California Grill

[Colleen27]

Or.....I've never eaten at CG, so I'm not sure of its location in reference to the proposed tower. Is it possible that the new tower would block the view of MK from the California Grill?

I thought the new tower will be on the other side, where the north garden wing was? I can't see Disney putting in a new DVC tower that will block the view from the CG, because that would also mean blocking the view from the MK view rooms on the 14 floors below CG and greatly reducing the number of rooms in that expensive (and therefore highly profitable) category.

 

[punkin413]

Here's an insider tip.. the best view of the firsworks is not from any hotel or restaurant, it's from Main Street! Enjoy the parks and have a nice, late dinner. The California Grill is a world class restaurant, highly acclaimed for both food and wine. If you're not concerned about the food and only going for the view or thinking of cancelling because your dining time is not in sync with the fireworks, perhaps it is not the place for you. Go up to the lounge, have a cocktail and watch the fireworks from the lounge at the CG.

i don't want to start a flame war here.....i really don't. but i think that at least half the reason *most* people go to cali grill is for the view. i'm not saying the food doesn't play a part. but i also don't think it's necessarily *wrong* to go for the view just as much as the food. and i plan on seeing wishes from main street twice in addition to the cali grill wishes on my next trip.

sorry to the OP for going so off topic - i, like you, just want to know if you're still gonna be able to see wishes for cali grill in the future!

 

[punkin413]

Now, at Narcoossee's, they dimmed the lights, and piped in the music loud enough to hear . If you wanted a better view, you could go out the door, and watch from the outside area. Now granted, Nar. is on the ground and CG is high, but Nar. is actually closer to the fireworks-we just enjoyed it more. And the foodd was good too! Calamari, lobster, and almond crusted cheesecake!

Just another suggestion (I've reviewed both on my link below). Have a time!

we did this last trip and dizneydaz is right.....the view of wishes from narcoosee's is awesome! and the food rocks, too.

 

[Lynne M]

I thought the new tower will be on the other side, where the north garden wing was? I can't see Disney putting in a new DVC tower that will block the view from the CG, because that would also mean blocking the view from the MK view rooms on the 14 floors below CG and greatly reducing the number of rooms in that expensive (and therefore highly profitable) category.

I took the boat from WL to CR in March, and it seemed to me that the construction was on the MK side, not the WL side.

I could be completely wrong, though....

 

[Colleen27]

I took the boat from WL to CR in March, and it seemed to me that the construction was on the MK side, not the WL side.

I could be completely wrong, though....

Here's a cool site to help visualize it (and if you're anything like me - to play with endlessly! ) - it is out of date, but the gray roofed garden wing is the one that was demolished. http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=28.415402~-81.57548&style=h&lvl=17&scene=3929982

It doesn't seem to me like a tower on that site will interfere with views from the main CR tower, but I could see how the observation deck might end up being a victim of privacy concerns if the new DVC is going to be 16 floors as rumored, because it seems like it would offer some up-close-and-personal views into the higher floor rooms in the new building.

 

[iwaseeyore]

i don't want to start a flame war here.....i really don't. but i think that at least half the reason *most* people go to cali grill is for the view.

I think you're wrong. It's too expensive to go for just the view. I think the ambience of CG has be destroyed by the internet since it has become a viewing spot.

 

[the organizer]

I found out they are not piping in the music or dimming the lights anymore. I found out that the waiters will wait to bring your food out when teh show is over if you want them to. Just thought I would let you know what I found out.

 

[the organizer]

If seeing Wishes from your restaurant choice is important, I would like to give you another option. On our last trip we ate at California Grill ,and Narcoossee's, and both offer a view of Wishes from the restaurant. I was happier with the view of Wishes from Narcoossee's since at CG they didn't dim the lights (at all) and I could barely hear the music due to the high noise level in the room. I wish I had gone out on the observation deck, but we had a window seat . The reflection from the room was a pretty big distraction and showed up in the small amount of video I shot that night (of DD7 watching, etc.) The meal was great, though, as was our server-Billy (sommelier)

Now, at Narcoossee's, they dimmed the lights, and piped in the music loud enough to hear . If you wanted a better view, you could go out the door, and watch from the outside area. Now granted, Nar. is on the ground and CG is high, but Nar. is actually closer to the fireworks-we just enjoyed it more. And the foodd was good too! Calamari, lobster, and almond crusted cheesecake!

Just another suggestion (I've reviewed both on my link below). Have a time!

Thanks for the information. We may try this instead.

 

[punkin413]

I think you're wrong. It's too expensive to go for just the view. I think the ambience of CG has be destroyed by the internet since it has become a viewing spot.

geez......it seems that cali grill fans are very sensitive. sorry to step on any toes. i'm unsubbing from this thread. thanks for your hospitality.

 

[Inkmahm]

I found out they are not piping in the music or dimming the lights anymore. I found out that the waiters will wait to bring your food out when teh show is over if you want them to. Just thought I would let you know what I found out.

That's changed since April because the lights were dimmed and the music piped in when we were there.

 

[pixie08]

Who on earth would say that the food at CG is horrible?! I live in Boston, and while it's not NYC, I would say that the food at CG is comparable to most upscale restaurants in Boston. I can see if the food is not to someone's tastes, but it is by no means horrible!

Well I do live in NYC and have eaten in many "fine" dining restaurants and Cg could rival any of them IMO!

I also agree that while it is nice to watch wishes the last time we were there it was a huge spectacle and so many people were hanging over the rails and inching towards the window- rude for people sitting and eating but I don't see why they would close the balcony I think that is the best alternative!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Blatantly echoing some other sentiments here, but ...

CG is probably our top dining spot in all of WDW (with Jiko running neck and neck.) Awful and horrible are adjectives that never occured to me.

BUT - don't let the view from the CG be your only exposure to Wishes. From that lofty perch (sounds poetic), the fireworks are reduced to the scale of sparklers, and they are "off center" from the castle ... sort of behind and to the right. I think the show designers intended 'em to be seen from front and center Main Street, with the Castle in the foreground. View them from both vantage points if you schedule allows it.

Trust me on this ... I'd never lead anyone astray.

 

[Dizneydaz]

That's changed since April because the lights were dimmed and the music piped in when we were there.

When we were there Sept. 05, lights were dimmed, music piped in. Sept. 06, lights not dimmed, music piped in but (at least that night) hard to hear over the restaurant noise. Maybe they've gone back to dimming, or was that April 06?

I still enjoy CG, have had 1 good, and 1 great meal there. The next time I go, I'll ask about the lights, and if they're not dimmed, then I'll go out on the deck.