California Grille ?

[Hopefully]

Does anyone know if it is possible to visit the CG Lounge for drinks and appetizers around 6:15-6:30 (When MK fireworks are scheduled at 7) without PS for dinner? My husband and I are leaving on Sunday for an unexpected last minute trip - HOORAY - (A Long Story). Wine and appetizers and a view of the fireworks would be wonderful, if possible! Thanks

 

[Nikole]

You can try but the lounge area isn't very large. May want to plan on getting there early.

 

[Tinkrbell]

If you can't get a seat you can just get a drink from the bar and go to the Observation Deck to see the fireworks.

 

[tiggeroo42]

What if you have a PS, but haven't been seated when the fireworks start? Can you still go out to the observation deck? Thanks!

 

[ducklite]

Didn't I just read something (maybe on Deb's site?) about people who don't have a PS won't be allowed up to the 15th floor before the fireworks? I could be wrong...

Anne

 

[Nikole]

Originally posted by tiggeroo42
What if you have a PS, but haven't been seated when the fireworks start? Can you still go out to the observation deck? Thanks!

Absolutely!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I imagine that if you just want to go to the bar/lounge you still could. But as Nikole said, the lounge area is quite small and the bar won't win a prize for size either. On a busy nite, you may have to stand the whole time.
That's what happened to us last year. We had PS for dinner (on Saturday nite)at 8:00. We arrived at 7:45 and weren't seated until 9:05--and we had to stand the whole time. There were no seats at the bar or in the lounge and when someone got up to leave (or eat) there was a fierce struggle for that seat.
Reminded me a whole lot of a shopping center parking lot at XMAS--when one car leaves, and 10 others rush for that spot.

As for the "no PS-no observation deck " thing--I think they almost had to do it. It is crowded enough at CG each nite, and adding scores of folks just there to watch fireworks made it quite intolerable crowd-wise.

 

[Krissalee]

My experience with the bar/lounge at California Grill is similar to that of Uncleromulus. The first week of December, we arrived at 8pm for our 9pm PS. We assumed we would have a drink at the bar and relax a bit before dinner. The bar was absolutely mobbed, and we ended up standing until about 8:45 pm when space for 2 finally became available. As soon as another bar patron saw that someone seated was settling up their tab, that person was practically pulling the seat out from under them to claim the spot.

It may be possible to get a seat and see the fireworks, but I wouldn't count on it too strongly - maybe a back-up plan may be in order.