California Grill - 4th of July question

[Selket]

Would it be better for a family of 5 (children are older teens) to have a dinner reservation for 5:30 or 9:15 on the 4th of July at CG? Of course we want to see the fireworks that evening. It's my understanding if we eat at 5:30 we can come back and see the fireworks - but what happens if we take the 9:15 reservation? I'm not really sure what time the fireworks are - but it seems like they'd be either before our dinner starts or in the middle of it!

 

[NicoleLarson]

We had a 9:10 last year and just checked in early. They let us up and we watched it from the balcony.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Would it be better for a family of 5 (children are older teens) to have a dinner reservation for 5:30 or 9:15 on the 4th of July at CG? Of course we want to see the fireworks that evening. It's my understanding if we eat at 5:30 we can come back and see the fireworks - but what happens if we take the 9:15 reservation? I'm not really sure what time the fireworks are - but it seems like they'd be either before our dinner starts or in the middle of it!

If everyone is happy with eating late, then I would go with 9:15. You do as the PP said and check in early, watch the fireworks then eat (unless, of course, they schedule the fireworks for 10 pm, in which case the 9:15 will be perfect and you can get your table before the fireworks start).

On the 4th, you might want to check in at least 20 minutes or so prior to the fireworks. I have been to CG twice in the last year and never had an issue getting up into the elevator, but I have heard that if you go close to fireworks time that the line for the elevator gets long. You can only get up in the elevator.

The 5:15 might be inconvenient because you would eat and be done around 7:30, then you have just an hour and a half to hang out (or more if the fireworks are later). Doesn't give you enough time to head back to MK and do much, but also is a long time to just sit around and wait.