Originally Posted By leobloom I have a friend who recently had dinner at the California Grill. He said that Space Mountain wasn't lit up that night. Said the Astro-Orbitor was lit up, the rest of Tomorrowland was lit up, but not Space. They stuck around and watched Wishes from the dining room, so I'm sure it was dark enough that the mountain shouldn't have been dark. Anyone been recently who can comment? Side note: he said he thought the California Grill had a dress code, but it was impossible to tell with all the diners who were wearing flip flops and shorts and theme-park outfits. He said the meal wasn't what he would consider fine dining.
Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40 Not sure about space mountain. It's so ghetto, I'm surprised the roof hasn't caved in and then they'd call it sunroof mountain. California Grill is fine dining FOR walt disney world, but it is still an upscale restaurant. It wouldn't rank with other fine dining places I've been fortunate to eat at in other cities, but for walt disney world, it is certainly near the top of my list. They do need to do something about the dress code. I dressed up, the rest of my party dressed up, yet people were still wearing shorts and sandals and forking over 100 dollars per person.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer It's usually lit by light poles. Like what you would see in a parking lot. Magical. Meanwhile, Disneyland has a state of the art projection system on their' s....
Originally Posted By Bolna On the dress code at California Grill: I had read that complaint many times, but somehow never really encountered lots of guests in theme-park outfits. I have been there several times (one of my favourite restaurants at WDW) and I always thought that the majority of guests looked rather dressed up. I may have seen one or two groups who didn't. But maybe January/February has a different crowd of guests than July?
Originally Posted By ChiMike As Dshyates brought up on the other thread, I like visiting nice restaurants that don't need to enforce a dress code. They don't need to, because their patrons show up appropriate to begin with. The unbelievably great places at the Dolphin/Swan and at the Loews resorts at Universal would come to mind. I'm sure not being on the dining plan helps. To Disney's credit, I don't remember seeing inappropriate patrons at Flying Fish until the advent of the DDP. Perhaps the solution for the California Grill is to jack up the menu prices more and exclude it from the dining plan.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Perhaps the solution for the California Grill is to jack up the menu prices more and exclude it from the dining plan.>> I think just excluding it from the dining plan would be enough - don't want it to get even more expensive!! From what I have heard Bistro de Paris is benefitting a lot from not being on the dining plan. I haven't tried it (seems so strange to go to a French restaurant in the USA when Paris is only 600 km away), but read a few very positive reports.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> It's usually lit by light poles. Like what you would see in a parking lot. Magical. << So EE, are you saying that this picture is the norm for the mountain? <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpic.asp?filename=http://s231432788.onlinehome.us/lotion/pics/SS20100831-WDWSpace/big/P1-0005.JPG&caption=Space+Mountain+at+night" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/S...at+night</a> Because the impression I got was that the mountain wasn't even illuminated this much.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...he said he thought the California Grill had a dress code, but it was impossible to tell with all the diners who were wearing flip flops and shorts and theme-park outfits. He said the meal wasn't what he would consider fine dining...< As to the dress code, it's fairly casual, not like your basic stuffy high scale place. As such, people in nice shorts and casual footwear are accepted. Show up in raggy cutoffs, a tank top and ballcap and you won't be allowed in. As to the restaurant itself, I respectfully submit that your friend was wrong - the CG is one of the greatest restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of eating at, and both the food and the service have always been nothing short of incredible!
Originally Posted By 3disneylocations The casual dress isn't a problem just @ WDW. I've been in Uni resorts (Loews) rests where majority of diners were in theme park garb; guess it's an Orlando issue.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> So EE, are you saying that this picture is the norm for the mountain? <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/S...at+night" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/S...at+night</a> Because the impression I got was that the mountain wasn't even illuminated this much<<< Yup. Just white floodlights. I'd rather they light the Castle in white, instead of the garish schemes it has now, and go use the lights on Space Mountain.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Not sure if you are including the marquee establishments at each of the Starwood and Loews resorts 3disney. Which is what California Grill is. Because I have a 12 year history at them and for those three-four at Universal I have never seen theme park wear for dinner service. Also, I have been at BlueZoo and Shula's a handful of times also for dinner and never seen theme park wear. I would highly recommend you actually visit these establishments as one would California Grill and make a direct comparison. I have, just wanted to make sure you have.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Yup. Just white floodlights. << The person I was talking to made it sound like those lights weren't on. At least it looked that way to them. They don't dim the lights for Wishes do they? I dunno, I expected that the mountain would have the white floodlights, so I was surprised when they said that.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I love California Grill. My favorite WDW locale (with the exception of V&A's) ... but I haven't been back in almost three years now because of the DDP and raised price points as well as so many people coming in who, frankly, wouldn't have been there before. They feel out of place, look out of place and act it. As to the dress code, I firmly believes in exists on paper only. I've seen people walk in reeking of theme park, wearing shorts and tees and ballcaps and they're always served. I went to Tchoup Choup at RP for the first time in May, and everyone there was dressed to a much higher/sophisticated level. I even saw an 8-9-year-old boy with a tie, which is most definitely NOT required. I guess what I am saying is there is definitely a difference and Disney continually dumbs its product down. Cal Grill is supposed to be high end. Its prices sure are. Its customers should at least appear that way as well. ~GFC~
Originally Posted By danyoung >Cal Grill is supposed to be high end. Its prices sure are. Its customers should at least appear that way as well.< I know you'll find it totally amazing that I disagree with you on something, my friend Spirit. One of the things I really like about Disney park restaurants is that you DON'T have to dress up to enjoy truly fine dining. I can't really say that everyone who eats at the CG is dressed to at least decent theme park standards (nice shorts, collared golf type shirt). But I can say that the appearance of others has never bothered me in the least. And the fact that I can go in without a suit on and enjoy a terrific meal in a nice atmosphere is nothing but a plus for me.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice What's the point of going to a nice, pricey restaurant and NOT dressing up? I look at dressing up as part if the overall experience. It's a special occasion, it should be treated special. Heck, when I go out to a nice restaurant with my gf's parents, we have cocktails beforehand. It's classy, it's special, it's an event.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom There are some people who visit WDW while special ocassions are going on, anniversarys, birthdays. So not surprisingly some quests wish to celebrate in a formal way. I think it's a reasonable expectation that Disney accomidate these guests needs. Otherwise Disney's so called 5 Star hotels and Luxury resorts fail to live up to industry standards and more sophisticated quests dine elsewhere.
Originally Posted By Boardwalkbum >>What's the point of going to a nice, pricey restaurant and NOT dressing up?<< I kind of agree with you. It's nice to get dressed up for a "special" dinner. That doesn't mean a Tux or even a tie necessarily (except Vic and Al's), but at CG (or ANY of the high end/Signature dining) I do wear a collared shirt AND usually a jacket as well....but hey, that's just me. I think part of the dress code issue does have to do with the DDP, part of it has to do with the time of year, part of it is "we're on vacation" and part of it has to do with a lack of "cop on". I live in NYC as do those I travel with (including children) and we treat CG as we would any high end dining here....with respect. I mean, not to sound elitist but please don't show up direct from Blizzard Beach wearing your "I survived Summit Plummet" t-shirt. Stop by your room, get the kids cleaned and presentable (hopefully napped) and at least put on clean jeans and a polo shirt.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<One of the things I really like about Disney park restaurants is that you DON'T have to dress up to enjoy truly fine dining.>> Cali Grill isn't in a park. People should at least have to wear a collared shirt and look respectable in the place.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Because I have a 12 year history at them and for those three-four at Universal I have never seen theme park wear for dinner service.>> Yup. That's the case. When i was wandering the Universal resorts last week, I was not permitted in Bice due to not being in the dress code, even though all I wanted to do was take a look.
Originally Posted By 3disneylocations Not sure if you are including the marquee establishments at each of the Starwood and Loews resorts 3disney. Which is what California Grill is.<<< I was in Tchoup Choup for a lite dinner and saw plenty of folks in shorts & T-shirts (I had gone upstairs to change to slacks and a button down shirt). Asked the bartender if there was a dress code and she responded "It's Universal, everyones on vacaction..." So...
