California Grill for fireworks ?

[Disney5Mom]

We are hoping to watch the fireworks from the Cali Grill in Jan. We are thinking of Jan 1-5. What time should we book to be there during the fireworks??
thanks in advance.

 

[CamColt]

We booked for 2 hours before the fireworks. We finished just before they started and while we could have stayed to watch, we felt the view from the deck was better so we went out there (the second deck...not at all crowded like the first).

 

[Nickymouse]

Are there 2 decks? We have watched the fireworks from the deck but I didn't notice a second one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yep - one on the lounge side, one on the restaurant side; i.e. one to the right when you walk into the restaurant, one to the left.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

2 hours before works well. Just check the schedule and book accordingly. Park and fireworks hours are posted here on the Dis and the offical WDW site.

 

[CamColt]

Yep - one on the lounge side, one on the restaurant side; i.e. one to the right when you walk into the restaurant, one to the left.

Right! We went to the one around near the restrooms.

 

[meowser]

We were there last Tuesday and had a reservation for 9. Wishes was also at 9. We arrived and checked in at 8:30. They sent us up to the bar and seated us at 8:45 at a window table with a perfect view. We ordered just before Wishes started and got our appetizers right after it ended. Our view from the table was so great that we didn't feel the need to go to the observation deck.

DBF had no idea what to expect and absolutely LOVED the whole experience.

After reading all of the advice here about getting a reservation 90 minutes to 2 hours before I was worried, but in the end it was an amazing experience.

 

[Wazzo]

In February we booked a 7pm seating for an 8pm firework show. That worked perfectly. Our waiter held our dessert for us until we returned from watching the show.

Last week we booked an 8pm seating for a 10pm show, and we were finished our three courses too early to see the fireworks. I think we were out of there around 9:20pm.

If I were to do it again, I'd book an hour before the show started, since you will be guaranteed to still be there, and the servers are so good about "pausing" your meal so you can watch.

Enjoy!

 

[Leota]

We book 2 hours in advance. We always do at least 3 courses at CG, so dinner runs us about 2 hours. The night we did 5 courses, our waiter held our entrees while we went out to the deck & had them on the table minutes after our return, piping hot.

I didn't know there were 2 decks! Next time I'm trying the other deck. We went out the restaurant one 10 minutes early, by the time the show started it was packed & I had a young boy pushing his way in front of me. Normally I wouldn't have cared, but I was trying to get pictures that night & he kept bumping my camera. I finally just gave up.