Cali Grill Wait Time with ADR

[tardin1964]

I have a 7:30 ADR. Wishes that night is 10:00. How long do you usually have to wait for a table from your ADR time?

I'm not the type to sip coffee for an hour holding up a table just to watch wishes, but if it is possible to strech dinner and dessert until 10:00 it would be nice.

 

[Poppins2000]

While every visit is different for each party I can tell you from our experience that we are always seated right away (party of two) when we eat at Cali and always seem to finish at least an hour or so before Wishes. With that in mind, we have done the following; 1) Gone down to the Concourse bar for a drink and then back up to Cali to watch the fireworks (if you show your dinner receipt for the evening, they will let you back on the elevator to watch Wishes) and 2) Grabbed a cocktail from Cali and (if it was a nice enough evening) just stood outside, admired all the pretty lights and watched the lagoon light show while waiting for Wishes to start!

 

[tardin1964]

While every visit is different for each party I can tell you from our experience that we are always seated right away (party of two) when we eat at Cali and always seem to finish at least an hour or so before Wishes. With that in mind, we have done the following; 1) Gone down to the Concourse bar for a drink and then back up to Cali to watch the fireworks (if you show your dinner receipt for the evening, they will let you back on the elevator to watch Wishes) and 2) Grabbed a cocktail from Cali and (if it was a nice enough evening) just stood outside, admired all the pretty lights and watched the lagoon light show while waiting for Wishes to start!

Yeah...we would hang around CR and then watch from the outside deck. We are a party of 4 so I thought there may be some kind of a wait time.

 

[Clotho]

We had ressies for 8:30, with the fireworks at 9:30, and we weren't seated until after the fireworks. Kinda lame. People were just sitting around waiting, having long since been done with their meals. While we had made a point to snag a very specific dining time to make sure we were there during the fireworks. So it seems the only way to be there for the fireworks is to "cheat" and get earlier and hog the table. The entitlement people feel astounds me...

Lucky for us, we ordered a drink from the bar and went out onto the deck and got a spot on the rail to watch. It was a balmy night and good for it. But our dinner started MUCH later than we had hoped, of course (STARVING!), and didn't go at all as we had tried to plan around.

So I guess what I am saying is, go ahead and sit at the table as long as you like. Everyone else does.

Edit: I wanted to be clear that I wasn't accusing you of being a table hog. I was venting my spleen about my experience. Obviously you are sensitive to this, or you wouldn't be here asking. Thanks for being thoughtful enough to ask!

 

[Flossbolna]

I think the one thing you can say about Cali Grill wait times is: anything is possible! I have been there twice and had totally different experiences even though both times it was a table for two on a weekday in February when the Pirate and Princess Party was on. First time it was extremely crowded and where told it would be a 45 min wait, but it ended up being an hour. Second time it was pleasently uncrowded, were told it would be a 30 min wait and were seated after 20 min (in the fantastic Wine Room). Also it helps to keep in mind that the meal will be slower paced. We actually spend nearly two hours over our meal and loved it.

 

[Jazcat]

I have a question where is the bar and the area to watch wishes from. If we just went to the bar to have a drink, can you see wishes from this area ?

 

[Pakey]

I have a question where is the bar and the area to watch wishes from. If we just went to the bar to have a drink, can you see wishes from this area ?

The bar area is inside the restaurant and would not provide very good viewing, it would be better from the outside observation deck. And you should keep in mind that they will only let you up to CG for a drink if there is room. The chances become slimmer the closer to fireworks time as the people waiting for their tables are sitting in the lounge/bar area. The last time I was there, Jan 08, there were probably 20 people standing against the walls waiting for tables in addition to the packed bar and lounge area.

 

[tardin1964]

We had ressies for 8:30, with the fireworks at 9:30, and we weren't seated until after the fireworks. Kinda lame. People were just sitting around waiting, having long since been done with their meals. While we had made a point to snag a very specific dining time to make sure we were there during the fireworks. So it seems the only way to be there for the fireworks is to "cheat" and get earlier and hog the table. The entitlement people feel astounds me...

Lucky for us, we ordered a drink from the bar and went out onto the deck and got a spot on the rail to watch. It was a balmy night and good for it. But our dinner started MUCH later than we had hoped, of course (STARVING!), and didn't go at all as we had tried to plan around.

So I guess what I am saying is, go ahead and sit at the table as long as you like. Everyone else does.

Edit: I wanted to be clear that I wasn't accusing you of being a table hog. I was venting my spleen about my experience. Obviously you are sensitive to this, or you wouldn't be here asking. Thanks for being thoughtful enough to ask!

You're right...I wouldn't sit there if we are done with the meal. And it really isn't right for people to hog tables. Having to wait like you did is ridiculous.

If we are done at 9:30 we'll pay the check and go out on the deck and watch the fireworks. My thought was that if by 7:30 they usually run a half hour or so behind with seating ADR's we may end up still eating dessert at 10:00. It's our last night in WDW so we plan on having a nice relaxing meal with appy's, main course and dessert.... can't wait

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I have a 7:30 ADR. Wishes that night is 10:00. How long do you usually have to wait for a table from your ADR time?

I'm not the type to sip coffee for an hour holding up a table just to watch wishes, but if it is possible to strech dinner and dessert until 10:00 it would be nice.

Our wait time was about 15 min's. Our ress time was 6:00 .
But you can leave and come back if you want to watch wishes if you want . That's what they told us.

 

[momtomatthew]

We had a 7:10 ADR and didn't get seated for a good half-hour after that (and this was in Feb!). Wishes was 8:00, so we were fine, but the whole dinner took a VERY long time- they were extremely slow. I think you'll be fine!

 

[tardin1964]

We had a 7:10 ADR and didn't get seated for a good half-hour after that (and this was in Feb!). Wishes was 8:00, so we were fine, but the whole dinner took a VERY long time- they were extremely slow. I think you'll be fine!

That's what my thinking was... by 7:30 they may be backed up a half hour or so seating ADR's. This will be the first time I hope I have to wait a while being seated at a restaurant

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

We were seated at least an hour after our ADR and nobody ever informed us that there was a delay. We asked a couple of times, "How much longer?" and were told "Soon." We had to basically beg the bartender to sell us a couple of glasses of wine while we waited. So be prepared. We spoke to the manager after our meal and she was more than apologetic. The food was incredible and it was great to see Wishes from there, but be prepared to be seated late.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Unfortunately, I made my ADR for 9:10pm on a night that Wishes starts at 9:30pm. This wasn't what I wanted, but nothing earlier was available.

I called 180 days out when the official calander stated that Wishes would be at 6pm. Then after making my ADR for 5:30, Disney changed their minds about Wishes at 6pm and decided to only show the 9:30pm mvmcp fireworks on the night I plan to dine at California Grill so now, when I noticed this, I called back and of course nothing was available until 9:10.

 

[Booyakasha]

First off the CG reservation systems is terrible. They do not take in to consideration that people will book early reservations and then sit there for hours so they can watch Wishes from their table. They also don't ask people to leave. So people that book later like maybe an hour or so before wishes sometimes have to wait until after wishes is done to sit down and eat. They need to come up with a better system and until then I will not return to CG unless I book way before wishes and leave before the fireworks or book a table well after wishes.

B.

 

[hollyluvsdisney]

Hmmm, all of this is making me reconsider my upcoming 9:20 Cali Grill ressies. From what I'm hearing, most people with window seats will probably be nursing drinks/desserts right up until Wishes at 9. After that they'll need to pay and then, of course, the table will need to be cleaned. It sounds like it'll be a good half hour before we get seated. I love Cali Grill, but I'm not sure I want to begin eating at nearly 10pm. I don't blame people at all for wanting to hang onto their windows seats, but I'm thinking that might be a bit too late. Has anyone ever eaten there that late? Did you have a good experience?

 

[allisonswonderland]

So they allow you to come back and watch Wishes with a reciept? I made an early ADR, just b/c we like to eat early, so that may be a nice option for us...

 

[faberj]

I have a 9:20 PM ADR for our upcoming trip in December. It is also on a night that they have MVMCP, will be waiting long too? I did not want the 9:20 time, but that is all they had.

 

[Flossbolna]

Regarding late ADR times at CG, I would say: keep it. You might be seated after Wishes, but you can will be on the top floor and go out to the viewing area (possibly get a drink before you meal to take out with you). In my opinion viewing Wishes from outside is much better, I personally would not stay at my table.

After Wishes everything really calms down at CG, I really liked the atmosphere in the late evening. I can understand that eating late is not really great, but why don't you get an early evening snack and then just have a light dinner - perhaps sushi and dessert?

Also I got the impression that the staff at CG is really used to that all their guests are kind of stepping out of time during the fireworks, so nothing that needs the guest's attention is happening, but they keep busy with clearing tables etc. So I guess your chances are very good to be seated directly after Wishes.

 

[Clotho]

Regarding late ADR times at CG, I would say: keep it. You might be seated after Wishes, but you can will be on the top floor and go out to the viewing area (possibly get a drink before you meal to take out with you).

GOSH! If her seating time is at 7:30, but the fireworks are at 10pm, I sure hope she gets seated before they start! LOL