California Grill/Fireworks Question

[robndani]

Hi! We are going in September and trying to book CG one night of our trip. Looking at the Sept 2016 hours, it looks like Wishes isn't happening a few of the nights we are there. I'm assuming those are the MNSSHP dates.

Are those fireworks just as cool to watch from CG?
Do they still pipe in the music?

I have 2 dates to choose from, but wanted an opinion from you guys - who always know so much!

Also, what's the best time to get reservation for? Wishes is set for 9:00 on our possible night. (Would MNSSHP fireworks be at the same time on the other day?)

Thanks for any info - looking forward to doing this meal/fireworks for the first time!!!

 

[gluestickgirl]

I'm not sure if it'll be the same, but I think HalloWishes was at 10p last year. We saw it from Cali Grill and they were amazing! We liked doing our res on a party night since we couldn't be in MK that evening.

 

[robndani]

I'm not sure if it'll be the same, but I think HalloWishes was at 10p last year. We saw it from Cali Grill and they were amazing! We liked doing our res on a party night since we couldn't be in MK that evening.

I think that sounds right. We're going on an adult only trip with friends for the first time ever! I'm not sure which fireworks are better to see from CG. We aren't actually GOING to MK during the trip.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

While we haven't watched Hallowishes from Cali Grill, we have watched Holiday Wishes from up there. I personally like the special fireworks from outside of MK because you can really see all of the perimeter effects. Hallowishes and Holiday Wishes usually go off at 9:30. We have been to MNSSHP and it was definitely 9:30 when we attended the party. It was also 9:30 for Holiday Wishes when we timed it from Cali Grill and when I was planning it for that particular visit, I'd been told party fireworks are always 9:30.

As for the timing, I think we had a 7:45pm ADR. Cali Grill is notorious for running behind with seating (like 30 min). I think they were getting ready to bring out our cake (i.e. dessert time) shortly before fireworks started.

 

[robndani]

While we haven't watched Hallowishes from Cali Grill, we have watched Holiday Wishes from up there. I personally like the special fireworks from outside of MK because you can really see all of the perimeter effects. Hallowishes and Holiday Wishes usually go off at 9:30. We have been to MNSSHP and it was definitely 9:30 when we attended the party. It was also 9:30 for Holiday Wishes when we timed it from Cali Grill and when I was planning it for that particular visit, I'd been told party fireworks are always 9:30.

As for the timing, I think we had a 7:45pm ADR. Cali Grill is notorious for running behind with seating (like 30 min). I think they were getting ready to bring out our cake (i.e. dessert time) shortly before fireworks started.

So 7:45 sounds good, whichever fireworks we go to! Thanks!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

So 7:45 sounds good, whichever fireworks we go to! Thanks!

7:45 would be good if you're planning on 3 courses and fireworks are at 9:30. If it's regular Wishes and it's set to go off at 9...I'd skew about 30 min earlier in your ADR aims.

 

[figment_jii]

For my family, the average meal at CA Gill takes between 90 minutes and two hours. I personally like to aim for a reservation about 90 minutes before fireworks are slated to start so that I'll be between entrees and desserts when are slated to start. The wait staff will work with you to try and time your meal. HalloWishes was presented at 10:00 pm last year, which was later than normal, so it'll be interesting to see if they go back to 9:30 pm this year or stick with the 10:00 pm show time.

In my experience, they do dim the lights and pipe in the music to the restaurant and observation decks. The bulk of the fireworks appear as if over Space Mountain, but you can see see the castle fireworks and perimeter fireworks (the images on the castle are tough to see - but you can tell when the castle is changing color).