Illuminations at California Grill

[Dragonfly_34]

DH and I have a reservation at California Grill at 9:15pm (my mom is watching the kids for us so we can go out alone one night). Illuminations starts at 9pm. Since we have a reservation, will we be able to watch the show from the observation deck, even though our reservation is for during/after the show? Also, what is the dress code? The website says "casual, no tank tops or swimwear" so would I be ok in a sundress or do my shoulders need to be covered?

 

[mom2cinderella]

I hope you mean Wishes, not Illuminations.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

I hope you mean Wishes, not Illuminations.

Actually, no, I mean Illuminations. I read that you can view both Wishes and Illuminations from California Grill, just on opposite ends of the restaurant. I also found a blog where someone had posted pictures of Illuminations from their table. Hopefully that hasn't changed, but if it has it'll still be nice to get out for an evening.

 

[purple figment]

I've seen a couple of references to IllumiNations from CG, and the general consensus is while you can see the higher fireworks it's in the distance. Because most of the performance is at water level on the World Showcase lagoon you won't see much of the show. Also, they don't pipe the music into the restaurant.

As far as the dress code, it's on the online dining reservation page for CG. As long as you avoid the "Not Permitted" items you will be fine, although we've seen some of those items at the signatures. We've seen guests dressed in park attire all the way to formal wear. There was a post shortly after CG re-opened last year that they were trying to enforce the no torn clothing proviso. The no tank tops refers to men.

 

[POOHsie]

Once I stayed at the Dolphin resort, and I had a view of the MK Wishes fireworks. If I measured the fireworks between my thumb and index finger, they were about a half-inch tall. No sound, and not a big thrill.