Our experience with California Grill (long)

[wdw_dine_junkie]

This is why we only book the CG on nights with no fireworks or we make sure we are there after the fireworks. We love the food and the restaurant but it's become such a zoo. We'd rather avoid the issue.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

Reading all these posts about long waits makes me nervous about our upcoming trip. We have CG booked on 11/28, a MVMCP night. Our PS is at 7:30, not because of fireworks, but because that is when we want to eat. Fireworks for the party will probably start at 9:15. Is this going to cause a problem for our time? We don't care about getting a window seat and also wouldn't mind waiting a half hour, but we certainly wouldn't want to still be waiting for a table after the fireworks end 2 hours after our seating time, either.

 

[Uncleromulus]

lark:
I think some of the gidebooks do mention the fireworks in connection with eating at the CG. I doubt they mention the lingering part--people just seem to do that on their own.

And look at the overwhelming majority of the posts we see about the CG--virtually everyone concerned what time their PS should be to see the fireworks and/or how do they get a window table so they can see the fireworks.

And it IS nice to have that view and see the fireworks. The problem is that once there, a # of people simply plant themselves at a table or the bar for hours until fireworks time. That's what really needs to be fixed and causes the too-long wait for a PS seat. I wasn't thrilled when I had to wait an hour---an hour and 45 minutes is way beyond tolerable.

 

[lark]

Our PS is at 7:30, not because of fireworks, but because that is when we want to eat. Fireworks for the party will probably start at 9:15. Is this going to cause a problem for our time? We don't care about getting a window seat and also wouldn't mind waiting a half hour, but we certainly wouldn't want to still be waiting for a table after the fireworks end 2 hours after our seating time, either. [/B]

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, everything is going to be crowded. Your PS is at a time that is particularly worrisome. The restaurant opens roughly at 4:45 to 5:30, depending on the night. So your PS is at a time where most of the tables have already turned over once. (Very early diners won't be trying to hold out 4 plus hours for the fireworks, so the early table turnovers -- from 6:15 to 7:00 should go smoothly.)

So the bottom line is that 7:30 will be a crap shoot. By that time, you'll have lots of people trying to hold out. It might be worth it trying to make an 8:00 or 8:15 PS at another restaurant at either the Contemporary or the Poly that you would go to if the wait for the CG is too long. I would probably also consider showing up early for the CG -- like at 7:00.

In short, if you show up a little early, I think a 2 hour wait is unlikely, but you should be prepared for a one hour wait. Hopefully it will go smoothly for you. Come back and post with your experience, because the Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year at WDW, so it will be interesting to know how the CG handles it all.

 

[tlev]

When DW and I ate there on our Honeymoon we had a PS 1 hour before Wishes and requested a window seat when we signed in on the second floor, (about 20min. before our PS). We were seated about 15 min. after our PS and not at a window, the CM told us there was no chance of a window seat opening up before the fireworks so we gave up. No less than four window tables had people sipping coffee at them. Maybe they can add a surcharge to the bill of the window tables during wishes. If people knew they were going to be charged and extra 10% on their bill they might get up a little sooner, and the people who are at the restaurant to see the show would get their chance.

 

[Chicago526]

I have a simple solution. Make it policy that no one can hold a table for more than 1/2 hour after the final bill is presented. Make it clear when PS's are made, and post a little sign at each table stating that policy. Then enforce it! The only way people can linger is to keep ordering more food, and at CA Grill prices, most won't do that!

Of course the odds of this happening are slim to none, but it could happen!

 

[drumflower]

I think part of the problem is that Disney releases their park hours after people have made their reservations. For people who really want to see the fireworks ( not just window side) have to guess when to make the reservations so there is a good chance to see the wishes. If they just reserved tables for wishes this would help. I am sure Disney knows what the hours are going to be in advance ( before they release them to the public) so they can plan accordingly. For the people who don't care to see the fireworks, they can get a regular table. For the people who don't get a fireworks table, they won't expect one and won't linger and actually show up at the right time. Maybe they could charge more, and have a special firework dessert or something for the people who reserve the special table. This would take some planning every month by Disney, but I feel it would help everyone involved. How about those little signs on the tables that other places use that say reserved.
Another interesting thing was when I made my ps's recently. I asked what would be good time to dine there to see the wishes. He was very helpful but he did say that conceige had tables reserved around the time to see the wishes. I called in the morning to make my ps on the 90 day mark. It must be they get tables for this ( just like CRT breakfast). So I feel they are just over booking. They can pretend that people don't eat there for the fireworks, but a lot (not all) do. So why not make something special for it and plan for it and charge extra for it?

 

[BCV23]

Actually, I don't think they know the hours much in advance. The MK hours are tweaked much past the 90 day PS time frame. I understand projections are made from hotel reservation numbers both off site and on site. I wouldn't be surprised if they also have some way to check on flight reservations, too. For many years, WDW has had a partner airline. Currently it is SWA. A very long time ago it was Eastern as I recall.

We dine there early and then don't have to worry. If we're there during an offseason, we have on occasion seen the fireworks. We've had window tables as well as tables further back and we were always able to see. Around a year ago, we were in the "wine room." That night we walked out on the back landing...past the restrooms...to see the fireworks. It certainly wasn't for a private party that night. We have never witnessed folks crowding around the windows as others have reported. Maybe that problem is trying to be solved with the latest tweak. Anyway on most of our trips, we're long gone before Wishes begins.

 

[BCV23]

Lark, I forgot to ask about the hours. I know they differ on Christmas and NYE but otherwise I though CG always opened at 5:30?

 

[lark]

Originally posted by BCV23
Lark, I forgot to ask about the hours. I know they differ on Christmas and NYE but otherwise I though CG always opened at 5:30?

You may be right about that, although for some reason I seem to think we've eaten earlier than that. We can go a year or more between trips at time, and my memory is not what it used to be, so maybe I'm just forgetting, but I seem to remember one trip where we ate there twice and went at opening both times because we didn't have PS, and it was different times; we had to check with guest services. 4:45 is sticking in my head for some reason, but I'll defer to more seasoned CG vets. I do remember, though, talking to a server there who told us that 6:15 to 7:00 is the usual first table turnover, and that it tends to go very smoothly if the fireworks are late that night.

 

[BCV23]

I wasn't trying to quibble with you, just asking. And trust me I know all about the ole memory not being what it used to be!

Anyone remember when CG was open for lunch? Our first 2 or 3 visits to it after it reopened as CG were for lunch. We'd hop the monorail over after an MK morning and enjoy that view and a nice lunch.

 

[sotoalf]

BCV23,

That's fascinating! I wonder how long CG was open for lunch? Considering how slow the resorts usually are around lunch time - most of them have only one sit-down restaurant open - the management probably thought the payroll expenses, etc weren't worth it.

In response to some of the posts, I think you're missing part of the CG experience if you come primarily for the fireworks and view. I'd love the restaurant if it had no view at all. It seems to perfectly match the mood and ambience of the Contemporary: highstrung, frenetic, busy.

 

[BCV23]

I don't think it was open for lunch that long....maybe a year or two tops.

The Polynesian and CR used to offer more than one option for sitdown lunches. But as more parks and hotels opened, I think they became less busy.

 

[Beachangel]

I love CG and don't schedule my PS around fireworks. This past trip in August, we had PS just before fireworks, never again. We waited well over an hour to be seated. The restaurant was in complete chaos. I hope management thinks up a better system.

 

[Stiff]

in June, we went to CG for our 9 year anniversary

I made it a point to tell them it was our anny when I called to make the PS and again when I called to confirm it at a later date.

on that night, we had an 8:00 ressie, but I told my wife not to count on a window seat cause people plant themselves there. Didnt matter too much, as we really wanted to try the FOOD, but the window would have been nice

anyway, went up to the CG and checked in a little before 8....not one other person out there waiting (this must have been before the checking in at a lower floor). They looked up my name, I could see anniversary marked on our PS and highlighted....a host came right out immediately and took us to......OUR WINDOW SEAT...they must have been holding it

and then it rained anyway so the fireworks display was thru rain soaked windows

but it was still nice

point is, if you are going for a special occasion...make it known a few times...you never know what could happen.

and Uncleromulus....I just noticed your hometown....I am not far from you at all...work in York, live just north of it

 

[Dreamin' Disney]

We waited for one hour and 10 minutes after our PS time on November 10th, which was 7:50 pm. But Wishes was at 7:00 that night, so I don't know why we had to wait so long.

Part of the reason was that we were a large group of 12, but when making our PS, we were told we would have to split up into 3 tables of 4, which we said was fine. However, they didn't even have one table of any size available when we arrived. This had nothing to do with the fireworks, since they had already taken place at 7 pm and we didn't get a seat until 9 pm, while our PS was for 7:50 pm.

Despite all this, our meal at CG was the best we had, not only for the great view but the food was delicious. Our kids enjoyed doodling on the paper tablecloths - they provided the crayons, so it was very kid friendly for us.

I would definitely go back, but the wait was a bit much and without justification. Maybe everything is so good that patrons just don't want to leave.

 

[disneywithdrawal]

Wow! We were also there on November 10. This is proof that two people can be in the same place at the same time and have a completely different experience. There were only two of us so that might be part of the reason but still. And we were there at what should be the worst time. Our PS was for 7:20 but we got there very early. We checked in downstairs and said we wanted to have a drink at the bar but didn't want our table before our PS time. Our buzzer thing went off almost right away (I think it was around 6:40). I told them we wanted to wait. We ended up getting our table right at our PS time.