California Grill

[Lilac_Girl]

Hello! This is my first post on the DISBoards, so please forgive me if this has been asked before!

My husband and I are headed to Disney this fall to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary- I haven't been to Disney since I was a kid, so I am feeling a bit out of my element with planning! We'd like to have dinner at California Grill one night and see the fireworks- I saw somewhere that someone suggested making a later dinner reservation, and arriving to the restaurant an hour or so early (from the reservation time) and watching the fireworks on the patio. Has anyone done this before? Is this a good idea, or is it better to have a table?

Thank you so much for all of your help!

 

[stitchlover]

We generally make a reservation for 30 minutes before the fireworks. We let the server know that we plan to step out onto the balcony to watch the fireworks and he will schedule your dinner arrival around the fireworks. We did that for about three years and it always worked out great.

 

[SAHDad]

Try to get a table for 30 minutes or an hour before the fireworks. The servers pretty much expect people to go to the observation area to watch the fireworks, so it's no big deal.

 

[JZCubed]

CA Grill is lovely. My wife & I arrive about 30 minutes prior to fireworks and have never been disappointed.

Please note, even though Disney talks about a dress code, few people are really 'dressed' at CA Grill. For instance, I was the only gentleman in the dining room wearing a sport jacket this past winter. Also, it might surprise you when you see a child laying on the floor of the place (taking a nap) while waiting for the fireworks.

In other words, CA Grill might not be the best place for a romantic anniversary dinner. Victoria & Albert would be my choice.....but CA Grill is lovely and the food very good too.....

 

[Pakey]

I've eaten at CG many times and trust me, if you want anything romantic, you have to eat there afer the fireworks. It's a totally different restaurant once the firework viewers clear out. We go for the food and prefer a quiet, slow paced dining experience.

If you arrive an hour before your ADR, they are not likely to let you up as the restaurant will be packed, there will be no place for you to sit to even wait for your table (the attached lounge is full of people waiting as it starts stacking up closer to ADR time because people are not giving up their tables and lingering after they finish eating).

 

[Lilac_Girl]

Thank you so much for all of your help- I really appreciate it!

 

[skier_pete]

We did the opposite in December 2009 - got an ADR for about 7:30 PM. We ate appetizers and dinner, and then went out to watch the fireworks (which were at 9:30 PM for the Christmas Party) before eating dessert. It all depends on what you want and when the fireworks are. The restaurant isn't particularly romantic from an atmosphere standpoint as of course there are lots of kids around and very crowded. I would probably agree it is less crowded later, after the fireworks, but if I had to eat dinner at 10 PM to avoid the fireworks, I would be rather cranky indeed.