Q re: California Grill....

[Dsnygirl]

Okay, for all you Cali Grill afficienados -- we'd like to go there for the first time in December, on my DH's b'day. Just us -- we'll take the kids to the Poly for their Kids Nite Out program. :D We'd like to make sure we catch "Wishes" while we're there (if MVMCP holds to the same days of the week as last year, it shouldn't be going on the night of his b'day, so "Wishes" ought to be going on instead...) Any words of advice? Is it easy to get seating near the windows, esp. on a birthday? How's the atmosphere for a nice, romantic dinner? We've heard nothing but good things, but want to hear from all the dining pros here..... :thumbsup:

[Duchess99]

I LOVE California Grill!!
We were able to get the prime window seat in the house and here's how...
Show up 45 min to 1 hour before your ADR and check in at the podium. Tell them you would like a table next to the window with a great view of MK (on the NE side of the restaurant). Let them know you are early and would like to wait at the bar until a good table becomes available.
We waited at the bar, had a cocktail, shared a flatbread and watched the sun set...about 45 min later our table was ready.
It's also a good idea to get an ADR around the time of the second seating (6:30-7pm).
Hope this helps...you'll have a great meal!

[Natazu]

Obtaining a Table with a view of Fireworks ©2004,2005,2006,2007,2008:
Set your ADR for about 90 minutes before the fireworks.
Show up about 15 minutes early
Ask for a table by the lagoon so you can see the fireworks and tell the friendly CM you don't mind waiting.
Works like a charm. (any similarity to Charms in the Harry Potter universe is purely coincidental)

[mrsgaribaldi]

We've had many a birthday dinner there, with window seats and without. If you don't get a good view from your seat don't worry. I actually prefer going outside to the viewing area to see the fireworks. It's nice to cuddle with your honey and watch the show, very romantic. If you're going to go outside, make sure you bring a sweater. It can be very chilly and windy up there:mickey:

[mudpuppysmom]

We must have been really lucky ducks when we ate there in January as we did not request a window seat, but we did get one!! DS thought it was the greatest to be able to see MK all lit up and while we finished a tad before the fireworks we did go outside and decided it was just a tad to chilly (and windy) to stay out there for ANY length of time!!

The food and atmosphere were also wonderful!! The group beside us was celebrating their daughters birthday and when they brought her cake DS sang with the family and the dad INSISTED that DS have a bite of cake also, which we said was nice, but he insisted so DS got some yummy chocolate cake for dessert in addition to his own dessert he had ordered!!

We'd go back again in a heartbeat!