California Grill - Need Some Assistance Please

[bytheblood]

I have never dined at the California Grill and need some feedback.

My brother is flying in from LA and meeting my sister and I in WDW. He wants to have a grown-up night where we go eat and then go out for a drink afterwards.

He likes the menu at California Grill. So my questions are this:


What is a good timeframe to make dinner reservations for so that we can walk out and see the fireworks after dinner?

Are there generally a lot of kids at California Grill or it is a quieter restaurant? (yes, I realize other than V&A that all Disney restaurants have kids)

Where would you suggest going afterwards for a drink? Just to give you a bigger picture: my brother likes martinis and drinks them very slowly, my sister does not drink very much, usually a rita or daquiri and I don't drink. So it would need to be somewhere relaxing so that we could enjoy one anothers company and not feel like we are in a bar or nightclub. Since we are at the Contemporary, either a place to have a drink there or on the monorail line would be ideal. (we will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge)

 

[wdwrich]

Check the schedule for MK fireworks on the night you want to dine at CG and try to get an ADR an hour or two before that time. Even if your dinner isn't over with, you can stroll outside to watch the show and then return to your table.

As far as after dinner drinks, there was a bar/lounge on the 4th floor of the Contemporary with windows overlooking Bay Lake. There were lots of comfortable chairs and sofas there and it was certainly not a bar/nightclub atmosphere. It think it was called the "Outer Rim", but with the recent changes I'm not certain if it's still there.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We usually make our Dinner reservations aroun 7:30 PM, which unless Wishes is at 10:00 PM that night (I always go off peak so Wishes is earlier), we usually catch Wishes right around dessert time.

 

[chrisw127]

I can be a bit hard to please when it comes to restaurants (I love to cook) and I LOVED the California Grill. I can't think of anything bad to say about it. We had great service and the food was excellent. Also, you can't tell how pretty it is by the photos. They do not do it justice at all.

I will say that it was a bit dressier than expected. We had been told to just wear whatever we pleased (within reason, of course) but it seemed that the majority of the patrons were dressed up the way they would be for an evening out at home. We didn't see a lot of people wearing "resort casual" clothing. Of course, it may have just been the night we were there.

There were very few children there the night we went. The ones that were there seemed to be very well-behaved. We didn't have any of the bad experiences with kids running around that you sometimes hear about.

No input about the times since we went early (we had a five-year old with us), but we were told we would be allowed to go back up if we wanted to go out and see the fireworks. We opted for going back to the Magic Kingdom.

The California Grill will definitely be the restaurant I always go back to at Disney. I loved it.

Have a great time!

 

[bytheblood]

 

[bytheblood]

Thank you all for your feedback.

 

[ZoZo]

We found the atmosphere at CG very nice - very few kids, and those that were there seemed very well behaved. It definitely has a more "adult" atmosphere than most WDW restaurants. This is a slower-paced restaurant; I'd count on at least 1.5 to 2 hours for your meal.
Regarding the time of your reservation, ask the reservationist at WDW-DINE to help you with this - of course, it all depends on when the fireworks start during the time you're visiting. You can schedule your meal to happen well before the fireworks (for us, it was about a two-hour dining experience) or choose a reservation time that happens in the middle of your reservation. The wait staff is very used to having the place empty out to watch Wishes; just let them know that you want to watch the fireworks, so that they can time your food accordingly.

I found the reservationists very helpful in helping me choose a time that worked best for us.

 

[crisi]

The closer you time your reservation to be seated during the fireworks, the smaller the chance you'll be seated when the fireworks are happening.

For instance, if the fireworks are at 10:00 - there is almost no chance you'll get seated at 9:45. Little chance you'll get seated at 9:30. Some chance you'll get seated if your reservation is at 9:00. Guests really will STRETCH this meal to be sitting there when fireworks happen.

 

[slug]

I have never dined at the California Grill and need some feedback.

My brother is flying in from LA and meeting my sister and I in WDW. He wants to have a grown-up night where we go eat and then go out for a drink afterwards.

He likes the menu at California Grill. So my questions are this:


What is a good timeframe to make dinner reservations for so that we can walk out and see the fireworks after dinner?

Are there generally a lot of kids at California Grill or it is a quieter restaurant? (yes, I realize other than V&A that all Disney restaurants have kids)

Where would you suggest going afterwards for a drink? Just to give you a bigger picture: my brother likes martinis and drinks them very slowly, my sister does not drink very much, usually a rita or daquiri and I don't drink. So it would need to be somewhere relaxing so that we could enjoy one anothers company and not feel like we are in a bar or nightclub. Since we are at the Contemporary, either a place to have a drink there or on the monorail line would be ideal. (we will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge)

After dinner / fireworks, you should try the new lounge or bar at the Wave, the new restaurant on the first floor of the CR. The pictures look fantastic. I believe there is a link to them on the Dining Reviews section of this website.

 

[bytheblood]

The closer you time your reservation to be seated during the fireworks, the smaller the chance you'll be seated when the fireworks are happening.

For instance, if the fireworks are at 10:00 - there is almost no chance you'll get seated at 9:45. Little chance you'll get seated at 9:30. Some chance you'll get seated if your reservation is at 9:00. Guests really will STRETCH this meal to be sitting there when fireworks happen.

That is what I was thiking as well.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I have never dined at the California Grill and need some feedback.

My brother is flying in from LA and meeting my sister and I in WDW. He wants to have a grown-up night where we go eat and then go out for a drink afterwards.

He likes the menu at California Grill. So my questions are this:


What is a good timeframe to make dinner reservations for so that we can walk out and see the fireworks after dinner?

Are there generally a lot of kids at California Grill or it is a quieter restaurant? (yes, I realize other than V&A that all Disney restaurants have kids)

Where would you suggest going afterwards for a drink? Just to give you a bigger picture: my brother likes martinis and drinks them very slowly, my sister does not drink very much, usually a rita or daquiri and I don't drink. So it would need to be somewhere relaxing so that we could enjoy one anothers company and not feel like we are in a bar or nightclub. Since we are at the Contemporary, either a place to have a drink there or on the monorail line would be ideal. (we will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge)

Time your dinner an 1 1/2 hr before the fireworks. You need to call to find out what time they r going off. Yes there r childern in there. It's Disney! Hard to escape. On the fourth floor you can go for drinks after the fireworks.
It's a nice bar/lounge.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The closer you get to fireworks time, the more kids you are likely to see at CG. It's always mobbed with kids every time we've dined there--which is usually on a Saturday night, about 1 hour before fireworks time.

After dinner,that new bar at the Wave might be nice. Also the Territory Lounge where you are staying, and Mizners at the Grand Floridian are both nice.

 

[slug]

The closer you get to fireworks time, the more kids you are likely to see at CG. It's always mobbed with kids every time we've dined there--which is usually on a Saturday night, about 1 hour before fireworks time.

After dinner,that new bar at the Wave might be nice. Also the Territory Lounge where you are staying, and Mizners at the Grand Floridian are both nice.

Yep. Mizner's is a very nice place. Almost forgot that one.

I'd probably opt for the Wave b/c it's new and also b/c you can get a boat directly from the CR to the WL afterwards.

 

[Dizneydaz]

True, there's not alot of kid's (and those are usually well-behaved) but the restaurant can be very noisy-and I'm just talking about the adults.

We've dined there twice and will be back this Sept. Last time we dined there (2006) I was disappointed that not only didn't they dim the lights for Wishes, but we could hardly hear the music over the noise level. This time I'll make sure we go out on the deck so we can see it better (no reflection from the room lights) and hear it better.

Enjoy! The food is great!

We have ADRs for 9:20 on a night Wishes is at 10. I'm going to keep trying for earlier though. Last week when I booked it I could only get 9:40, but today I got 9:20.

 

[czycropper]

We dined there last week and absolutely loved it. Our DDs are now saying that it's their favorite restaurant at Disney and they are 10 and 8

We had 7:15 ADRs and got seated around 7:30 by the time we finished our pre-dinner drinks, ordered appetizers, dinner and the wonderful desserts we left at 9:15 pm. We went downstairs to buy a purse that my 8 year had to have - it's the black embroided with Mickey heads and bought some pins it was time to go back up and watch Wishes at 10 pm.

We took our DDs and there were a few kids some even younger than my two. I will say that I was disappointed in how some of the diners were dressed (some had sneakers & raggy shorts) but overall most were dressed nice.

You can't beat the view, the food & the service!

 

[TPCShauna]

We have a 9:35 ADR but wanted to relax in the lounge a while beforehand. The CM told me that we can go up early enough to view the 9:30pm fireworks even though our ressie is at 9:35. In your experience, is this true?

Also, has anyone had the YOMD Honey Crunch Cake? DH was asking about it so I said I would post here.

TIA!!!

 

[BC1836]

Let us add our voices to those who give high marks to the CG! We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary there and the staff acknowledged it in grand style.

 

[jenjersnap]

Let us add our voices to those who give high marks to the CG! We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary there and the staff acknowledged it in grand style.

Just curious - how did the staff celebrate it? We are celebrating our 10th while there. (I am not expecting any whoop de doo for us as I merely had the fact noted on our ADR and didn't order a cake there or anything ... but I'd like to hear about yours!).

We are taking all 3 of our boys. My hope is a window seat as that should go a long way toward distracting the little one.

 

[BC1836]

We had noted months earlier on our reservation that we would be celebrating our anniversary. And we proudly wore our WDW "Happy Anniversary" buttons. We were greeted with a "Happy Anniversary" and seated at a table embellished with Mickey glitter. Complimentary glasses of sparkling wine were offered to us. And a CM took our photo and subsequently e-mailed it us. Coincidentally, it arrived today. Of course, when we were seated at our window table we were also greeted with a rainbow (delivered from a higher authority!).

WDW does not and cannot acknowledge every event or family circumstance; it is impossible. But when there is an opportunity WDW delivers. That is why, in part, WDW is THE most frequented vacation destination in the world.

 

[catne]

Also, has anyone had the YOMD Honey Crunch Cake? DH was asking about it so I said I would post here.[/COLOR]

TIA!!!

YES!!! This dessert is OUTSTANDING...loved,loved,loved it. Savor it slowly, if you can. You will not want to share it, not matter how full you are!

To OP, if you can't get the right-on time dinner ressies, no problem. Take the earlier sitting, enjoy your meal. Then go to the bar on other floor to relax for the cocktail...then come back to Cali Grille at fireworks time, and watch from the outside deck (better view than from inside anyway.) They will tell you when you're seated, and probably remind you when you leave that all you have to do is show your receipt for dining that night & they'll let you back to watch from the deck at fireworks time.

And we found the restaurant to be very noisy...mostly adults in there (kids were not making a lot of kid-noise...just noisy from all the conversations in such a big open room.) Another thing that we didn't care for was that they had the light-filtering blinds shut at 5:30 p.m...so the magnificent view was about non-existent from inside. The waiter told us the blinds would not be raised until the sun went down! What's the point of the view if you can't see it!