Timing of California Grill reservation for catching fireworks

[BJoy82]

We have a reservation at California Grill for 8:35pm. We've never been there but understand it to be a prime location for catching the Magic Kingdom fireworks (starting at 8pm).

My question is if I really need to keep trying for a 7:30pm or similar time slot. How early can we show up? What might logistics be like if our party of 6 (including an infant) gets there a little before the show starts with a confirmed reservation for half an hour after the show starts? Am I stressing over nothing (thinking we'll be waiting out of view of the show)?

Have any of you had a similar mid-show dinner reservation there?

 

[CarolynFH]

We have a reservation at California Grill for 8:35pm. We've never been there but understand it to be a prime location for catching the Magic Kingdom fireworks (starting at 8pm).

My question is if I really need to keep trying for a 7:30pm or similar time slot. How early can we show up? What might logistics be like if our party of 6 (including an infant) gets there a little before the show starts with a confirmed reservation for half an hour after the show starts? Am I stressing over nothing (thinking we'll be waiting out of view of the show)?

Have any of you had a similar mid-show dinner reservation there?

Unfortunately, people who were seated prior to fireworks time will tend to stay until after the fireworks. So yes, you could be waiting for your table while the fireworks happen. CG does have a fireworks observation area of its own - I'm not sure whether you'd be allowed to access it before your ADR time, since your ADR is essentially after the show is over. So I would keep trying for an ADR time that was before the fireworks, and if not successful, I'd probably plan to watch them from the 4th floor observation deck that's open to everyone.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

They might let you onto the observation deck before your reservation, if you show up early and ask nicely.

 

[ocdb8r1]

Pre-Covid they permitted anyone up early (or even later) that had a reservation for the same evening. If arriving early, we were permitted to go up, watch fireworks and then could choose to come back down or wait at the bar. For coming later we were asked to show our receipt and were permitted up about 15-20 minutes before fireworks began CG has two terraces for viewing, so there (was) usually plenty of room.

I have no idea if COVID has changed their approach - we are in the same situation as you with a 8:30 reservation, and I'm certainly hoping we can make it work as before.