Question about California Grill / Magic Kingdom dinner options

[Belle83]

Since our trip is pretty last-minute (we booked our May 2011 trip this month) most of the high-demand ADRs are not available.

On the day we are planning to go to Magic Kingdom, the park closes at 9pm. I could get a reservation at Tony's around 8:45 pm, or keep the California Grill reservation that I have for 9:40 pm. I know the two restaurants aren't really comparable, and I've been to Tony's before (and liked it).

My question is: how soon do you think we'll be able to eat if we have a 9:40 ADR for California Grill? Is that too much of a lag between park closing? We're staying at the Dolphin and I don't want to leave the Magic Kingdom area before the ADR. When the parks close do the lines for attractions close at 9, or is everyone out at 9?

I don't mind eating dinner at 9:40, we're on Mountain Standard Time so it will feel more like 7:40. We eat late normally and don't have kids.

I don't want to go crazy with $$$ for food, but the last time I went to WDW I ate mostly counter-service or we waited foreeever for restaurants (didn't know about ADRs). Hamburgers got old really quick.

The only other ADRs I have for our trip so far are:
- Yak & Yeti (dinner) - on our Animal Kingdom day
- Plaza (lunch) - on our Magic Kingdom day
- Rose & Crown (lunch) - on Epcot day
- Biergarten (dinner) - on Epcot day

Plus, I am going to try to take my SO to The Palm at Universal for his birthday (we'll be at Universal that day), which will be $$$.

So what do you think...do the 8:45 pm Tony's for less $$ (and a more convenient time?) or 9:40 pm California Grill? Any other ideas for dinner on Tuesday 5/24? I thought about Kona but the food seems similar to Yak & Yeti? We have a rental car & park hoppers if that matters.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

That is definitely not too much of a lag after park closing. Generally, when the Magic Kingdom closes at 9:00, it means that Wishes starts at 9:00 and people don't really start leaving until 9:20. Unless you skip the fireworks, you're going to be slowly herded out of the park by a throng of people. It might be close to even make a 9:40 reservation at California Grill.

 

[MickeyNicki]

A signature meal can take 2 hours. You may or may not get seated on time. YOu need to worry about transportation back to your own resort because buses might not be running that late or you would have to get a taxi

I would rather go to CS than do a late TS but since you are on Mountain time it would not be a big deal, Tonys is the safer bet.

 

[Pakey]

Ca Grill empties out as soon as those last fireworks are let off. If you have a 9:40 ADR, you should be seated by 9:40.

I would keep Ca Grill and enjoy the place when it's at it's best: after the fireworks and crowds have gone home for the day.

 

[macjodi]

California Grill....if you haven't done that before, great experience very good food and you MUST get there to watch the fireworks. It IS about memories isn't it? So leave early enough to get there early enough and you will enjoy it.

 

[disneygirlmass]

california grill is definitley better than tony's....you should have enough time to get there after wishes

 

[minster22]

Another option at California Grill is to sit at the bar and eat. You should be able to get seated right away there at that time of night. We have eaten there a number of times with no ADR and never have had to wait. In any case I woukld think by 9pm you would not have to wait long anyways for your 9:40 ADR, probably be able to get seated pretty quickly. Eating at Cali over Tony's is a no brainer for me!!

 

[ToddyLu]

I would get to Cali Grill at 8:45, have a nice drink and watch wishes from there. There is a nice little area of lounge chairs at the front of the restaurant. They pipe the music from Wishes into the restaurant and observation deck so you do not miss anything. Then at 9 head out to the observation deck to watch Wishes. They will darken the restaurant a bit. Come back in at 9:20 and have another drink while you have a quick wait for your table. We love it there and always plan to see Wishes from the deck.

If you are paying the money to eat there you might as well enjoy seeing Wishes from a terrific vantage point. Just think how many people are getting that view that night from such a special place. That is one of the times I realize how fortunate DH and I are to be able to go to WDW like we do and we try not to take it for granted...so it just makes me glow inside to be at such a wonderful place with the person I love.

 

[ToddyLu]

If you eat at Tony's you will miss Wishes completely I think? I don't think they let you walk out on the patio to enjoy Wishes and they come back in like Cali Grill. I could be wrong, though. With Cali Grill you get a great meal and Wishes.

 

[Belle83]

A signature meal can take 2 hours. You may or may not get seated on time. YOu need to worry about transportation back to your own resort because buses might not be running that late or you would have to get a taxi

I would rather go to CS than do a late TS but since you are on Mountain time it would not be a big deal, Tonys is the safer bet.

We have a rental car so I'm not worried about transportation. I was mostly worried about having a 45+ wait where the park is closed and we're waiting for a table (can you tell I'm impatient? lol). After reading the responses, it sounds like I'll have nothing to worry about.

I honestly didn't even think about Wishes. I like the shows but I won't be disappointed if I miss them either...we might try to watch while waiting for the table. That's a good idea!

I know Tony's doesn't compare to California Grill, but it's cheaper and I could get a dinner time closer to 9. (Nearly all of our dinner reservations are around 9pm...and honestly our sleep schedules are so screwed up from work that, combined with being on MST, 9pm will maybe even feel early for dinner). Will definitely keep the California Grill reservation, I love sushi!

Thanks everyone!

So, new question: how dressed up do people get for CG?

 

[MickeyNicki]

Been to Cali Grill twice, seen people in park attire and suits and dresses so I guess anything goes.

DH wears nice jeans and a polo. I had on a cotton dress one time and a pair of nice jeans and a top the second time. Both times we had early seatings and were headed to MK for EMH hours so we wanted to be comfy

I thought we were over dressed compared to other people

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I would get to Cali Grill at 8:45, have a nice drink and watch wishes from there. There is a nice little area of lounge chairs at the front of the restaurant. They pipe the music from Wishes into the restaurant and observation deck so you do not miss anything. Then at 9 head out to the observation deck to watch Wishes. They will darken the restaurant a bit. Come back in at 9:20 and have another drink while you have a quick wait for your table. We love it there and always plan to see Wishes from the deck.

If you are paying the money to eat there you might as well enjoy seeing Wishes from a terrific vantage point. Just think how many people are getting that view that night from such a special place. That is one of the times I realize how fortunate DH and I are to be able to go to WDW like we do and we try not to take it for granted...so it just makes me glow inside to be at such a wonderful place with the person I love.

I second this!! Exactly what I would suggest! Dh and I have eaten at CG on our two kid-less trips... we LOVE it! The first time was our honeymoon and we were fortunate enough to have a table by the window with a fantastic view of MK (and watched fireworks from our table)... but the observation area is awesome also. The restaurant is great, great food...

So definitely get there by 8:45... let them know your ADR isn't until 9:40 but that you would like to have a drink in the lounge while you wait and watch Wishes from the observation deck. Or who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and they'll actually be able to seat you early?