California Grill - first or last park day?

[bravestmerida]

My family of 3 will be at WDW the week before President's Day staying at WL. We have dinner reservations at California Grill on our first park day (Sunday) and our last park day (Thursday). This is our second visit, and we have seen Wishes from Main Street, so I'd like to do this as a different experience.

For what it's worth, DD will be 6 and Wishes is scheduled for 8pm both nights - this is sort of pushing it for her bedtime-wise... I think we'd only do MK fireworks one night during our trip (no plans to see Illuminations, though we might do ROL). Sunday and Thursday MK crowd calendars are about the same, the slight edge going to Sunday for being less busy. Thursday is more appealing because DD can sleep in a bit more than if we were going to a park the next day. However, it might be nice to "get it done" at the beginning of our trip so we have more flexibility on Thursday to ride rides later in the evening...

Thoughts, opinions?

 

[Uncleromulus]

For us CG has been our go to first night dinner spot for many years--great way to get in the WDW mood.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The main question is are you traveling on Sunday or not? If you are, then I would not make a reservation like that on a travel day just in case you run into issues.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Personally, I wouldn't want to travel and then have to dress up for a signature dinner on our first day. I would save it for the last day.

 

[Charmagne]

I had a similar situation too, when planning my disneymoon. I had CG scheduled for the first day we arrive, to start our trip off with fireworks. However, after doing some replanning (and learning that hallowishes fireworks will be showing on our last night) i switched CG to our last night. Fireworks after all is Walt Disney's 'kiss goodnight' and to me, it just seemed like a better fit! Again, like you said, if you're going to the parks the next day, it'll be hard to get your DD up if you're planning to hit rope drop. I'd say go with the last night!

 

[bravestmerida]

I had a similar situation too, when planning my disneymoon. I had CG scheduled for the first day we arrive, to start our trip off with fireworks. However, after doing some replanning (and learning that hallowishes fireworks will be showing on our last night) i switched CG to our last night. Fireworks after all is Walt Disney's 'kiss goodnight' and to me, it just seemed like a better fit! Again, like you said, if you're going to the parks the next day, it'll be hard to get your DD up if you're planning to hit rope drop. I'd say go with the last night!

I think we will do this. It was my original plan, but when a reservation appeared for our first day at the same time, I was torn.

Thanks to all!

 

[Dean Marino]

Just opinion - neither.

First day - you will arrive tired. Not the best day for the Grill.
Last Day - you will be packing at night for departure..... not the best day for the grill.

All opinion - 2nd day through NEXT to last day..... You will choose what works for you.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Personally, I wouldn't want to travel and then have to dress up for a signature dinner on our first day. I would save it for the last day.

If you had to "dress up" that would be a consideration.

But you really don't!!!