Inventions Restaurant- View of the Park?

[RoosMomKanga]

I'm still struggling with where/when to book for dinner after the parks close at 7pm. Some have suggested Inventions Rest. and I've been researching, but haven't been able to find this out. Is there a view of the park? If so: What is the view of? Can you request a table with a view (we have 6 people)? If the park closes at 7pm, and I know people have told me they keep the stores on Main Street open an hour later- now we're at 8pm, how much later do they keep the lights on in the park? I know that sunset isn't until 9:30pm on May 19th when we're there and it would be lovely to see the park in the dark with the lights on, so it would certainly sway my decision of where to eat if we'll have a view with the lights on after dark! I'm guessing Calif. Grille has a view for sure (like at WDW) but we can't afford that this trip. Are there any other restaurants outside the parks with views inside? Thanks.

 

[daisybeetlebug]

not sure If Im correct but I would imagine in May the park is open later than 7pm?
we are going in April and it is open until 8 or 9 at the weekends.

 

[wideeyes]

You can get a view of the park at inventions, California Grill and inventions are right next door to each other on the same floor so don't think one will give a better view over another. This is the view from the lounge that is directly on the floor above invention.
<a href="http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f115/claire1902/?action=view&current=belle1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f115/claire1902/belle1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
so you will see the train station and the castle however probably not main street as clearly as in the picture as it will be obstructed by the train station.

I have never seen the lights turned off when we stayed at castle club so not sure if they turn them off or not. They were on quite late after the park closes anyway.

 

[RoosMomKanga]

not sure If Im correct but I would imagine in May the park is open later than 7pm?
we are going in April and it is open until 8 or 9 at the weekends.

Nope. Unfortunately, parks are only open until 7pm, on Monday, May 19. Open later some days in May, but not ours. Hopefully that means the crowds will be lighter?!

wideeyes- thanks for the info. & pic. Good to know the lights stay on late.

Does anyone have a pic from Inventions? I'm wondering if you can see much at all since this photo was taken from one floor above? Love to see the view of the castle from there.

 

[MazdaUK]

Yes, if not open late definitely lighter. But some restaurants will close so if you want somewhre particular book in advance to check what days its opne - they do vary from the dining guide (as I found out trying to book Lucky nugget )

 

[marcus.ka]

This is the view that you can have from California Grill:



This is the view that you can have from Inventions:



I love to talk about views.

And I also asume that the lights are on the whole night long. And there are not other restaurants (except Inventions and California Grill) that have a park view.

 

[Cyrano]

Can you request a table with a view (we have 6 people)?

Unfortunately no.
The one room of Inventions has a view of the park, but you could just as easily be situated over in the area beside the food.

IMHO I'd not book Inventions on the basis of getting a view of the park.

 

[sjaakie]

Here's the plan of the restaurant.

Why not ask for a table in the Pavillion. There are the views and there are the tables for six
It never hurts to ask nicely
I myself did see tables with reserved signs on them.

 

[marcus.ka]

The picture from my Inventions view above was taken from table for 2 next to the entrance to the pavilion.
And the picture from the California Grill view was taken from the same table but in the California Grill. To imagine the plan of the California Grill you just have to read the plan of the Inventions but mirror-inverted.

 

[RoosMomKanga]

Wow! You guys are the BEST...photos, info., and a floorplan, more than I hoped for! Thank you SO very much!

 

[A Small World]

We ate there last week and to be honest the food and interaction from the characters was so excellent we didnt even think about the view.