Need experienced opinions on CG ADR timing

[Robert P]

Esteemed DIS'ers - I need your opinions on our CG scheduling and Wishes. Your feedback will make the decision for us.

Scenario:
(We have not been to CG in the past 5 years. Have not experienced the new check-in procedure at the lower podium yet.)
We have an ADR for CG at 7:20 on an October weeknight, party of 8 (6A and 2C). Wishes is at 9:00 p.m. that night. My concern is that we won't get seated anywhere close to our ADR time, and maybe even closer to 9:00 p.m. We'll be there for check-in 15 minutes early, as expected, but with the 'lingering' at tables that seems to be getting worse each year, I don't think we can keep the kids contented for a wait of an hour or more.
If it were just adults, we could make do, but I can't predict how the kids will react to an overly long wait for a table, if people are camping out until the fireworks start.

I am asking for your fairly recent (within the last year) experiences with waiting for your ADR at CG. Specifically:
How close were you seated to your ADR time, but mainly on a night with Wishes being shown?
Do people actually sit there and camp out at tables without eating, for an extra hour or more after their meal, just to see the show from their seat?
How crowded was the area where you get off the elevators, now that they have the initial check-in down below?
General experiences lately? Good, bad, otherwise?

Thanks in advance for any info you have on this.
Robert P

 

[ladysoleil]

Our last visit to CG was in March for my birthday dinner.

To answer your questions:

How close were you seated to your ADR time, but mainly on a night with Wishes being shown?

It was about half an hour to 45 minutes after our ADR time. I'm guesstimating, though. IIRC, we had a 7:20 and had time to have a cocktail in the bar area and some conversation, but it didn't feel overly long. We were a party of two, though.

Do people actually sit there and camp out at tables without eating, for an extra hour or more after their meal, just to see the show from their seat?

Yes and no. If you let them know you want to see Wishes, they pace the service accordingly. In my experience (been 3 times in the last couple of years) it seems they pace service to have dessert coming up around Wishes, or at least to wind up the entrees and take dessert/coffee orders.

(Conversely, if you don't care about fireworks, tell them- they won't drag race the service, but it won't be as lingering, either). So, people aren't necessarily "camping out" at empty tables, but they don't expect you to leave if you've finished eating before Wishes, either.

How crowded was the area where you get off the elevators, now that they have the initial check-in down below?

It was crowded, honestly. There are seats at the bar and a few loungey sofas and cocktail tables, but don't bank on everyone getting a seat in the waiting area if you have a larger party. If the kids need to burn some energy you can wander out to the outdoor deck and let them take in the view and walk around a bit, but that is a smoking area, so your mileage may vary as to whether you want to do that.

General experiences lately? Good, bad, otherwise?

It's one of my favorites, so I'm probably biased, but we had a great experience. I wouldn't say the food is the best in the world, but it's probably among the best in the World.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Getting seated for Wishes with a 7:20 ADR is a coin flip.
2) Sometimes very easy, sometimes impossible.
3) All depends upon how many others want to see Wishes and hold their table.
4) The wait staff WILL NOT rush people to turn over the table(s).

5) As long as you have ressies, you can still go out on the Observation Deck.
. . . good view
. . . music is piped to the deck
. . . not as comfortable as being at your table

 

[laura001]

We had ADR's this past week at CG, we arrived early and were seated. They will hold your food while you watch Wishes. I would think that there would be no way you would have to wait and hour and half to be seated.

 

[lisah0711]

Please excuse my ignorance as I have only been to WDW twice . . . so if I have 7:10 p.m. ADR at CG in January and Wishes is at 8:00 p.m. there is a chance that I might not be seated by then?!? Will we at least be able to see things from the balcony (with the smokers?!?)? This was my big finale dinner but now I am getting nervous.

 

[Robert P]

bump

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I woul say that there is a very good chance you will be seated close to your ADR. We had a party of 6 aldults last December and we were seated about 10 min. late. You can always walk outside and see Wishes and then come back and finish your dinner. The outside walkway is a great place to see Wishes. If you are finished with your entrees by 9:00 just delay desert for a few minutes and walk outside to enjoy the show. We eat at CG on every trip.

 

[smep013]

We had 7:20 reservations in August and I thought Wishes was at 9PM. We arrived early and sat at the bar for about an hour (at our own choice, we wanted to do this and had a blast!).

Then, we moved to our table pretty close to 7:20. We ate a leisurely meal - appetizers - salads - entree and dessert. It took a long time to eat, which was good for pacing.

Well, it turned out that Wishes was at 10PM. I know, I'm an idiot, but I checked a million times and it changed on me somehow. Don't let that happen to you!

Anyway, if Wishes would have been at 9, it would have been perfect. We ate dessert (I ordered one that took extra time to prepare, so that made it a longer deal) and had to linger about 30 minutes before the show.

No one bothered us, and anyway, it was not crowded at all, so I did not feel guilty. A table was seated next to us for dinner at 9PM and the waitress asked them how they wanted their meal paced and if they planned to watch Wishes from the table or outside. I think they are very accomodating and know many go there for Wishes.

Good Luck!