Which Cali Grill Reservation would you keep?

[pemberly]

So here's my story . . . I have a weekend at Disney and a week at the beach in Florida coming up. DH is not a Disney person but decided to "humor me" for the weekend. The only thing he wanted to do was to go to California Grill while we were there. A bit fancy for me for a weekend jaunt with the kids but if that's what gets me a weekend at Disney, OK. So at 180 days out, I was online and did all my ADR's and got a 7PM Cali grill reservation on Sat night. This was dependent on flying in Sat, eat at Cali Grill Sat night, one day park hop on Sunday and off to the beach house on Monday.

As it turns out, we got a great flight price for a Friday flight and we were able to move our beach house check in to Sunday night. So everything is now switched back a day - except my ADR's.

So here is what I was able to get reservation wise at Cali Grill . . .

Friday at 5:20 - Flight lands at 2:30 at MCO and we are renting a car.
or
Sat at 7:10 (my original one) - we will be park hopping all day and MK is open until midnight.

Hoping desperately for a 7PM time on Friday but that is not looking likely and worried about the 3 hour time limit from "wheels down" at the airport to making it to the restaurant on time. We could do Sat but I feel like I would rather go with the flow on our park hop day instead of taking time out to get dressed and attend an upscale restaurant.

Which would you pick?

 

[akadada]

Tough call.

Depends. Arrival day if you run into travel problems, you're out of luck both Friday and likely Saturday. You're definitely going to make it there by 5:20 if you land MCO at 2:30. Once you hae your bag and car, it's only 25 minutes to resort entrance, another 20 at the most to fumble around to CG. With Friday, no feelings of rushing to get back to the park and likely can see early wishes if it's 8:00 and then go to bed, make the most of Saturday all day park. Saturday, little risk of travel delay though, better chance of watching wishes from CG and still doing midnight MK after dinner, further, you have an excuse to park at Contemporary on Saturday to then go to MK missing crowds on transportation...

 

[minnie mum]

I wouldn't risk an ADR that soon after an arrival. Too many things could result in delays. Keep trying for a later Friday ADR, or just go with Sat. The dress code isn't that bad- nicer park clothes would be fine (providing the weather isn't too hot)

 

[kastoney]

Agree with the others that the early reservation time may be pushing it. Even with a rental car, the issue is the flight being on time, which we all know can be volatile. If you miss it you would be completely out of luck. I'd stick with Saturday and depending on timing plan on watching the fireworks from there. It's our favorite view in all the world. And of course keep checking too. We usually don't make ADR's until the day of and have gotten prime time Cali Grill reservations many times.

 

[MonoMan]

I also would not risk the ADR with the timing of your flight, especially since it is the one thing he wants to do. I would not give up on trying to get a different time for your ADR on Saturday. Not sure how far off your trip is but I often keep trying back and find that other times open up even at the more popular ADR locations. Of course this will also depends on how many people you have going - seems easier to get a table for smaller party number rather than larger. Good Luck!