What to do about my 05/02/2022 MK day

[AquaGlitter]

Hello! I feel like I may be overthinking this, but I need advice about my park reservation for May 2nd.

Given that there is a castmember event (I believe on May 3rd), MK on May 2nd now has a crowd prediction of 10. I had already reserved for my fiance and I to be in MK that day, since it is the last park day of our trip.

Now I'm worried that it will be way too crowded. However, we already have a reservation for California Grill that night. So changing our park reservation would mean giving it up and trying to find one for the day we would switch out. It could also mean giving up another great reservation as I got all the ADRs I wanted. For example, if I trade that MK day with an Epcot day it could mean giving up both California Grill and Space 220 lounge. I know California Grill isn't in MK, but since we don't have park hoppers it makes the most sense for that day.

I am on Touring Plans' reservation finder, but it is kind of stressful trying to see how I could make a switch up work. I'm wondering if I'm just better off accepting the crowd level for that day. What do you think? I should also note that it won't be our only day in MK. We have another one on our first park day, April 24th. We also have purchased Genie + if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DWlovers_1st visit DL]

If California Grill is a must-have, I would keep the day as planned. I would bet you will be ok with the more crowded day at MK since you will have already had one full day at that park AND are using Genie+.

Another thought is to see how your trip goes and make a change to your plans on or before May 1st, if of course other park reservations are available and maybe you see that California Grill isn't as important at that point in your trip. As far as I can tell, dining reservations are free to cancel as long as its 24 hours in advnance.

Just an educated guess though as I haven't been to the parks since the major changes/reopening but have been trying to get up to speed via this forum. We're headed there in late May - yippee!!!

Good luck!

 

[Her Dotness]

Given that recent reviews generally say Space 220 is CRT In Space (that is, great experience but just-okay food), I'd recommend keeping Cali Grill. I'd even Lyft or Uber to get back there from another park if need be.

We found Cali Grill as fabulous as ever last fall despite concern that the prix fixe meal wouldn't be as enjoyable.

 

[AquaGlitter]

Given that recent reviews generally say Space 220 is CRT In Space (that is, great experience but just-okay food), I'd recommend keeping Cali Grill. I'd even Lyft or Uber to get back there from another park if need be.

We found Cali Grill as fabulous as ever last fall despite concern that the prix fixe meal wouldn't be as enjoyable.

Given that recent reviews generally say Space 220 is CRT In Space (that is, great experience but just-okay food), I'd recommend keeping Cali Grill. I'd even Lyft or Uber to get back there from another park if need be.

We found Cali Grill as fabulous as ever last fall despite concern that the prix fixe meal wouldn't be as enjoyable.

Thanks for the advice, this is not a bad idea. I could switch up my last Epcot day with our last MK day. I admit though I have a hard time giving up the lounge! (I know the food is just alright, but I wanted more so to just check it out and have a few drinks)

Another possibility would be swatching our last MK and HS days. For that HS day we had a dinner reservation at Topolinos terrace at 8:15pm. Do you think it is realistic to go from HS to California Grill and to Topolinos from MK?

 

[AquaGlitter]

If California Grill is a must-have, I would keep the day as planned. I would bet you will be ok with the more crowded day at MK since you will have already had one full day at that park AND are using Genie+.

Another thought is to see how your trip goes and make a change to your plans on or before May 1st, if of course other park reservations are available and maybe you see that California Grill isn't as important at that point in your trip. As far as I can tell, dining reservations are free to cancel as long as its 24 hours in advnance.

Just an educated guess though as I haven't been to the parks since the major changes/reopening but have been trying to get up to speed via this forum. We're headed there in late May - yippee!!!

Good luck!

Thanks for your advice! I keep seeing that California Grill is pretty great and this is basically the only place my fiancé has asked to go or even thing he has asked to do haha! So I don't think I can give this one up!

 

[Her Dotness]

Don't forget that age-old advice (with a twist): The way to insure you keep a grip on a man's heart is through his stomach.

Since you're asking from a park to a resort, the easiest way to get to either will be the bus.

Even if you finish dinner at Cali Grill well before fireworks begin, no worries. Simply hang onto your receipt. You can return to the CG check-in desk and present that to be allowed back up to the restaurant to watch fireworks. They are incredible from the deck outside the restaurant. Another good reason not to omit Cali Grill.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Hello! I feel like I may be overthinking this, but I need advice about my park reservation for May 2nd.

Given that there is a castmember event (I believe on May 3rd), MK on May 2nd now has a crowd prediction of 10. I had already reserved for my fiance and I to be in MK that day, since it is the last park day of our trip.

Now I'm worried that it will be way too crowded. However, we already have a reservation for California Grill that night. So changing our park reservation would mean giving it up and trying to find one for the day we would switch out. It could also mean giving up another great reservation as I got all the ADRs I wanted. For example, if I trade that MK day with an Epcot day it could mean giving up both California Grill and Space 220 lounge. I know California Grill isn't in MK, but since we don't have park hoppers it makes the most sense for that day.

I am on Touring Plans' reservation finder, but it is kind of stressful trying to see how I could make a switch up work. I'm wondering if I'm just better off accepting the crowd level for that day. What do you think? I should also note that it won't be our only day in MK. We have another one on our first park day, April 24th. We also have purchased Genie + if that matters.

Thanks in advance!

Don't forget that Cali Grill has a dress code. I wouldn't want to be in a theme park all day in my dinner clothes. I'd look at revising your schedule even if it wasn't for the crowd issue.

 

[Her Dotness]

Don't forget that Cali Grill has a dress code. I wouldn't want to be in a theme park all day in my dinner clothes. I'd look at revising your schedule even if it wasn't for the crowd issue.

It's not that much of a dress code.

All that's really necessary is unripped jeans, no hat/cap for guys and a collared rather than crewneck shirt. DH often goes in a shortsleeve sport shirt with jeans. We've seen men wearing Birks with cargo shorts and polo shirts--and not terrifically neat ones of any of those, too.

I've sometimes just stuck a plain dressy tee shirt (no graphics) in my tote to slip on for Cali Grill and worn good jeans with sneakers--pretty much what I might wear to a park.

Well, without my Maleficent hat, flashing Mickey head Happy Holidays neckchain and Stitch "MORE Humans!?" tee shirt (see avatar here for that specific UN-dress code attire).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It's not that much of a dress code.

All that's really necessary is unripped jeans, no hat/cap for guys and a collared rather than crewneck shirt. DH often goes in a shortsleeve sport shirt with jeans. We've seen men wearing Birks with cargo shorts and polo shirts--and not terrifically neat ones of any of those, too.

I've sometimes just stuck a plain dressy tee shirt (no graphics) in my tote to slip on for Cali Grill and worn good jeans with sneakers--pretty much what I might wear to a park.

Well, without my Maleficent hat, flashing Mickey head Happy Holidays neckchain and Stitch "MORE Humans!?" tee shirt (see avatar here for that specific UN-dress code attire).

Understood, my main point wasn't really about wanting to wear something DIFFERENT for dinner, but I'd want to wear something CLEAN. My normal parks clothes are Tommy Bahama or Tori Richard Honolulu button-downs with cotton shorts, which are well within the Signature Dining dress codes, but by mid-afternoon I'm hot and sweaty and would want to shower and change before a really nice meal.

 

[AquaGlitter]

Thought I would update as you've been helpful!
For now I have changed my HS day and MK day. That means going to Topolinos after MK and California Grill after HS.
Not the MOST logical, but since this will be our second day at both parks, I think it'll be fine. We will prob do an early morning at HS and then do a pool/shower break before going to California Grill. Watching the fireworks from there on our last day should be special!

Still keeping an eye out for any reservation switches I can make that help this make more sense. But of course, most of the reservations for our trip are at the trickiest spots (Space 220 lounge, Topolinos, California Grill, Ohana's, Oga's, etc.... not that I'm complaining).

This is the first time since childhood my partner and I are going and probably the last time in a long while...so I'm trying to make it as perfect as possible...maybe a little too much ahah! Thanks everyone for the advice...it actually helped me a lot because I hadn't thought of just switching my days with the dinners at resort restaurants and taking an uber/lyft if necessary.