Do you think i can do this at Cali Grill?

[snykymom]

Calif. Grill doesn't open until 5 pm (or possibly 5:30 pm?) and that is the earliest you'd be able to go up the elevator before their reservation. I know we went up in the first wave of people to sit in the bar and seating for dinner reservations didn't start until half an hour or so later.

You will likely be able to go to the podium before opening and ask to speak to a manager. Most restaurants are prepping with a manager on site several hours before opening. The manager may come down to speak to you, however, rather than letting you go up/

I paid for a dinner at Victoria and Albert's for my parents. The day of their dinner, I called and provided my credit card number.

It was billed that evening.

Quite easy and no issues.

Julia

That's different because V&A is a prix fixe menu - it doesn't matter what they order, it's all the same price (with a few exceptions).

 

[Bob NC]

I have already done this twice at two separate wdw restaurants (V&A and Tuto Italia) so im not really sure why this seems so impossible.

If you have done this numerous times at WDW, it appears you have far more experience at this than the folks you are asking for advice.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Jill, mgr from Cali Grill, called me today and assured me I could indeed pre-order and pay for my parents meal the night of their reservation.

Additionally, they could just charge the bill to my CC if i wanted to let my parents order something specific, or they would be willing to create something not on the menu as well if I gave them ideas of something my parents may like.

I figured they would work something out with me and it makes us quite happy they are so accommodating.

Happy Holidays to all and enjoy your future trips to the world.

 

[yxe dad]

Another option might be the Sweetheart Dinner Package.

I called for a dinner reservation at the Cali Grill in Jan 2010 and it was offer to me. It included an app, entree, dessert, wine/sparkling wine, and special Champagne flutes to take home. It was a fixed price per person with options in each coarse and for the wine/sparkling wine.

I believe the cost was around $180, plus tip and was well worth every penny!

When we arrived at 630pm our table was decorated with little Mickey heads and a window seat facing the MK. We were presented with a personalized menu with a few selections in each coarse. What happen next was a pleasant surprise, were told to relax and enjoy our time because Wishes wasn't until 8. I thought they'd try and turn the table over and get another seating before Wishes but we were told the table was ours for the night.

Our server was just finishing his training that night but we had the best service in 9 trips to WDW. Each coarse was timed perfectly for us, a little break between the great food to enjoy the wine and cocktails. He timed dessert perfectly to arrive just as Wishes finished, a great finish to a great experience.

 

[Ash&Wes07]

Jill, mgr from Cali Grill, called me today and assured me I could indeed pre-order and pay for my parents meal the night of their reservation.

Additionally, they could just charge the bill to my CC if i wanted to let my parents order something specific, or they would be willing to create something not on the menu as well if I gave them ideas of something my parents may like.

I figured they would work something out with me and it makes us quite happy they are so accommodating.

Happy Holidays to all and enjoy your future trips to the world.

Glad to hear it is all going to work out!

Your parents will love it!

 

[JimmyV]

This thread is another shining example of how people will shout from the mountain top that something is impossible...that it cannot be done...that Disney will not allow it...until they actually ask and find out that Disney is a lot more accomodating than the rules followers here seem to admit. The OP's request was neither unusual nor diffficult to accomplish, so I am not at all surprised that the CG is more than willing to figure out a way to make it work. And as for the "I beg to differ...no way can you get up there without a reservation" statement, you've got to be kidding, right? Every single person who is seated at the bar with a drink in one hand and a fork in the other is a person who did not have a reservation, but who was allowed up and offered a menu once they were seated at the bar. Just don't try to pull one over on them by trying to get up there 15 minutes before the fireworks.

 

[Hopefully]

Ordering for someone has nothing to do with telling someone what to eat.

Maybe its a polite southern thing where it isnt considered insulting at all, but rather quite the opposite. My wife will order for both of us all the time and i will do the same for her, but again, this is how we were raised.

Try it some time, your husband may like it.

I wouldn't like it at all if my husband ordered for me, I am an independent, educated adult and I can decide for myself what I would like to eat at any given meal. That said, I am a northerner, so maybe it is a regional thing.

I don't know whether you can preorder and prepay.
Good Luck in your quest.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I wouldn't like it at all if my husband ordered for me, I am an independent, educated adult and I can decide for myself what I would like to eat at any given meal. That said, I am a northerner, so maybe it is a regional thing.

I don't know whether you can preorder and prepay.
Good Luck in your quest.

I guess since it has now been established that it can indeed be done, it was only a matter of time before the conversation was redirected this way.

While I do appreciate your independence and level of education, it is my opinion that neither really come into play for whether you would or wouldn't like something like this.

Myself, my wife and my parents all posses post graduate degrees and all are quite independent, but we also like being surprised with wonderful experiences.

I believe whether you would like something like this or not is more dependent on the culture you were brought up in a and the preferences you developed because of that upbringing. I'd be willing to bet you are very capable of driving your car wherever you want as well, but I'd also be willing to bet you wouldn't get upset if someone surprised you with a limousine for your next birthday celebration.

Having the ability to do something rarely means you shouldn't enjoy it if someone else surprises it and does it for you.

 

[TigerKat]

If someone did that for you, you would take it as someone was telling you what to eat?

I wouldn't have a problem with you ordering the wine but I wouldn't want my meal pre-ordered. I never know what I want until I read the menu. I'm from New Orleans and I've never had anyone order for me nor have I ordered for anyone.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Jill, mgr from Cali Grill, called me today and assured me I could indeed pre-order and pay for my parents meal the night of their reservation.

Additionally, they could just charge the bill to my CC if i wanted to let my parents order something specific, or they would be willing to create something not on the menu as well if I gave them ideas of something my parents may like.

I figured they would work something out with me and it makes us quite happy they are so accommodating.

Happy Holidays to all and enjoy your future trips to the world.

I am so glad it worked out for you! What a nice thing to do for your parents! I hope they enjoy the experience, I know I would.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I never know what I want until I read the menu.

Is your enjoyment of a meal solely based on if you get EXACTLY what you want to eat? Is the quality of food, service and company you enjoy that meal with not more imoprtant that th specific entree you chose?

Have you never dined at a restaurant and not seen the menu beforehand?
Isnt someone surprising you at new restaurant you know nothing about essentially the same thing? Can you really only enjoy the meal if you control the power to chose steak over pork?

I understand the feeling to fear what we do not know, but I'm pretty sure those close to you know you well enough to not try and surprise you with the same experience. I'm not very big in making assumptions, but I'm pretty confident I'll never try and do something like this for someone who wouldn't enjoy it, and you'll never have to experience this nightmare.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I am so glad it worked out for you! What a nice thing to do for your parents! I hope they enjoy the experience, I know I would.

Thanks! This trip is going to be so special for so many different reasons, I'm just glad I get to do something so memorable for them after all they have done for me.

 

[TigerKat]

Is your enjoyment of a meal solely based on if you get EXACTLY what you want to eat? Is the quality of food, service and company you enjoy that meal with not more imoprtant that th specific entree you chose?

Have you never dined at a restaurant and not seen the menu beforehand?
Isnt someone surprising you at new restaurant you know nothing about essentially the same thing? Can you really only enjoy the meal if you control the power to chose steak over pork?

I understand the feeling to fear what we do not know, but I'm pretty sure those close to you know you well enough to not try and surprise you with the same experience. I'm not very big in making assumptions, but I'm pretty confident I'll never try and do something like this for someone who wouldn't enjoy it, and you'll never have to experience this nightmare.

I'm sorry but this gave me a headache just reading it. I think you're over analyzing this a bit. I only posted because you made it seem like a "southern thing" and it's not. One of the pleasures of dining out for me is making the choice in addition to the company, atmosphere and service. It is just a matter of personal preference.

 

[LSUfan4444]

TigerKat;39158995I think you're over analyzing this a bit.

And I respectively disagree and rather suggest that to be able to enjoy something like this, you must enjoy spontaneity. That if you try and over-analyze it, you'll likely kill what makes it so special.

My response may be a bit long, but that's only in the interest of inspiring thought and engaging in an intriguing conversation.

It is just a matter of personal preference.

I agree 100%. I don't think one way is right and one way is wrong, but I do urge everyone to try it some time.

Give control to a loved one and them plan every detail of your next night out, next vacation etc. Then do the same for them. You might enjoy it. If not, all you had to do was spend some time with someone special.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

And as for the "I beg to differ...no way can you get up there without a reservation" statement, you've got to be kidding, right? Every single person who is seated at the bar with a drink in one hand and a fork in the other is a person who did not have a reservation, but who was allowed up and offered a menu once they were seated at the bar.

Almost every single person. We had a reservation at the California Grill last month, but asked to sit in the lounge instead of at a table once we were escorted up. We had prime window seats for fireworks and the water pageant and enjoyed our slightly more relaxed corner of the restaurant.

 

[Nadjalu]

I have to say that this thread is a complete waste of time. The OP had already done this before, and since he had, knew it could be done.

This makes me think the sole purpose of this thread was to "entertain" him in some way. He obvioulsy wasn't looking for advice or guidence he was looking for an arguement. "Entriguing" conversation he said. I disagree, he was quick to reply to everyone's comments engaging us in a debate. If someone is looking for advice they don't "hover" around their thread, they have better things to do with their life than debate strangers on the "cultures" and how WDW deals with them. No, he was just looking to troll.

I call it like a see it, who throws around their post graduate degrees on a forum? Someone who is trying to feel superior to others. He knows more than we do, does more than we do and is educated more than us.
The truly educated people in this world don't need to announce it on a website dedicated to helping people with WDW vacations.

So the OP got his jollies by all the attention he received. Maybe he "enlightened" someone, but all he enlightened me on was to stay away from his threads...he obviously knows more than I, so why bother asking for help.

Hopefully a mod closes this thread soon, as it is done. He has his answer...oh yeah that is right he had it before he started the thread.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I have already done this twice at two separate wdw restaurants (V&A and Tuto Italia) so im not really sure why this seems so impossible.

Each time the order was kept (down to the temperature of the meat) and given to the server when they checked in for their reservation.

And although i completely disagree, i understand how some people wouldn't want someone else ordering their meal. Some people dine for different reasons and look for different things. Its a difference in culture, and i would never attempt to do this in a professional setting or for someone for whom i KNOW wouldnt appreciate and enjoy the experience.

It does seem that you were already certain of the answer so I'm not entirely sure why you posted a thread to ask. As for culture differences....? Your user name and information implies you're from Louisiana - I think culturally we're pretty similar.

I have to say that this thread is a complete waste of time. The OP had already done this before, and since he had, knew it could be done.

This makes me think the sole purpose of this thread was to "entertain" him in some way. He obvioulsy wasn't looking for advice or guidence he was looking for an arguement. "Entriguing" conversation he said. I disagree, he was quick to reply to everyone's comments engaging us in a debate. If someone is looking for advice they don't "hover" around their thread, they have better things to do with their life than debate strangers on the "cultures" and how WDW deals with them. No, he was just looking to troll.

I call it like a see it, who throws around their post graduate degrees on a forum? Someone who is trying to feel superior to others. He knows more than we do, does more than we do and is educated more than us.
The truly educated people in this world don't need to announce it on a website dedicated to helping people with WDW vacations.

So the OP got his jollies by all the attention he received. Maybe he "enlightened" someone, but all he enlightened me on was to stay away from his threads...he obviously knows more than I, so why bother asking for help.

Hopefully a mod closes this thread soon, as it is done. He has his answer...oh yeah that is right he had it before he started the thread.

This thread was not at all a waste of time because I got to this post ~ Like!

 

[TigerKat]

I have to say that this thread is a complete waste of time. The OP had already done this before, and since he had, knew it could be done.

This makes me think the sole purpose of this thread was to "entertain" him in some way. He obvioulsy wasn't looking for advice or guidence he was looking for an arguement. "Entriguing" conversation he said. I disagree, he was quick to reply to everyone's comments engaging us in a debate. If someone is looking for advice they don't "hover" around their thread, they have better things to do with their life than debate strangers on the "cultures" and how WDW deals with them. No, he was just looking to troll.

I call it like a see it, who throws around their post graduate degrees on a forum? Someone who is trying to feel superior to others. He knows more than we do, does more than we do and is educated more than us.
The truly educated people in this world don't need to announce it on a website dedicated to helping people with WDW vacations.

So the OP got his jollies by all the attention he received. Maybe he "enlightened" someone, but all he enlightened me on was to stay away from his threads...he obviously knows more than I, so why bother asking for help.

Hopefully a mod closes this thread soon, as it is done. He has his answer...oh yeah that is right he had it before he started the thread.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I have to say that this thread is a complete waste of time. The OP had already done this before, and since he had, knew it could be done.

I asked if it had ever been done at California Grill b/c each restaurant is managed differently and operated under different systems. While I was waiting on confirmation from Cali Grill I proposed the question here to see if anyone could confirm.

This makes me think the sole purpose of this thread was to "entertain" him in some way. He obvioulsy wasn't looking for advice or guidence he was looking for an arguement.

You could not be more incorrect, I was looking for an answer, which nobody provided. Then once the issue was no longer in doubt, I re-engaged the conversation brought up by others.

No, he was just looking to troll.

Your actions have clearly proven who was here with a purpose, and who was here to troll

who throws around their post graduate degrees on a forum?

Did you entirely miss the context as to which education was brought up (and the fact that I wasn't the one who even brought it up?) I only offered that information becasuse it was suggested that if you were educated, you wouldn't like someone ordering for you.

I'm sorry I threaten you. I'm sure you want the thread closed asap. Your trolling is done and you have not offered anything of value to the question or to the topic of conversation it created.

If you honesty feel I was here to troll and not here with a legit question, feel free to call Jill at the Cali Grill and ask this request was not recently made and that in fact we discussed it in length after I started this thread.

Something tells me you'll say it's not worth your time. And why would it be, It would completely prove your assumptions incorrect and confirm your greatest fears of being the resident curmudgeon.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have to say that this thread is a complete waste of time. The OP had already done this before, and since he had, knew it could be done.

This makes me think the sole purpose of this thread was to "entertain" him in some way. He obvioulsy wasn't looking for advice or guidence he was looking for an arguement. "Entriguing" conversation he said. I disagree, he was quick to reply to everyone's comments engaging us in a debate. If someone is looking for advice they don't "hover" around their thread, they have better things to do with their life than debate strangers on the "cultures" and how WDW deals with them. No, he was just looking to troll.

I call it like a see it, who throws around their post graduate degrees on a forum? Someone who is trying to feel superior to others. He knows more than we do, does more than we do and is educated more than us.
The truly educated people in this world don't need to announce it on a website dedicated to helping people with WDW vacations.

So the OP got his jollies by all the attention he received. Maybe he "enlightened" someone, but all he enlightened me on was to stay away from his threads...he obviously knows more than I, so why bother asking for help.

Hopefully a mod closes this thread soon, as it is done. He has his answer...oh yeah that is right he had it before he started the thread.