Wishes and California Grill

[Irish Twins]

Hello! i am kinda new here and was thinking about planning to see Wishes from the California Grill on our upcoming trip. I do not have the hours yet so not sure if this is plannable (is this a word) at this time? Can you tell me what time to plan a reservation at the California Grill to see Wishes from there? Also can Wishes be seen from a table or do we have to go outside to view this? Any input on this subject would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[TDC Nala]

There are some windowside tables. I do not believe you can guarantee yourself a windowside table. You may be able to request one, and wait for one, but the odds on getting one go down the closer you get to fireworks time.

If you are not at a windowside table, you would need to go out onto the observation deck to get an unobstructed view.

If you don't know the time of the fireworks, it will be difficult to book a reservation for that time. I'd personally book for at least an hour and a half before the fireworks time. Keep in mind that anyone who has a windowside table within that time is probably going to hang onto that table until the fireworks ends.

 

[Connears]

We ate there for xmas dinner 2006 at had adr for 9:15pm and Wishes was set for 9pm. We arrived early 8:50pm and were brought up to the restaurant and seated right away. We did have a perfect view of Wishes from our table(we were not right at the wondow, but in the second row of tables), but CM-server told us we could go out to the observation deck if we wanted and to take our time..half of us stayed at the table the others went outside. Other folks seated at the bar/lounge also went out to watch. I do not think you need to make adr 1.5 hour before...its a waste of time.

Connears

 

[TDC Nala]

I would suggest an hour and a half for anyone who wants to maximize the odds of a windowside table. If you don't care where your table is, then you don't need to book that early.

 

[Jletendre]

We just dined at CG in May and our ADR was at 6pm (wishes was at 10pm that night). We ate in the back room facing the lake and didn't stress about wishes. Our meal ended by 8pm and we were told to just show your receipt and you are free to come back up to see Wishes so we shopped a little downstairs, headed back up around 9pm had a couple drinks at the bar then walked out to see Wishes, there really was no crowd till right before it started and we were on the back section which had a perfect view.

If you plan on taking pictures, make sure you have a very good zoom

 

[DISNEY FIX]

We ate there for xmas dinner 2006 at had adr for 9:15pm and Wishes was set for 9pm. We arrived early 8:50pm and were brought up to the restaurant and seated right away. We did have a perfect view of Wishes from our table(we were not right at the wondow, but in the second row of tables), but CM-server told us we could go out to the observation deck if we wanted and to take our time..half of us stayed at the table the others went outside. Other folks seated at the bar/lounge also went out to watch. I do not think you need to make adr 1.5 hour before...its a waste of time.

Connears

Do you remember if they piped in the music as well?

 

[ajsrph]

Yes, the music is piped in! We just happened to time it right on our last visit and we somehow got a table at the window facing the castle...Wishes had been delayed because of a storm that came through. Otherwise we would've missed it. I have to say, though, seeing it from CG in no way compares to being right there in MK watching it, IMO. I like being really close!

 

[In Luv with Disney]

We made our dinner ressies for 7:45pm or 8:00pm and Wishes was set for 9pm that night. Just as our table was ready, they were clearing off a windowside table...the best one in the house! We politely asked if we could wait for that table, and they said NO PROBLEM. It was AMAZING. I did go outside halfway through with DS who wanted to hear the actual fireworks. The music was piped in and it was an INCREDIBLE view! It TOTALLY made the meal worth the 2 credits.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We've always had success planning dinner an hour before the fireworks, whatever time that might be.