Would you take 2 small kids to California Grill?

[staceyhzoo]

I hope this is the right board to post this. We (dh,me dd 3y, ds 18 months) are spending 7 days in Dec. We really wanted to go the the California Grill at Wishes. Orginally, my mom was going to but due to health reasons she's not sure she will be able to go. We have already made our ressies at CG and I really want to go even though we have to take the kiddos. I don't want to be disrespectful to any other dinners. My kids are usually very well behaved in restaraunts-we don't do them often so it's a big treat. We are going on our 'off' day (no parks just pools and relax) so they won't be tired or over stimulated. Has anyone gone with small ones? Our res are right before Wishes start time. Thanks so much,

S

 

[deva]

Before we had kids, we went to CG. Next to us was a table with 2 crazy kids - running around the table, yelling etc. Not fun as this was supposed to be a "nice" dinner. Now that I have kids I'd probably be a bit more sympathetic, but I still get sooooo frustrated when parents drag tired, cranky kids to late night dinners so it's so nice to see someone who is being thoughtful. I know it's vacation, but have some common sense and manners, please!

You know your kids, so if you think they'll be fine, it will probably work. The fact that it's at the end of a nice, relaxing day is in your favor. We always have a mini bag of coloring books, puzzles etc. to keep our kids occupied while waiting for food.

If you end up going, enjoy! CG is delicious!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would and I have. We took our kids last trip. They loved it. They also are well behaved and there is no way we would tolerate them running around any restaurant. There were quite a few children there.

 

[deva]

.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There isn't any guarantee that you will have a table near the windows to watch Wishes. And since others think the way you do, they may not clear out and you'd be sitting and waiting for a table while Wishes was on.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I wanted to add that we had normal dinner time reservations. We ate at about 5:30. There is no way that my kids are going to wait until almost 9 to eat dinner and frankly neither could I! The thing is though, even if you eat early they will give you a ticket so you can go back up to the observation deck for Wishes on the day of your reservation no matter what time your dinner is. So if you eat at a normal time you can still go and see Wishes up there.

 

[waltskids]

What time is Wishes scheduled for that evening? Even in Disney we like to keep to our kids' schedule as much as possible and eating a late dinner would not work for our family. What time do your kids normally go to bed? If they are 'early to bed' kids (our DS goes to bed at 7:30) then dinner may not be the best idea. We can easily go to parks past his bedtime b/c the kids will sleep in the stroller but we try to not eat dinner too late. Of course if your children are night owls then they may be ok. As far as CG being kid friendly, it totally is. There was once a time that we thought of it as a romantic restaurant, but that isn't the case anymore. We avoid it on our 'date nights' when it is just DH and I b/c it is so loud and there are so many children. I guess after Wishes maybe the crowd thins out??? Anyway, you will see many families dining there, but you know your kids best. Afterall, you want to enjoy the meal too.

 

[crisi]

There will be plenty of kids there. I wouldn't:

Wishes at the CG is a zoo. You are often seated 30+ minutes past your ADR time. In order to even be seated for Wishes, you need to plan a long meal, because people won't give up their table early. That's a long time to expect kids to behave.

Signature meals generally take a long time - you can do it faster, but with Wishes, you probably won't be able to rush it.

We don't like to rush signature meals. Rushing a $100 a plate meal is not my idea of a good time (that's sushi, apps, entree, dessert, wine).

I don't like the melt down risk with small kids. If my kids melt down, I won't leave them in the restuarant. That means me hauling the kid out while my husband gets my food to go. That $100 meal never tastes good out of a stryofoam box.

 

[staceyhzoo]

Our res are at 7pm. Our normal dinner time is between 6:30-7. Wishes starts at 8pm. So even if we are done with dinner (which I doubt) we could go onto the balcony. There is no way they would be running around the table or anywhere else for that matter. My dd is an extreme night owl and is usually up til 9:30; talking to her doll in her bed-she doesn't require the normal amount of sleep of an average 3 year old I think we will go for it.
Thanks for your input and help.
-S

 

[PatsMom]

You know your kids the best. If you think they won't be overtired and will be reasonable, I'd go for it. A good viewing of Wishes isn't guaranteed even with your ressie time but it is worth a try. If nothing else, you'll have a good meal!

I wouldn't try it after a full day in the parks since having dinner with young children who are tired and over stimulated a bit would be my idea of misery. But if it is a down day and you might even get them to nap you probably have a better chance of an enjoyable dinner.

You certainly won't be the only one there with children! And not all of them will be well behaved.

 

[California Jenn]

I think you will enjoy CG with your kids. It sounds like they are well behaved in restaurants and will be well-rested, so you've got everything going for you. They have a nice selection of kids' meals and I've seen lots of kids there, especially earlier in the evening like you guys are planning for. Plus, the observation deck is great even if you can't see the fireworks from your table (although, so many of the tables have a great view, that in the three times I've been there during Wishes, we had a good view from our table). Enjoy, it'll be great!

 

[Magic2000]

Absolutely bring the kids! They'll be fine! There will be other kids there too!

If they do get a little cranky or restless, just take them for a little walk out by the elevator/bathroom area. As long as they're not screaming, they shouldn't bother anyone else.

(When we ate at CG in June, there was a crying toddler, approx 3 yrs old, at the table next to us - he (loudly) cried about everything - he didn't want to sit in his chair, didn't want to sit in the high chair, didn't want to eat his dinner, didn't want to taste any desserts, etc. I must admit, we were really glad when they finally left.)

Have a great dinner!

 

[Lewisc]

PP are correct. I doubt you'll get seated until after Wishes, maybe a half hour after. Chances are you'll be watching Wishes from the observation deck.

I have no idea if that's too late for your kids. Only you know if this will be a treat for your kids (eating in a nice restaurant with their parents) or "punishment".

Assume you'll be seated an hour after Wishes starts and dinner will last at least an hour. Is that too late for your kids?

 

[happymommy]

We ate there once, I think when my kids were 3 and 5. They loved it! We all did! We didn't do it for wishes, just for the dinner.

At Disney, you will see kids everywhere except maybe Victoria and Alberts (there too but I think now it's age 10 and up there now).

My kids love good restaurants, and if they were babies, they would fall asleep anyway.

I agree with you - enjoy! Disney is so child-friendly. That is one thing I love about it. We also had a fantastic (and also $$$$) dinner at Bistro de Paris. My kids loved it, and it was wonderful. Enjoy!!!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

We took the kids to CG for Dinner. It was to celebrate my aunts birthday. It was absolutely fine. My DD was 3 at the time and my DN was 2. We were a large group and there for a while. We ended up being there for wishes even though it wasn't our intention. The kids enjoyed it.

Disney is child friendly. There isn't anywhere I wouldn't take them other than V&A as mentioned before. I would say go for it if you think everyone would enjoy it..(Parents and Kids).

These threads are always silly...anyone that would ask whether they should take their kids is obviously someone that doesn't let them run around wild and disturb other guests dining.

Have fun!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would consider it based on my own children. My kids would be terminally grounded for making butts of themselves in a restaurant--so mine would do okay in CG though it might annoy other diners who would expect perfect behavior.

There is the Fairy Godmother baby sitting service. I would encourage you to consider that as an alternative IF you are concerned.

I would keep the reservation whatever you decide and if it really seems an issue, then you can always leave the restaurant if you need to if the children aren't handling it well. For my kids--i have to watch what time dinner is, if it is too late, they are less likely to be tolerant of a nice restaurant--but as long as they are eating around their normal dinnertime, it is not an issue.

 

[brergnat]

First of all, do you KNOW FOR SURE that your kids are NOT afraid of fireworks???

I ask this because the fireworks are quite loud, even from inside the restaurant. If this will be the first time they encounter fireworks, and they end up being scared of them, it will be BAD.

My kids are 3 and 5 and STILL terrified of fireworks, even when viewed from the balcony of our hotel room...

So, just checking that out...might be an issue, especially for the littler one.

 

[AmyBWV99]

We've taken our kids now 2 & 4 to Narcosses, Artist Point 5 times, Cali Grill twice, at various stages of baby/toddler hood it's been fine.

There have been a few episodes here and there but most people understand and get it. We don't allow our kids to run wild or anything but a baby will chuck an unmanned fork to the floor given the chance. CG is the probably the easiest it seemed quiet to us and they offer Goldfish crakers to give the young uns something to fiddle with while waiting for everything else. Artist Point has been uber accomodating to the kidlets getting them certain friut, french fries for nibbling, etc that wasn't on the menu. We also try to have the kids get their deserts before we are finished with our meal ordering ahead when we order the entres which is usually some sort of painting cookie thing or make your own sundae. We get to eat at our leaisure and they are on their desert project.

 

[whys_of_ma]

My friend just came back from WDW and took her 2.5 year old to Calli Grill. They had an AWESOME time. They are real foodies and go out to eat alot, so they weren't worried about it and their daughter is fantastic at restaurants. I wouldn't take my boys, but they just can't sit still for a long time. Only you know your kids.

I would say though, that there isn't a better place in the world to try a fancy restaurant with kids than at Disney.

 

[disneyfan97]

Personally, I wouldn't take *my* 2.5 year old to CG, but you know your children best. We ate there last January (without him - for our anniversary) and there were plenty of well-behaved children in the restaurant (and a few not-so-well behaved!). We don't have much problem with later evenings, so the timing wouldn't be a concern...more the length of time he will be expected to sit still (either waiting for a table, or at the table). It's a long meal.

Our table was not facing Wishes, so we had to go out on the balcony - which we actually enjoyed a lot. It would have made me very nervous to have DS out there.