California Grill 5:50 too early for 8pm Wishes?

[JayPS]

I can get an ADR on short notice for 5:50 at the California Grill but Wishes is at 8pm and so this seemed a bit early. Is it? or could we stretch it till 8pm and catch the show from the balcony.

 

[SandrainNC]

We finished eating about 45 minutes before Wishes back in November. They told us we could come back later with our dinner receipt and watch Wishes from the viewing area. So we went back to our room, got some jackets and changed the camera lense and went back. I didn't know they did that, so it was a nice surprise because I knew we would be finished way early to see it.

Sandra

 

[allshookup]

You most likely won't get seated immediatly & dinner at CG tends to take a while, especially if you are ordering the Valrhona Chocolate cake which takes a while to cook. We are typically there for close to 2 hours. However, if you do finish early, you can always just go to the lounge area for a drink & wait for Wishes to begin or if you choose to come back after a while just bring a copy of your receipt as Sandra stated above.

 

[JayPS]

Thanks! I went ahead and booked it and the cast member helping me did say she thought you can go back with your receipt but wasn't sure so this confirms that and that's great! This is our third family trip and we've never done this so it should be fun. Thanks again.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes, I think that 5:50 is a stretch for 8 PM Wishes. If you try to stretch it at your table, you are most likely forcing someone with an ADR to wait a long time. The suggestion to sit in the lounge is a good one, or the idea of coming back to see Wishes later is great. I did not know that you could do that

 

[Uncleromulus]

You can sit in the lounge or at the bar--if there is a seat. Which there likely WON'T be. Actually 2 hours by CG standards isn't really too long a time--all of our meals there have taken almost an hour and a half, if not a bit longer.

 

[Donald Fan 2005]

I think you'll be ok with your ADR. We were there close to 2 hours before. Even if you finish a little early you can sit at the lounge or go outside and wait. The outside deck tends to get crowded and this way you'll have a good spot.

 

[rentayenta]

I can get an ADR on short notice for 5:50 at the California Grill but Wishes is at 8pm and so this seemed a bit early. Is it? or could we stretch it till 8pm and catch the show from the balcony.

This was our exact scenario last September. We finished dinner about 20 minutes before Wishes.

 

[shoes99]

I just got a last minute reservation for March 1st at 5:40PM. I think there is a P&P party scheduled for that Friday night since the MK is closing at 7PM.
I'm hoping there is a regular Wishes at 7PM. We will be celebrating my
DH and DBIL birthday, and my sister and BIL have never dined at California Grill. Looking forward to the experience even though 5:40PM is a little early for us.

 

[kerrynic78]

I just walked in the door from a 5:50 ADR at Ca.Grill with Wishes at 8pm. We literally were just finishing our desserts when Wishes started so it was perfect. We didn't eat slow or try to strecth it out at all, it was great timing and we would do the exact same time next time we go.

 

[shoes99]

Is Wishes scheduled for Friday March 1st at 7PM. I couldn't find it on the Official Disney site, but Disboards shows wishes at 7PM. Our reservation at CG is for 5:40PM March 1st. There is a P&P party scheduled for that night, so do they also show regular Wishes at 7PM?

 

[Booyakasha]

I just got a last minute reservation for March 1st at 5:40PM. I think there is a P&P party scheduled for that Friday night since the MK is closing at 7PM.
I'm hoping there is a regular Wishes at 7PM. We will be celebrating my
DH and DBIL birthday, and my sister and BIL have never dined at California Grill. Looking forward to the experience even though 5:40PM is a little early for us.

If there is a P&P there is no Wishes. The P&P fireworks are at 9:45 when we were there 2 weeks ago.

B.

 

[bcotey]

Do people ever try to make a reservation an hour or so before the fireworks and then just order an appetizer or dessert? Or will our server be really upset if we did this?