California Grill with young kids?

[hunter6009]

I'm starting to worry about taking my two young kiddos to Cali. Grill. I have a 4 year old and an infant and from some of the posts on here, it sounds like it's more of an "adult" restaurant. Is that so? I mean, I know it's Disney, but if my 4 year old is going to be looked at like he sprouted horns when he so much as peeps that's just not going to work! We take our kiddos everywhere, so they've dined in all sorts of restaurants but I want them to be able to relax and have a good time!

 

[Jletendre]

There are always families in there so don't worry. It is a long meal so make sure you bring some supplies. I assume your also eating at typical dining hours and not 8pm or later?

 

[bytheblood]

You're in Disney, kids are welcome everywhere except Victoria and Alberts.

Like the pp said, I would be more concerned about their attention span. From what I understand, it is about a 2 hour meal.

 

[BostonRob]

There ARE always families eating there, but I've never been able to figure out why. Its about as family unfriendly as A WDW restaurant could be. Yeah, its a nice idea if you're looking for a special romantic or adult night out, but how special of night out be with the two kids? Don't be scared away, if you're dying to eat there, go ahead and bring the kids. But I would suggest to you that there are many other places the whole family could enjoy more.

 

[BostonRob]

From what I understand, it is about a 2 hour meal.

Sure it is. Wait an hour for your table, wait a half our for service after you're seated, then your typical 30 minute meal makes it a total of 2 hours.

(getting the idea that I'm not a big fan of the cg?)

 

[crisi]

It is a long meal, and an expensive meal. It would not be my choice to bring a four year old here - not because its inappropriate, but because I don't think dining at California Grill with a preschooler does either the preschooler or the restaurant experience for yourself any favors. I just don't like the risk of having to walk out with an expensive and excellent meal in a box and skip dessert because Junior has had enough.

But there will be four year olds there. No one will look at you like he sprouted horns. And its a pretty loud restaurant.

(We took an eight and nine year old there - and started signature dining with our kids when they were six and seven - we tried once at four and five -Narcoosee's which is pretty casual and noisy - with less success than I would have liked).

 

[BostonRob]

I don't think dining at California Grill with a preschooler does either the preschooler or the restaurant experience for yourself any favors.

Very well said.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

As long as your kids are well behaved and not screaming or running around you should be just fine.

 

[skipperkim]

I could see entertaining a 4 you for possibly 2 hrs, but an infant? There are better choices for kids. You might try O'hanas, WCC or 50's PTC if you're trying to avoid character meals.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I could see entertaining a 4 you for possibly 2 hrs, but an infant? There are better choices for kids. You might try O'hanas, WCC or 50's PTC if you're trying to avoid character meals.

An infant is mcuh easier to take care of. When they have had enough, they usually go to sleep!

Im trying this restaurant with a bunch of kids...4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17. I too am worried about the 4 and 6 year old, but I figure I could order dinner, then take them for a walk around the hotel and go back when food is ready.

Luckily, there are also 5 adults in my party so nobody will miss us for a while.

 

[catne]

even if you get there for the first sitting at 5:30 and get seated immediately, your meal will take at least 1 1/2 hours...I would think it would be very difficult to entertain a baby in there. There really is not room for a stroller in there so infant would either have to be in the high chair or on your lap. Does your baby enjoy sitting in a high chair for almost 2 hours? That's the real question. It's a very contemporary (sparse) decor in there...not much for a baby to be entertained by. And it's not really set up for walking around with a fussing baby, either. It's all one giant room, tables are fairly close together. I wouldn't recommend taking a baby, and even the 4 yr. old will probably not enjoy it much. They do everything sedately and almost slow-mo in here, fast-food it is not! We did not even have an appetiser and had only one cocktail, no wine or menu debates, no unusual orders or food allergy special meals...still was about 7:25 when we got out...we were seated promptly at 5:30, which is what time it opened that day so it's not like the kitchen was backed-up from previous orders or anything.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I guess I'm the outsider here. We've been twice with kids. The first time the kids were 2,3 and 8, the second time 9 months, 4,5 and 10. The meal is VERY long, especially because we were there for fireworks, so the long meal became even longer. HOWEVER, the baby slept, the kids colored and ate, the waitresses brought out goldfish crackers to help occupy. We had great experiences both times, I do not regret it. We opted not to do it this year because of the changes in the DDP, we didn't think it was worth 2 dining credits. The food is incredible as was the service. If you stay for fireworks, ask to go out on the back deck. It is quieter and MUCH less crowded. And the kids will love the dessert (it's something like rice crispies sushi or something). Really cute and the kids loved it!

Bottom line, if you think your kids can handle the long meal, do it. If not, try Ohana or WCC. Just my opinion!!

 

[LisaInNc]

You know your kids. It's a long and expensive meal as others have pointed out. If your kids are able to amuse themselves for at least 2 hours in a restaurant then go for it, it's Disney and kids are welcomed but if they can't you won't get to enjoy yourself. You could find a different restaurant that won't take as long and everyone will be happy.

I once walked out the Yachtsmans Steak House, my DD who was usually a dream in restaurants started to act up a little. The server rushed over with crackers but I opted to leave, eating a meal like that with a baby on my lap wasn't my idea of a quality meal. We ended up back in the hotel with room service and I was a lot happier because I wasn't stressed over trying to manage the baby AND eat,.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I'm starting to worry about taking my two young kiddos to Cali. Grill. I have a 4 year old and an infant and from some of the posts on here, it sounds like it's more of an "adult" restaurant. Is that so? I mean, I know it's Disney, but if my 4 year old is going to be looked at like he sprouted horns when he so much as peeps that's just not going to work! We take our kiddos everywhere, so they've dined in all sorts of restaurants but I want them to be able to relax and have a good time!

Honstly I would consider it more of an adult type resturant. But I do see kids there. It's Disney you are suppose to see kids . Go & enjoy yourself!

 

[Think Pink Tink]

The CG is one our ALL TIME favorite places to eat. We (dh, me, my parents and 2 DD's) ate there in 2006 when the girls were 3 and 5, and we just got back from Disney yesterday and ate at the CG AGAIN!

Early ressies are KEY if you ask me, we had 5:30pm ressies both times so we didn't wait until the girls were cranky from hunger. The waiter, Ryan was a DOLL, he has worked there almost 9 years and really kept dinner moving. The girls got menus and crayons to color on and that kept them busy for a little while, then they made a few trips to the bathroom...that is always of interest to them for some reason

I'd say dinner was at most 90 minutes long, definately NOT 2 hours...everything moved along fairly fast, and we even had appitizers. We were on the dining plan so cost wasn't a huge issue, but out of pocket it would have cost us over $200 for the 6 of us.

Again, I am sure our waiter had alot to do with how smoothly and quickly dinner went. Sure, CG is upscale but there were lots of families with young kids there so I wouldn't pass up CG for fear that your baby may cry.

And even though tables are close you can certainly walk to the front area where the elevators and bathrooms are located and try to calm a crying baby there. The food is truely amazing!!

 

[chrisw127]

I absolutely love the GC. However, my five-year old did get a little antsy when we were there in May. We were there for a very early seating, around 5:15. I don't think the service was slow and there were plenty of things he could eat. But it's a more grown-up environment and he got bored. I will take him back, but I think I'll have some activities planned for him and the younger ones to do quietly at the table so that the wait doesn't make them go bonkers.

There were fewer kids there than I expected, but the ones I saw were well-behaved. As everyone has said, it's Disney, kids are welcome.

And to be honest, next time, I might go with Kids Nite Out and just go alone with my husband, although, if the only way I can go is to take the kids, well then we're all going!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

We went there in April and my sons are 9 and 4 and they were fine.

 

[vcunning]

I'm starting to worry about taking my two young kiddos to Cali. Grill. I have a 4 year old and an infant and from some of the posts on here, it sounds like it's more of an "adult" restaurant. Is that so? I mean, I know it's Disney, but if my 4 year old is going to be looked at like he sprouted horns when he so much as peeps that's just not going to work! We take our kiddos everywhere, so they've dined in all sorts of restaurants but I want them to be able to relax and have a good time!

Hunter6009 . . . you'll be fine.

First of all, the restaurant is fairly loud. It's one big room. Even loud kids won't be heard.

Second, the tables are covered with white paper and they provide crayons for both adults and kids. It's actually quite fun regardless of your age.

We went last spring and had a very long meal (we had a party of 12 though). There are many places to walk an infant, including the 2 observation decks.

Go have fun. Disney is a family place anyways!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Second, the tables are covered with white paper and they provide crayons for both adults and kids. It's actually quite fun regardless of your age.

They don't do this all the time. I know on our last two trips they no longer did the paper on the tables for the kids to draw. I don't know if it was just off times or some strange reason they didn't have it on our last visits, but just an FYI. My kids loved being able to play hangman and tic tac toe...but haven't been able to the last couple of trips. Also, Narcoosees is the same thing...last few visits they no longer did the paper on the tables. Maybe you have to ask for it now??

 

[bucky1023]

My cousin and wife brought their two kids there in April (3 and 7) and the WHOLE family loved it so much that we are going back this July trip.