Hi Mark,
Thanks for visiting the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
I have a lot of favorite experiences at Walt Disney World, and I can tell you that dining at California Grill and watching the fireworks are tops on the list. In fact, I just made dinner reservations for
California Grill for my next trip, and I am so looking forward to dining there again.
You’re right that California Grill offers a prime viewing location for the nighttime fireworks. Typically, the Magic Kingdom Park fireworks light up the sky at 9 p.m. Be sure to check the
park hours calendars for updated information as your stay approaches.
The great perk about dining at California Grill is you can dine before the fireworks and then return and present your dinner receipt at the check-in on the second floor of
Disney's Contemporary Resort. You can then view the fireworks from inside the California Grill Lounge or the outside on the observation deck just outside the restaurant.
My suggestion, from my own experience: instead of trying to time your reservation so you can watch the fireworks *during* your dinner (after all, you won’t know where you’ll be seated or what your view will be), schedule your dinner reservation and enjoy the California Grill experience, and then either stay or return to take in the fireworks spectacular. It's also worth noting that you can also dine after the fireworks and still arrive to watch the fireworks before your dinner reservation.
Enjoy your Disney!
Jerry