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

[JIMINYCR]

I booked this for 9:50 on July 3rd (since they normally do the 4th of July fireworks the day before, too); is the view that great? I'm not enthusiastic about the menu and I'm taking a huge gamble by hoping to get in early on a day when I'm sure no one is moving.

I've seen Happily Ever After from Contemporary's club level theme park view rooms already; is it basically the same view? The Independence Day fireworks are more elaborate, but...89 bucks...I don't even like the sound of a single dessert...

The view is similar. You can also view the fireworks from the Bay Lake tower walkway that is available to non DVC guests.

 

[Hockey89]

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.

100% can confirm it happened two times. Kids basically trying to sit at our table as their complete dope rude parents starting at the phone. Gave the kids the biz and the parents.

 

[Hockey89]

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.

At Disney, that concept is as laughable as it gets. It’s the last thing Disney wants. Sit 2 and half hours sharing a 20 desert and a coke. The waitstaff probably wanted to shive them

 

[Pix E. Dust]

At Disney, that concept is as laughable as it gets. It’s the last thing Disney wants. Sit 2 and half hours sharing a 20 desert and a coke. The waitstaff probably wanted to shive them

I wasn't suggesting anyone should do that. I was responding to the person who said that you should never go to a restaurant anywhere and just order dessert.

 

[Phonedave]

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

Both scenarios are not a method for success. They need a way to either ensure a minimum bill or a maximum time frame or something along those lines.

 

[Phonedave]

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.

It is different when your cafe has 20 tables and on a good night you have 15 of them with full dinners. When that happens, having an extra 5 tables of low effort high profit dessert and alcoholic drinks is a good thing.

When you are a WDW restaurant that is fully booked, and has a business model built around turning every table in the restaurant multiple times per night with at least full entrees at each table (but not full bar tabs - lots of under 21 crowd at WDW) then people lingering at a table is not a good thing.

 

[UNCgolf]

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.

There are numerous options that would be more consumer friendly -- a simple one would be requiring an entree for everyone (other than maybe small children) or an automatic surcharge if they don't order an entree.

Yes, it could lead to arguments with servers etc., which is probably why Disney chose the worse option of just going prix fixe. That's not really an acceptable excuse, though, especially if they want to actually provide quality customer service.

Just throwing up their hands and saying "if you want to eat here, you're paying for an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert regardless of if you want/will eat all of that, and also possibly spending a lot more than you should if you don't choose what would be the most expensive options a la carte" isn't great.

 

[Pix E. Dust]

It is different when your cafe has 20 tables and on a good night you have 15 of them with full dinners. When that happens, having an extra 5 tables of low effort high profit dessert and alcoholic drinks is a good thing.

When you are a WDW restaurant that is fully booked, and has a business model built around turning every table in the restaurant multiple times per night with at least full entrees at each table (but not full bar tabs - lots of under 21 crowd at WDW) then people lingering at a table is not a good thing.

Again, I wasn't talking about Disney. I was responding to the person who was talking about restaurants in general.

But I will say that I do think TS restaurants at WDW are not rushing people out the door like some sort of factory. I have found the pacing of the meals to be quite nice. The point of that kind of meal is not just to eat food. It is about atmosphere and conversation.

Of course, if you are parked at a table for hours just to see fireworks...that's different.