California Grill.....any hope??

melana

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
806
so, what are the chances of snagging a California Grill ressie for dinner between now and my trip in October.

I am on the DDP and want to get another signature in on this trip and I am staying at BLT so it just sort of dawned on me about a week or so ago that Cali Grill is like right there. I have been searching daily for an opening and no luck so far.

I won't be heartbroken if I can't get a reservation. Was just curious if others have had luck getting a reservation the closer you get to your trip...
 
I would just keeping checking. People are always changing plans and cancelling ADRs. Especially right around the time the trip balance has to be paid off. You may not get he exact time you want, but you have a decent shot at getting something.
 
A few years ago we were able to get a 7 pm ADR the week before our trip in October. I just kept checking and lucked out. As Mickey92 said, people change ADRs all the time, especially when you get closer. You can also try the reservation finder on Touring Plans. This worked in finding an ADR for BOG for this Dec.
 
I'm going in early October and for a week I kept checking the California Grill page every time I pulled my phone out to answer an email/call. I eventually scored an 8:50 reservation. I've checked periodically since then and they've had 8:45/8:55 available on the same night.

Just keep trying. They're out there.
 
I agree with everyone else. Keep checking and chances are very good that you'll find something to fit your plans. Good Luck!
 
I feel your pain OP. Im having zero luck too. Im looking for a specific date in November, and no luck. And im checking CONSTANTLY. But like others have said, i'll keep checking even up until the day of my trip/during my trip. People cancel all the time. So im hoping to get something by then. Good luck to us both! :)
 
I signed up for touring plans (free) and they have sent me a text message twice now for open reservations at the California Grill. Albeit the texts have woken me up at 3am, but it was worth it! LOL
 
I signed up for touring plans (free) and they have sent me a text message twice now for open reservations at the California Grill. Albeit the texts have woken me up at 3am, but it was worth it! LOL
oh ya, i should have mentioned that I too have signed up for alerts on touring plans for Cali Grill. I am a skeptic and honestly dont find the benefit in it at all (I ruffled some feathers on another thread about this so i wont get into it here too). But about a month ago I signed up for Touring Plans to find me an ADR for Cali Grill and guess what?.....I havent received a single alert! NOT ONE ALERT! Not through email or text. Nothing! Is it because im in Canada? I really dont understand. :( A friend of mine signed up for it in order to try to get me an ADR ...and he got an alert. He's in EUROPE and he got an alert! Yet i haven't! So technically the ADR is under his name, not mine. Im so grateful because i wouldn't have an ADR if it weren't for him.
 
When in October. I may be canceling a dinner for 2 on Sunday Oct 22. I booked a desert party for the 23 and I want my very first HEA fireworks viewing to be from the MK. Just need to confirm with my husband that he is on board with the desert party.
 
When in October. I may be canceling a dinner for 2 on Sunday Oct 22. I booked a desert party for the 23 and I want my very first HEA fireworks viewing to be from the MK. Just need to confirm with my husband that he is on board with the desert party.

I will be there the following week.
 
I signed up for touring plans (free) and they have sent me a text message twice now for open reservations at the California Grill. Albeit the texts have woken me up at 3am, but it was worth it! LOL

Agree about Touringplans. They have gotton us several difficult to get reservations. And it didn't cost us anything. I did pay for it as I llike the rest of their planning materials.
 
How many people are in your party??? The fewer people, the easier it has been in my experience to get a late ADR. If you're hoping for an ADR for a party of eight, you'll need a lot of pixie dust to find one.
 
oh ya, i should have mentioned that I too have signed up for alerts on touring plans for Cali Grill. I am a skeptic and honestly dont find the benefit in it at all (I ruffled some feathers on another thread about this so i wont get into it here too). But about a month ago I signed up for Touring Plans to find me an ADR for Cali Grill and guess what?.....I havent received a single alert! NOT ONE ALERT! Not through email or text. Nothing! Is it because im in Canada? I really dont understand. :( A friend of mine signed up for it in order to try to get me an ADR ...and he got an alert. He's in EUROPE and he got an alert! Yet i haven't! So technically the ADR is under his name, not mine. Im so grateful because i wouldn't have an ADR if it weren't for him.

If they sent you one at all, then it cancels the search until you reactivate it. Are you sure you didn't miss an alert that then cancelled your request? Or you maybe accidentally put in your phone number wrong? I've had okay luck with the touring plans ADR finder. Last year I was able to get a BOG that I wanted easily with the finder, but had no luck getting a Chef Mickey's until the morning of and I found the ADR myself on the app.
 
If they sent you one at all, then it cancels the search until you reactivate it. Are you sure you didn't miss an alert that then cancelled your request? Or you maybe accidentally put in your phone number wrong? I've had okay luck with the touring plans ADR finder. Last year I was able to get a BOG that I wanted easily with the finder, but had no luck getting a Chef Mickey's until the morning of and I found the ADR myself on the app.
I checked to make sure both my email and phone number are entered correctly....I also checked my spam folder in my email to see if it was sent to spam....and still no alert. I received NOTHING so far. Nothing at all. And its been how long? Its so bizarre! I really dont understand. :confused3
 
How many people are in your party??? The fewer people, the easier it has been in my experience to get a late ADR. If you're hoping for an ADR for a party of eight, you'll need a lot of pixie dust to find one.
Im searching for a table for two. No luck. I've even checked the MDE app for tables of 3 and 4, and still no luck. But i'll keep checking!
 
so, what are the chances of snagging a California Grill ressie for dinner between now and my trip in October.

I am on the DDP and want to get another signature in on this trip and I am staying at BLT so it just sort of dawned on me about a week or so ago that Cali Grill is like right there. I have been searching daily for an opening and no luck so far.

I won't be heartbroken if I can't get a reservation. Was just curious if others have had luck getting a reservation the closer you get to your trip...
CG is one of our favorite restaurants. We always get in, but often can't get an ADR until the week we are there on property, and sometimes not until the day before. Since it's a credit card guaranteed reservation, people cancel at the 24 hour mark fairly frequently. I also believe they may hold tables back to release at various times (I actually believe that about all ADRs but especially Signatures). Don't give up, you will get it.
 
How many people are in your party??? The fewer people, the easier it has been in my experience to get a late ADR. If you're hoping for an ADR for a party of eight, you'll need a lot of pixie dust to find one.

Just me. Solo trip for my birthday
 
Just me. Solo trip for my birthday
You can also eat at the bar--there are bar area low cocktail tables near the windows or you can just sit and dine at the bar. You can also sit and dine at the sushi counter. The full restaurant menu is available no matter where you sit. We actually really enjoy sitting at the sushi counter to watch the chefs in the kitchen, and the bar is a good vantage point too. You actually do not need an ADR to be seated in one of these areas as long as it's not super busy. Honestly, if I was going as a single diner I would definitely sit at the bar or sushi bar.
 
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I'm also doing a solo trip and made a reservation for one. I know that a few of the places I chose have lounges where I could get the full menu, but since they're first come, first served, I didn't want to get shut out of anywhere during my preferred times, especially CG.

Does the bar face away from the fireworks? I have an 8:50 PM reservation with a 9 PM fireworks start time.
 





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