Mickey dressed in holiday clothes in front of a Christmas tree.
  • On Apr 9, 2023
    Alicia from FL Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hello! I know in the past the California Grill has thrown a lavish New Year's Eve party, but my question is...for those not attending the party, will the restaurant be open beforehand for their normal dining hours?

    Hiya there, Alicia! Thanks for reaching out to us at planDisney.

    Wow, New Year's Eve at the Walt Disney World Resort! That is definitely a Disney bucket list item for me. Typically, there are special events throughout the resort and if I ever get around to going on this special day, I know I'll have a hard time choosing exactly what to do! You're in for such a special treat.

    At this time, there have not been any announcements about upcoming holiday offerings nor have hours and policies been posted as of yet. As such, we are unsure of what will be offered and how it will affect normal dining hours. The exciting thing about Disney Resorts is that you never exactly know what surprises are up their sleeves...until they reveal them. Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog as your arrival date gets closer so that you can be the first to know of any holiday-related announcements! Some specialty events for the holiday season may get announced in June because it's halfway to the holidays, but New Year's Eve announcements and other specifics are usually announced much closer to the holiday.

    Since this is a very popular time to visit the resort, I would highly recommend you mark 60 days before your dining date on the calendar so that you can book the restaurant in which you'd like to dine. If you are staying at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, you can book dining for your entire vacation (up to 10 days) 60 days before your arrival date. If announcements have not been made specifically about New Year's Eve at that point, I would still book somewhere you'd like to dine at that time. Then if anything changes, you can usually modify typical dining reservations for many restaurants up to 2 hours before your scheduled time without penalty (check the cancelation policy of each restaurant).

    Since there is no shortage of amazing dining locations across the resort, you are bound to find a wonderful spot to make some special memories. Not only is California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort an outstanding experience, but there are also a few others that are great places to dine for a special occasion. Toledo - Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is a beautiful rooftop restaurant with some high-quality food, Flying Fish is another standout on Disney's BoardWalk, and Narcoossee's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was just beautifully reimagined and looks awesome! As I said, there is no shortage of options.

    As a tip, be sure to secure your Theme Park Reservations for this time of year well in advance since it's such a popular time to visit!

    Feel free to reach out again in the future should you have any other questions.

    All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,
    Matt
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Meet the Panelist: Matt, New Jersey

Well hello there! I'm Matt and I'm a Disney-loving husband, teacher, and uncle from New Jersey. You can often find me tasting my way around an EPCOT festival, rope-dropping Magic Kingdom Park, or conquering all of the Disney Mountains. I can't wait to help you reach out and find your happily ever after on your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation! Learn More About Matt

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