California Grill to debut new fixed price three course menu.

[TrainsOfDisney]

At the cost of the people who go there and routinely splurge on food and drink who will be ****ed off at the restrictions.

The cheap comes out expensive usually.

Wait, what is this mess? California Grill is our big meal each trip - usually around $400 for two of us. We get apps, spicy Kazan rolls, dinner, drinks, dessert…. This isn’t anything that we want! How long is this trash going to last?

Not anymore you don’t!

So while they have chosen not to set a time limit on the length of a visit, they have created basically a "cover charge," via the prix fixe, to make up for this lost revenue.

If that’s the only problem they could have created an “every adult must order an entree’” rule. They also found a way to significantly cut costs both in ingredients and staffing.

I’d rather have Concourse circa 1999…but I can go with this

I loved Concourse Steakhouse so much. That French onion soup!!!!

 

[TrojanUSC]

They never did…just V&A’s…

people spending discretionary cash in a compound don’t tend to be happy being told what to wear…

…the brutal heat heightens that instinct

The ONLY thing I've seen enforced with consistency is the "no hats for gentlemen rule." Bizarre when some of the outfits people wear are far more ghastly than a ball cap.

That was one of the things during my first trip to WDW that both surprised me and at the same time was blatantly obvious. That all the breakfast buffets and many of the restaurants were setup to generate "assembly line" meals with many restaurants offering the exact same items. Surprising because I had heard of the great dining experiences (that was a few years after the dining plan had been enacted) but obvious because - you've got to have food prepared for hundreds of thousands of people a day. Not just prep but sourcing, supply and delivery. The only way to do that and keep a decent margin of profit consistently across all the restaurants is to assembly line the process - make the meals from a central kitchen, etc;

Yep, have said this many times but in the 90s Disney hired a guy named Dieter Hannig to oversee F&B resort-wide. His goal was to give restaurant chefs autonomy to create unique experiences that would drive demand, both from tourists and locals. It worked. Disney had a top-level food scene.

When the DDP rolled out, Hannig left the company and it became all about homogenization. Gone were buffets with interesting homemade Dishes, in were buffets with defrosted items right from the Sysco truck (how many different names can you have for tater tots?).

It got even worse post COVID when a lot of prep work started being done off site, flash frozen and sent to the restaurants (much like first class meals on an airplane).

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The ONLY thing I've seen enforced with consistency is the "no hats for gentlemen rule." Bizarre when some of the outfits people wear are far more ghastly than a ball cap.



Yep, have said this many times but in the 90s Disney hired a guy named Dieter Hannig to oversee F&B resort-wide. His goal was to give restaurant chefs autonomy to create unique experiences that would drive demand, both from tourists and locals. It worked. Disney had a top-level food scene.

When the DDP rolled out, Hannig left the company and it became all about homogenization. Gone were buffets with interesting homemade Dishes, in were buffets with defrosted items right from the Sysco truck.

It got even worse post COVID when a lot of prep work was being done off site, flash frozen and sent to the restaurants (much like first class meals on an airplane).

Even counter service at values has gone downhill. Pop Century used to have grilled to order options (burgers, chicken, fish etc.) now they hand you a wrapped in foil burger fresh from the warming tray.

 

[TrojanUSC]

If that’s the only problem they could have created an “every adult must order an entree’” rule. They also found a way to significantly cut costs both in ingredients and staffing.

I've never seen that required on any Disney menu. Last time I was there (January of this year), the menu was a shell of its former self with a pretty drastic reduction in offerings and quality. I hate the idea of a prix fixe meal here, but it has a somewhat decent number of options?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I've never seen that required on any Disney menu. Last time I was there (January of this year), the menu was a shell of its former self with a pretty drastic reduction in offerings and quality. I hate the idea of a prix fixe meal here, but it has a somewhat decent number of options?

I’ve seen it required at other restaurants though, so the concept is conceivable.

 

[peter11435]

I don’t know if I’m buying this …. seriously how many tables are just ordering dessert? I have yet to ever see that in there….

A lot. Mostly a problem that’s grown recently due to current events and conditions.

 

[peter11435]

It’s a highly exaggerated problem. The Emperor doesn’t need his guard on this one…

no losses have ever been posted in that room since 1994…quite the opposite

If the problem wasn’t real they wouldn’t have made this change

 

[Nubs70]

It comes down to people with no class. If you were lucky to get a seating at the best time for fireworks... great. If not, you could come, show receipt and watch from the patios. Why is it so difficult to eat your meal at a reasonable pace, excuse yourself, go for a walk and let the food settle, come back, grab a drink and head out to the patio?? Been there many times and never had been rushed.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If the problem wasn’t real they wouldn’t have made this change

They wouldn’t have made the change to $96.28 Minimum per person?…pre alcohol?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It comes down to people with no class. If you were lucky to get a seating at the best time for fireworks... great. If not, you could come, show receipt and watch from the patios. Why is it so difficult to eat your meal at a reasonable pace, excuse yourself, go for a walk and let the food settle, come back, grab a drink and head out to the patio?? Been there many times and never had been rushed.

So those darn “customers” on vacation screwed it up again?

…I agree…for being obsessed by gunpowder with a fuse…which I’ll remind: aren’t even framed right there…

the restaurant on top of the poly DVC tower will have a MUCH better view…if they don’t mess up and put it on the wrong side like at Riviera

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Even counter service at values has gone downhill. Pop Century used to have grilled to order options (burgers, chicken, fish etc.) now they hand you a wrapped in foil burger fresh from the warming tray.

..:staffing…covid…

that’s the excuse there. And I bet they are partially right…if they go back

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So those darn “customers” on vacation screwed it up again?

Of course! Just like it was the customers fault they cheapened out on Ohana!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

..:staffing…covid…

that’s the excuse there. And I bet they are partially right…if they go back

That happened before covid. Thankfully it happened post skyliner so I would just hop on over to Spyglass Grill.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I've never seen that required on any Disney menu. Last time I was there (January of this year), the menu was a shell of its former self with a pretty drastic reduction in offerings and quality. I hate the idea of a prix fixe meal here, but it has a somewhat decent number of options?

At $96.28 a head (plus grat…only the shareholders and Florida/Orange County get guaranteed money)

so while I can sorta see it…the “entree requirement” i like a lot better.

but that would involve more variety to fit tastes…I would imagine.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That happened before covid. Thankfully it happened post skyliner so I would just hop on over to Spyglass Grill.

Is that the place in Trini South?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Is that the place in Trini South?

Yes! Was the Best kept secret. Rarely crowded, super friendly staff and a really nice menu of cooked to order food.

I’d hop over there for lunch when spending a day at Studios too.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes! Was the Best kept secret. Rarely crowded, super friendly staff and a really nice menu of cooked to order food.

I’d hop over there for lunch when spending a day at Studios too.

I’m amazed they put that in…that area was practically “hell on earth” for decades at caribbean…they needed it

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m amazed they put that in…that area was practically “hell on earth” for decades at caribbean…they needed it

It was the perfect walking distance from the skyliner... nice views of the skyliner from the dining room and a surprisingly unique menu. Fish tacos, Yucca Veggie bowl, chorizo and potato scramble for breakfast. Great... now I’m hungry for all of that PLUS the French onion soup and seared tuna from concourse steakhouse!

 

[monothingie]

If the problem wasn’t real they wouldn’t have made this change

You know having a choice of 4 appetizers, 8 entrees, and 6 deserts isn’t very profitable.

Think of how much money can be made if they go with only the following options. Soup or Salad, Beef or Fish, and coffee or tea.

I mean if it’s good enough for United Airlines economy class, it must be good enough for Disney’s flagship Table Service.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

You know having a choice of 4 appetizers, 8 entrees, and 6 deserts isn’t very profitable.

Think of how much money can be made if they go with only the following options. Soup or Salad, Beef or Fish, and coffee or tea.

Now you’re thinking! Remember -

#1 - Disney is a business
#2 - it’s the customers fault, too many ordered the duck pizza and fillet of beef. If those customers had not been so selfish Disney could have afforded to keep them on the menu.