Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Donna!
I'm so glad you came here to ask about one of my favorite restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort:
California Grill at
Disney's Contemporary Resort. The view from the top of the Resort Hotel is pretty spectacular, and if you time it right you can eat your dinner from one of the best seats in the house for the
Happily Ever After fireworks show at
Magic Kingdom Park. They even pipe the music into the dining room so you can enjoy the full experience!
As you know, when you use the
Disney Dining Plan, your Table Service credit, or two Table-Service credits if you're eating at a signature restaurant like California Grill, entitles you to a beverage, an entrée, and a dessert. Typically, it is not possible to swap the dessert for an appetizer of your choice, but at some signature dining locations, I have been able to exchange my dessert for one specific soup on the menu. This varies from restaurant to restaurant, so ask your server if you're able to do something like that when you place your order. This was how I was able to try the legendary Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup at
Le Cellier Steakhouse at
Epcot, so it never hurts to ask! Of course, you're always welcome to order whatever appetizers you want and charge them to your
Resort Hotel room when you tap your
MagicBand to redeem your Dining Plan credits.
Have a magical day, Donna!
Jessica