cali grill?

[DonaldsNo1Fan]

I have an ADR at the Cali Grill a week from sunday at 9:30 pm. I was hoping to be seated in time for Wishes but now I have heard things such as people making there meals last as long as 3 hours just so they can stay for the fireworks. Also I have heard there are many delays with the dining plan. Do you think i will be seated in time for Wishes? If they dont have a table ready will I still be able to go upstairs and watch them before my meal? thanks!

 

[Nanu57v]

I say arrive at 9 and you should hopefully be fine. We were seated promptly for our reservation. If its 9:50 and you still aren't seated I'd calmly explain how excited you were to obtain reservations during Wishes but understand how things can get behind in the restaurant, and ask permission to view Wishes from the balcony. I can't see why they'd say no. Its not like you were just someone off the street wanting to watch.

I saw Wishes from the balcony when I was there, and it was nice but not as dreamy as I expected. I think I had fantasized about it too much. The best part was only being charged one TS credit!

 

[DonaldsNo1Fan]

ut oh! I don't mean to be nosey, but did something bad happen? I went to Cali Grill last year and loved it, which is why I made ressies again, but I have been hearing negative things lately which scare me!

 

[TiggerAllie]

We were just at Cali Grill 2 wks ago, and it was wonderful. We actually had the same waiter we had when we were there last Oct.-- he is fabulous! Food was excellent, wine was excellent-- the only negative was that they were working on the 2nd floor, so everyone was waiting upstairs in the bar, which was a bit overcrowded. We couldn't even sit down, so we wandered around on the 2 outdoor balconies.

In Oct we saw HalloWishes from outside on the Cali Grill. It worked out well because it started right before our reservation. I would get there early, so they take you upstairs early enough to see Wishes (even if you aren't seated at your table yet-- so many people just get up and go outside to see it). Since your ressie is 30 mins before, you should be fine. But usually we check in 15 mins (at least) early and we'll wait at least 30 mins to be seated.

I love Cali Grill-- I'm kind of sad we didn't plan an ADR there for our next trip!

 

[mom_of_5]

I have one side note to add to this, if you decide to cancel your ADR make sure you do it at least 24 hours in advance otherwise you will be charged $20 per person. This happened to me with our family of 7 and we had travel tie ups, I had to cancel but it was only 3 hours notice so I had a bit of an argument on my hands. $140 is alot to pay for not eating a meal!!

 

[Nanu57v]

ut oh! I don't mean to be nosey, but did something bad happen? I went to Cali Grill last year and loved it, which is why I made ressies again, but I have been hearing negative things lately which scare me!

Oh no, it was wonderful. What I meant by my comment was I envisioned DH and I sitting at a table holding hands while the window next to us was overlooking the castle and the fireworks were surronding the castle. In reality, we couldn't see the fireworks from our seat so when they said wishes was starting we went out to the balcony. It was really neat getting to see them from so high, but they weren't anywhere near the castle because of the angle we were at. It was really beautiful, but not like the fairy tale I had in my mind.

The food was wonderful, the waiter was wonderful, service was great. The only reason we aren't eating there again is I didn't want to use two TS credits. Thinking about it though, having to pay $40 for a cheap TS and getting to eat at CG again would've been worth it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have one side note to add to this, if you decide to cancel your ADR make sure you do it at least 24 hours in advance otherwise you will be charged $20 per person.

They are careful to warn you that this will happen when you make your reservation.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Last time we visited, we waited over an hour to be seated. Still, it's my favorite WDW restaurant; and we will be taking the whole family there for Christmas Eve dinner this year. I can't wait!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Oh no, it was wonderful. What I meant by my comment was I envisioned DH and I sitting at a table holding hands while the window next to us was overlooking the castle and the fireworks were surronding the castle. In reality, we couldn't see the fireworks from our seat so when they said wishes was starting we went out to the balcony. It was really neat getting to see them from so high, but they weren't anywhere near the castle because of the angle we were at. It was really beautiful, but not like the fairy tale I had in my mind.

The food was wonderful, the waiter was wonderful, service was great. The only reason we aren't eating there again is I didn't want to use two TS credits. Thinking about it though, having to pay $40 for a cheap TS and getting to eat at CG again would've been worth it.

Please tell me what "wonderful" food you had. I'm going there for the first time 3 weeks from today, and I'd love some recommendations.

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

I'm going on our trip in October and was lucky enough to get reservations at 9:00pm!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I say arrive at 9 and you should hopefully be fine. We were seated promptly for our reservation. If its 9:50 and you still aren't seated I'd calmly explain how excited you were to obtain reservations during Wishes but understand how things can get behind in the restaurant, and ask permission to view Wishes from the balcony. I can't see why they'd say no. Its not like you were just someone off the street wanting to watch.

I saw Wishes from the balcony when I was there, and it was nice but not as dreamy as I expected. I think I had fantasized about it too much. The best part was only being charged one TS credit!

Is this a mis-type or did you really only get charged 1 TS? And if so, how come?

 

[Nanu57v]

Nope not a mistype, and I have no clue why. DH and I were both each only charged one TS credit for our meal. I called somebody (Disney Dining?) about it because I wasn't going to waste the TS credit if it was still going to sit there. They said to make a ressie for the last day and if it was still there then just to use it. It was and we ate another TS. So our Cali Grill was an excellent deal!

Sorry, I can't remember what it was...but don't be embarrased to ask questions. I almost ordered goat liver or something like that! Fortunately I got the courage to ask what it was.