California Grill & Wishes

[kelleigh1]

I just read another thread about dining at Cali Grill. I didn't want to ask my question in that thread for fear it would get lost.

The poster was asking about dragging out their meal so that they could remain at the table to see Wishes. Several people said that there aren't that many tables with a view of Wishes. And someone else suggested holding on to the receipt and then using it to access the observation deck. This got me thinking...


Maybe we should just book a regular dinner time and then come back to the deck in time for wishes instead of trying to plan around the Wishes schedule. Is this reasonable?

We are going in October, so is it safe to assume that unless it's an EMH, that Wishes would be at 9pm?

If Wishes is at 9pm and we decide to to dine at say 7:45pm in hopes of seeing Wishes from our table, what is the likelihood that we'd even get a decent enough table to see it? Wouldn't it be more likely that those tables would be taken by those with earlier ADR's who are trying to "drag out their meal" in order to see the show?

Thanks for any info / advice you may have. I was thinking California Grill for our final night at WDW so I really want to enjoy it and make it as magical as possible.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I think you should book your dinner for whatever feasible time you can get, and just play it by ear!

We have sat in the back wine room, which we loved. When wishes was starting, we grabbed our wine & went outiside.

Other times wehave eaten, finshed up, and just hung out at the bar or outside until wishes started.

Another time, we got a table smack front & center....we watched from our table..it just worked out that way.

I say just go with the flow

 

[Dizneydaz]

We've seen Wishes from CG several times. The 2nd time we were very excited to be sitted right at the window. But, horror or horrors, it had rained earlier in the day (big surprise!) and all the windows were covered in condensation. You couldn't see a thing! So we ended up going outside to the observation deck anyway. The view from the deck is great plus there's no reflection of the room on the windows.

I would book what you can get and if you have to return to go on the deck I would.

 

[kelleigh1]

Thanks! I was stressing about what time I should plan for but it makes sense to just go with the flow...since that's pretty much how we like to do Disney. Don't know why I was stressing over it.

 

[mcraige]

We watched Wishes from the observation platform once, and while it was a neat experience, I doubt I will ever do it again. From that position, the perspective of the fireworks is all wrong -- stuff that should be behind the castle is WAY behind it and to the right. I had much rather watch from Main Street.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree, go with the flow! If you get lucky and get a table with a wonderful window view, great! If not, you can go out to the observation deck to watch the show.

One word of advice about the observation deck. I'd try standing either close to the building or on the far end of the platform. I was about 3/4ths of the way down and while it was still a great view, the end of the deck did end up in the pictures.

(It's hard to see, but look to the lower right corner and you'll it)

 

[kelleigh1]

I agree, go with the flow! If you get lucky and get a table with a wonderful window view, great! If not, you can go out to the observation deck to watch the show.

One word of advice about the observation deck. I'd try standing either close to the building or on the far end of the platform. I was about 3/4ths of the way down and while it was still a great view, the end of the deck did end up in the pictures.

Thanks for the photo. I see what you mean! And this gives me a good perspective of where they are in relation to the castle.

 

[ses1230]

Hallowishes is usually at 9:30. Don't know if that will change your plan much, but just wanted to mention it.

 

[kelleigh1]

Hallowishes is usually at 9:30. Don't know if that will change your plan much, but just wanted to mention it.

I guess that depends. I keep saying that we're going in October, but we're actually going the week of Halloween and I'm looking at the Friday of that week which is in November, so if Hallowishes ends on Halloween night, I may have to either re-think the day we dine at Cali (so I can see it) or keep the original plans and it will just be regular wishes.

I'm guessing that Hallowishes ends Halloween night. Can anyone confirm?

 

[figment_jii]

I'm guessing that Hallowishes ends Halloween night. Can anyone confirm?

For the last few years, there has been one more MNSSHP on the night after Halloween. Any night with MNSSHP will have HalloWishes.

 

[Orsino]

We went last week and I would say only do CG wishes if you see Wishes from Main Street on another night. I would be disappointed if we hadn't. If this is your only Wishes, I would eat at CG then go back to the MK for Wishes! (Or if you want to save $$$ eat at Kona Cafe instead!).

That said, I enjoyed our meal. Wishes came on just after dessert was served. Fun! I should have ordered coffee. To me, the whole point is to see the fireworks while I'm eating. If I'm going to go outside, I might as well eat earlier and go to the MK to see it right.
We arrive one and a half hours before Wishes and ask to wait for a window table. Got one quick, which is why we were already on dessert by Wishes time.

On a busy night, you might want to come 2 hours before.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We normally make dinner reservations there for 5:30pm which is the first seating. This allows us to look out over to MK as it is turning to dusk, which is very pretty BTW. We also always get a window seat which is very nice. When we are done, we head downstairs and ride around on the monorail, shop, or just do whatever until it is time to head back up to Cali Grill to watch Wishes out on the balcony. What the OP read about showing the dinner receipt to the check-in desk is correct, they will have no problem taking you back up there again.

 

[kelleigh1]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate all the input.

We have seen Wishes before and will probably see it again while we are there, before dinner at CG. We are going to be on the Deluxe Dining Plan, so no worries about "saving money".

 

[maggiew]

Yes. I agree with others. Don't make your California Grill viewing of Wishes your only one. We enjoy it and do it every trip. But we also plan a night to view Wishes in the Park.

I think the picture that was posted above was on full zoom. You aren't really that close.

Maggie

 

[kelleigh1]

So when I look at the October 2011 hours, it shows no Wishes on Halloween night. Am I correct that this is because they had Hallowishes at 9:30 instead?

 

[ses1230]

So when I look at the October 2011 hours, it shows no Wishes on Halloween night. Am I correct that this is because they had Hallowishes at 9:30 instead?

Correct, no regular Wishes on party nights.

 

[kelleigh1]

Correct, no regular Wishes on party nights.

Thank you!

 

[figment_jii]

I think the picture that was posted above was on full zoom.

I was using a 50 mm lens (fixed). It's not really a zoomed picture in that sense, but it does make things look a little closer.

To the OP, we watched HalloWishes from CA Grill. It was a lot of fun!

 

[Jubilee]

I guess that depends. I keep saying that we're going in October, but we're actually going the week of Halloween and I'm looking at the Friday of that week which is in November, so if Hallowishes ends on Halloween night, I may have to either re-think the day we dine at Cali (so I can see it) or keep the original plans and it will just be regular wishes.

I'm guessing that Hallowishes ends Halloween night. Can anyone confirm?

11/1 is almost always the last night, IIRC

 

[aboveH20]

I almost hate to post because I don't want to be given the knucklehead award, but I want to give a newbie a heads up. I've been to CG twice. The first time with my family and we were seated in the Wine Room. The second time I was solo and sat in the main room. Neither time was I alerted to the fact that Wishes was getting ready to start and that there was a balcony or observation area or whatever it is from which to watch.

The first time since we were in the Wine Room we never did learn about the viewing. The second time I was waiting for my waiter or some signal. Is there some signal? Does the waiter normally mention it? Does "everyone" but me know where to go? (When I was seated he asked me if I had been before and because I said yes maybe he thought I knew about the balcony.)

Bottom line . . . if you're going to go to the CG for Wishes make sure you know how it works. (I still don't )