[CarolinaTilt]

We have a 9:30 reservation at California Grille on our first night. Wishes is at 9:00. Will we be able to watch Wishes from the California Grille Balcony, like the CM said we would? Anyone had this type of arrangement, when their reservation was for immediately after wishes?

Alvin

[missymouse]

We have always had our reservations early enough that we would catch Wishes as our meal was wrapping up, but I have been told that we could stay to watch them if we were finished, so I would think it would be okay to get there a little early to watch too. I would NOT go onto the observation deck to watch though. They are not as pretty from that point of view. I would have a drink at the bar instead, and you can turn around and watch from the window. It's spectacular!

[CarolinaTilt]

Originally Posted by missymouse

We have always had our reservations early enough that we would catch Wishes as our meal was wrapping up, but I have been told that we could stay to watch them if we were finished, so I would think it would be okay to get there a little early to watch too. I would NOT go onto the observation deck to watch though. They are not as pretty from that point of view. I would have a drink at the bar instead, and you can turn around and watch from the window. It's spectacular!

Great tip!!! Thanks so much.

[honeypot]

We have always seen the fireworks when our meal was wrapping up but this time the only time we could get was 4:30. We were told by the ressie line that if you save your receipt from there you can go back at Wishes time and they will let you back up in the restaurant to view the fireworks.

[Dana]

I would check in for your ADR at 8:30 to ensure that you get up there in enough time to get situated to see the show. I haven't ever heard of anyone going up before the show, but who knows?

[Soundgod]

I don't know how soon before your reservation time you'll be allowed upstairs and it's very likely you'll be kept waiting on the second floor until after Wishes if your reservation is 9:30.
The last time we ate at CG, our reservation was for 9:30 and Wishes was at 10. Yes, we did get upstairs, but here's the situation up there.
First, you've got many diners dawdling and delaying paying their bills and finishing their meals so they can watch Wishes. This causes a chain reaction with all the diners whose reservation times are anywhere from 45 minutes before Wishes up until showtime now stacking up at the bar, in the seating area, and any vacant section of floor, where I assure you, people are now sitting because there is no place else to sit. Additionally they allow diners who have finished their meals to come back upstairs to watch Wishes. We were there on April 8 and it was horrible! As I said, our reservation was 9:30 and Wishes was at 10. We weren't seated until 10:20 when finally enough tables had finally opened up to work through the backlog.
With conditions like this, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you aren't allowed up until 9:30. They do have fire laws and maximum occupancy rules to contend with.
Also, the better view would be from the south observation deck, not the north as the perspective will be closer to what the show is supposed to look like. A little realized fact is that any MK fireworks show is designed to look best when viewed from Main Street in front of the castle and anywhere in that line, all the way to the ferry landing in the TTC.
The fireworks are launched from two different places. There are the castle fireworks which are launched from the right and left of the castle itself and then there are the "long range" high altitude bursts and stars that are launched from the other side of the railroad tracks north of the park. When viewed from Cali Grill, the show is not one seamless presentation. It's like watching a 3D movie without the glasses on, only with worse separation of the images. Also, trying to watch from the bar or from anything other than a window table is something I wouldn't recommend. If you do watch outside, be prepared for a stiff wind (you are 150 feet up) and the wind chill to go with it, even in summer.
Now, as much as I just told you everything that's wrong with watching from the Cali Grill, I've done it something like 6 times and would do so again.
Enjoy your meal and I hope you are allowed upstairs early (I'm just not overly confident).

[Soundgod]

If you look at post #81 in the following thread, you can get some idea of what I am talking about.

http://www.mousebuzz.com/forum/trip-...-report-6.html

This picture was taken from our room on the 12th floor in the center of the building, directly underneath Cali Grill proper. The view from above would be looking down more and also to the right of my picture. This changes your viewing angle pretty drastically.
The castle fireworks of course are shot from the sides of the castle. The long range stuff looks like it's being shot in back of and slightly to the left of Space Mountain. So you see it's not nearly as integrated from this angle as it is from in line with Main Street.
Actually, if you are inside the park and watching to the left of the CP flag pole, the perspective is already falling apart.

[tonyksl]

I have heard that they will not let you in to just watch the show if you have a later reservation.

[Boss Mouse]

If you get there too late, you have to sweep up the debris.

[Val32]

Our ADR was for earlier, maybe 7pm ish???? but you are allowed to leave and come back up for Wishes.
It turned out we only had 15-20mins so we stayed and waited.

[iluvwdw]

I actually LOVED watching Wishes from the Observation Deck! It is AMAZING to have that point of view, and the music is piped in. I watched it from my table for half of it, then took DS out to the Observation Deck to watch the rest. TRULY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just get there and check in for your ressie EARLY and go out to the Observation Deck.

[missymouse]

Originally Posted by iluvwdw

I actually LOVED watching Wishes from the Observation Deck! It is AMAZING to have that point of view, and the music is piped in. I watched it from my table for half of it, then took DS out to the Observation Deck to watch the rest. TRULY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just get there and check in for your ressie EARLY and go out to the Observation Deck.

Well, to each his own, I guess. I don't like the observation deck perspective at all, but others might want to give it try since there are those who do like it. I thought it was weird. It seemed so strange to see how the fireworks were being shot in one place, but the castle was off to the side.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by missymouse

Well, to each his own, I guess. I don't like the observation deck perspective at all, but others might want to give it try since there are those who do like it. I thought it was weird. It seemed so strange to see how the fireworks were being shot in one place, but the castle was off to the side.

You sound a little like me. Also, it's different from rooms lower down in the tower and different in rooms farther away from the MK (a little better).
The biggest reason I enjoy the views from the Contemporary is because I'm taping the show and later editing that shot in with other shots from inside and outside the park.
Again, if I had only one area to view from, it would be up and down Main Street, the best views being just after you break into the clear in the hub area, just past Casey's+Ice Cream Emporium. You can move a little to the left or right and maintain proper perspective, but if you move too far to either side, it breaks down pretty fast. also, I wouldn't watch any closer to the castle than the line between the two popcorn stands.

(OK, last time we ate up there, I didn't have any cameras with me (for the first time))

[CarolinaTilt]

Originally Posted by honeypot

We have always seen the fireworks when our meal was wrapping up but this time the only time we could get was 4:30. We were told by the ressie line that if you save your receipt from there you can go back at Wishes time and they will let you back up in the restaurant to view the fireworks.

Wow!! Awesome tip!! Thanks so much!! We could change our reservation to an earlier time and return to watch the fireworks.

[parkhopper]

We're trying a 7:40 reservation at CG this time, hoping that we're timing it just right. I agree that the perspective is different, and I would plan to see the fireworks from Mainstreet another night if you have time. Our favorite viewing spot is the train deck above the entrance.