Hello, Brenda!
Glad to have you back!
The California Grill Lounge is an excellent alternative when unable to secure a table for standard dining. This first come, first serve location is one of my favorite places to enjoy a cocktail at Walt Disney World® Resort. The view is absolutely magical and the food and beverage options are exceptional.
In my experience, I've never had trouble enjoying the lounge when arriving early. However, when trying to secure a spot later in the evenings or near the time of that day's scheduled fireworks display, we've often been turned away. To ensure you're able to enjoy this unique location, I would definitely plan on an early arrival time - you should be ok if planning to arrive prior to 7:00pm on a Friday evening. Should there not be anything available at the time, stay close by. Many guests use this area to wait for their table to become available, so there is a high amount of table turnover in the lounge.
Another tip I have is to continue to check for reservations to open up with the online booking option, especially as you get closer to your visit. Guests plans often change and will cancel their reservations within the 24 hour cancellation window to avoid the cancellation fee - this often opens up last-minute reservations for other guests.
I hope this helps, Brenda! Don't forget to ask about any seasonal offerings the Chef may have available during your stay. California Grill is known for spectacular, seasonal cuisine that often uses fresh, local ingredients.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any additional questions you may have while planning your December visit. I am here to help!
Faith