Cali Grill questions.

[DISNEY FIX]

If we wanted to do desert at the California Grill, what time would we want to make our ressie in order to be done for say 9pm fireworks?

 

[kaleighmariesmom]

I dont know if this will help but we had 9 PM ADR for dinner last week and we were not seated until 9:30 and hadnt even ordered until 9:55. People take their time because everyone wants to see the fireworks.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I dont know if this will help but we had 9 PM ADR for dinner last week and we were not seated until 9:30 and hadnt even ordered until 9:55. People take their time because everyone wants to see the fireworks.

Wow, is this common?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Wow, is this common?

We usually make our reservations right around 7:30, and by the time we are seated (usually not too long), order appetizer and the main course, eat then order dessert and an after dinner drink, the fireworks are just starting to go off as we get our desserts.

 

[Cruella 66]

We have ADR for July 28th at 7:30 but Wishes doesn't start until 10:00. IF we eat leisurely do you think we'll still be there for Wishes or will they give us the bums rush???

 

[TDC Nala]

Wow, is this common?

I would imagine it's not likely that people already at a table would be too interested in leaving it that close to the fireworks...especially if they have a window table.

We have ADR for July 28th at 7:30 but Wishes doesn't start until 10:00. IF we eat leisurely do you think we'll still be there for Wishes or will they give us the bums rush???

If you bring your receipt with you, I understand they will let you come back up to see the fireworks from the observation deck.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Are you planning appy, entree and dessert? Maybe a drink or 2? Then I would book around 7-7:15.

If you can't get that time, do earlier, after dinner go poke around the shops. They have some unique merchandise there! Then closer to the fireworks, head back up and outside to view

have a great time!

 

[Cruella 66]

We're staying at CR but if I have 2 drinks...plus appy and dessert...whew...I'll be ! To say nothing of seeing double! Maybe we'll chew REAL slow???

 

[NejTheLion]

They don't make people leave who have an earlier reservation. I'm sure they have a system and they make it work somehow. People will come at 6:00 and still be there at 9:00 for the fireworks. If you make a reservation for after 9:00, you could probably arrive early, go out and watch the fireworks after you check in, and then east dessert afterwards.

 

[crisi]

Wow, is this common?

Common and hugely problematic. As is the Rose and Crown situation. There are stories of people with 8:00 reservations not getting seated until 9:30 - kids in tow.

The problem with the dessert only idea is that there is no way you can stretch dessert only out to hold a table for two hours. The restaurant will be full of people who started a four course dinner at 7 or 7:30.

A three hour dinner at CG is reasonable - but only if you do at least three of the four courses they offer. It won't even be very dragged out.

(Yes that's four courses, there is a cheese course offered. Five if you do what we did and have a sushi course, a cheese course, and appetizer, an entree, and dessert - we started at 5:30 and left before fireworks by an hour.)

 

[Lynn5700]

We have an ADR at 9 one night....can we watch the fireworks before we get seated?We plan to get there early.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Are you planning appy, entree and dessert? Maybe a drink or 2? Then I would book around 7-7:15.

If you can't get that time, do earlier, after dinner go poke around the shops. They have some unique merchandise there! Then closer to the fireworks, head back up and outside to view

have a great time!

This is a good idea, would they turn anyone away?

We usually make our reservations right around 7:30, and by the time we are seated (usually not too long), order appetizer and the main course, eat then order dessert and an after dinner drink, the fireworks are just starting to go off as we get our desserts.

Common and hugely problematic. As is the Rose and Crown situation. There are stories of people with 8:00 reservations not getting seated until 9:30 - kids in tow.

The problem with the dessert only idea is that there is no way you can stretch dessert only out to hold a table for two hours. The restaurant will be full of people who started a four course dinner at 7 or 7:30.

A three hour dinner at CG is reasonable - but only if you do at least three of the four courses they offer. It won't even be very dragged out.

(Yes that's four courses, there is a cheese course offered. Five if you do what we did and have a sushi course, a cheese course, and appetizer, an entree, and dessert - we started at 5:30 and left before fireworks by an hour.)

Yea I can imagine, we have 2 kiddies in tow, so the 2-3 hour dinner is out. Plus they are allways fed by 5pm or we would have a revolt on our hands. So would dessert ressie at either 7:30-8:00 for 9:30 fireworks be a practical plan? Any problems with being let back up for the fireworks? Thanks for the help.

 

[Nancyg56]

Yea I can imagine, we have 2 kiddies in tow, so the 2-3 hour dinner is out. Plus they are allways fed by 5pm or we would have a revolt on our hands. So would dessert ressie at either 7:30-8:00 for 9:30 fireworks be a practical plan? Any problems with being let back up for the fireworks? Thanks for the help.

I am not sure that you could manage to keep little ones amused for so long on just dessert. I think that they allow people up to the observation deck after their meal. I wonder if heading over to the Poly and enjoying a little stroll through the resort and then relaxing on the beach with the kids would be more fun.

We have had dinner at the CG with my DGD and she is fine for the 2 + hours we are there, but we are having an entire meal and the server generally times the meal to coincide with Wishes. I would never be able to keep her occupied for that length of time on dessert and her beverage. I would stop at the pool bar for some refreshments and let her run in the sand and build castles while waiting for the fireworks to begin.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

If my adr is at 7:40 and the fireworks are at 8pm - what are my odds with being seated you think to see the fireworks? Not so great? Should I just plan on going to the deck to see them?

 

[TDC Nala]

If my adr is at 7:40 and the fireworks are at 8pm - what are my odds with being seated you think to see the fireworks? Not so great? Should I just plan on going to the deck to see them?

Not very likely. Anyone who already has a table at 7:40 most likely would stick around. You'd need to also consider the possibility that you won't get a window table (it's pretty much certain nobody will give those up around 7:40 if they can stay 20 minutes and see fireworks). If you were seated at 7:40 and it wasn't a window table, you would have to go to the deck anyway.

 

[Addicted to Dopey]

Wow, is this common?

its becoming way TOO common for people to just take "thier time" and sit at the table forever.....we had this happen to us, just last week. We got to the grill at 7:30 for our reservation and was told that they were 30 minutes behind in seating everyone. By 45 minutes we had the manager walk over to us and apologize. We then requested since we were waiting for so long to have a window table when it came up and we would wait a little bit more for it. Well the two top we waited for had a couple that was there for 2 1/2 hours already who were trying to pull the reservation out till 10 (thats when the fireworks were that night) at any cost. They finally got up 20 min later (making thier stay a LONG 2 hours and 50 minutes), and we were seated. I understand that everyone wants to try and see the fireworks from up there, but to take advantage like that is just insane. Its not like the restaurant wont let you come back up and go out on the catwalk if you had dined there that night.

 

[PennyW]

Last week, we had reservations at 9, but ended getting there around 8. They took us up, we had a drink at the bar, and our buzzer went off in less than ten minutes. We shared the cheese selection to start (yummy), then the sushi (really good) and a flatbread (decent), washed down with a couple of glasses of wine. It was an awesome place for my birthday dinner!

We finished eating well before the 10pm Wishes show, so we gave up our table and went outside to watch the fireworks. Great show!

We did see people who were seated before us still parked at their table long after we abandoned ours.

Really fun place with great view and good food Can't wait to go back!

 

[crisi]

Last week, we had reservations at 9, but ended getting there around 8. They took us up, we had a drink at the bar, and our buzzer went off in less than ten minutes. We shared the cheese selection to start (yummy), then the sushi (really good) and a flatbread (decent), washed down with a couple of glasses of wine. It was an awesome place for my birthday dinner!

We finished eating well before the 10pm Wishes show, so we gave up our table and went outside to watch the fireworks. Great show!

We did see people who were seated before us still parked at their table long after we abandoned ours.

Really fun place with great view and good food Can't wait to go back!

It is. One of the best meals I've had. The cheese selection the night we were there was amazing.

I do wonder when they will put in a per person minimum to keep their table revenue up - the dessert only crowd that pushes a table for two hours for Illuminations is going to evenutally force it. And I'm betting it won't be a cheap per person minimum.