Terrible New Reservation Policy at California Grill

[Chicago54]

I agree with you! That is horrible. That seems just another way to make a buck. Also, 24 hours is is a way too long of a cancellation period. I never know if a particular food sounds good until that day comes around. If they have to do it, I can maybe see like a 4 hour period, but not 24 hours. That is just too harsh.

 

[Chicago54]

I agree with you! 4 hours would be no problem and I would understand it then. 24 hours is just ridiculous though.

 

[Chicago54]

I don't like the dress code issue at all either. That is worse to me than the 24 hour rule. It is vacation time when you are in Disney and when I go on vacations I don't want to worry what I am going to wear, except if it like swing trunks and sandlas. They should at least allow jeans and a t-shirt. That is not cool at all. With all the different cultures Disney gets, you would think they wouldn't be stupidly strict in that aspect. This runs along the line of making their female castmembers shave their armpits in Europe. In many cultures, that is accepted. I love Disney and all, but they need to stop this trend of trying to make people be the way Disney wants.

I do like Disney and am going there this month, but this stuff does get me a little upset.

 

[lillygator]

I really don't think 24 hours is bad at all....I mean come on....this isn't Outback we are talking about. And like a PP said, many are now charging for missed appts within a 24 time frame. Barring an EMERGENCY you would know if you wouldn't be dining within 24 hours.....unless of course you just wanted to hold the reservation!

 

[Chicago54]

You know what, I don't think the 24 hours rule is as bad as the dress code. That was a bad decision if you ask me. I still don't like both of them, but the dress code is a joke. I guess I won't be eating at those types of places when I go there in less than 2 weeks.

 

[Rudegrle]

I have no problem w/ the cancelation policy or the dress code!

#1. I tried for 2 months to get a resrvation at CG for the night we wanted and a time that would work without any luck. I called the entire week we were at WDW to get a possible cancelation and after a friendly conversation w/ a wonderful CM we were told to just go to CG, explain our situation and wait for a no show. Needless to say it worked and we happily watched wishes during dinner. With the cancelation policy in place I am sure that I could have made a ps and not have stressed about it.

#2. Dress codes are in place for a reason and they should be upheld in order to keep the reputation and image of the restraunt. We are all on vacation, but that doesn't mean that we lose pride in our apearance when the timing calls for it. I personaly would not want to dine next to a family of slobs who choose to wear their swim trunks and beer logo tank tops to dinner. If I wanted to see that I would go to the local fast food joint. Part of what you are paying for is the atmosphere and why ruin that.

Flame me if you like, but just remember that Disney has policies and dress codes for a reason .

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I have no problem w/ the cancelation policy or the dress code!


#2. Dress codes are in place for a reason and they should be upheld in order to keep the reputation and image of the restraunt. We are all on vacation, but that doesn't mean that we lose pride in our apearance when the timing calls for it. I personaly would not want to dine next to a family of slobs who choose to wear their swim trunks and beer logo tank tops to dinner. If I wanted to see that I would go to the local fast food joint. Part of what you are paying for is the atmosphere and why ruin that.

Flame me if you like, but just remember that Disney has policies and dress codes for a reason .

I agree with this 100%. The dress code is really not that strict, anyway.

I think, maybe, WDW is doing the $20 cancellation fee to
a) make you think twice about making an ADR and
b) make you call and say SOMETHING...ANYTHING, just to let them know you will not be there at your appointed day and time. I am sure they had plenty of people doing just what rudegrie said...just not showing up. If you do that, well, you face getting charged $20. But if you know that you put a CC number down, you will probably make a point to call and let them know, in hopes of avoiding the $20 charge.

Money just makes people more accountable.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I don't like the dress code issue at all either. That is worse to me than the 24 hour rule. It is vacation time when you are in Disney and when I go on vacations I don't want to worry what I am going to wear, except if it like swing trunks and sandlas. They should at least allow jeans and a t-shirt. That is not cool at all. With all the different cultures Disney gets, you would think they wouldn't be stupidly strict in that aspect. This runs along the line of making their female castmembers shave their armpits in Europe. In many cultures, that is accepted. I love Disney and all, but they need to stop this trend of trying to make people be the way Disney wants.

I do like Disney and am going there this month, but this stuff does get me a little upset.

Ah yes, the "slobbing down" of America! If you want to dine in jeans and a t-shirt at Disney, there are numerous restaurants that will welcome you. CG is one of the very few at Disney that requests guests take a moment to dress up just a tiny bit above park attire. It's not like they are demanding you dress the same as if you were dining at V&A.

 

[Peter Pirate]

That seems awfull condescending there TM (hey I get called on the table when I'm only joking)...But as for those 'other' restaraunts you mention, we like real food prepared as creatively as possible, by real chefs served by professional waitstataff. If me & my wife sitting at a table next to you in shorts & tennis shoes and mickey T, my sixteen year old in midriff baring spagehtti straps, shorts and style flops and my 12 year old in her Park warn tennis clothes bother you or any of you other slaves to fashion , perhaps you might want to avoid these restaraunts because we're going to continue eating here until we're turned away (not likely). Similarly so to will most Park going folk. Bon apetit.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

PP-Even though I do not agree with you at all...your posts are pretty funny!

 

[snowbunny]

I don't let my teenager out of the house in a midriff-baring top, so she certainly won't be wearing one to the California Grill.

 

[Peter Pirate]

Thanks WLL, one can only try, besides, I don't even agree with me all of the time! Snowbunny thanks for the advice and when you move to the Keys where it's 90degrees/90percent humidity more than half the year, where the kids are in bikini's all day all summer (well, at least the girls are), I'll take your advice to heart. OK? As for going to the CG (or anywhere else for that matter) I always take notice, because I try to be a good parent, and guess what? She's ALWAYS dressed just like nearly every other girl in her age group.

Back to the topic, PLeeeeez!

 

[Chicago54]

I don't mean trunks and beer shirts. I wear nice jeans and a nice t-shirt all the time. That's me and that how I dress! That's how I will dress on this trip. It does not look bad or low class at all and it is ashame that I won't be able to eat at those restaurants because of it. I dress casual just like the majority of people who go to disney...we are all on vacation. IMO, dress code should not ruin their reputation if their food is that good. I agree with no shorts, etc. but nice jeans with a nice shirt should be allowed.

 

[Chicago54]

On my trip, I won't bring business casual clothes like I wear at work. That is not comfortable to me and I shouldn't have to wear that to get into a restaurant at disney. I can understand if thise place was out of disney, but it is in disney. I still don't like it.

 

[curiouser]

Please someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you CAN wear jeans and a nicer "t-shirt" (the term t-shirt is soooo varied) to the restaurants, except V&A. I plan on wearing jeans (w/o holes) and a nice top to Yatchsman on the upcoming trip. I just think its holey jeans and ultra casual t-shirts they are looking to avoid.

I got this from Deb's site..

Upscale resort restaurants change dress code to Business Casual! No hats, swim suits, swim suit coveralls, tank tops, T-shirts, torn clothing or flip-flops. You can wear - dress shorts, pants, jean pants, collared shirts, blouses, sweaters, pants. Restaurants now requiring Business Casual include: Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge), California Grill (Contemporary), Citricos and Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian), Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge), Flying Fish (Boardwalk), and Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club).

 

[HaleyB]

The deposit for the Princess Lunch in Norway caused us a huge problem on our trip. We got stuck ON a ride that broke in MK and so we missed our PS. We called ahead but no one answered the phone. Guest Relations at MK said it would be no problem... they were wrong. When we got to the podium and told the girl what happened she acted like a total b****. She would not seat us, would not refund us, basically treated us like dirt. After two hours we finally managed to talk to the Manager and he seated us right away and appologized for everything. It was the last thing we did on our trip and really left us with a sour taste.

 

[Chicago54]

I hear that! This could turn into a big problem. Afterall, the customer is always right. Disney is in business to accomodate their guests and they need as many happy guests as possible. If they start pissing guests off, then their business will start to decrease a little and that's how reputations are changed. These are small problems (dress code & 24 hours cancellation) but it could get worse. I like Disney but I just don't like sometimes how they want all their guests and CM to all act the same exact way. That is sort of what this is like IMO. What's next....not allowing guests to have facial hair?

 

[snowbunny]

Snowbunny thanks for the advice and when you move to the Keys where it's 90degrees/90percent humidity more than half the year, where the kids are in bikini's all day all summer (well, at least the girls are), I'll take your advice to heart. OK?

That wasn't advice PP, that was a statement of fact. And yes even up here where it's not 90 degrees year round, the girls show plenty of skin including flip flops in the snow and thongs hanging out the tops of jeans that barely cover their ***es. I don't make her wear a chador to the beach, which is a mile from our house, she owns and wears bikinis just like the teenagers in Florida, but we're not talking about the beach, we are talking about a fine restaurant. It's different. OK?

 

[Peter Pirate]

It's a restaurant in Floriduh, where South Beach rules and skimpy clothes are just the way life...Besides I'd hardly put a simple bare midriff or flip flops in the same league as thongs sticking out or buttocks on public display. OK.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I just gotta say, PP...that is the problem...YOU may think it is ok to see bare midriffs or flip flops, but you DO NOT think it is ok to see thongs or buttocks. Well, maybe other's think thongs and buttocks are an expression of their freedom and is is acceptable, KWIM? So there has to be *SOME* rules. They have to start somewhere.

Flori-duh...LOL! I am a 3rd generation native and never heard that one! heehee!