Hi, Tam! Welcome back to planDisney! Your trip is just a few weeks away, and it sounds like you're putting the finishing touches on a great trip! Thanks for stopping by to ask us your question about some elevated experiences at
Disney's Contemporary Resort.
You've picked great options with
California Grill and
Celebration at the Top - Sip, Savor, Sparkle, which is also held inside California Grill. Before we talk about which one I think is the better choice, let's go over the differences.
California Grill is a restaurant located at the top of the Contemporary with sweeping views of Magic Kingdom. It offers a fixed price,
three course meal with options for each course. This restaurant is open year-round with multiple dinner seatings per night. You'll have a service team that will take care of your table throughout your meal. Then, when it's time for
Happily Ever After fireworks at Magic Kingdom, you'll be invited to head out to the private deck for viewing. It's a lovely experience and a favorite of mine.
Celebration at the Top is more of a fireworks viewing party as opposed to a full dinner (although there is enough food available to fill you up). Once you check in, you'll be assigned seating for the evening, and you'll be invited to visit the table with the food offerings. It's served buffet style, but some items are already plated, making it a bit more refined than other self-serve buffets. As you're already aware, an included bar is also available serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Your bartender will be able to craft mocktails for you, based on available ingredients. Once you're there, speak with a bartender about your preferences, and I'm sure they'll concoct something you'll enjoy. Once it's time for fireworks, you'll be led out onto a private deck separate from the one the restaurant patrons use. This experience has more limited availability because there is only one seating time in a small space, and it's only offered on select nights. In fact, I've been trying to snag a reservation for years, and it never seems to line up with my trip.
Now that we've discussed both options, let's talk about what I think each one is best for. California Grill is best for Guests looking for a full meal and a relaxing experience. It's also best for pickier eaters as there are multiple options per course. If you'd like choices of dining times, California Grill is the better option. Celebration at the Top is best if you're looking for a more exclusive experience that's harder to get. It's also better for those who want to prioritize the fireworks. Your servers at California Grill will do their best to pace your experience with fireworks in mind, but Celebration at the Top is timed and curated specifically to the fireworks. If you're looking for more of a cocktail party atmosphere, Celebration at the Top is the way to go. Finally, you'll be viewing fireworks with fewer people if you choose Celebration at the Top.
If it were me, I'd choose Celebration at the Top simply because it's a harder reservation to get, and I won't know when or if I'd get the chance again. Whereas, I know I can always dine at California Grill. That being said, I would be very happy with either experience.
Tam, I hope this has been helpful. Please visit us again if you have any other planning questions.
Let your dreams guide you!
Melanie