Is a 7:40 ADR at California Grill late enough to see fireworks?

[princessmomma]

It was either 7:40 or 9:40 p.m. on August 16th for my options for ADR at California Grill.

How long does it usually take to get seated?

Are the MK fireworks at 9:00?

We won't be hustled out of there before 9:00 correct??

 

[Shagley]

Iwould think that a 7:40 ADR would be about perfect. I have a 7:30pm ADR for California Grill in September and am planning on still being there at 9:00 for the fireworks. I figure that it will probably take 15 or 20 minutes to get seated, and then it will probably take another 15 minutes or so for us to decide what to order. I think you can kind of set the pace and just eat your food or dessert really slow if you think you may be getting finished too early. I am also going to tell them when checking in that I am willing to wait a little longer to get a table by the window.

 

[Aimeedyan]

On August 16th, Wishes is at 10pm - Not 9pm. So no, 7:40 will probably not be a good dinner time unless you can stretch your meal to 2 hours or more. Now, many adult parties can do this by having 3 courses, drinks, etc but I don't think many children can handle that looooooooong meal.

The park is open until midnight that night.

(I think the best view is on Main St anyways so I would enjoy my meal at 740 and then hop back to the MK and enjoy Wishes at 10pm the late Spectromagic parade at 11pm)

 

[princessmomma]

Oh darn it, yes, wishes is at 10 that night. Actually 10 p.m. the entire week we are there.

The spectro-magic parade is at 9:00 p.m. every evening. I wonder if I should try and change for a later time. Is Spectro worth seeing from up there?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

You won't be able to see Spectromagic from up there - just a little glimmer is the best you can manage.

BUT - when we were there a few weeks ago, our ADR was at 7:20. There was a large wedding party that took it's time eating, so we weren't seated until 8 or so. And with three courses, we wrapped up just a little before 10. The kindly elevator operator said that even if we finished dinner early, we could come back and he'd let us go up to the observation deck. I got the impression that they do this as a matter of course for folks who've had ressies close to Wishes time.

I will admit that it's not anywhere close to the experience you'd have by watching Wishes from Main Street. From up high, the fireworks are simply off-center from the castle and it loses some of the magic.

But the sunset from the CG is something to behold.

 

[noseybuddy]

I agree that there are better places to view Wishes, but it was very romantic having a widow seat, just my husband and I, eating a nice dinner, having drinks and viewing wishes.

 

[novastar]

I went at the end of august 05, on a saturday. We had an ADR for 7:20 and we were ready to leave just around 9:00. We didn't realize wishes was at 10pm, but we were allowed to wait outside on a nice open observation area adjacent to the restaurant.

 

[aristocat]

go for the 9:40 ADR since wishes doesn't start until 10 pm in Aug

 

[Dizneydaz]

I agree with 9:40. We are dining there in Sept. at 7:30 for 9:00 Wishes. We did the same thing last year. One thing I haven't seen many people post, but when we were there last Sept., all the windows in the restaurant we completely obscured by condensation. I was surprised at this! We went out on the observation deck even though we had a window seat. If you go on the deck, don't stand near the lights!-the little gnats that fly around them are annoying (however, the didn't bite us, just flew in our faces, etc.) Even so, we are going back in Sept.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh darn it, yes, wishes is at 10 that night. Actually 10 p.m. the entire week we are there.

The spectro-magic parade is at 9:00 p.m. every evening. I wonder if I should try and change for a later time. Is Spectro worth seeing from up there?

Spectro is at 9 and 11 so you can hit either. You cannot see it from the CA Grill.

If you want to see the fireworks from CA Grill, take the 940. That should be perfect timing.

Have fun!