California Grill mini review with a few pics

[prfctlyximprct]

Going to try and get a reservation here for my trip in November! Thank you for sharing your photos, I am now starving What time should you make a reservation in reference to the fireworks?

 

[epcotisbest]

Going to try and get a reservation here for my trip in November! Thank you for sharing your photos, I am now starving What time should you make a reservation in reference to the fireworks?

The only thing I could get for them last minute was a 5:55 p.m ADR. But, regardless of the time you eat, you can leave and then come back for the fireworks. Just show your receipt from earlier the same day and you will be taken back up to view the fireworks later.
They ate, left, went over to Poly for a Dole Whip, then came back around 8:45 p.m. For the 9 p.m. fireworks Monday evening. They watched from the outside top of the building observation deck at the Cali. If you want to actually eat while the fireworks are going off, I would think you should dine no earlier than an hour or so prior to fireworks time.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Glad you spent all those pennies Cali Grill is usually a fun experience.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I love this report. Thanks for posting.

 

[epcotisbest]

I love this report. Thanks for posting.

You are certainly welcome. Thank you for the kind words.

 

[BuddyThomas]

You are certainly welcome. Thank you for the kind words.

My bill at Cali last June was just under $300.00 for two people. But we had pre-cocktails, a bottle of wine, and after-dinner drinks. Curious what your bill turned out to be if you feel comfortable posting in something other than pennies.

 

[danyoung56]

What time should you make a reservation in reference to the fireworks?

Find out what fireworks time is, then try to book about 2 hours before that. That'll give you plenty of time to have a nice, unrushed meal, and then take a drink out to the balcony.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Going to try and get a reservation here for my trip in November! Thank you for sharing your photos, I am now starving What time should you make a reservation in reference to the fireworks?

At what point do you want to be in your meal when fireworks go off? For November, you'll also need to see if it's a Wishes nt or a MVMCP nt with Holiday Wishes. Wishes typically goes off around 10 at that time of year while Holiday Wishes is typically 9:30. It also depends on how many courses you intend to eat.

We usually plan on cocktails during the wait, cocktails and appetizers, entrees, and dessert. We've found our avg wait has always been around 30 min and people tend to start camping out in the last 30-60 min before fireworks. We've actually had this encouraged by a server on our last visit when we finished up about 25 min before Wishes.

All this being said...we've always been told to aim for 8pm if Wishes is at 10 and you plan on apps, entrees and dessert. So much hinges on being seated on time. We've had a number of 7:35s-8pms with Wishes at 10 where we've been eating dessert around fireworks time. I think we had a 7:45pm with Holiday Wishes at 9:30pm and we were just served our cake when it was time to find a spot outside to watch fireworks (not a good table this time).

 

[epcotisbest]

My bill at Cali last June was just under $300.00 for two people. But we had pre-cocktails, a bottle of wine, and after-dinner drinks. Curious what your bill turned out to be if you feel comfortable posting in something other than pennies.

Hers was around $135 with a generous tip. No drinks.