We made it to California Grill, with literally no time to spare. We walked up at 5:30pm. The commute there took a lot longer as lines were already starting to get long with people going from WL to Contemporary (if you didnt know, there are 2 boat routes for WL, one goes to MK and one goes to Contemporary and Ft. Wilderness).
But once there, we were quickly whisked upstairs to the smells and sounds of our favorite restaurant!
We were seated in a table away from the windows, but we could still see the amazing view for the most part thanks to the floor to ceiling windows. We ordered the exact same food as in May, the flatbread appetizer (mozzarella) and split the Unplugged Vegetarian dish. Unplugged was completely different this time, but just as amazing!
After dinner we managed to get back to WL. However, the lines now for the boats were getting even longer. We only were at WL for about 30 minutes when we realized we should head back to Contemporary! Probably in retrospect should have just stayed. But, we left our room at 7pm and made it back to the top of California Grill by 8pm.
There were a few people already out there staking spots, but we managed to still get into a really good position.
There were fireworks in the way out distance in all directions which helped the time pass. Eventually it started to get darker and more and more people were coming out.
At no point did we feel crowded at all though! The lights in the restaurant got dim and the announcers voice came on saying the fireworks would start in 5 minutes! And before you knew it, it was time!
My camera could just not capture the expanse of the display! The fireworks were being shot off from MK and the island in the Seven Seas Lagoon. Double fireworks!!!!! I had to keep turning my head back and forth, like a tennis match, to try and get it all in.
My face started hurting from smiling while at Diagon Alley, and during the fireworks, my jaw started hurting again. I think that officially is the sign of a great vacation, when your face hurts from smiling so much!
Right after the display, we were in the first elevator to leave California Grill. That was the good news. The bad news was that instead of being express, we stopped at every
.single
.floor. Thats right, the 14th, and the 13th, and the 12th
..all the way to the first! We left the 15th floor already with a packed elevator, so the doors would open and there would be people mad that they could not get on.
Our group though was pretty fun and we were in good spirits and laughing the whole way. Once on the first floor...finally...we made it to the boat dock and were actually towards the front. Again, that was the good news, that we were the first group, but the bad news is that we had to wait for the Pirates and Pals boats to come in and unload first. All and all, we were back in our room by 10:15pm, which actually was not bad at all! And that was after stopping off at Roaring Forks for a late night sweet treat!
If you ever wanted to venture into WDW for the 4th of July, seeing the fireworks from the top of California Grill is hard to beat!
We fell into bed, pretty exhausted from a day where we did not even venture into a park!
Our departure day was nothing out of the usual. We took advantage of the Magical Depress to get to the airport. But not before a breakfast of Mickey Waffles (Banana Fosters Mickey Waffles...my favorite!) before we headed out!
I found myself not nearly as sad leaving this time. I knew we would be back in September, and this trip only had a 2 week build-up, so I was just so excited and surprised to have even gone in the first place!
Now I have been back to work for a while, but I am more excited then ever to go back in September! FP selections were made this weekend! Disney Bounding outfits in the works! Life is pretty good!
Thanks again for reading along! I will see you all a little later (Haunted Mansion) in September. Until then, I hope you find magic around every corner!
