We never dined at Narcoosees, but last fall we did not feel that Cali Grill met our expectations.
We have been to WDW many times, and dined at many TS places at WDW. Last fall we took our first trip using
DDP, so I'll establish that first. We ordered adult beverages, and an extra veggie, so I think even though we were on the DDP with tip included, we didn't stick to it strictly. (i.e. our waiter got an extra tip beyond DDP, if not a huge one.)
Of all the places we dined that trip, it was the one place where we felt we were treated as second class, maybe because we were on DDP.
We arrived 45 minutes early, and waited a long time for our table, past our ADR time. We requested a table with a fireworks view. We were given a table on the MK side of restaurant, but not a table with a view. The tables near the window were empty when we were seated so we asked, and were told they were 'booked for another party.'
There were children with us, and they noticed Mickey confetti on some nearby tables. Naturally, they wanted some too. We asked and the response was in a rather snotty tone, "That is only for Special occaisions. Is it a special occaision?" It actually was, we were celebrating my birthday, though we didn't say so before then. So the waiter begrudginly sprinkled some Mickey dust on our table. That was it. He never asked about a birthday cake or anything.
He was slow serving us. Our dinner entrees were slow to arrive. They arrived DURING the fireworks, which I thought was a BIG no-no at Cali. Nevertheless, we were so hungry by then, that we didn't complain. The Waiter did refill water glasses, but was slow to take the dessert order. I noted that the tables near the window - the special tables- arrived after us, got food ahead of us, and were brought birthday cake with candles!
The sushi was pretty good, the entrees were rather good. The desserts were excellent. We really did not feel though that the food was twice as good as what we had at single credit places. The service at Cali Grill was NOWHERE near as good as wath we had at every other TS place we dined- for essentially half the price - even ignoring the differences around us.
This fall were trying
free dining again. Cali Grill is not on our list. We will be trying Brown Derby this time.