How long can I drag out dinner @ Cali. Grill?

[MaleficentRN]

Oh, I messed up. I made an ADR for CG for 7:45 thinking Wishes was at 9. Well it's at 10 and there is nothing left now between 7:45 and 9:30 and I'm not starting dinner that late.
I know I can go out on the deck and watch, but I'd rater sit at a table. Do you think dinner can take a couple of hours there? I won't get the bum's rush, will I?

 

[goofyintoronto]

If your good, it shouldnt be hard. Take your sweet old time ordering a drink. Look over the menu five times if you have to. Repeat this with the appetizer.....and you MUST order an appetizer. After your appetizer arrives, then start looking at the menu for your main. Ask plenty of detailed questions and try hard to look very confused. Do this for dessert as well. 2 hours should fly by without probs. If you follow these steps, you will be fine!

 

[catheren]

Agree with the PP! Follow their recommendations, to pace out the dining - 2 hours goes very fast. Plus, just because u have 7:45pm ADR's doesn't mean your table will be ready- make sure you show up no earlier than 7:45pm!

 

[GAN]

Rather than worry about dragging out your meal, you could go to the bar after for a drink and actually relax. It sounds like you want to watch the fireworks from your table, which you can do -I prefer the view from the observation deck anyway. Unless you have a window table, I would expect you will have a reduced view.

 

[figment_jii]

It might work in your favor because you have more time between your ADR and the time the show starts. You can request a window table when you check-in, but they warn you that you might not get one before the show starts. It depends on how many folks have requested a window table before you. When I was there in October, they were warning folks that waiting for a window table might mean up to an additional 45 to 60 minutes of wait time (this is on top of the normal wait). There are only a handful of tables that have a good view, so they're pretty coveted.

 

[TDC Nala]

You don't have to drag it out if you don't want to. You can present your receipt and they'll let you go back up to watch from the observation deck. There's no guarantee you'll be able to see from your table, so if you're lucky and get that type of table you might want to stick it out (2 hours isn't that long for Ca Grill) but if you don't get a table view and you don't want to stay, then don't. Unless you really want to eat right at 7:45 you can try telling them that you will wait for a view table.

 

[Suellen]

Don't you find dragging a meal out that long to be unfair to the server? I mean you would be taking up a table for an extra hour than normal? They could turn another table in that time.

I'd say either move your reservation to later or head out to the observation deck.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Don't you find dragging a meal out that long to be unfair to the server? I mean you would be taking up a table for an extra hour than normal? They could turn another table in that time.

I'd say either move your reservation to later or head out to the observation deck.

A meal at California Grill often takes 1.5 - 2 hours easily, and servers at California Grill completely understand when people with a good view want to stretch out their meal.

 

[minniebride]

You don't have to drag it out if you don't want to. You can present your receipt and they'll let you go back up to watch from the observation deck. There's no guarantee you'll be able to see from your table, so if you're lucky and get that type of table you might want to stick it out (2 hours isn't that long for Ca Grill) but if you don't get a table view and you don't want to stay, then don't. Unless you really want to eat right at 7:45 you can try telling them that you will wait for a view table.

There is no guarantee that you will have a Wishes view from your table. We went to CA Grill on our honeymoon and we were seated in the Wine Room. Best seat in the house IMO, because it was quiet and romantic with a gorgeous view of the water. We actually got a view of Illuminations, but we were sent out to the observation deck for Wishes because there was no Wishes view from our table. The observation deck was wonderful-they pipe in the music, just like in the restaurant and we had a gorgeous view of Wishes.

If you order wine, appetizer, meal, dessert, you will more than likely still be dining by 10pm, but I also agree that it is not fair to hog the table if you are not planning on ordering all that food and just basically waiting for the fireworks. There are others that did their homework and booked their ADR's for a closer time & if the tables were turned (excuse the pun! ) and someone else was holding up a table from you, you might be pretty annoyed.

Again, if you are planning to do it up right at CA Grill (apps, meal, dessert), you will no doubt still be there after 2 hours. If not or if you do not get a seat in an area where you can see Wishes, the observation deck is lovely and you are welcome to it before or after your meal.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You can stretch for two hours without a problem.
2) Beyond that, you could be in trouble.
3) You could be asked to surrender your table. *
4) Then, you can see from the platform.

* Yes, people have been asked to surrender the table
Regardless of what others may say. After all, this is still a
business, However, keep ordering and there is no problem.
Keeping a table beyond two hours is selfish.

 

[pixarmom]

If you order wine, appetizer, meal, dessert, you will more than likely still be dining by 10pm, but I also agree that it is not fair to hog the table if you are not planning on ordering all that food and just basically waiting for the fireworks. There are others that did their homework and booked their ADR's for a closer time & if the tables were turned (excuse the pun! ) and someone else was holding up a table from you, you might be pretty annoyed.

Good point. This is exactly what happened for my dad's birthday celebration. He loves Disney and is responsible for my love of DL and then WDW. So my husband, our three boys and I hosted my parents at California Grill for my dad's birthday celebration. For this special occasion, we timed our ADRs for the fireworks and noted the celebration on our reservation. That night, we waited for nearly an hour after our ADR time because all of the tables were occupied by parties who clearly finished their meals and were holding them for the fireworks. Not a big deal regarding the fireworks - my mom, dad and I chatted inside and my husband took the boys on the deck. But it really held up the ADRs.

Here's the amazing part: When we were seated, the hostess apologized, found us a wonderful table near the window (still a beautiful view without the fireworks!) and brought us complimentary appetizers and a complimentary bottle of wine before our dinner. It was a great dinner and once again, Disney goes above and beyond, but the points about the impact on other ADRs is a good one.

 

[M likes the mouse]

It depends what you order. The first time we ate there we felt rushed. At home we are used take a good 2,3 to eat. On our first visit, we ordered a cocktail, an appetizer, an entree and a glass of wine to go with it. We got served the appetizers very fast. We were half done with the sushi when the drinks came. The mains arrived as soon as the appetizers plates were taken off the tables. We were still drinking our cocktails. We were half done with our meal when we received our glass of wine. As soon as the waiter took the plates off he asked for our dessert order. We asked for a bit more time to finish our glasses of wine before ordering desserts. He came back for the dessert as soon as DH drank his last sip of wine, like he had not swallowed it yet.

So if you are willing to have a nice relaxing meal, without dragging unnecessarily, I say just make sure you order your app and entree once you have received your drinks and you should be all set. That's what we did the second time we ate there. We did not drag the meal, but we did not feel rushed either.
By the way, I'm in the same shoes. We have a 7H25 reservation with my parents in April when the fireworks are going to be at 10. We sure will take our time, but I think this time around we will be on the observation deck to watch them.
Enjoy!

 

[nemofans]

Calif Grill is known for dinner taking a long time. Our 1st time eating there, we were seated at a window table w/perfect view of castle. We didn't expect to be able to stay at the table til Wishes b/c it was an early ADR, so we planned on eating dinner & then heading to the observation deck after. The CM himself dragged out our dinner w/so much time between courses. And I mean a really long time between courses. Dinner lasted at least 2.5 hrs.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Thank you to those that addressed my concern. I know most upscale restaurant meals can take upward of two hours, but I wasn't sure about CG. I was planning on asking for a window table and waiting, if it was reasonable. (half hour tops with the kids)
I honestly am not planning on being a "table hog". The last thing I am planning on doing is nursing a glass of water and a bread basket. A three course meal with drinks is a normal night out for my family. DH has been known to have two orders of a sushi entree, if it is good.If push comes to shove we'll go out to the terrace.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Should add that the chances are fair to good that you won't be seated on time anyway. That's how it usually works for us at CG. We've waited from 10 minutes up to and over an hour to be seated there.
And forget the bar "after dinner" seats--you MIGHT get lucky and find a seat, but I doubt it.
And 2 hours isn't really long for a CG dinner to begin with. So my guess is that you'll be fine with that 7:45 reservation---

 

[Raenstoirm]

Unless you have a window table, I would expect you will have a reduced view.

People who havent eaten there dont quite get this. We tend to eat there every trip. Only once did I plan our meal around the fireworks (on our 9 year anniversary). We ended up with a table way in the back (despite asking for a window and noting the anniversary on the ressie) that had a horrible view. So we ate fast and went back to our room to watch the fireworks (we were staying at Contemporary with a MK view). It was actually my favorite night of the trip. There is a perfect view from the balconies!

 

[MaleficentRN]

And forget the bar "after dinner" seats--you MIGHT get lucky and find a seat, but I doubt it.
And 2 hours isn't really long for a CG dinner to begin with. So my guess is that you'll be fine with that 7:45 reservation---

Thank you. Plus I don't think my children will be allowed to sit at the bar.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Actually--they WOULD be allowed if you allowed it. We see children sitting at Disney bars quite often--or at least more often than I would expect. I don't think it is "illegal" in any way, or against any Disney policy.

The bar at CG isn't very large and anywhere near fireworks time, it's crammed with those just waiting on the fireworks.

 

[Ramsfan28]

Should add that the chances are fair to good that you won't be seated on time anyway. That's how it usually works for us at CG. We've waited from 10 minutes up to and over an hour to be seated there.
And forget the bar "after dinner" seats--you MIGHT get lucky and find a seat, but I doubt it.
And 2 hours isn't really long for a CG dinner to begin with. So my guess is that you'll be fine with that 7:45 reservation---

+1.

I have found my wait is around 10 -20 minutes on average and I agree, you will be fine with a 7:45 reservation.

 

[Orsino]

Calif Grill is known for dinner taking a long time.

I disagree. Actually, I only partially disagree. A few years ago we had a nice slow meal, but last week our meal was super fast.

We were seated at 6:30PM (Wishes at 8PM)

Ordered:
Sushi
Appetizers
Entree
Dessert

Dessert was served at about 7:45.
I was shocked at how fast we were being served.

I wasn't worried about missing Wishes, but I certainly felt like the server was trying to turn the table quickly.