California Grill to close for 6 month rehab

[k5jm]

Should be interesting to see what the final product will be...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ture-radiator-springs-racers-california-grill

Tourism & Travel
By Jason Garcia and Sara K. Clarke, Orlando Sentinel

Walt Disney World is planning to shut down its high-end California Grill restaurant for six months or more, to allow for an extensive renovation of the restaurant atop the resort's Contemporary Resort hotel.

Disney said last week that the restaurant will close Jan. 6 and reopen in "late summer 2013."

The company provided few details of what the renovation will entail, though it said it will be "tweaking" the menu, which features California fusion cooking and sushi, and ranges in price from $36 a plate to $60 a plate. It also plans improvements to the restaurant's "onstage kitchen."

Disney says the restaurant will keep its two private dining rooms, an important feature at the Contemporary, which is one of Disney's largest convention and group-meeting hotels.

The California Grill makeover has been timed to coincide with other construction at the Contemporary, including a new roof and renovations of the hotel's 14th-floor suites. Disney once planned to convert those rooms into "health-and-wellness"-themed suites but has since dropped the concept.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'm not sure how I feel about this as the Grill was always wonderful in my experiences. I'm assuming it'll only make it better (hopefully). Still, it's a bummer that we can't dine there for so long.

 

[DisneyKevin]

It's looking dated.

 

[WaDiWo]

Can't wait to 1) eat there in a few weeks, and 2) see what the renovations will be like.

my memory of the place was that it had some of the best sushi around, so I'm very curious what they'll do with the menu.

 

[TigerTown]

I was thinking of getting dinner ADR's for our quick trip next month but now I'm thinking we should wait until the referb is complete. I still haven't been to this restaurant and really want to try it out.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I wouldn't let slightly dated decor stop me from eating there.

We've had dinner twice in the last two weeks and the food is GREAT. The view is GREAT. The location is GREAT.

Okay....the decor is a bit 1980's "California cool", but I can live with slight dated decor if the restaurant hits other notes and the Cali Grill hits them on every level.

You will really enjoy yourself.

 

[TigerTown]

Ok Kevin you have convinced me! We took your advice earlier this year and had our Anniversary dinner at Narcoossee's. I can say this was one of he best meals I've ever had so if you recommend it, I'm sure this one will be great as well.

 

[EDuke98080]

I just made reservations for Jan 5th. May be an interesting experience since it will be the last night before the closure.

 

[peabody58]

The ‘restaurant’ at the top of the CR will always be my emotional favorite, whether it’s the old TOTW or CG or what ever the new name is.

In 1977 while attending Navy Nuke School in Orlando, my first wife and I attended a special event at the MK and had a blast. We visited the CR and I wanted to treat her to a nice meal, but alas, we couldn’t even afford to have drinks at the TOTW. I so remember that feeling of not being able to afford a top notch restaurant at WDW, that I vowed I would return again one day to truly enjoy the experience. Well my current DW of 30 years and I will be enjoying the CG one more time (5th visit) this Oct to celebrate.

I am confident Disney will do a great job with the rehab and I will again look forward to eating at the ‘restaurant’ at the top of the CR.

 

[SkyMedik]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well....actually...I support the rennovation. I just wish I had a chance to say goodbye So long, favorite restaurant in the world! See you after the surgery

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We get to Orlando January 10th.

Suck.

 

[joanjett1976]

I have to to agree with Kevin. While the food and location are outstanding, the decor and general vibe dragged a bit on the eighties side. Those splashes of color made me feel like I had been magically transported and seated at Spago's in 1988.

We visit the world once a year and always try to have a dinner at California Grill. While I am saddened to have to pass up a turn this year, I'm quite excited as to what the Grill have in store for us.

Hopefully they are inspired by the makeover of the not-so-contemporary Contemporary rooms from a few years back.

 

[bgrego]

I eat in three places every time i visit WDW. California Grill, Ohana's, and Shula's. Each is very Pricy! Ohana's and Shula's Get better every time i eat there, and Cali Grill gets worse. The steak at Cali Grill is not great, the sushi has gotten worse, and the cooked fish no longer draws me to the restaurant as it once did. And The Caesar Salad tastes strongly of Anchovies.

My favorite story from California Grill involved my Brother eating a square of butter brought out on the Cheese Plate thinking it was one of the cheeses!

 

[SkyMedik]

My favorite story from California Grill involved my Brother eating a square of butter brought out on the Cheese Plate thinking it was one of the cheeses!

Lol !!!!!

 

[SkyMedik]

I wonder what they do with the chef and all the other staff for six months.... Reassigned, one would assume. It would be pretty crappy to be the CG chef and get reassigned to quick service for six months tho, doubt that happens!

 

[dpic]

I wonder if they're going to make more window seats? Maybe, a two tier design. Rotating...

Also, window seats will be park of the fastpass system with a premium charge...

 

[joanjett1976]

I wonder what they do with the chef and all the other staff for six months.... Reassigned, one would assume. It would be pretty crappy to be the CG chef and get reassigned to quick service for six months tho, doubt that happens!

Hmm, indeed. I doubt they'll stick them on Dole Whip duty!

Looove your avatar Zack!

 

[SkyMedik]

Hmm, indeed. I doubt they'll stick them on Dole Whip duty!

Looove your avatar Zack!

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Plutes]

I wouldn't let slightly dated decor stop me from eating there.

We've had dinner twice in the last two weeks and the food is GREAT. The view is GREAT. The location is GREAT.

Okay....the decor is a bit 1980's "California cool", but I can live with slight dated decor if the restaurant hits other notes and the Cali Grill hits them on every level.

You will really enjoy yourself.

I agree with Kevin 100%. But i love the 80's lol.
Thank God Amy and I will be dining there the night we get back from 4.0!!! Kevin i have a question. Wasn't it call Top of the World and they served a buffet?

 

[dansyr2514]

I wouldn't let slightly dated decor stop me from eating there.

We've had dinner twice in the last two weeks and the food is GREAT. The view is GREAT. The location is GREAT.

Okay....the decor is a bit 1980's "California cool", but I can live with slight dated decor if the restaurant hits other notes and the Cali Grill hits them on every level.

You will really enjoy yourself.

I can live with the decor but they need to get rid of those ties the waiters wear!... Lol
I hope the rehab makes Cali grill even better. We love it ... so it makes me a little nervous they are changing it.