Celebration at the Top - New to California Grill

Celebration at the Top, a new dining event coming to California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World® Resort, allows guests to sip, savor and sparkle as they enjoy the Magic Kingdom® Park fireworks spectacular from an intimate and private observation deck.

Celebration at the Top Guests check in at California Grill an hour before fireworks. After being whisked up to the California Grill, which sits on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you will be taken to the intimate and secluded banquet rooms to enjoy canapés, a selection of sushi rolled by the expert California Grill sushi chefs, a selection of flatbreads and other small plates. A complimentary bar offering craft beers, California wines, cordials and coffee will also be available.

Just before the night spectacular begins, you will be lead to a private observation deck, which offers stunning views of Magic Kingdom Park and the fireworks. After taking in the breathtaking sights and sounds, return to the private room for petit four desserts including decadent chocolate confections and fruit tarts.

Book Celebration at the Top along with your Walt Disney World vacation, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com. As a Disney Vacation Planner, my FREE services will help you find a Disney World resort and room that fits your family's needs and wants! I'll help you plan Advance Dining Reservation and FastPass+ reservations (essential to making the most out of your vacation) more! Plus all of my Walt Disney World clients that book a Package with me gets a FREE Disney Gift Card to use on souvenirs or extra snacks while on vacation! Email me today to start planning your vacation today!

My Disney App has new "Get Directions" Feature!

As of this week, the My Disney Experience app has a brand new feature! You can now navigate Walt Disney World® Resort with the help of the “Get Directions” feature!  

The “Get Directions” feature will help you to conveniently navigate to your Walt Disney World destination whether walking or taking Walt Disney World Resort Transportation. Using GPS navigation, this new feature provides Guests with turn-by-turn walking directions to destinations across the Walt Disney World Resort including Theme Parks, Water Parks, select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, Disney Springs and many other locations such as Restrooms, Guest Services, shopping locations and more.

So you can now feel free to book that restaurant you've been hesitant to book in the past because you weren't sure of how to get there!  This brand new feature will help you get there! All you have to do is search for where you want to go in the app - for example I picked The California Grill a signature restaurant located at Disney's Contemporary Resort.   

First step: Search for where you're going.

The search feature will pull up a list of places matching what you have searched. Select the place you want to go. For my search, the California Grill was listed first.

My search results.

When it opens up the locations page, there is a new icon "Get Directions" with a walking-man figure. 

Locations now show the 'Get Directions' feature helping you find your way!

When you hit the "Get Directions" options, it will take you to a page where you'll have to enter your current location or turn on your location services. 

Add your starting point.

Then the "Get Directions" feature will tell you how to get there! 

Once your starting point is added, you'll get your directions!

From the Walt Disney World Swan I need to take a bus to Magic Kingdom then a Monorail to Disney's Contemporary! 

Directions on how to get to the California Grill from Walt Disney World Swan.

Just be sure to look up from your phone to avoid an accidents!

Another cool aspect of the “Get Directions” feature is that it will provides transportation route information to and from Parks and select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, along with bus, monorail and watercraft transit options.
Email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - to book your Disney vacation and receive my vacation planning services for free! Plus, most of my clients go on their Disney vacation with a FREE Disney gift card too! Or you can use the fast and easy form below to request a free Disney vacation quote!

*Availability subject to device limitations and features may vary by device or service provider. Guests must enable location services on their device to use the functionality.   Message, data and roaming rates may apply.  Coverage and app stores not available everywhere.  If you’re under 18, get your parent’s permission first.  Valid Theme Park and online registration required. 

“Brunch at the Top” Debuts Feb. 7 at California Grill

California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a popular spot to experience a delicious meal, as well as the spectacular nighttime views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort. You can read my review of Disney’sCalifornia Grill here.  Beginning Feb. 7, 2016, you can enjoy daytime dining at this favorite restaurant for the first time ever during a new Sunday brunch.

Brunch at the Top will include A Bloody Mary bar.

“Brunch at the Top” offers a whole new menu showcasing fresh, market-driven cuisine. You will have the opportunity to interact with the culinary team in the open show kitchen while savoring charcuterie, sushi and market-inspired salads. You can also enjoy cocktails, craft brews, signature cocktails, as well as a Bloody Mary bar.

The experience begins with an assortment of house-made breakfast pastries delivered to the table. Next, Guests head to the show kitchen for small tastes, such as house smoked orange honey ham, deviled Lake Meadow Naturals eggs, Greek yogurt with vanilla-scented granola and fresh berries, California rolls with jumbo lump crabmeat and more. You will choose your next course delivered tableside. Options include pan-fried buttermilk organic chicken cutlet, poached lobster benedict with butter-poached tail, grilled flat iron steak and chef’s frittata. For a sweet ending, Guests can share mini-desserts, macarons and chocolate truffles.

“Brunch at the Top” costs $80 for adults and $48 for children (ages 3-11). Reservations open Dec. 16, 2015.

California Grill Review

One of my all-time favorite, anywhere-in-the-world restaurants is located in Walt Disney World.  It is located on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort.  It is the California Grill.  If you want a delicious meal or are celebrating something special, this will always be my first recommendation.  The California Grill sits atop the Contemporary Resort and all most every seat has an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom park and/or the Magic Kingdom resort area.

View from California Grill's observation deck.

My most recent meal here was on a Friday night in September.  We had reservations at 7:20 that I was able to secure two days before.  We opted to drive there instead of using resort transportation.  It took us 8 minutes to travel from door-to-door of the Walt Disney World Dolphin to the Contemporary resort.  Upon arriving at the Contemporary Resort Gate, all we had to do was let the guard know about our reservation and show ID and we were told where to park. 

Restaurant's menu.

Restaurant's napkin.

   

In order to check in for your meal, you need to head to the 2nd floor of the hotel and follow the signs to the check-in desk.  Our entire party was present (most  Walt Disney World restaurants will not seat you until your entire party arrives) so we were given a pager an were allowed onto the elevator which would take us up to the 15th floor, directly to the restaurant.  As we were stepping off the elevator, our buzzer went off letting us know that our table was ready - perfect timing!  If you have a stroller, like we did, you have the option of taking it to the table, or have the cast members take the stroller hold it in a room for in case you need it.

Our table was near the observation deck, which meant we had a fantastic view of both Magic Kingdom, the castle and the Grand Floridian.

Ferry boat heading to Magic Kingdom.

Our server was quick to approach our table and we placed an order for a bottle of the Bonci Vallerosa Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi for the ladies and a beer for the gentleman.  Our server also recommended the BLT flat bread for starters and we ordered that as well.  The Verdicchio was a crisp and refreshing white wine that tasted similar to a Pinot Grigio. 

The bread service arrived shortly after our drinks.  The bread basket held a whole-grain sourdough roll and lavender focaccia roll served with salted-butter.  The focaccia roll was the table favorite. The flat bread arrived shortly after the bread did.  The flat bread had a crisp and light crust that was topped with slices of tomatoes, bacon pieces, shredded lettuce and a lemon mayonnaise.  The tomatoes provided the most flavor for this flat bread, as they were at-their-peak summer tomatoes.  The bacon provided a nice salty and smokey aspect to it but wasn't the star like the tomatoes.  The lemon mayonnaise went pretty much unnoticed. (We were so excited about both the bread basket and the starter that I forgot to take a picture of both... sorry!)

After finishing our starter, there was a nice break before our entrees arrived. I appreciate this when eating out at a nice restaurant - I don't like being bombarded with the food we ordered, it feels like a restaurant is trying to rush you out the door when this is done.  The California Grill does not do this. 

For my entree, I ordered the pork two ways.  The first way was a grilled tenderloin served medium with a goat cheese polenta and mushrooms.  This was phenomenal and my favorite "way".  The pork was cooked to perfection, if you want your pork cooked more they will do this for you as well.  The second way was a piece of lacquered belly, homemade applesauce and an apple ring.  I really wanted to like this "way" but unfortunately this was a bit dry and overdone to my liking.  Both apple servings were delicious. 

Pork served two ways.

My friend had the oak-fired filet of beef.  The filet was served with a sweet corn risotto, grilled corn relish, spring onion oil, and popcorn shoots.  This was also very good.  The sweet corn risotto was a perfect accompaniment to the smokey filet. 

Oak-Fired Filet of Beef.

Her husband ordered off of the sushi menu.  He ordered a Dragon Roll and the Pork Belly Nigri.  The Dragon roll consisted of spicy and tataki tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado and dragon sauce with Hijiki-Shirataki Salad.  The Pork Belly Nigri  consisted of the house-cured pork belly, bacon atop Yuzu Rice with a spicy Teriyaki sauce drizzled on-top.  He offered me a piece of the Dragon Roll, which I have ordered before, and it is was delicious. Unfortunately I didn't get to try the Pork Belly Nigri, but I am assuming it was good based on how fast it disappeared!

Pork Belly Nigri is on the bottom left.  Dragon roll is on the top right of the plate.

By the time dinner was done, there just wasn't enough room left for dessert so we skipped it. But I have had the dessert before the highly recommend the vanilla creme brulee. 

Now, one of the perks at dining at the California Grill is, as I mentioned, before the view. And many people try to schedule their dinner for when the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks occur.  The California Grill will dim the lights and play the corresponding music during the show.  If you are unable to secure a reservation at California Grill but not during the fireworks don't despair! Guests who have dined prior in the evening may return to California Grill to view the fireworks, all you need to do is present your receipt from dinner to gain re-entry to the restaurant!

Want to go to Walt Disney World and dine at the California Grill? It is time to start planning now!  Email lauren@magicaltravel.com and I will help you with everything from booking your vacation package, to securing your restaurant reservations,you’re your daily FastPass+ selections! I will save you not only money but also your time! 

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