Entering MK at the start of Extended Deluxe Hours?

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Okay, I'm trying to decide what option will be less crazy. My family (hubby, me, 5 yr old and almost 2 yr old) have dinner reservations at 5:35 at California Grill on a night when MK has the Extended Deluxe Hours. Overall, that day is projected to be high crowds in MK, and we are planning to stay out of MK until the Deluxe Hours begin.

My first thought was to have dinner and then watch the fireworks from Cali Grill, THEN head over to MK (during which, hopefully, little one will pass out in the stroller). My problem with that is it would mean us trying to get IN while everyone else is trying to get OUT. It also means I'd have to find something to do with the kids between the time that dinner ends and the fireworks begin (probably roughly 2 hours).

OR we skip watching the fireworks from Cali Grill, head straight into the parks, and then just position ourselves out of the way of the masses who will be trying to leave after fireworks, since we'd be headed in the other direction afterwards.

Not sure what option makes more sense and hoping someone has some thoughts.

 

[Meglen]

Imo watch fireworks from Cali grill and enjoy the show. Than go over to mk. You can't tap into the rides to skip the days guests till 9 anyways .

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Do you have a different night planned to watch fireworks a second time?

I know this is heresy, but I don't really like the fireworks from Cali Grill. It's neat to do once, but the shows are designed and directed to be viewed from Main Street. You lose a lot of the effects when you're viewing them from 15 stories in the air, half a mile away to the Southeast.

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Do you have a different night planned to watch fireworks a second time?

I know this is heresy, but I don't really like the fireworks from Cali Grill. It's neat to do once, but the shows are designed and directed to be viewed from Main Street. You lose a lot of the effects when you're viewing them from 15 stories in the air, half a mile away to the Southeast.

We do have another night for the fireworks, and actually we also have another night we can make the MK extended hours. So fireworks aren't really a priority, except I feel like eating at Cali Grill kinda means we *have* to watch the fireworks from there. But based on your response maybe it's missable? Oddly enough we have never gotten to California Grill in all of our trips, so I'm really looking forward to it - but it's the meal I'm really excited about, not he fireworks so much. Maybe we could just head over to the parks and hang out on Tom Sawyer Island until the fireworks start to stay out of the crowd.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We do have another night for the fireworks, and actually we also have another night we can make the MK extended hours. So fireworks aren't really a priority, except I feel like eating at Cali Grill kinda means we *have* to watch the fireworks from there. But based on your response maybe it's missable? Oddly enough we have never gotten to California Grill in all of our trips, so I'm really looking forward to it - but it's the meal I'm really excited about, not he fireworks so much. Maybe we could just head over to the parks and hang out on Tom Sawyer Island until the fireworks start to stay out of the crowd.

Another random thought... Cali Grill has a (not intimidating) dress code. Are you staying at the Contemporary where you'll change outfits in between dinner and park? Or will you be going to the park in your dinner clothes? My instinct would be to split the late park night from the signature dining night, but my instinct would also be to skip late park nights all together with kids that age. Mine are 7/4/1 and we've found that blowing way past bedtime early in the trip can lead to a sleep deficit that we never catch up on and it can spoil the whole week.

I'm not being particularly helpful, I know that. Just throwing more thoughts out there that you may or may not have considered.

 

[Marthasor]

We do have another night for the fireworks, and actually we also have another night we can make the MK extended hours. So fireworks aren't really a priority, except I feel like eating at Cali Grill kinda means we *have* to watch the fireworks from there. But based on your response maybe it's missable? Oddly enough we have never gotten to California Grill in all of our trips, so I'm really looking forward to it - but it's the meal I'm really excited about, not he fireworks so much. Maybe we could just head over to the parks and hang out on Tom Sawyer Island until the fireworks start to stay out of the crowd.

I would not wait at CR for two hours just to see the fireworks from Cali Grill. Most of the times we've eaten at Cali Grill, we don't wait for the fireworks as it's just been too late for my son. Even without the fireworks, the view from Cali Grill is stunning (make sure to go to both observation decks as you can see Spaceship Earth from the one on the opposite side of the MK deck). Your instinct to not head into MK as the fireworks crowd is leaving is spot on - you will be swimming upstream. I would eat, walk to MK and then go someplace away from the hub. I don't think you necessarily have to go to Tom Sawyer's Island - any land away from the hub should do.

 

[jwolfpack]

I don't think the view of fireworks from California Grill is that impressive, especially for young kids. When my kids were that age, they would have enjoyed seeing them from anywhere in the park much more! Take your time with dinner, check out the view from the observation deck, then walk over to Magic Kingdom and head to Fantasyland about an hour or so before fireworks start. It's crazy cool to be riding Dumbo or Astro Orbiter or SDMT or any other outdoor ride while the fireworks are going off.

 

[bambialways4ever]

I don't know when your travel dates are, but keep in mind MK hours have been getting pushed later. Something to consider

 

[glocon]

I think Tom Sawyer Island closes earlier than the park does so a plan to wait it out there might not work.

 

[kc51570]

We do have another night for the fireworks, and actually we also have another night we can make the MK extended hours. So fireworks aren't really a priority, except I feel like eating at Cali Grill kinda means we *have* to watch the fireworks from there. But based on your response maybe it's missable? Oddly enough we have never gotten to California Grill in all of our trips, so I'm really looking forward to it - but it's the meal I'm really excited about, not he fireworks so much. Maybe we could just head over to the parks and hang out on Tom Sawyer Island until the fireworks start to stay out of the crowd.

You don’t have to hang out on Tom Sawyer island to avoid the crazy crowds at fireworks time. We usually take this opportunity to get on whatever rides we can while fireworks are going off-Big Thunder, Pirates, HM, Buzz, etc.. There are usually lower waits during the time people are jockeying for FW viewing positions.

 

[Meglen]

We do have another night for the fireworks, and actually we also have another night we can make the MK extended hours. So fireworks aren't really a priority, except I feel like eating at Cali Grill kinda means we *have* to watch the fireworks from there. But based on your response maybe it's missable? Oddly enough we have never gotten to California Grill in all of our trips, so I'm really looking forward to it - but it's the meal I'm really excited about, not he fireworks so much. Maybe we could just head over to the parks and hang out on Tom Sawyer Island until the fireworks start to stay out of the crowd.

If you dont care about the fireworks much than just head over to the park after your dinner. The back side of MK gets really light 15-30min before the show. This is prime time to hop on rides.

 

[Delirium]

We like to time it so we are on Dumbo when the fireworks are going off. There will be no line for the ride and it's a cool view for half the spin.

 

[jenij]

One thing to note ----- You will need to be in the park for extended hours before it closes for the general public. I asked this question to Disney just to make sure.

 

[Meglen]

One thing to note ----- You will need to be in the park for extended hours before it closes for the general public. I asked this question to Disney just to make sure.
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interesting.. i wonder if this is for all resorts aswell.