Second Guessing California Grill

[Nancyg56]

So our next trip is adults-only and originally my plan was to do all dining out of pocket, and eat cheaply. Then I budgeted out and could add in QSDP. THEN I thought it might be fun to splurge for one meal, something we'd never do on a normal trip because our girls are little and we're all about character meals for our family trips. So I looked and was able to snag a 9:40pm Cali Grill reservation for our arrival night. YAY! I budgeted out what I thought we would buy (appetizer to share, sushi for husband, entree, shared desert) and got a total of $140 before drinks (non-alcoholic). So then I got to thinking and figured, "If I got the regular dining plan, the upgrade would be less than the cost of that one meal (plus tips) so I could get a whole second TS meal for "free". All is well, right?

Well now I'm reading the CG is a "waste" of two credits, small portions, not great food, and I'm bummed. We're not really interested in other signature dining, just wanted to try CG for the Wishes view and what I thought was great food.

What would you do? Keep the Cali Grill and use 2 credits? Keep the Cali Grill and pay OOP? Skip it all together?

Here is what I would do. I would not use the DDP here. I would keep the ADR, plan to have cocktails, dessert and coffee. Maybe an appetizer to share. You get the best of both Worlds. You get to dine in CG and see Wishes from the best vantage point outside of MK, and can keep your bill down to a reasonable amount. Save your DDP credits to use elsewhere where the value may be better.

 

[tracylovesdisney]

DH and I ate there last week and we thought it was very good! I had the filet and it was cooked to perfection and was plenty big. I also had a glass of wine. He had the sushi and two beers and I believe our total was right around $100 before the tip. Jorge was our server and he was excellent. I would definitely keep the reservation!

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

If you've never tried it, it's worth trying at least once. We had a reservation during the fireworks and the food was really good (I had salmon, which is hit or miss elsewhere for me, and was really pleased), the service was attentive, and while the place was a bit noisy: we had a nice chat with some folks sitting next to us, took glasses of wine out to the deck to see Wishes, and came back to find dessert ready and waiting.

And the pork belly nigiri was freaking delicious. We considered sneaking away on our most recent trip just to have that again.

 

[GillianP1301]

Cali Grill is quite nice. We enjoyed our meals, portions are fine and the quality is quite good. Atmosphere wise was okay, but nothing I would rave about (although I was with my young son so an earlier time, I imagine being up there during fireworks would be awesome). I think the comments around "not a good use of dining credits" is because often the signature meals, once you calculate $ per credit comes out less than many of the 1 credit character meals. But I honestly think it's pretty negligible, especially with adults.

If you do go for the meal plan to cover this meal, I'm sure it will work out for you on the $ side, but you won't be ordering how you had originally planned. So if you are really set on the appetizer, then I would stick with your OOP plan.

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

keep the reservation and drop the dining plan. It's not designed to save you money.

At WDW, it is, unlike at DLR.

OP, keep the reservation and decide if you like it! Personally, I love it.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The WDW dining plan is not designed to save everybody money. the majority of guests using it don't save any money on it because they don't maximize use of it, doing things like spending 2 regular dining plan credits on a signature meal. Some do wind up saving money.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

I love CG!
This is always our meal we end our trip on & I don't even care about the fireworks.
There steaks are delicious & last time I got a flatbread which was awesome.
We always give CG top ratings & that's after a week on the deluxe plan!
( I would upgrade & then you can pick up some more TS. Ohana at supper is delicious. We like Teppo Edo & San Angel inn & garden grill breakfast is awesome)