California Grill Drinks and Appetizers

[drommer0]

We are planning a vacation in January and was wondering what the procedure is to just go and have drinks and appetizers at the California Grill. We would like to stay and watch Wishes from there. Can we do this without a dinner reservation? We just want to sit in the lounge area.

 

[Pakey]

We were there in January and had to wait 50 minutes after our ADR time to get a table (this was an hour before fireworks) and people were standing along the walls waiting for a table; the lounge was SRO. Even in January, this is a popular place, especially close to fireworks time. It's much easier to get into the lounge as a walkup when the place opens.

If it's really important for you to be up there for fireworks, I would make an ADR for an hour before the fireworks and then when you get upstairs, request a table in the lounge if possible. Otherwise, there is a chance they will be at room occupancy and will not allow you up there.

 

[TDC Nala]

It is extremely unlikely that you will be able to get access to the lounge anywhere near fireworks time, without a reservation.

 

[shoes99]

It is extremely unlikely that you will be able to get access to the lounge anywhere near fireworks time, without a reservation.

Even the lounge is capacity controlled, so when you check in at the podium on the 2nd or 3rd floor (don't remember which one), they will radio upstairs and will only escort you to the elevator if there is room.
You can no longer just take the elevator upstairs, you have to be escorted.

 

[TDC Nala]

The check-in desk is on the second floor. The previous poster is correct; the restaurant is not accessible unless you go through the check-in desk. If there's room for you in the lounge, you'll be escorted up. The likelihood that there will be enough room declines drastically the closer it is to fireworks time. The best times to access the lounge are right when the dining room opens at 5:30, and right after the fireworks end.

 

[Hallowishes]

i gotta agree with the other posters ,... you REALLY Need an ADR .. even if you dont plan to eat an entire meal up there!~

 

[Pumbaa_]

We are planning a vacation in January and was wondering what the procedure is to just go and have drinks and appetizers at the California Grill. We would like to stay and watch Wishes from there. Can we do this without a dinner reservation? We just want to sit in the lounge area.

because CG is so popular, it is difficult at any time of the year to head up for dirnks and appys and watch the fireworks. The first priority is always those with adrs and the second to be let up is those that have already had dinner and want to come back to see the fireworks.

sorry!