Changes at California Grill

[glawgirl]

Just returned from a wonderful trip to Disney. My husband and I always have dinner at the California Grill. I just wanted to let all of you know that things have changed. When you drive into the Contemporary Hotel the security guard will ask for your driver's license before letting you into the property. You also cannot just hop into the elevator and go to the top floor where the California Grill is - now you have to go to the 2nd floor. Once you get off on the 2nd floor you will see a desk that says California Girll. You must confirm your reservation - letting them know your name and what time your reservation is for. They then call up the California Grill and have a hostess come down and pick you up. You cannot go on your own up to the restaurant anymore. The experience was better because you don't have a million people in the lobby/waiting area of the California Grill walking around. Also, you cannot go up to see the fireworks from the balcony at the California Grill if you are not having dinner there. Hope this helps. :sunny:

[wdwrich]

Yes- they've been doing this for a while now, but thanks for the reminder. I agree that it's better to keep the area for guests dining at CG.

[Aimeedyan]

Yeah, they started doing that awhile back, some people have posted about the change.

The consensus is that it's a GOOD thing for all diners =)

[SamSam]

Can you still go up to have a drink and appetizer at the bar?

[Maistre Gracey]

Do they serve cocktails at the second floor waiting area??? :cool:

MG

[BCV23]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
Do they serve cocktails at the second floor waiting area??? :cool:

MG

No MG, it is just a checkin station on the convention floor.

SamSam, I'm not sure but perhaps as long as you have a PS. I think you have to a PS now.

[akghutton]

glawgirl,

Did you notice what type of creme brulee they are currently serving at CG? My husband read about their butterscotch creme brulee in one of the Disney Magazines and has been drooling over the thought of ordering it when we eat there in 13 days.

[BCV23]

We'll be right behind you, akghutton. We're dining there again in 14 days.::yes::

[glawgirl]

We were just there last week. The food was excellent as always. We had one of their flatbreads as an appetizer. It had chicken and avocado on it - it was very very good. Then we proceeded to have a sushi feast - 2 orders of their peeky toe crab which is really a fancy name for a california roll and some other sushi with shrimp in it which was fantastic. I don't remember seeing a butterscotch creme brulee. They now have a rasbery creme brulee which was too die for.

[Jen D]

We ate there the 20th, and alas the butterscotch creme brulee was not on the menu that night. I looked because it was my favorite desert two years ago.

The prices were also a tiny bit higher than the current menu posted on Deb's site. Many of the entrees were about a dollar higher.

[ducklite]

Originally posted by SamSam
Can you still go up to have a drink and appetizer at the bar?

If there is room they will bring you up to the bar, but they won't allow the bar area to become crowded.

Anne

[SamSam]

I appreciate the fact that they don't want the bar area to become too crowded; but I'm wondering how we can decide if we just wnat to hop over to the Cal Grill for a drink and snack. Hopefully a quick phone call will be all it takes to find out.

[Dreamin' Disney]

We are planning to go to CG for dinner as we will be at the Contemporary Resort right after doing the Magical Fireworks Voyage.

Since the fireworks will be done for that night by the time of our PS, can you still get a view of MK and the castle from the restaurant?

We will plan to go anyways, because we won't have to travel long and can go straight to dinner, but hoping we will still get a great view.

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by BCV23
No MG, it is just a checkin station on the convention floor.

OH NO! :eek: I can be a very patient person while lounging with a drink while waiting for dinner.... BUT, with this new procedure, things could get ugly! :teeth:

MG

[Rombus]

so now there is no way to get to the observation decks unless you have CG Resies? :Sigh: They offerd such a great view of the lake and the park, and it was so magical at night.

[BCV23]

MG, I don't think you'll have to wait on the 2nd floor at all. In June, I arrived for dinner before the rest of my family. I was asked if I wanted to wait or go up. I chose to wait downstairs. There is some seating but it is across the lobby...not really intended for CG I don't think. As soon as my family arrived, we were escorted up. If you have to wait for a table, I think you would do so in the bar area or viewing platform, etc. just like the old days. It is just not so congested now. At any rate, we were seated immediately.

Rombus, there is also a viewing platform on the 4th floor.

[ducklite]

That is correct. I'm very happy for this new policy, it was beginning to gte ridiculous having the place jam packed with "lookie-seer's " while you wer trying to eat!

The 4th floor viewing area is still open to the public.

Anne

[Threehearts]

One month ago when we ate at the California Grill, the elevator was very crowded. The CM who took us up to the restaurant had also agreed to take 3 other couples who wanted to see C.G. but who didn't have reservations. We met a family at the restaurant's observation deck who had also ridden up to see the sights. IMHO, seeing these people in no way detracted from my dining experience. Just thought I'd let you know that the policy seems kind of loose. Threehearts

[KNWVIKING]

Does anyone know if the relax this restriction after the fireworks or during daylight hours ?

[MamaQuack]

If you want to grab a glass of wine and wait outside do they give you a pager so you will know when your table is ready??

MamaQuack

[disneywithdrawal]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
OH NO! :eek: I can be a very patient person while lounging with a drink while waiting for dinner.... BUT, with this new procedure, things could get ugly! :teeth:

MG

I thought as long as you have a PS you can wait up at the bar? We have a PS for 20 minutes after Wishes and we were told we could show up early, get a drink and watch from the observation deck. Is that not true?

Oops! Guess I started to panic and didn't see there was a second page. Never mind. Sorry.

[Dreamin' Disney]

I got a PS at CG for 7:50, after MFV/Wishes. I was told to checkin at the 2nd floor podium and make any window seating requests at that time. Since I've never been to CG, is there still a view of MK and the castle from anywhere in the restaurant?

[my3kids]

What time would the fireworks be on a Saturday night in the "off season?" We'd like to time the meal appropriately to see the show while up there.

[Rombus]

Originally posted by ducklite
The 4th floor viewing area is still open to the public.

see the amazing tops of the trees!
:p

no 4th floor viewing area will compare with the views from the top.

In any case, If you get ressies at CG, can you go out on the viewing decks?

[RumpleMom]

We had a reservation at the CG on July 23 for our 27th anniversary. We went out on the observation deck while waiting for our table. The view was fantastic, however, the bird droppings on the railings was abundant. This was not just a day or two amount. Don't they ever clean out there? We didn't stay outside as it was really unappetizing. I know I should have said something to someone, but we were in a celebration mood... But yuk!

[jjarman]

What time should you get a PS for it you want to be able to see the fireworks? We will be there in March, 2005 if that makes any difference.

[Dreamin' Disney]

Calendars with times of parades and fireworks are shown for each park on disneyworld.com They are usually posted about 2 months prior, ie, the November calendar was posted the first week of September.

Once you have a monthly calendar on your screen, just click on the date and the daily event times will appear.:sunny: