doesn't expect children probably picked the wrong vacation ;-)

I of course do not advocate allowing your children to run like feral animals all over the place..but I don't believe that would be the case for anyone asking the question of whether they should bring them ;-)

Personally I don't really see the difference between chef mickeys or california grill, kids should behave while eating out and parents should be prepared to entertain younger ones if need be

 

[crisi]

Personally I don't really see the difference between chef mickeys or california grill, kids should behave while eating out and parents should be prepared to entertain younger ones if need be

I see a big difference. I expect Chef Mickey's to take about an hour and cost me about $100 for two adults and two kids. I don't really expect the food to be anything more than marginally edible, but that isn't why we go to character meals (and I do like character meals - just not for the food).

I expect California Grill to serve me a delicious meal that I want to be able to focus on and enjoy (and haven't been disappointed), I expect to be there about two hours, and I expect that when we leave the table with four of us we will have dropped around $300 - more if we order a bottle of wine.

In the first one, I really don't care if my kids are a little antsy or obnoxious - I don't have much investment in the experience for myself other than indulging them. In the second I'm making a large investment in time and money for myself which is centered around my husband and I enjoying our meal - and the kids indulging us.