Is California Grill OK for kids?

[harlock_jds]

I don't think it's selfish for people to want to have a nice dinner and take their children

no it isn't but it is selfish to not keep control of your kids while having a nice dinner, to subject everyone in the restaurant to a screaming baby, or to let your kids disrupt the meals of everyone around you by yelling, running around and hitting other diners with toys (all problems I had while eating at WDW). This is especially true for places like the CG where people go to GET away from the hordes of screaming yelling children who are being pushed too far by parents driven to get 'their moneys worth' from their vacation.

If your children can behave during a long meal the cg is fine for them, if they are going to run around and wack people with toys then make use of the many child care services and spare the rest of us

p.s having a few more 'no children' places would be kinda nice so we don't have to pay 100$+ a meal at V&A to get away from them

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by RoLaren
Selfish? Wow, that post really shocks me! I don't think it's selfish for people to want to have a nice dinner and take their children, this is Walt Disney World!

You COMPLETELY took my words out of context. I said:

"If a parent knows that their children might have issues sitting still and using "inside voices" in a restaurant, it is incredibly selfish of them to dine there anyway, unless they are willing to be prepared to have the food wrapped and leave, immediately, if the children start acting up."

Read the first and last parts of the sentence. I NEVER made a generalization abount taking or not taking all kids. IF the parent knows the kids can't sit through a nice dinner, or IF they aren't willing and prepared to leave immediately if the kids start acting up, they should not eat there. End of story.

Anne

 

[RoLaren]

Walt Disney World is a family resort, there will be children in the restaurants. There is no way to avoid that.

CG has a children's menu, and children's snacks. Children are welcome there.

Do I think kids should be allowed to misbehave in public? No, as my child would surely tell you. That goes for all public places, not just WDW.

You may not think your posts sounded anti-child at CG, but to me they did.

To those who wish there were more adult only dining options at WDW, perhaps you should write WDW and tell them, maybe they will give you what you wish for.

I have nothing more to say on the subject. I'm glad that the OP is taking her family, and I hope they have a wonderful time.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by RoLaren
Walt Disney World is a family resort, there will be children in the restaurants. There is no way to avoid that.

CG has a children's menu, and children's snacks. Children are welcome there.

Do I think kids should be allowed to misbehave in public? No, as my child would surely tell you. That goes for all public places, not just WDW.

You may not think your posts sounded anti-child at CG, but to me they did.

To those who wish there were more adult only dining options at WDW, perhaps you should write WDW and tell them, maybe they will give you what you wish for.

I have nothing more to say on the subject. I'm glad that the OP is taking her family, and I hope they have a wonderful time.

I NEVER said children weren't welcome there. In fact I encouraged the OP to bring her children if they were able to sit at the table and use inside voices during the meal. Not sure what you are reading, or not reading, but it's obviously not my posts. Please stop accusing me of saying things I didn't say, and stop taking my words out of context in order to start trouble.

Anne

Anne

 

[harlock_jds]

Do I think kids should be allowed to misbehave in public? No, as my child would surely tell you. That goes for all public places, not just WDW.

then we agree, who in the heck are you argueing with?

NO ONE has said that children should not be brought to CG, just that the parents should consider if their children will behave or not and if they don't think they will they shouldn't bring them and if they do end up acting rotten then they should be removed from the restaurants by their parents (no it's not fair to the parents to have to cut their meal short but hey that's the disadvantage of having a kid). what exactly is wrong with that?

 

[cstraub]

"We believed in our idea - a family park where parents and children could have fun- together."

-Walt Disney

I hate the idea of a no kid restraunt. I think it goes against the very reason that Walt Disney created the Land and the World. It is a place to be shared by everyone in the family. I think by having too many adult activities that would encourage sticking the kiddies in day care while you go off and have dinner or whatever. My husband and I don't go out together while in Disney with our children. We can go out anytime while we are home. Heck, we can even take a vacation together without the kids or a weekend get away. If someone does not want to be disturbed by children I'm not sure why they would go to WDW. As much as you don't want screaming children in restraunts we don't want people who are not fond of children at Disney Parks. Sounds extreme doesn't it! Imagine a restraunt that allows only people with children to eat there. Now that would be a switch! A restraunt that does not allow children?? I have never heard of that.

I can't say that I have ver been disturbed by a child and I have been a mom of 13 years. When have you seen kids misbehaving so much? I have been to the Disney Parks gobs of times and never really seen one instance of misbehavior ! Not one! If anything kids are better behaved there than anywhere I have ever been. The kids are distracted and therefore don't act up. Our kids are better behaved in Dsiney than anywhere. We all are!! LOL It's such a fun and exciting place to be.

When will people start to realize that these "screaming, rotten brats" will someday be caring for us while we are "screaming, rotten brat senior citizens"? It takes a tribe peolpe!! Let's smile instead of glare at those having a hard time containing their children durning dinner. It may change a life!!

 

[ducklite]

CStraub,

Regretfully I have been the victim of a driveby roll, tossed by an unruly child at the back of my head.

While there have been many times that children dining around me have been wonderfully polite and well mannered, there have also been many times that they've been out of control, running round the table, screaming, and the parents are oblivious.

The last time we ate at Jiko, there was a husband and wife and child, about two or so. They hadn't even been served dinner and teh kid started to scream like his hand was being cut off. He kept doing this for about ten minutes, until the mother finally left with him. For all of about five minutes. Then he was back. Next he started to throw anything he could get his hands on. Food, a glass of milk, you name it. The parents again ignored him. And he started the screaming again. Get this--the parents then ordered dessert while junior continued screaming. Even the kids in the family on the other side of us started commenting that they needed to leave. And they did, when they were darn well ready. Those extraordinarily selfish parents allowed their little monster to disrupt the dinner of every other diner in the place.

We've had similar types of experiences at the YSH, the CG, and Narcooses, just to name a few.

I'm not opposed to having a couple of adult only restaurants at WDW. There are no adult activities there, like the Pirate Cruise, so why not no children places? I'm not suggesting that all of the more upscale restaurants be off limits to kids by any means. But I don't see the harm in having a couple of adult only places. Parents who choose to dine with their children would not be forced to eat there, and there would certainly be quite a few upscale restaurants that were still open to families with well behaved children.

Club 33 at DL IS child free, and was a favorite haunt of Walt himself. Some parents enjoy dining without their children once or twice during their vacations. That is their choice, and just as no one is dictating that you must dine without your children, you also have no right to dictate that all parents must always dine with theirs at every meal. It's a matter of personal choice, just like eating at a childfree restaurant (or not eating there) would be.

BTW--Did you know that one of WDW's largest target demographics for marketing purposes is honeymooners? It would seem that if WDW only wanted to appeal to people with children, they wouldn't be trying to attrack those couples.

Anne

 

[Uncleromulus]

Interesting post--
AT places such as California Grill, Narcoosee's Flying Fish etc, we've seen (over the years):
Children throwing food (and throwing up!)
Children crawling on top of tables.
Children fighting.
Children screaming bloody murder, with parents trying to "discuss" the matter instead of talking them OUTSIDE
Children hitting (yes hitting) their parents while Mom is again trying to reason with the kid.
Children running around from table to table, getting in the way of servers with trays of food they are trying to carry. With the parents just getting the biggest kick out of it all.

All of which DOES bother me when I am trying to enjoy a meal at a good restaurant.

Now this dosen't happen all the time, but when it does it is quite annoying. Of course--this is WDW and kids are a fact of life in WDW restaurants. But appropriate behavior from children--which should be a "given" in adult-type restaurants--often isn't. And when inappropriate behavior does happen, the parents often aren't able or willing to control things.

 

[harlock_jds]

I have been to the Disney Parks gobs of times and never really seen one instance of misbehavior !

i'm assumeing you are blind or something

 

[cstraub]

Yes.

 

[LvsTnk]

My DS has special needs so watch out.......he loves fine dining! Loves to get dressed up tie and everything!


Yes, the servers will take his very old "Christmas Woody"(goes everywhere with him) and show all the other servers and perhaps play a little cowboy with him and maybe a patron or two. This has happened at CG, Artist Pointe and Citrico's if you are wondering where the heck would they do that.

Has he gotten sick...yes.... could he do that at MacDonalds....yes.....would we have warning......no......do we go out of our way to make sure you can't see or are inconvienced Yes! Actually we are so good at taking care of it if you were sitting next to us you wouldn't be able to tell We have even attempted to leave and the servers and hostess have told us to stay he is always fine after.

You know not everyone wears a sign around their neck that says "I Have Special Needs" you don't know what you might be seeing.

Sorry so long the throw up post got to me!

Take your children and have an AWESOME time, I am sure if your kids are having a hard time you have the good sense to do something about it. Sounds like your a great Mom and sensitive to others around you

 

[patsal]

We take our children and they are always happy to go there. The staff is always very attentive and the experience always memorable.

 

[harlock_jds]

Well throwing up is not something you (or the kid) can control, that’s not a problem as long as the kid is removed and cleaned up (along with the mess) and the brought back if he/she is feeling better instead of keeping the kid around with vomit on his face, clothing, etc. As for ‘special needs’ well…. having special needs is still not an excuse for disruptive behavior and isn’t an excuse for letting your child being disruptive. I wouldn’t mind if a ‘special needs; child came to me in a restaurant and wanted me to play with his toys… but I would expect the parents to retrieve the child and tell him not to do it again because that’s not appropriate behavior, special needs or not (sorry to sound so cold but I’ve got experience on both sides of the ‘special needs’ fence so my POV is a bit odd)

My problem isn’t with children, it’s with parents that force their children into situations they are not willing or capable of handling and for not taking care of problems their children are causing. It’s not bad children, a kid who has been at the parks all day is going to be cranky, angry and tired. It’s the parent’s fault they then turn around and make them set in a quiet restaurant for 2 hours, and then ignore their child while they disrupt everyone around them ( this is a minority of children NOT a majority) not the kids.

p.s again NO ONE is saying the OP shouldn't bring their children if they can behave.

 

[JKW]

I am really surprised at some of the responses here. I know that everyone has their own opinions of what restaurant etiquette is. I go by the rule of thumb - Do not do unto others as you would have done to you. If you have chlidren running around, ask yourself would I like it if I were here with no kids........and so on....... My children are loving not malicious, active not unruley, smart not rude, and polite not obnoxios(sp)(Just my opinion.) I would assume that almost all of the posters here that have children would say the same. It takes dedication and love to foster this type of development and by the planning of a family trip using these boards it requires the desire to want to enjoy your family. I really enjoy reading these boards. It is too bad that sometimes we can not write our opinions and have everyone else remember that is just that an opinion.

Bit of trivia - Rule of thumb is an expression formed in history as a guideline of how thick (the man's thumb diameter) of a tree branch that a man could hit his wife with. Makes you really want to not use that expression anymore..........................

 

[LvsTnk]

Originally posted by harlock_jds
Well throwing up is not something you (or the kid) can control, that’s not a problem as long as the kid is removed and cleaned up (along with the mess) and the brought back if he/she is feeling better instead of keeping the kid around with vomit on his face, clothing, etc. As for ‘special needs’ well…. having special needs is still not an excuse for disruptive behavior and isn’t an excuse for letting your child being disruptive. I wouldn’t mind if a ‘special needs; child came to me in a restaurant and wanted me to play with his toys… but I would expect the parents to retrieve the child and tell him not to do it again because that’s not appropriate behavior, special needs or not (sorry to sound so cold but I’ve got experience on both sides of the ‘special needs’ fence so my POV is a bit odd)

My problem isn’t with children, it’s with parents that force their children into situations they are not willing or capable of handling and for not taking care of problems their children are causing. It’s not bad children, a kid who has been at the parks all day is going to be cranky, angry and tired. It’s the parent’s fault they then turn around and make them set in a quiet restaurant for 2 hours, and then ignore their child while they disrupt everyone around them ( this is a minority of children NOT a majority) not the kids.

p.s again NO ONE is saying the OP shouldn't bring their children if they can behave.

I didn't say my child left the table I said the servers took his toys and played with him and some patron's around us. I also didn't say I left him at the table with throw up all over him. You should realize there is a difference between bad behavior and having a melt down because of your diagnosis if you have been on both sides of the "special needs"fence. Luckily I don't have those behavior issues with my cihild but I am very sensitive to those that do which was my reason for posting in the first place.

Actually it doesn't matter if the children or parents behave to your liking or not , unless you can get management to do something about it. I, like the OP have not seen the horrible children and parents described in this thread.

 

[RoLaren]

ducklite, i did not accuse you of anything and was replying to the thread based just on what was posted.

I won't reply to any more of your posts in the future, that will prevent me from "stirring up' any trouble for you.

A thread that was a question about one thing turned into something totally different and I don't want to be part of it.

Peace!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by LvsTnk
You should realize there is a difference between bad behavior and having a melt down because of your diagnosis if you have been on both sides of the "special needs"fence. Luckily I don't have those behavior issues with my cihild but I am very sensitive to those that do which was my reason for posting in the first place.

Actually it doesn't matter if the children or parents behave to your liking or not , unless you can get management to do something about it. I, like the OP have not seen the horrible children and parents described in this thread.

It doesn't matter WHAT the reason for the disturbance is, no dinner in any restaurant should be allowed to cause a disturbance, child or adult. I have a special needs son as well. I never used his diabilities as an excuse to allow disruptive behaviour. If he was having a bad day, we didn't go. If it started to go downhill once we were there, the food was wrapped and we left. I never allowed him to disturb other diners. And I'm on both sides of that POV as well.

You are lucky you haven't seen this type of behaviour. I suspect that you maybe haven't eaten in the more upscale restaurants as much as some of us who are either empty nesters or have older children. Disruptive behaviour of any type is more noticable in these places than say 50's PT, by the very nature of the restaurants.

I have seen WDW restaurants becoming more proactive about disruptive behaviour, this past July I saw a manager at the Kona tell some parents that their children needed to sit at the table and couldn't play tag in the aisles. CG has also instituted the new lounge policy to help overcrowding and children are no longer allowed in the immediate bar area.

Anne

 

[harlock_jds]

I didn't say my child left the table I said the servers took his toys and played with him and some patron's around us. I also didn't say I left him at the table with throw up all over him.

Sigh it's imposable to post anything here without people taking it the wrong way because they read too much into what's being said..... I didn't say you were leaving him their with vomit on him, in fact I knew you weren't from your post but I've seen parents just ignore the mess until the are ready to leave (which may have been what the other poster was talking about). As for the toy thing I misunderstood what you typed: sorry.

I'll stop talking about special needs and bad behavior since that's pretty off topic.

unless you can get management to do something about it

parents should know when their children are being disruptive and take care of the situation themselves (something I'm sure you agree with, that's the silly thing about this debate is that we actually agree on it )Diners shouldn't depend on having to take care of it themselves or depend on management to take care of it, it's the parents responsibility. You are right their is nothing I can do about it other than complain about bad parenting, something that is on display in abundance at WDW (again off topic).

 

[LvsTnk]

This thread has actually become funny

Ducklite...I could post all the "upscale" restaurants I have eaten at, and where I will be eating at over Christmas, but I just don't feel the need to. I do have older children as well and they dine with us too. I guess they don't mind dining with their disruptive brother with throwup all over him. Hope to see you there

 

[Uncleromulus]

This thread has gotten away from the original post, that's for sure.
Just to clarify my "throwing up" remark--was at Artist Point. Child appeared to be 6-8 years old. Table just across from ours. Mess was all over the kid, the table, and the floor. Parent (or maybe grandparents) wiped up the table, most of the kid, and then left the napkins right out in plain sight!! The effect seemed to be that the whole group thought this was all quite funny.
Note : The soiled napkins were removed when I (not the family) said someting to a passing server suggesting that the table needed a little help).