California Grill

[mike29]

I just recently read the thread about going to California Grill for Wishes. I'm planning to go to CG but now I have second thoughts on whether I should go to Ohana or Narcoosee's. I'm very confused...can someone help in choosing?

 

[disgolfer]

I am really only a fan of Ohana for breakfast. Narcoosie's is great, but California Grille is my favorite place at WDW. You can see the show from inside the restaurant, but you cannot really hear it. It is really cool if you want to go outside with a drink and watch the show.

 

[Laura]

Out of the 3 we have only been to 'Ohana but the view was awesome (we requested a window seat) and they played the music in the restaurant. I'll go back over and over now.

 

[Shaman]

I think it depends whether you want a great place to eat...or a great place to watch Wishes...

Personally I dislike the food at CG....but its a great place to watch Wishes...

 

[Master Yoda]

I absolutely loved going to CG and watching Wishes from the roof of the Contemporary. What you will want to do is find out what time wishes is on the night you want to go. Make a PS fro approximately 1 hour before Wishes. Tell the cast member at CG that you wanted to watch Wishes and ask for a table that you can see it from. If one is not available (they rarely are) tell your server the same thing (you want to watch Wishes) and he/she will do everything that they can to work your dinner around it and you can watch the fireworks from the observation deck. Dinner will take a little longer but it is well worth it.

 

[Since1976]

I saw the show for the first time from the deck atop the California Grill, and while it was beautiful, part of me regretted not seeing and hearing the show the way it is meant to be seen (I understand that they pipe the music into the restaurant, but I cannot confirm this. Anyone?)

I would only do the CG if you've already experienced the show from inside the park.

On a side note, that dinner at the CG was the first time I ate at a Disney restaurant outside of a park, not to mention the first time I set foot in a Disney hotel. It was exhilarating for me, as I was on my honeymoon, and I had dreamed about being free to go where I want in WDW since I first "roughed it" with my thrifty parents as a kid.

 

[vilegirl]

I love watching Wishes from CG. It's a really unique experience. Watching Wishes on Main Street is still my favorite, but I enjoy seeing it from all different perspectives. CG is one of my favorite restaurants at WDW so it's always a treat to watch it from there. I've also seen it from Ohanas - and I love Ohanas - but my favorite is still CG.

 

[WDWRLD]

I was wondering if anyone who has eaten at CG remembers how long they were there. We are going on june 22 and I have a ps for 8:20. Hopefully that is late enough. The park hours are not out yet but im hoping that they are the usual closing time of 10pm or later whick should make wishes at 9:30 or 10.

 

[jluka11]

Oh I went to the CG March 18th. We made a PS 2 weeks ahead for 8:20. We had to wait a little but we got the BEST table ever! Perfect window view. Oh and the food is so good!

 

[Master Yoda]

I was wondering if anyone who has eaten at CG remembers how long they were there. We are going on june 22 and I have a ps for 8:20. Hopefully that is late enough. The park hours are not out yet but im hoping that they are the usual closing time of 10pm or later whick should make wishes at 9:30 or 10.

Dinner for us took around 2 1/2 hours but that includes watching Wishes.

 

[poohbear6103]

I suggest CG. They pipe in the music and turn off all the lights so you feel like you are watching it at the Magic Kingdom. The food is also great which is an added bonus. I agree that making the reservation for 45 minutes to an hour ahead is a good idea and tell your waiter.

 

[RedGear]

hopefully you have better luck

I was reading that California Grill has a great view, and me and my boyfriend are going to Disney the last week of april thru the first week of may. So I made priority seating arrangments exactly 90 days ahead of time, and I made them for the friday that we would be there because I figured there would be a 9:00 show of wishes. I was WRONG! They didn't post the calendar untill the end of Feb, when I found out that the magic kingdom closes at 7 that night because of the senior all night parties. My boyfriend and I are so disapointed! I planned this special dinner so far in advance and we aren't going to see the fireworks! Be careful and make sure that if you do make the priority seating arrangments that they have scheduled wishes for that night!

Good luck!