California Grill and Wishes

[dadschum]

Lurker - first post!

I am part of a party of 5 - 4 adults and one 9 year old girl. We currently have reservations at California Grill for Saturday night Dec 4, 2010 at 9:30pm. We did this so we could dine and see Wishes as well. Also, we want to spend the early part of the evening from 6pm to maybe 8 or 9 touring the holiday decorations and shopping at the monorail resorts. Earlier in the day, some of the party are going to Harry Potter and I will be touring MK by myself. (Yes I know the parade is being taped that day.)

I have read in multiple places that with such a late reservation, folks who are already seated and may be finished or nearly finished with dinner are reluctant to give up their tables so that they can see Wishes from such a prime location.

We already will have had a busy day and it is late enough already for all of us, but esepcially the little girl. Best case scenario is we are seated at 9:30 (earlier if there is pixie dust!) by 9:45 we have drinks and by 10 we are eating appetizers. We don't mind seeing Wishes from our table; we likely won't go to the outside viewing area just so that we can keep dinner moving.

Here is where I need your help: folks who have been there, particularly during the first week of December, what are my odds of being seated on time, if not early? Do people really hog their tables at this restaurant in order to see Wishes? I know you can dine there earlier and go back later with your receipt to the outdoor viewing area. But I am very concerned that we may not even get seated til after Wishes, making a late night already even later.

If this is a problem, can you good folks please suggest an alternate location to see the Fireworks. Or another good restaurant in the monorail resorts to just eat (we will also see Holiday Wishes the next night at MVMCP and Wishes as part of Pirates and Pals Voyage later in the week). We just wanted this to be a bit special and maybe our splurge for the week.

Thank you.

 

[mef78]

I'm not sure when Wishes is on that night, but usually a 9:30 seating makes it very difficult to get a window table. You can see the fireworks from just about every table in the place, though, so if a dedicated window table isn't necessary, you should still be OK. (Yes, people do hog their tables to see Wishes. It's just customary )

You can see Wishes from the Polynesian Beach (very nice), and other monorail resort restaurants I recommend highly are Kona Cafe (Polynesian -- mid-priced), and Citricos and Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian -- high-priced; you can see Wishes from Narcoossee's as well). 'Ohana has gone a bit downhill, but that's a decent one as well (Polynesian -- mid-priced).

Good luck! Good to see you posting!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Based on about 20 meals at CG, your chances of being seated at (or very near) 9:30 if Wishes is at 9:30--are pretty slim.
People do hog their tables and folks from 7:30 reservations will still be seated at their tables at 9:30 waiting for Wishes to begin.

 

[dadschum]

oops forgot to add Wishes is at 10pm that night. A window table is not necessary but a nice perk. I am more concerned about making a long day and late night even later. So, Uncleromulus, sounds like if our seating time is 9:30 and Wishes is at 10pm we might not be eating til quite late. Makes for a very cranky bunch! Sounds like we are up a creek!

The follow ressies are currently available for the monorail resorts for that night:
Kona 8:40, 9 and 9:15
Ohana 9:30 (I think its luau night so nothing earlier)
1900 Park Fare 8:30pm
Citricos: a bunch of times after 8:30
GF Cafe 8:25
Narcoosees: 8:35, 8:45 and 9:05
The Wave: 8:20, 9, 9:15

If our group meets up at 6pm we want enough time to tour the 3 hotels (we can begin anywhere and end with dinner anywhere of the 3) would 2/12 - 3 hours do it for touring, time to get from one to the other and a bit of shopping to end with dinner somewhere at 8:30 or later and still see all the decorations?

Narcoosees or Citricos might be good options and slightly earlier, maybe Kona? Help me out please. We like high end, and we eat meat, (2 carnivores of the bunch) fish and chicken.

Thanks. This board is invaluable!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think Narcoossee's at the earlier time might be good--and you can see Fireworks from there very well.
Citrico's is a better restaurant, but no real view of fireworks.
The other spots are nice,but not really high-end.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with Uncleromulus, I think Narcooses's will meet your criteria. It is a great restaurant and you can see the fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant from here. I personnally prefer it to the chaos at CG at Wishes time.
Have Fun.