Wishes Timing at California Grill

[If U Had Wings]

I wanted to try the California Grill on our trip in August. What is the best time to make a ressie so that you can catch Wishes while there?

Wishes are at 10 the night we are going. I wanted to make a ressie for 9:15, but of course in true Disney fashion I have to go with 9:10 or 9:20. Which would work better?

Any advice would be helpful!

 

[jonestavern]

We made our ADRs for one hour before Wishes in late January & still weren't seated in time to see the fireworks. We even showed up & checked in half an hour before that.

People tend to linger in order to view the fireworks at their tables.
So perhaps you'll be seated, but don't panic if you're not.

That said we did enjoy a front of the pack vantage from the outdoor walkway.
The observation deck isn't bad at all, get out there early, bringing your cocktails & cameras with you.
Enjoy chatting with your fellow viewers.
You can also view them from the lounge tables inside. Be sure to arrive extra early as the lounge & bar areas are very popular, too.

Jean

 

[wilde_oscar]

yeah, you want more like 8ish not 9ish.

 

[dreamer17555]

When I booked CG for Wishes the CM recommended booking 2 hours ahead. People linger. Hope that helps.

-Becca-

 

[°o° Sally :)]

We ate at the CG last Tuesday evening. Sadly, it wasn't a Wishes evening, but there was a beautiful show none the less that started at 9:45 from the Pirates and Princesses Party. We had ADRs at 7:20. Even in a fairly busy restaurant we were seated around 7:30ish right by the window overlooking the water and the MK. Beautiful!! With a 4 yo and 6 yo we weren't expecting to stay at the table until the fireworks, although we really wanted to see them and had been told that with our receipt we would be allowed back to the restaurant to view them that evening. Our waiter, however, was wonderful and seemed to slow our dinner down considerably so that we and the children would still be seated for the show. We weren't sure the kids would make it, but they did, were VERY well behaved, and LOVED seeing the show from there with the music and all. So, yes, a ressie a couple of hours ahead of time seems to be a good option.

This was our favorite dining experience of the whole week. The food was fantastic, the service very friendly, and the view and show unmatched.

Enjoy!

 

[popstar7867]

O man! The only ressie I could get for our anniversary was for 9:40 PM with Wishes at 10:00. I really hope it doesn't take an hour for us to be seated as it's already so late at night! Do you think we should get there around 9:00 to check in? Hopefully the earlier the better?

 

[Connears]

We had dinner at CG xmas night 2006. We made adr for 9:30(only time available for our size party) and wishes was set for 9:00pm that night. We got there at 8:55pm and were escorted upstairs immediately. We were actually able to be seated right away and we had a great view from our table of wishes, although anyone in the restaurant or in the lounge can go to the outdoor observation area and watch(our waitress told us we could do this and she would wait to take our order and 2 of us did). If we had not been seated for dinner right away, we would still have been able to see wishes. I think you can plan it to be there early enough to see it before dinner or see it during or after.

Connears

 

[ChefColette]

My ADR is an hour before Wishes on my first night, and I hope I get seated before Wishes starts.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Wow, I wasn't thinking I had to make the adr that early. I'm going to have to give them a call and see if I can bump it up.

 

[popstar7867]

Wow, I wasn't thinking I had to make the adr that early. I'm going to have to give them a call and see if I can bump it up.

I'm thinking the same thing! We are planning on going to CG on May 4th which is my my 5 year anniversary with my Boyfriend! We have never been to CG so I hope we both like it! I've been calling Disney Dining non stop trying to get a chef mickey ressie for the week we will be there (unfortunately all booked up) and checked on earlier times for CG and they are all booked up until 9:50 PM!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I was able to bump it back to 9 o'clock today. I'm just going to get there really early and hope for the best.

My brother told me today that he had a 9:20 ressie in Dec. and was seated right on time. (They checked in at 8:45). We'll see the fireworks no matter what and that's all that counts.

 

[Uncleromulus]

You will!
Most likely you'll be somewhwere into the meal when the fireworks begin.
We always try for 1 hour before the show and almost always we're eating at fireworks time.