California Grill experience

[Leanne1977]

I just wanted to say it wasn't a BAD experience, our waiter thankfully put us in the wine room away from the action. I also think that it might have been like that because MK had EMH that evening and it had been closing at 7 during the weekend and the following night for MNSSHP.

I'm pleased about that as I wouldn't want this experience to put you off going back.

 

[ElizabethB]

We find the only way CG is even remotely tolerable is to make an ADR AFTER the fireworks are over. We also ask for the wine room, but even that has been no guarantee lately. Last time we dined in the wine room, there were two large families dining in the wine room with noisy kids running all over. We've also seen a table where the older brother was using the chopsticks to beat on the table, the plate, the chair and his little sister's head as she screamed. Mom and dad were oblivious. Many tables have exhausted kids falling asleep, but at least they're quiet!

Too bad because CG has great food and nice wine choices. We have an ADR for our upcoming trip, but it's at 9:50 p.m. I'm hoping that's late enough since the fireworks happen around 8 p.m. and the last ADR is 10 p.m. We shall see.

And, they'll never put an age restriction on CG due to the fireworks angle. People who can't stand all the noise and chaos (which is about at the same level as Chef Mickey's these days) will simply drift away and stop going. We're giving it one more chance.

 

[TDC Nala]

Lets hope it doesn’t get so bad that they have to put an age restriction on the CG like they have at V&A.

Can't see that ever happening. Not only does CG take the dining plan, but the reaction to the restriction at V&A was surprisingly negative - and mostly from persons who weren't interested in going there anyway. It was a visceral reaction to a restaurant at Disney World banning children. They won't do it again.

I made it a point to never go near CG at fireworks time. I was always up there early and done and gone before even close to that time.

Monday I have a reservation at 7:10 (no more reason to finish early) and the fireworks are at 8!! hope it isn't terrible up there.

 

[Clotho]

Monday I have a reservation at 7:10 (no more reason to finish early) and the fireworks are at 8!! hope it isn't terrible up there.

Hopefully you will have a better situation than we did! We had 7:10 reservations in an effort to be there to see the fireworks--we figured making reservations for an hour before the fireworks was reasonable to get through dinner and have dessert while they were going off. Unfortunately, so many people with earlier reservations just sat at their tables for HOURS so they could stay and watch. We didn't get seated until over an hour after our reservation time. We ended up watching the fireworks from the balcony, which, while way overcrowded with shoving people who wanted to see the lights (hubby protected me at the rail), was a beautiful view on a balmy September night.

 

[LilLisaLou]

Monday I have a reservation at 7:10 (no more reason to finish early) and the fireworks are at 8!! hope it isn't terrible up there.

I have a reservation for 7:30 tonight. Yikes! Spectro is @ 8 and Wishes @ 9. I hope with the double entertainment night, "they" will stay at the park.

It's a special anniversary (not wedding though) for DH and me tonight and I was hoping for a nice dinner with him (and DD, too!).

 

[GailT]

We had a terrible experience at CG in January, it was like you said, an absolute zoo. However, all the kids in the restraunt were perfectly well behaved, the same couldnt be said for the 2 tables of 20 adults on a conference who were so drunk, loud and foul mouthed that our server gave us all free desserts and moved us away from them, just in time too as one lady fell over knocking all the crockery and glasswear onto the floor and another man vomited on the table.

I can handle kids acting up but adults, that is discusting

 

[TDC Nala]

My party isn't interested in the fireworks. But it'd be nice to get to sit down somewhere. Maybe in the wine room where you can't see the fireworks.