News California Grill Brings Back Classic Menu Items for 30th Anniversary at Disney World

[Pix E. Dust]

If you are staying at the resort it’s one of 2 options for dinner.

I think Disney has “ruined” Tomorrowland but I still visit when im in the mk.

That's not true. There are four other restaurants at the Contemporary alone, not to mention all the others at the monorail resorts.

I think it's a fair question.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

That's not true. There are four other restaurants at the Contemporary alone, not to mention all the others at the monorail resorts.

I think it's a fair question.

*2 sit down restaurants. But you probably already knew that.

I suppose we could count the Joffrey’s as a restaurant as well haha

 

[Pix E. Dust]

*2 sit down restaurants. But you probably already knew that.

I suppose we could count the Joffrey’s as a restaurant as well haha

I believe there are three table service restaurants at the contemporary: Steakhouse 71, Chef Mickeys, and California Grill. However, there are many many more close by. To suggest that you must eat at California Grill even if you don't like it because of a lack of dining option is a bit silly.

 

[monothingie]

This is an honest question. Why would you go twice in a week to a depressing place that you feel was ruined by Disney?

To answer your question I have a very good friend who is a CM there. I enjoy going there to see him. I love the restaurant but hate what has happened to it.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I think Disney may have tipped the scales for sit down restaurants- I’m seeing lots empty tables - like way too many empty tables.

Of course I paid $17 for a reheated quiche and a strawberry tart in France today!

 

[Phonedave]

This is an interesting example - the restaurant is too crowded so let’s make the entire experience less guest-friendly so it’s not as crowded.

If all the tables were full with guests buying expensive appetizers desserts and drinks….. is the restaurant making more or less money now with fixed price menu?

Crowds are usually a good thing for business.

My understanding was that the tables were not full with guest buying expensive appetizers, desserts, and drinks, but instead were full with people camping out for hours, sharing a dessert, and ordering soft drinks.

 

[Chi84]

My understanding was that the tables were not full with guest buying expensive appetizers, desserts, and drinks, but instead were full with people camping out for hours, sharing a dessert, and ordering soft drinks.

I don’t know how true that was, but there were many comments about kids running around and crowding the people by the windows.

We’ve been to California Grill many times and never saw that kind of behavior but I imagine the prix fixe draws a more adult crowd.

 

[Phonedave]

I don’t know how true that was, but there were many comments about kids running around and crowding the people by the windows.

We’ve been to California Grill many times and never saw that kind of behavior but I imagine the prix fixe draws a more adult crowd.

I have been to CG dozens of times in the past (with my kids from the time they were 5-ish to the time they were 16-ish)and I never had an issue with kids running around or crowing people. Maybe in recent years it started (which is totally believable) but I haven't been to CG in a dogs age.

 

[Chi84]

I have been to CG dozens of times in the past (with my kids from the time they were 5-ish to the time they were 16-ish)and I never had an issue with kids running around or crowing people. Maybe in recent years it started (which is totally believable) but I haven't been to CG in a dogs age.

We've gone twice since the recent change, but we generally tend to avoid prix fixe because it's not consistent with how we usually eat. I really didn't notice anything dramatically different about it; any kids who were there were not noticeable.

 

[mattpeto]

Just introduce a bill minimum and go back to ala carte options.

And bring back the Brunch.

 

[Pix E. Dust]

This is a good idea.

ETA: I was referring to charging a minimum. Quote got lost.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

My understanding was that the tables were not full with guest buying expensive appetizers, desserts, and drinks, but instead were full with people camping out for hours, sharing a dessert, and ordering soft drinks.

That seems like quite an exaggeration- and you could always require that each person orders a food item.

 

[monothingie]

My understanding was that the tables were not full with guest buying expensive appetizers, desserts, and drinks, but instead were full with people camping out for hours, sharing a dessert, and ordering soft drinks.

Yes correct, and now the tables are empty with no guests buying anything.

 

[John park hopper]

My understanding was that the tables were not full with guest buying expensive appetizers, desserts, and drinks, but instead were full with people camping out for hours, sharing a dessert, and ordering soft drinks.

Disney removed all the benches and shade trees there is no where else to sit

 

[CAV]

The solution seems simple, if you a just ordering desert during a specific time period, add a per person surcharge to the table.

 

[donsullivan]

The solution seems simple, if you a just ordering desert during a specific time period, add a per person surcharge to the table.

Yeah, 'cause there would be no internet rage over that.

This pattern has occurred across the property for ages when people choose the venue because they want to see/experience it, and then try to do it as cheaply as possible. Think Be Our Guest, Space 220, etc.. People choose the location and then claim they can't afford it, so they order the bare minimum they can find and camp on the table. Choose a different restaurant if you cannot afford it. Every restaurant has an assumption baked into their operating costs of the average revenue per table/ per hour, and the serving staff compensation (tips) is linked to that same number. Not to mention that many people suddenly taking up a table and just ordering dessert, do you send some of the kitchen staff home since nobody is buying dinner and you don't need to cook anything? A restaurant is a restaurant, not a dessert shop with drinks.

Everyone who tries to spend the bare minimum lowers the revenue of the restaurant and service staff, making operating the venue unprofitable. And if good servers cannot make a reasonable income for their hard work, they'll choose to work elsewhere. The restaurant still needs to be profitable, so it has to reduce staff, lower the quality of ingredients, or reduce the menu to manage costs to stay above water. This isn't unique to Disney; it's the basic math of running a restaurant.

Having said all that, I went to California Grill last Friday evening, and I can say that our meals were amazing, and the server was one of the best. She was absolutely fantastic- and she was tipped accordingly by our group of 4. We all chose a different combination of appetizer, entree and desert from the menu.

However, the one item I did hope they brought back; the chocolate souffle they used to have many years ago was not there. You had to order it when you placed your primary order but they were baked to order and brought to your table hot from the oven. I'll likely be monitoring the menu over this anniversay year to see if that come back and I'll definitely be there for that.

 

[UNCgolf]

Yeah, 'cause there would be no internet rage over that.

This pattern has occurred across the property for ages when people choose the venue because they want to see/experience it, and then try to do it as cheaply as possible. Think Be Our Guest, Space 220, etc.. People choose the location and then claim they can't afford it, so they order the bare minimum they can find and camp on the table. Choose a different restaurant if you cannot afford it. Every restaurant has an assumption baked into their operating costs of the average revenue per table/ per hour, and the serving staff compensation (tips) is linked to that same number. Not to mention that many people suddenly taking up a table and just ordering dessert, do you send some of the kitchen staff home since nobody is buying dinner and you don't need to cook anything? A restaurant is a restaurant, not a dessert shop with drinks.

Everyone who tries to spend the bare minimum lowers the revenue of the restaurant and service staff, making operating the venue unprofitable. And if good servers cannot make a reasonable income for their hard work, they'll choose to work elsewhere. The restaurant still needs to be profitable, so it has to reduce staff, lower the quality of ingredients, or reduce the menu to manage costs to stay above water. This isn't unique to Disney; it's the basic math of running a restaurant.

Having said all that, I went to California Grill last Friday evening, and I can say that our meals were amazing, and the server was one of the best. We all chose a different combination of appetizer, entree and desert from the menu. She was absolutely fantastic- and she was tipped accordingly by our group of 4.

However, the one item I did hope they brought back was not there is the chocolate souffle they used to have many years ago. You had to order it when you placed your primary order but they were baked to order and brought to your table hot from the oven. I'll likely be monitoring the menu over this anniversay year to see if that come back and I'll definitely be there for that.

Who cares if there's internet rage over it?

Prix fixe menus are anti-consumer in the majority of instances (there are exceptions). There are many ways to solve the problem they were having (which was a legitimate problem; they did need to stop people from taking up tables and not really eating) -- it's just that prix fixe was one of the worst solutions for guests.

I actually wasn't very impressed with my meal at California Grill last time I was there (before the prix fixe menu), but I won't return as long as it's prix fixe.

 

[Chi84]

Who cares if there's internet rage over it?

Prix fixe menus are anti-consumer in the majority of instances (there are exceptions). There are many ways to solve the problem they were having (which was a legitimate problem; they did need to stop people from taking up tables and not really eating) -- it's just that prix fixe was one of the worst solutions for guests.

I actually wasn't very impressed with my meal at California Grill last time I was there (before the prix fixe menu), but I won't return as long as it's prix fixe.

What would you have done instead?

I don’t think Disney cares about internet rage, but I wonder if other solutions would have brought more uncertainty, which leads to arguing with servers or people being unhappy with being told no.

I’m not a fan of prix fixe but I’m at a loss for other solutions.

 

[Pix E. Dust]

A restaurant is a restaurant, not a dessert shop with drinks.

Maybe it's a cultural thing? I'm assuming what you are saying is true of restaurants in America. I really had no idea. Around here, people sometimes go out for dessert or maybe just appetizers and drinks. Restaurants are happy about that because those are the things making them the most money.

 

[CAV]

Yeah, 'cause there would be no internet rage over that.

This pattern has occurred across the property for ages when people choose the venue because they want to see/experience it, and then try to do it as cheaply as possible. Think Be Our Guest, Space 220, etc.. People choose the location and then claim they can't afford it, so they order the bare minimum they can find and camp on the table. Choose a different restaurant if you cannot afford it. Every restaurant has an assumption baked into their operating costs of the average revenue per table/ per hour, and the serving staff compensation (tips) is linked to that same number. Not to mention that many people suddenly taking up a table and just ordering dessert, do you send some of the kitchen staff home since nobody is buying dinner and you don't need to cook anything? A restaurant is a restaurant, not a dessert shop with drinks.

Everyone who tries to spend the bare minimum lowers the revenue of the restaurant and service staff, making operating the venue unprofitable. And if good servers cannot make a reasonable income for their hard work, they'll choose to work elsewhere. The restaurant still needs to be profitable, so it has to reduce staff, lower the quality of ingredients, or reduce the menu to manage costs to stay above water. This isn't unique to Disney; it's the basic math of running a restaurant.

Having said all that, I went to California Grill last Friday evening, and I can say that our meals were amazing, and the server was one of the best. She was absolutely fantastic- and she was tipped accordingly by our group of 4. We all chose a different combination of appetizer, entree and desert from the menu.

However, the one item I did hope they brought back; the chocolate souffle they used to have many years ago was not there. You had to order it when you placed your primary order but they were baked to order and brought to your table hot from the oven. I'll likely be monitoring the menu over this anniversay year to see if that come back and I'll definitely be there for that.

Pipe down. You think Disney gives a hoot about internet rage????? And for every rager, there will be at least a few who will applaud the move.