Our experience with California Grill (long)

[CJK]

We ate at the California Grill on Sat. Oct. 30th. I was looking forward to it all week. I have mixed thoughts about our experience.

You now check in on the 3rd floor rather than go directly to the top floor of the Contemporary. I understand why they made the change, but boy, we were struck by how rude the CM's were at the desk. We made a PS weeks before our trip and understood there was no guarantee we could get a window seat. We asked the CM when we arrived if we could wait for a window seat. Dh said that we didn't mind waiting. The woman said, "NO" in a very snarky voice saying that all window seats were booked for the night. I'm not exactly sure how PS's work exactly, but we were told there was no way to book a window seat in advance. We inquired one last time and the male CM this time said "NO", again in a very snarky voice. We weren't being pushy at all yet were treated very rudely. They shoved a buzzer into dh's hand and said we had a 30min. wait.

We decided to go up to the balcony and wait. We waited and waited and waited. WELL over 1/2hr later, another CM came up to us and asked us our name. He said that he had been buzzing us but we didn't respond. Ugh - we would have responded if our buzzer had gone off. But anyway, he was very nice and took us directly to our table.

Here's the wonderful part of the evening. Our waiter was very accomodating and attentive. We had flatbread to start which was ever bit as wonderful as we hoped. My pork dish was scrumptious and dh's beef dish (can't remember exactly) was equally delicious. Just before we received our main course, it was approaching the time for the fireworks. We were looking forward to them piping the music in and lowering the lights. Just then, our waiter came over and told us the restaurant was no longer doing this. If we wanted to watch the fireworks, we had to go out onto the balcony. The reason? Well, our server said it was experimental. The "big guns" as he put it, want to change the clientele of the restaurant and make it more upperscale and less family oriented.

We were soooo disappointed and so was our server. He quietly told us that he thinks it's a bad idea and hopes they go back to the old way. We did go out to the balcony for the fireworks. Understandably, it was PACKED out there. There are 2 balconies - one for the general public and the other seemed to be for people there for a private function. The speaker that was on the private function balcony played the Wishes music. Our balcony played the normal background music playing inside the restaurant. Dh talked to 2 CM's during the fireworks to try to get them to pipe the Wishes music out there instead. They insisted that "they were working on it" but it never did work. We strained to hear the speaker from the other balcony that was being drained out by our speaker.

We were very, very disappointed and do hope they change it back. Thankfully our server and food were great so we did still have a great time. I'm just not sure if we'll ever return. We'll have to explore the other restaurants in the meantime!

 

[drumflower]

I sure hope they change back to the old way The fireworks is one of the reasons I am going to spend a arm and leg to eat there!Maybe I should eat at Le Cellier instead(no view) Just kidding, but do they really have to take the "magic" out of the place? I think if they continue with the new way they not only will have less familes but less adults too! ( we all the love the fireworks, don't we?)

 

[Uncleromulus]

Interesting--.
I'm not certain that making folks go out on the observation deck will do much to "change the clientele". It's what we--and many others I've seen--do anyway. Including lots of families w/kids.

The only real way to change the clientele would be to board up the entire window area so no one could see a thing.
As long as "California Grill and "fireworks" are one and the same, these sorts of things will continue to happen.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We have a PS there for 5:30pm for our Christmas trip, and our choice to eat there obviously has nothing to do with the fireworks. Now I'm wondering if we should change it. We have a 12 yo. son, who has eaten at many fine restaurants, and enjoys it as much as we do. If they really feel that way about families with children, I'm not sure I want to eat there. I've never hesitated to eat there or anywhere else on WDW property, except V&A & Bistro de Paris (only because I thought we couldn't) with him. Has anyone else been told this, or made to feel this way? I'm just wondering if this was an employee, giving his take on what the management is in all actuality trying to do to cut down on the amount of people holding tables for way to long, just to wait for the fireworks. Here I go again second guessing my plans.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Wow, CJK! I'm surprised at the changes they've made! I'm relieved for you that you enjoyed your meal at least. Perhaps they'll go back to the way it was with enough feedback to do so.

Thanks for the report!

 

[Peter Pirate]

Calm down folks...I assure they do not feel this way about children they are simply trying to find a way to aleviate some problems they've been having.

I know the Chef, Sous Chef and Manager very well and they are not anti family, but what has happened is the guest desire to see the fire works, sit window side, etc has gotten totally out of hand. People will sit for 2-3 hours in their seats waiting for the fireworks. This throws off any semblence of order with their PS schedule and means some families are waiting interminable amounts of time to be seated, even with a PS and there is nothing the CG can do.

They are simply attempting to solve a problem and if this doesn't work you will see somethig else tried soon.

 

[drumflower]

Why don't they just reserve the window seats as window seats? Then when you call to make your ps's, you can request it. When those ps's are gone, they are gone, kinda like CRT for breakfast. Maybe do the booking when Disney releases their park hours and wishes. ( 60 days).

 

[Uncleromulus]

It may wind up coming down to something like that--

I must confess -I can't understand why anyone would sit at a table and "nurse" an iced tea for 3 or more hours while they await a 15 minute fireworks display...

But they do.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Uncleromulus
It may wind up coming down to something like that--

I must confess -I can't understand why anyone would sit at a table and "nurse" an iced tea for 3 or more hours while they await a 15 minute fireworks display...

But they do.

Besides, IMO, the fireworks are much more spectacular from the MK anyway!

We'd go back to CG for the dinner more so than the fireworks.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by tarheelmjfan
We have a PS there for 5:30pm for our Christmas trip, and our choice to eat there obviously has nothing to do with the fireworks. Now I'm wondering if we should change it. We have a 12 yo. son, who has eaten at many fine restaurants, and enjoys it as much as we do. If they really feel that way about families with children, I'm not sure I want to eat there. I've never hesitated to eat there or anywhere else on WDW property, except V&A & Bistro de Paris (only because I thought we couldn't) with him. Has anyone else been told this, or made to feel this way? I'm just wondering if this was an employee, giving his take on what the management is in all actuality trying to do to cut down on the amount of people holding tables for way to long, just to wait for the fireworks. Here I go again second guessing my plans.

Seriously, I tend to agree with Uncle romulous. When I was young, I also accompanied my family to upscale restaurants (few of which had a childrens menu). I knew how to behave, and I suspect that tarheelmjfan's child does as well. It was probably done to discourage folks from nursing that soft drink, and having some folks making a scene if they couldn't get a great view of the fireworks from their table, we've all seen those types of people at Disney By the CM stating that all window tables were already taken, I'm wondering if they have started pre-assigning tables at the time of the ressie (PS) like they do for dinner shows?

 

[TDC Nala]

I called to book CG not long ago. I was not interested in the fireworks; I wanted to sit at the food bar where you can watch the chefs work. I was told at booking that you cannot request a certain table or area until you check in at the 2nd floor desk when you arrive for your PS.

I didn't think much about this, but it might be to discourage requests for window tables.

 

[Alaska Catdog]

We had dinner at the CG on the 11th of November and the food was fantastic. Our reservations were supposed to coincide with the fireworks and they would have if the folks who were seated hours before we got there (7:45) left when they were done instead of waiting for the fireworks. It didn't really matter to us as we were staying in the Contemporary on the 14th floor so we had experienced wishes from that vantage point. We found that the the theatre of the kitchen was much more interesting than the fireworks. At first our table seemed awful because it was in the back away from the windows but as soon as we sat down, we realized that we had a birdseye view of the kitchen and it was amazing. It's like watching a cooking show with smellivision. We really enjoyed it and didn't miss the fireworks at all. Amazing food and wonderful theatre as well.

 

[Straughn]

DH and I dine at CG on every trip to WDW and will be there for our 15th anniversary in a couple of weeks. We have been there for the fireworks and been there when the fireworks occurred prior to our PS. Clearly it is easier to get seated at your PS time when the fireworks are over. However, the fire works are not our primary reason for dining at CG-the wine list and the food are. We always book an 8:00-8:30 PS. Three trips ago we ended up, by pure luck, in the Wine Room and enjoyed the quiet and ambience of the room. I have requested it when making the PS for the two trips since then (as well for our upcoming trip) and have always been accommodated. Now this may be luck of the draw, or it may show that requesting something when making your PS seems to work. I will admit that they probably have fewer request for the Wine Room than a window seat during the fireworks, but it never hurts to ask for what you want.

 

[lark]

They may ultimately need to go to "seatings," which will increase the price of the restaurant. Even then, they can't kick you out of your seat if you're part of the early seating.

I don't know the solution. It has, however, gotten out of hand. It's our favorite disney restaurant. But we're at the point now where we'll only go when it first opens or take a PS after the fireworks if it's possible.

Ultimatley, for better or worse, this "problem" is going to be fixed. The margins at a non-prix-fixe restaurant are just too thin for any one to survive if some non-negligible chunk of the dining public stays for 3 hours. It also makes for unhappy waiters, since most people who do linger do not really understand that a 15 or 18 percent tip is simply no longer appropriate when you've monopolized a server's table. Disney is nothing if not flexible and creative when the bottom line gets threatened.

 

[drumflower]

In most fine restaruants, 3 hours is very well the normal amount of time to dine. I know Disney is different then the "real world" , but maybe they are over booking the tables. With their prices, they are not losing money if a table stays for that long. They should still be able to turn the tables at least 2 times in a night. Maybe their expectations are too high for their customers.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I've been at CG--standing an entire hour waiting for my PS (there were no seats at the bar, no lounge tables) and seen several "window table" customers just sit at their table that entire time with a drink. In one case, it looked like they "lingered" that hour over coffee. I remember remarking to Mrs. Uncleromulus something like "Look at those people. They aren't even eating anything"
And when we were seated, they were still there waiting on the fireworks!!
That's the sort of thing that needs a fix--

I'm not sure the PS system would allow for much--if any--pure overbooking--(?)
And even at V&A I've never spent much beyond 2 and 1/2 hours, so I don't think CG is (or is even meant to be) a 3 hour dinner spot.
Staring the new policy restricting the CG area to drinking or dining guests was a step in the right direction.

 

[john storey]

It seems to me everybody is not really seeing California Grill for what it is meant to be. Supposedley it's meant to be one of Disneys flagship restaurants with a leading edge menu, renowned for its food & chefs. Apparently we are all missing the point, it's a OK restaurant with a brilliant view of MK + fireworks, as a result everyone who actually wants to go to the restaurant just for a meal has a real tough time getting a table, ANYWHERE in the restaurant. Obviously a holiday at Disney involves LOADS of firework displays, MGM, EPCOT,& Downtown to name 3, yea & it's nice to watch them all, thing is after a while you can take it or leave it. Point is I think Disney should make it as difficult as possible for people going to restaurants JUST TO WATCH THE FIREWORK DISPLAYS. When we travel to Florida from England we want to experience as many of the differrent Disney restaurants as possible, FOR THE FOOD not a firework display.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Both times I've dined here our meal lasted between 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Our waiter paced things out since we wanted to see Wishes and he knew it. He told us to relax and take our time.

That being said, I most enjoy Wishes from the Magic Kingdom. For our trip in January, our first night will start with a 6pm dinner at CG, then off to the Magic Kingdom for a ride or two, Spectro and Wishes.

I'll be curious to see how long our meal takes this time around.

 

[lark]

In most fine restaruants, 3 hours is very well the normal amount of time to dine . . . They should still be able to turn the tables at least 2 times in a night. Maybe their expectations are too high for their customers.

Three hours for a one-page- a la carte menu restaurant is too long for the restaurant to make money if lots of people are doing it. If you take into account that this restaurant happens to occupy perhaps the single most valuable floor of real estate in central florida, Disney is simply not going to put up with this phenomenon. With respect to expecations, it is made clear to Disney execs on virtually a daily basis that their shareholders really only have one expectation.

It's true that, to some extent, the bottom line at the Contempory and its existence of a deluxe resort depends on having a flagship restaurant there. So to some extent, it can be a loss leader. But if you've been to the CG in the last 6 months to a year, you'll see the PS system has become so fundamentally messed up and the bottlenecks so severe that they really have no choice but to start experimenting.

Did some major influential guide book come out in the last year or so telling people the contemporary was a good place to watch fireworks and that you could get there early and linger?

 

[Chuck S]

Perhaps it is time to revamp this restaurant back into some sort of dinner show with assigned seating times. That should put a big dent in the "fireworks looky-loos".