I have an old WDW book that was published in the early 1990's, which mentions a restaurant called Top of the World, located on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort. So far, I have found no mention of this in more recent books or online, and it appears that this is now the current location of California Grill. Was the name of the restaurant changed from Top of the World to California Grill, or did California Grill simply replace Top of the World if/when it closed?
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Top of the World Restaurant/California Grill at the Contemporary Resort
- Thread starter KentB3
- Start date
WDWRLD
Active Member
The Top Of The World was a dinner show in the same spot as the California grill, Im not sure what year the change took place but I saw the shou in 87 or 88. I even think I have some video both home and from Disney somewhere around here. I also found some pics in some old Do It All At Disney Guides. The show was pretty good, It starred 4 or 5 singers/dancers who sung 80s hits. When the grill moved in everything from the menu to the decor changed along with ousting the show. Does anyone here remember the Gulf Coast Room?
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DisneyJill
Well-Known Member
The Top of the World wasn't the dinner show itself, I don't believe. It was called The Top of the World Lounge and yes, it had a dinner show but I think the show was called something else. We learned it all when I had orientation at the Contemporary, I just forget. And I could be wrong. It's happened before. :lol:
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vonpluto
Well-Known Member
The Top of the World Dinner Theater opened in 1971 and featured celebrity entertainers until 1981. Broadway at the Top Dinner Show began in June 1981, and ran until September 1993, when the conversion to Cal Grill began.
Until 1972 the lounge was called the Mesa Grande, when the name was change to Top of the World Lounge.
Top of the World featured a Sunday brunch that was the best breakfast buffet ever offered on property. (IMHO)
HTH,
Frank
Until 1972 the lounge was called the Mesa Grande, when the name was change to Top of the World Lounge.
Top of the World featured a Sunday brunch that was the best breakfast buffet ever offered on property. (IMHO)
HTH,
Frank
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ClemsonTigger
Naturally Grumpy
Nice summary Vonpluto, you beat me to it, but then again, as I didn't know about Mesa Grande, you added more. Welcome to the boards!
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ClemsonTigger
Naturally Grumpy
Reason for closure?
Not sure, but possibly with the expansion of the parks and addition of places like DTD and Pleasure Island. Originally the hotels had lounges and entertainment as there wasn't anywhere else to go in the evening on property. There used to be a small club with live entertainment at the Poly as well...I think called Captain Hooks Hideaway. Now, the expectation is to go to PI for that kind of entertainment.
Not sure, but possibly with the expansion of the parks and addition of places like DTD and Pleasure Island. Originally the hotels had lounges and entertainment as there wasn't anywhere else to go in the evening on property. There used to be a small club with live entertainment at the Poly as well...I think called Captain Hooks Hideaway. Now, the expectation is to go to PI for that kind of entertainment.
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Gulf Coast Room
The Gulf Coast Room was on the second floor of the Contemporary next to what is now the check in for California Grill. We were there years ago before we had any kids. Our oldest is now 26, so we are going way back.
Dinner in the Gulf Coast Room was the most elegant and romantic dining we have ever had on property. The strolling violins, the servers in their short cutaway jackets, the live roses on the table, the flickering candlelight ...... and the intimacy of the small room. I don't remember more than about 12-15 tables in there. Simply the best dining experiences we have ever had.
Victoria and Albert's is the closest to the old Gulf Coast Room these days. But still it is not quite there as far as a match for Gulf Coast Room.
When did it close? I'm guessing it closed when V&A opened, but I could be wrong.
The Gulf Coast Room was on the second floor of the Contemporary next to what is now the check in for California Grill. We were there years ago before we had any kids. Our oldest is now 26, so we are going way back.
Dinner in the Gulf Coast Room was the most elegant and romantic dining we have ever had on property. The strolling violins, the servers in their short cutaway jackets, the live roses on the table, the flickering candlelight ...... and the intimacy of the small room. I don't remember more than about 12-15 tables in there. Simply the best dining experiences we have ever had.
Victoria and Albert's is the closest to the old Gulf Coast Room these days. But still it is not quite there as far as a match for Gulf Coast Room.
When did it close? I'm guessing it closed when V&A opened, but I could be wrong.
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TP2000
Well-Known Member
Why is a restaurant in the middle of a Florida resort called the "California Grill"? As a Californian, that seems very odd to me. I can think of no restaurant at Disneyland, or anywhere in Southern California that I know of, that has the word Florida in it, or uses the state of Florida as a theme.
It seems to me it would be more authentic to have a restaurant centered around the region of the country it's actually in at this Contemporary Hotel location. I've never stayed at the Contemporary, but I don't remember it being themed to California in any way. Maybe bring back the Gulf Coast Room concept instead?
It seems to me it would be more authentic to have a restaurant centered around the region of the country it's actually in at this Contemporary Hotel location. I've never stayed at the Contemporary, but I don't remember it being themed to California in any way. Maybe bring back the Gulf Coast Room concept instead?
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bradandsarabr
Member
California Grill is named the same because of the cuisine & wine servings. A Gulf Coast Grill would suggest seafood.
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tigsmom
Well-Known Member
I believe the California cuisine was all the rage about the time that they made they change so that may have been the reason behind it. I remember when quite a few restaurants began to offer "California cuisine" here in NY and people were all :veryconfu ...it being very different from what many were used to on the East Coast.
I wouldn't mind some Floribbean cuisine around here though. :lol:
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PineapplePrincess
Well-Known Member
Wow! That brings back memories. We went to the Top of the World dinner show, and the celebrity entertainer was Frankie Avalon (Beauty School Dropout). It was not too long after Grease (1980) and I thought it was awesome!
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Disneybird
Member
Our senior class went to WDW and stayed at the Contemporary when I was in high school (a long time ago). One of the teachers and her husband went to the Top of the World. The entertainer that night was Dolly Parton.
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EMThompsen
Member
I took my better half for a birthday celebration to WDW last year. On the night of the actual birthday we went to the California Grill. It is expenseive so using the dining plan was a good idea. But the food was fabulous. I didn't even need a knife to cut my steak because it was so tender. The desserts going by us looked wonderful. We didn't get to try them though because we had birthday cake. But my next trip I'm going to try some of those desserts.
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justducky78
New Member
Here's a fun link with more info on the restaurant and other memories of the Contemporary. My husband remembers eating at the Top of the World when he was a kid.
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...+contemporary+resort&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=G
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...+contemporary+resort&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=G
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maelstrom
Well-Known Member
Yes, but it wasn't called the Concourse Steakhouse back then. My mom and nana used to eat at the cafeteria-style restaurant(s) there in the 70s and/or early 80s. This would be some combination of the Terrace Buffeteria and/or Pueblo Room, I reckon. Hey, remember when the theme of the Contemporary was southwest (Grand Canyon Concourse, Pueblo Room, Mesa Grande Lounge, etc).
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cdunbar
Active Member
My mom and dad use to rave about Top of the World, before I was born my parents would drive over there every friday night and share drinks with some close friends who lived near there. But for some reason she was conveniced it spun as well but I think shes confused....
I don't ever remember them talking about the show though, I'm sure knowing how they were at that point, it was the 80's *cough* *cough*, they spent most of their time in the lounge. Though I do remember that my parents, when I was like 5 or 6, attended these huge christmas eve parties there which a company my mom worked for use to hold. I remember her telling me how beautiful they were...:shrug:
I don't ever remember them talking about the show though, I'm sure knowing how they were at that point, it was the 80's *cough* *cough*, they spent most of their time in the lounge. Though I do remember that my parents, when I was like 5 or 6, attended these huge christmas eve parties there which a company my mom worked for use to hold. I remember her telling me how beautiful they were...:shrug:
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