Cali Grill - seats with a view never available?

[Uncleromulus]

1) It is far better, profit-wise, to have more of the "Deuces" (2-Tops) than "4-Top" tables.
2) For an expensive eatery, like CG, there are more two-person parties than 3-4 person parties.
3) Why waste extra space and extra seats?
4) Revenue is king!
5) As for not having a good view, you need to make an earlier ADR.
6) Many people with window seats will keep their table through the fireworks show. *

* NOTE: Once seated, WDW cannot ask or force you to leave your table once you are done eating. This is why so many people finish eating, then stay, until the fireworks.

Yep--we've seen the fireworks SO often that they don't matter to us any more. But as Scupper says, folks with a window table will camp out--we've seen them sit for well over an hour AFTER they finished eating, nursing a water or cup of coffee waiting for the fireworks.

 

[TeresaWen]

Tell me more about the tables with bad views please. We have had dinner three times at California Grill. All three in the lounge by a window. I have never actually been in the restaurant area.

We have brunch scheduled for September. If there is even a chance that we would have a table with a view of the service area I will cancel this!!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

1) It is far better, profit-wise, to have more of the "Deuces" (2-Tops) than "4-Top" tables.
2) For an expensive eatery, like CG, there are more two-person parties than 3-4 person parties.
3) Why waste extra space and extra seats?
4) Revenue is king!
5) As for not having a good view, you need to make an earlier ADR.
6) Many people with window seats will keep their table through the fireworks show. *

* NOTE: Once seated, WDW cannot ask or force you to leave your table once you are done eating. This is why so many people finish eating, then stay, until the fireworks.

The last (2) times we dined at CG we had the first seating at 5:00 and were seated at the two person tables both times. We also made our reservations at the 180 day mark for both times. We have dined here between 30 -40 times over the years so the fireworks are no big deal to us either. I understand that there is more 2 person parties it's just the general layout of these tables that I don't like.

 

[goofy4prez]

Then that would rule out the

1) It is far better, profit-wise, to have more of the "Deuces" (2-Tops) than "4-Top" tables. No doubt... True of most restaurants.
2) For an expensive eatery, like CG, there are more two-person parties than 3-4 person parties. Yep, I agree... No doubt about it... I think the dislike is the way so many of the "deuces" are set up with the back to the dining room.
3) Why waste extra space and extra seats? Yep, again I agree... No doubt about it.
4) Revenue is king! Absolutely... But one must never forget that the revenue is also generated by the consumer parting with their hard earned cash, not the bean counter in the ivory tower.
5) As for not having a good view, you need to make an earlier ADR. Nope, done that with a 5:30 seating and same result. Community seating with one being a booth seat and the other a seat facing away from the restaurant.
6) Many people with window seats will keep their table through the fireworks show. * There is no doubt about this and one of the reasons why they (window seats) can be tough. In my case I don't need a window seat, I'm just fed up with being seated in a booth and a chair facing away from the restaurant in a tight communal like setting. This setup is beneath the atmosphere and level of restaurant Disney is trying to represent here. Just my opinion.

* NOTE: Once seated, WDW cannot ask or force you to leave your table once you are done eating. This is why so many people finish eating, then stay, until the fireworks.

I agree and have no problems with folks choosing to do this. My problem again are those pathetic two tops with chairs facing away. They really needed to do something different than this. One does not need to be by a window to have a great view, but there is nothing pleasing about looking at a bar or a wall.

Like I said in another post, I was told I could not have another seat so I said no problem, after 4 times here with the same seat, I'll enjoy my soft drink, avoid the no show charge and then leave. That's just what I was going to do and asked for the check from my server once our Diet Cokes were served. Funny how the manager was able to then accommodate us with another table.

 

[goofy4prez]

Tell me more about the tables with bad views please. We have had dinner three times at California Grill. All three in the lounge by a window. I have never actually been in the restaurant area.

We have brunch scheduled for September. If there is even a chance that we would have a table with a view of the service area I will cancel this!!

It would be these tables to the right lined up shoulder to shoulder with the other 2 top tables with booths (very fast food like in my opinion) and a chair with a wonderful view of a wall.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Then that would rule out the
I agree and have no problems with folks choosing to do this. My problem again are those pathetic two tops with chairs facing away. One does not need to be by a window to have a great view, but there is nothing pleasing about looking at a bar or a wall.

1) Alas, tables are arranged for easy access for Servers, and to best utilize the space.
2) Waiting for tables is unfair to the restaurant and the Servers *
. . . table go unused/empty while people wait for other tables
. . . the Servers assigned to those tables cannot make tips when there are no people seated/eating
. . . every eatery has good/bad/better table locations, and one must take their chances
. . . in fact, lots of eateries have one seat facing a wall (eg. long booths built a wall)
. . . every table and every table cannot have a perfect view, as all eateries have walls

* NOTE: We have the major investment in two eateries (a Blue-Plate breakfast/lunch-only diner and a dinner-only Fine Dining. We do not allow people to wait for tables. INB most cases, we do not allow people to select tables other than those assigned to them, as we need to equalize the guests for each Server. (A Server in a better areas should not have an opportunity to make more tips than a Server in another area.)

 

[goofy4prez]

1) Alas, tables are arranged for easy access for Servers, and to best utilize the space.
2) Waiting for tables is unfair to the restaurant and the Servers *
. . . table go unused/empty while people wait for other tables
. . . the Servers assigned to those tables cannot make tips when there are no people seated/eating
. . . every eatery has good/bad/better table locations, and one must take their chances
. . . in fact, lots of eateries have one seat facing a wall (eg. long booths built a wall)
. . . every table and every table cannot have a perfect view, as all eateries have walls

* NOTE: We have the major investment in two eateries (a Blue-Plate breakfast/lunch-only diner and a dinner-only Fine Dining. We do not allow people to wait for tables. INB most cases, we do not allow people to select tables other than those assigned to them, as we need to equalize the guests for each Server. (A Server in a better areas should not have an opportunity to make more tips than a Server in another area.)

Sorry Rusty, most of the time I agree with you; not on this one. I think it was horrible design or just flat out greed. As for your points above I agree with most of your points, with the exception of the last point. While it is true not every table can have a perfect view, not all eateries have walls blocking the sight line of the patron. Sorry, I'm a big fan of Disney, but I"m not snorting a big old line of this pixie dust. CG blew it with the setup on these 2 tops. Again, just my opinion.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

fan of Disney, but I"m not snorting a big old line of this pixie dust. CG blew it with the setup on these 2 tops. Again, just my opinion.

1) I have zero opposition to your thought.
2) When they remodeled CG, they did a poor job of layout !!!

NOTE:
I started out as an Industrial Engineer (and, as a Managing Director, I have laid-out seven manufacturing plants).
We have interest in two eateries.
I would NEVER layout an eatery the way WDW did at CG.

 

[TeresaWen]

It would be these tables to the right lined up shoulder to shoulder with the other 2 top tables with booths (very fast food like in my opinion) and a chair with a wonderful view of a wall.

Thank you! $160 for brunch to look at a wall. No thank you. Just not worth the risk. if it were dinner we could have one drink and leave. Not an option with brunch.

So glad I found out now! What a disappointment it woke have been. Don't need a window seat but I will not look at a wall!!!!!

 

[NJlauren]

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I go to restaurants all the time that are set up like that (or similar)....

No one else?

Eta Not saying its good, or should be set up that way...

 

[goofy4prez]

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I go to restaurants all the time that are set up like that (or similar)....

No one else?

At one time I use to go to restaurants all the time with tables set up like this; They were named Taco Bell, Wendy's, McDonalds and Burger King. LOL

***The problem for me is I like CG, just not these tables. I'm curious to see where we are seated in just over a week from now with a party for 8.***

 

[beck00]

We have a sushi restaurant here with a very similar layout (see attached pic). We hate when we are sat at those tables! And we're just talking about a view of downtown Baton Rouge/ Mississippi River here with much lower prices!

 

[MinMou]

Disney advertises this restaurant as having one of the best views in all of WDW. For that reason alone, a table with its back to the window is just wrong. Of course not everyone can sit by the window, but with a wall of windows, you don't need to. We are planning to go to this restaurant for our one night out as grown-ups, and if I have to look over DH's head to see fireworks, that's just not right. (I know he would take the seat away from the window because he knows how much I love fireworks, but why should he miss out?) Not to mention that I find bench seating to be uncomfortable.

Someone mentioned the CG lounge having seating that is compatible with the fireworks. Does it have the same menu as the restaurant? And does it require a reservation?

 

[TexasPrincess1]

We have a 9:20pm reservation at CG on the first night that we arrive. Wishes is at 10pm. Our plane lands at 5pm.

Do y'all think all the "good" tables will be taken by then? We really are planning on eating dinner and probably dessert there.

 

[wendybeth75]

We have had the window seats 2 out of our 4 visits. Last visit we were seated in the booths that are nearest the kitchen, the one on the end that has the server station adjoined to it on the end. That is what we were looking at and every time they would come over to get water pitchers or something from the station it would shake our booth, not to mention having that feeling of being watched or listened to anytime they were standing there. We asked to be moved and our waiter was a bit nasty explaining that "not everyone can get a window seat". My DH went to find a manager and explained that we would gladly watch wishes outside, however we didn't want to spend our meal staring at the servers and being "shook" every time they came to the station. Either that is a poor area for a station or it is a poor area for a booth. You can see it in the picture below. It's not even solid so the servers are looking right at the person adjacent.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think if you want specific seating, you need to learn the fine art of "greasing a palm." When you talk to the hostess or maitre'd, slide him/her at least a ten dollar bill and tell them what you want, whether it's a certain view or type of seating.

Money talks and bull-blank walks...

 

[MinMou]

I think if you want specific seating, you need to learn the fine art of "greasing a palm." When you talk to the hostess or maitre'd, slide him/her at least a ten dollar bill and tell them what you want, whether it's a certain view or type of seating.

Money talks and bull-blank walks...

Does this work at Disney?

 

[JerseyJanice]

It has for my family. The one time they refused to take the grease, they still took care of us, I guess figuring that we'd add it to our tip.

A ten spot will do the trick for 2 people. I'd go up to a 20 if we need a larger group to be accommodated.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

When you talk to the hostess or maitre'd, slide him/her at least a ten dollar bill and tell them what you want,

1) If they take it, they can be terminated.
2) It is far better to sweet-talk the podium host/hostess (aka, "SEATER").
3) They can send a text-message to the seat ASSIGNER (the person with the hand-held computer) and ask for a specific table.

 

[MinMou]

1) If they take it, they can be terminated.

That's what I was worried about.