Opinions needed for Cali Grill

[Lostgirlz]

We are thinking about have dinner at Cali Grill our last night at the park, but is it good, and worth 2 ts? I could really use the thoughts on the venue, and opinions thank you in advance.

 

[GrandFloridian4]

I don't have ts, but.....

my opinion: it is very good, small portions, very expensive, great views, somewhat noisy, worth trying. Try to book when you'll see the fireworks going off, if you'd like to see them from there.

 

[Lostgirlz]

I did book for close to time that wishes starts, but I am so bumfudeled with all the details of everything it feels like I forgot a ressie somewhere, or did not book a place that I wanted to try, or basically ran out of days to eat haha. This will be our last night at Disney on our Honeymoon and I would just rather have a nice dinner for the big good-bye. I am just having huge second thoughts.

 

[yearbook50]

Its amazing.
I eat there on almost every trip.

 

[hamlet35_2000]

I did book for close to time that wishes starts, but I am so bumfudeled with all the details of everything it feels like I forgot a ressie somewhere, or did not book a place that I wanted to try, or basically ran out of days to eat haha. This will be our last night at Disney on our Honeymoon and I would just rather have a nice dinner for the big good-bye. I am just having huge second thoughts.

Don't have any second thoughts. This place is amazing. One of the best meals me and my honey had the whole week. The food is great and the service is good as well. Just be prepared for the people at the hostesss stand....rude beyond words....everything is great once you are past the little prima donna hostesses on the 2nd floor (where you have to check in). We watched Wishes from a table by the window, and our server timed our deserts so that they would come to us right when fireworks started and we had desert while we watched the fireworks. Go to this restaurant..it is worth it.

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

We have ADR's for this restaurant on our upcoming trip. How early should you arrive to check-in?

 

[lawyergirl]

We went to the CG for our anniversary dinner (less than a week ago! *sniffle* ) and I had been having huge second thoughts too... We had eaten at Jiko two nights earlier and loved it, so I was worried that the CG wouldn't be able to live up to its counterpart at the AKL... Well, while Jiko is still our favourite, we absolutely loved the CG too!!! Great service (although ITA about the idiot Primadonnas downstairs at the checkin podium), and amazing food! Even DH lliked it and he normally doesn't like the "fancy" restaurants (he still "doesn't understand what all of the fuss is about" over Artist Point - I love the place though!)

So, don't worry about it - enjoy your meal.... Especially the whole not having to worry about the bill part!! The CG is an amazing experience, even if you don't get to see the fireworks from your table (it was our last night, so I wanted to cry like a baby on Main Street and not in the nice restaurant! )

 

[Collette]

We loved the whole dining experience at CG!!! (That is after we, too, survived the prima donna podium.) Our food and our server were excellent. Although I prefer watching Wishes on Main Street, it was very special going out onto the deck during our meal to watch them. We will definitely return!

 

[ro80]

We were just there in May. To us, it was absolutely worth it. The food is great and the view is amazing. Try to get a seat near the window. We had ressies for 7:30 and our waiter spread our meal out so we could be there for the fireworks. It was great!!! You gotta try it at least once!!

 

[Lostgirlz]

So this is worth doing over say Yachtsman? I am also like some of you I keep thinking it would be more tugging at the heart strings to be on Main Street when wishes starts. That's another thing I am unsettled on. I feel like it might feel like a let down that I was not on Main Street for wishes. I have packed ressie days almost daily. worried that I am gonna want to add more and I know I want to but lord can't fit much more in lol, and paying oop for all buffets, and crt. I just don't feel like I can justify 2 ts on cindy's even though it is our honeymoon I felt it's better to oop for any char buffets, CRT, and things like that cause it comes out a better price in that way. We are no concerned with price as much as trying to hit everything we want to hit which at first seems like wont be enough things to try then when it's adr time it's like OMG to many not enough time.

 

[Cookie Princess]

CA Grill is our #1 favorite WDW restaurant and that even takes into consideration V&A (sorry folks) and Jiko which are also popular and were very good. The food and the view are fantastic. We go every year and have never once been disappointed. We will be enjoying our anniversary dinner at CA Grill in just 21 days.

 

[carolinagirl]

CG was our favorite meal during our last trip. The food was fabulous and service was superb. We were able to watch Wishes from the observation deck, and while we did enjoy it, it is not as spectacular as viewing it from Main Street. Thankfully, we had already seen it twice earlier in the week from inside the Magic Kingdom. It is a totally different perspective. I wouldn't plan for that to be the only time I was able to view Wishes during my trip. But all taken into consideration, we thought it was the perfect way to end our Disney vacation. We're doing it again this year!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Yachtsman is very good.

 

[vonderbar]

My DH and I love California Grill! The food is delicious and has great presentation. I have never left there hungry by any means! Our wait staff has always been cordial and very helpful. We have eaten there a few times. I understand your concern about not getting the same feeling as watching it on Main Street. Watching "Wishes" from that view didn't give me the tug of heart strings, but gave me a different viewing perspective. So when I brought my Mom to WDW for the first time, I made sure she saw "Wishes" from MK, before she watched them from California Grill. I only did this so she would get the full affect from both. If you decide on California Grill, you really shouldn't be disappointed. I feel it is worth giving up 2 tbl dinners (Dining Plan). We are doing just that in October.

Yachtman - Another of our favorites. Excellent steaks, only disappointed the Bourbon steak was not on the menu last year (it was my favorite). Love to pair the Rumbauer Merlot! A nice discovery thanks to our waiter Chris a few years ago.

One thing my DH and I discovered, no matter how many times you go to WDW there will always be something you wished you could have done. There are just too many really good restaurants. That's why you just put them on your "next" dining trip list. Our next trips include dinner at "Jiko" (AK) and "Todd English's Blue Zoo" (The Dolphin). Blue Zoo has great fish and seafood. Unfortunately, it is not part of any Disney Dining Plan, but worth it. We also have "Kimonos" (The Swan) on yet another future list.

 

[vonderbar]

In your quote Cookie Princess "CA Grill is our #1 favorite WDW restaurant and that even takes into consideration V&A (sorry folks), can you explain in more detail the difference? My DH and I would love to dine in V&A one of these trips. Because of the cost factor, I would hate if it didn't meet my expectations of elegance, delicious food and romance.

 

[liamsaunt]

In your quote Cookie Princess "CA Grill is our #1 favorite WDW restaurant and that even takes into consideration V&A (sorry folks), can you explain in more detail the difference? My DH and I would love to dine in V&A one of these trips. Because of the cost factor, I would hate if it didn't meet my expectations of elegance, delicious food and romance.

I'm not Cookie Princess, but I too have eaten at both and I agree that I like California Grill better. V+A's is incredible, and you should try it at least once, definitely. However, it is much more formal--you need to pack special clothes (guys must wear jackets, for example), and the meal takes about three hours. The food and service are outstanding, undoubtedly, but for us, CG is just more relaxed, and, well, fun! We go to CG every trip, V+A's, not.

 

[Lostgirlz]

Vonder I was just asking the same thing in response to someone elses thread on viewing illuminations from chef's. I have been told by other dis boarders to do V&A, but I have looked at their menu and it seems to change all the time, so what worries me is if we did this one which I LOVEEEEEE a romantic evening with him and it is our Honeymoon I would like to know a bit of what is going to be served beforehand. I hate to book it and more than likely need to either pay for it with credit card up front or hold it by cc and then go and nothing be offered that one of us cares for. I am one of those types who put GREAT planning into these things when it's something extremely special to me and this MOST CERTAINLY IS. It's our first Disney trip and our honeymoon I want as much magic as I can get into it. I don't mind paying the cost which I think is around 200 a person give or take, but I would like to know what will be served beforehand so I know if it is something he, or I for that matter would like. We are doing Boma for our first dinner, and our depature breakfast wil be boma, We are also doing the p/p party our arival night there I got surprised with it and yes I am excited. I am just so unsure of myself. I don't want to put us in a place that is less than appealing. Here is my list for our honeymoon so far let me know your thoughts everyone.
I am a bit worried we may get hungry from eating so early anyone experience having a too early dinner before these parties and making a second ressie for one of the places opened for later dining during the event also? Tony's and LTT are open that evening for it?

 

[Tiki Room Fan]

Me and DF are planning on making ressies for Cali Grill to see Wishes. If I call this week, do we have any chance of getting a window seat to see the fireworks? This is really the only reason for making ressies here. What time should we plan to make the dinner ressies for in order to be there to see Wishes? Does Cali Grill offer many vegetarian selections?

 

[Lostgirlz]

You have to ask at check in for special requests on seating when you get to the second floor. I was looking for a nice last dinner for our honeymoon and the girl swore this place was great, but then again she also claimed all openings for CRT had not opened yet and wouldnt open all up till a few days from now HAHA wronggggggg. I called to double check my stuff this evening before they closed and the very nice CM said that's odd let me look for you, she came back and said no I am sorry, but it is completely sold out. Thank GOD I have a 9:05 breakfast ressie at least, but I wanted the first seating oh well maybe some pixie dust will come my way and no mre flaws I hope

 

[dublincailin]

We did CA for our last meal before coming home. We took a 9 pm reservation, arrived about 8.40 and were seated by 9.05. Main course (so fresh and good salmon) was just eaten when Wishes was about to start. Starter, flatbreads I think they were called, were super too. We went onto the deck and it was magical. The atmosphere was great and my daughter enjoyed it so much more than being crushed on Main Street the previous week trying to watch them. Back in for desert and coffee then. The service, even the check in on 2nd floor (not the prima donna but a nice chap did ours though the prima donna was there and snapped at him!) went fine and the serving staff were great. My OH's meal had a sauce on it he had not asked for and it was replaced within a minute. We thought it super good, food quality best we came across in Orlando, bit noisy but didn't matter and the Wishes great too.