California Grill-dine early vs fireworks time

[tinkamom]

I currently have an ADR for CG at 7:30 but I'm thinking of changing it to an earlier time then going to MK to see Wishes. Am I nuts to give up this time slot? I've seen Wishes from CG a few times already, so I'm thinking that going at a less busy time might improve the overall dining experience. I should mention that we are going on Mothers Day so it may be busier than usual at any time.

 

[txtxyeha]

We have ressies for CG for 9:20 p.m. on a Saturday night. Wishes is at 10:00, thus why I picked this time. DW thinks it might be a stretch for our 4 and 9 YOs to dine that late in the evening, I say Wishes will be worth it. Any comments?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

9:20 is ok for a 10pm wishes. But keep in mind two things.
1. You'll likely not get a window table so you'll be best served watching wishes from the observation deck (which isn't bad at all) Also, you might have to wait a bit for a table because this is the time when people that are finishing up and should be leaving, will linger, and linger, and linger some more. And after they get done with that, they stall.
2. The Pace at the CG is rather pedestrian. Expect to leave about 11:30 if you're having a full meal of appetizer, entree, desert. That's not to say the service is bad. It isn't. It's just that if you're used to the hustle and bustle in and out in about 40 minutes routine, it's not going to happen. I'm sure if you requested faster service, they'd provide it though.

Also, if you're using Disney transportation, and not staying at a monorail resort, if you're done after the busses quit running to MK, you'll have to catch a downtown disney bus at the contemporary and then transfer from there to your resort. You can count on adding about an hour to an hour and a half in that case probably getting you back past midnight. They don't really do all that good a job of explaining this.

 

[maggiew]

Well. Here is my honest opinion. I was personally a little disappointed in Wishes from California Grill. We watched it from the balcony since our table was not windowside. They were further away than I expected. I like to be up close and see it all. It was a nice experience, but I won't feel bad if I don't get to do it again. Our food at CG was really good!!! We had a nice time and I would recommend it once, if you can do it. But if you think it is too late for the kids or if it is your ONLY viewing of Wishes, then it would be ok to go at an earlier time.

None of my fireworks pictures really came out because I was trying the night setting, but this gives you an idea of the distance. This was taken on the strongest zoon of my camera (maybe 80x?? It's just a regular zoom lens).

Maggie

 

[Steffy]

I loved the CG. It was one of my favorite meals that trip. The service was excellent. The food supurb. Lovely, lovely meal. We were window side. There are only 18 tables beside the window. You can see the fireworks from the other tables.

Wishes... my favorite fireworks show. I love the words. IMHO, I liked it better in front of the castle. I could barely hear the words in CG. They played them very softly. They didn't turn out the lights, just dimmed them. We were very far away from the castle. We could see Tink's light, but she was small.. OTOH, I loved seeing them from that point of view. It was incredible. I love Wishes anyway I can see them!

We didn't know that after dinner, we would have to get a bus to DTD and then another bus back to our resort... Looking back, even if the MK had still been open, we would have had to get the monorail back to the MK and then the bus back to our resort. We choose a cab. It was late. I don't think we finished dinner until 10:30 pm. A 3 hour meal..... wait for table.... apptizer... entree.... fireworks....dessert.... wine....coffee.

Now that I have seen Wishes from this vantage point; watched them from the Poly beach, watched them from behind the castle, watched them from the Tomorrowland bridge and watched them from Main Street in front of the castle, shoulder to shoulder with the masses! I will take Main Street every time...

 

[doodle]

Another vote for Wishes seen from Main St. We have seen Wishes several times and prefer to see it while facing the castle on Main St. I can certainly see moving your CG time if you have never seen Wishes at the MK. It is fun to see Wishes from the restaurant but if you have already done that, I would definitely try something different. Enjoy!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Is it pretty common for people to get up during their meal to go out on the observation deck to watch "Wishes"? Do the servers expect it? I guess what I'm worried about is that I'll be dining solo, so if I'm not at a window table and so go outside to see "Wishes" no one will be sitting at my table and I'm afraid the server will come along, see that I'm gone and start clearing the table. It's happened to me before when I got up during a meal to go to the restroom. Hope this won't happen at CG!

 

[CareBearYN]

We are going to be at Disney in late August and were hoping to check out Wishes from CG as well. We plan to be at MK twice during our week stay to see the show up close, but we wanted to try CG anyway and figured we could plan to go when Wishes was happening.

So if Wishes was at 10pm, what would be the best time to have the reservation? Do you try to ask for a window when you make the reservation or does that just sort of depend on what tables are available when you get there?

Thanks!

 

[allshookup]

Is it pretty common for people to get up during their meal to go out on the observation deck to watch "Wishes"? Do the servers expect it? I guess what I'm worried about is that I'll be dining solo, so if I'm not at a window table and so go outside to see "Wishes" no one will be sitting at my table and I'm afraid the server will come along, see that I'm gone and start clearing the table. It's happened to me before when I got up during a meal to go to the restroom. Hope this won't happen at CG!

It is VERY common for people to leave the table & go to the observation deck. Our server asked us first & was sure to hold our entree's until Wishes was over.

 

[tinkamom]

Is it pretty common for people to get up during their meal to go out on the observation deck to watch "Wishes"? Do the servers expect it? I guess what I'm worried about is that I'll be dining solo, so if I'm not at a window table and so go outside to see "Wishes" no one will be sitting at my table and I'm afraid the server will come along, see that I'm gone and start clearing the table. It's happened to me before when I got up during a meal to go to the restroom. Hope this won't happen at CG!

OH NO! This happened to me and DD too! We were at Narcoosees and went to the ladies room and came back to a cleared table. We had only had our appy's at that point! They were very apologetic though and brought me a new glass of wine and DD a new smoothie. You shouldn't have that problem at CG though because they expect people to go outside to see the fireworks.

 

[allshookup]

We are going to be at Disney in late August and were hoping to check out Wishes from CG as well. We plan to be at MK twice during our week stay to see the show up close, but we wanted to try CG anyway and figured we could plan to go when Wishes was happening.

So if Wishes was at 10pm, what would be the best time to have the reservation? Do you try to ask for a window when you make the reservation or does that just sort of depend on what tables are available when you get there?

Thanks!

Wishes was at 10pm & our reservation was for 9pm. We actually were seated very shortly before Wishes started & we did not ask for a window seat. Of course it was Christmas night so I don't believe the wait is always that long. If you really want a window seat I would make it for maybe 7:30 or 8pm & perhaps let them know you are willing to wait.

 

[LWcalif]

If you finish your meal and are ready to leave, can you go to the observation deck and wait for wishes? How big is the observation deck? I understand you can't go directly there if you aren't eating at CG. Will be eating there for the first time in Aug. Just want to make sure we get to see the fireworks at some point.

 

[__disneygirl]

We have ressies for CG for 9:20 p.m. on a Saturday night. Wishes is at 10:00, thus why I picked this time. DW thinks it might be a stretch for our 4 and 9 YOs to dine that late in the evening, I say Wishes will be worth it. Any comments?

I also have 9:20 pm ressies and I think that Wishes is worth it as well.

 

[novastar]

I think we went at 7:10 and stayed until the 10 pm fireworks. The dinner went to about 9:15 and then we went to the observation deck

 

[ptmmg]

so do you think an adr for 8pm would work for a 10pm show???? I tried to change it to 8:30 but there was no openings just a 9pm which I thought was a little late.

 

[NCMickeyFan]

We ate at CG back in December and had an early seating, well before Wishes. On the way up to the restaurant in the elevator, we were told we could come back and view Wishes from the deck later on that evening. After dinner, we took off to Downtown Disney for shopping and made our way back to CG to take the CM up on his offer.......boy! What an amazing display of fireworks. I have to tell you though, as glad as I was to have had the chance to view them from CG, I would have much rather been in the park (on Main Street viewing the show).

 

[Tinker Mel]

First timer here. We have Chef Mickey ressies at 8:50 and then want to go up to observation deck at CG to watch Wishes at 10 p.m Will they let us on the observation deck without CG reservations?

 

[cityofweasels]

Is it pretty common for people to get up during their meal to go out on the observation deck to watch "Wishes"? Do the servers expect it?

It's common, but it wouldn't hurt to mention it to your server. Another annoying thing I've had happen is, if you do happen to get a window table, as the fireworks start a little curtain of people will develop lurking behind you, looking out the window.

As for the original poster, I wouldn't hesitate to switch time slots. CG is worth going to for the food, not the fireworks... MK is a much better location to see Wishes.

 

[goodeats]

The sunset at CG is incredible! I've been after dark too, and while it was more romantic, the crowds and hubbub for the fireworks made it not worth it. I will only go after dark now when there are no MK fireworks.

But the sunset view is really nice also. But it can make you feel a little like you're having an early bird special!

 

[maggiew]

First timer here. We have Chef Mickey ressies at 8:50 and then want to go up to observation deck at CG to watch Wishes at 10 p.m Will they let us on the observation deck without CG reservations?

You used to be able to do this, but I don't think so any more. When you eat at California Grill, you have to check in on the 2nd floor and they have a Cast Member escort you in the elevator to CG. So I don't think they will let you up there. But I haven't tried this myself, so I can't say for 100%.

Maggie