Hello and welcome to my Dopey Challenge 2025 trip report! Today we’re discussing our celebratory post-marathon dinner at California Grill. Read all the entries in this report here. Onward!
A successful Dopey Challenge requires some form of commensurate celebratory meal. Were I a proper blogger, I would’ve selected a restaurant I haven’t been to before. Instead, I went with California Grill again. In my defense, what’s more celebratory than that spectacular fireworks view?
Follow along with the menu here.
WHAT’S THIS ABOUT THE BEST TABLE AT CALIFORNIA GRILL?
For those unfamiliar, California Grill is a somewhat fancy restaurant on top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the menu features California favorites like sushi and Napa Valley wines.
California Grill has operated with a prix fixe menu since reopening post(ish)-pandemic. At this point, I don’t anticipate that changing. Under normal circumstances I would probably order an entree with dessert or an appetizer, but not both. I like to think whatever I lose in food costs I make up in fireworks views, but your mileage may vary.
It doesn’t hurt that we bagged a victory right off the bat: a windowside table in the Magic Kingdom-facing quadrant of the restaurant. Observation decks are available on both sides of the restaurant, but I adored just sitting right there in my seat and watching Happily Ever After go down.
You don’t have a centered castle view, nor can you see the projections; no matter, as for me it’s all about the soundtrack. They pipe the music both inside and outside. See if you can catch me singing along. 
This is ultimately what keeps me coming back to California Grill – cozy fireworks with no park ticket. Still, since we’re here, let’s talk about the food, shall we?
CALIFORNIA GRILL STILL DOES A BREAD BASKET!
It’s true! California Grill begins your meal with a bread basket and not one but two accompaniments: butter and an oil-based dip. The basket contains two rolls of comparable shape and size. As far as I can tell, the primary difference is that one is white and one is whole wheat.
The rolls themselves are pretty standard issue; did they formerly offer a focaccia, or am I inventing things? The butter tasted fresh and was served room-temperature, which I appreciated; no one likes scraping at cold butter. The olive oil dip had an interesting flavor that was equal parts earthy and sweet. Perhaps balsamic and garlic are involved? It was worth a try but I preferred straight butter.
DRINKS & A CHAMPAGNE HACK
With all the running finally behind me, I was ready to order a Grownup Drink (not that one needs to, of course!). Although I absolutely adored the Newgroni last time I dined there, I felt the yen to sample something new. California Grill’s hella fancy take on a champagne cocktail intrigued me, but not $149 levels of intrigued. Instead I ultimately landed on the Blackberry Sour: vodka, house-made lemonade, and muddled blackberries.
With such a simple ingredients list, you won’t be surprised to hear that this drink has a simple flavor profile. The predominant flavor is that of the citrusy lemonade. The blackberries aren’t lost, however, and add a mild sweetness to the proceedings. The vodka vanishes, so if you like a drink where you can’t taste the alcohol, this one’s a good bet.
I also initially ordered a glass of the cheapest sparkling wine on the menu, to be delivered with the dessert course. Partway through the meal, however, Becky hit me with a brilliant proposal: what if, instead of paying around $13 (online menu doesn’t say) for individual glasses, we got the $50ish bottle of champagne to split? Don’t have to ask me twice.
I don’t have much to say about the sparkling wine itself, which was a dry rose that delivered the carbonation I crave. As values go, though, I definitely recommend going for the full bottle for any table – or person, for that matter – who anticipates drinking more than one glass. You can always take whatever you don’t finish back to your room.
Indeed, this was our plan – except nobody told our waiter! He refilled our glasses every time he dropped by. We wound up finishing the bottle… although we did get a little help in the end!
MY PRIX FIXE SELECTIONS: APPETIZER
For my appetizer, I went with the barbecue American eel roll: unagi, avocado, cucumber, dragon sauce, sesame seeds, garlic.
I chose the eel roll over the lion’s mane mushroom roll as I felt the value proposition was better under the confines of paying for a prix fixe. Alas, my selection was a mistake by my taste buds’ metrics. The sauce and veggies and everything else about the roll were good. Unfortunately the eel, normally an umami-forward seafood, tasted fishy. I just couldn’t get past it.
ENTREE
Last time I dined at California Grill I found myself on the fence between the filet and the venison. As I went with the filet then, I decided on the venison without much further thought. I would love to tell you exactly how the menu describes it, only it seems to be gone. Maybe it isn’t actually gone, just not currently listed online? Disney menus are so mysterious sometimes.
Anyway, my waiter asked me how I wanted me venison cooked. Apparently one cooks venison much like steak, and he advised me to order as I would that. I went with medium rare, and I’d say it arrived more or less to temperature. The meat was tender under a knife and soft, not chewy. I do wonder if perhaps mine was accidentally underseasoned; the texture was there, but I would’ve liked a bit more flavor. Then again, I am a known salt monster, so maybe that’s more a me thing.
The accompaniments were arguably the highlight – I’m not a gravy girl, but the jus was deliciously rich. My favorite part, was the puree of, um… celeriac and root vegetables…? (Remind me to photograph the menu next time.) Salty, buttery, and perfectly smooth, I made to scrape it all off my plate.
DESSERT
Fear not, we’re back in line with the menu! I was tempted to ask if I could have the ice cream sandwich from the kid’s menu, but ultimately selected the caramel mousse and apple spice cake: seasonal apples, caramel Sauce, Chantilly cream, caramel tuile.
While part of me does mourn the loss of the ice cream sandwich, I don’t regret my on-menu choice. The caramel apple mouse was light in both texture and taste, with the caramel, cream, and mousse working in harmony without overloading my tongue with sweetness. I deemed the cake underneath pleasantly spiced; still, I would’ve preferred a cookie or something with a bit more crunch. The caramel tuile just tasted like sugar. If you like mousse, pudding, or other desserts with a similar mouthfeel, the apple mousse might be right for you.
IS CALIFORNIA GRILL STILL THE JAM?
I enjoy California Grill’s menu – but what really brings me back is that glorious fireworks view. Plus you do get a slightly elevated experience, as the service and ambience are a touch more sophisticated than, say, Chef Mickey’s down on the concourse level. As per usual, whether the value is there is up to you. Should you be on the fence, however, I’d say give it a shot. You’re guaranteed quite the view.
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!