Royal greetings, Faye!
A warm welcome to planDisney and thank you for bringing us a fabulous
Walt Disney World Resort vacation planning question. I'm thrilled to hear your holiday to The Most Magical Place on Earth is nearly here! There's no place like the Walt Disney World Resort for the
holidays. You're in for a trip filled with festive joy and merriment!
Faye, I'm very excited to learn you'll be dining at
California Grill during your upcoming getaway. I was able to experience this culinary sensation during a recent trip with my closest girlfriends and was blown away! (We each ordered a different starter and dessert and shared plates to maximize the savory and sweet flavors during our meal.) I checked in with a friendly Cast Member who shared that, at the time of writing, there shouldn't be a limit on the amount of time you're seated at the restaurant, within reason. (For reference, my party's dining experience lasted about two hours from the time we were seated until the time we exited the restaurant.) However, this Cast Member also shared that, on some evenings, Guests with a California Grill receipt from earlier in the day may be welcomed to view the fireworks from the restaurant later in the evening! I recommend asking your waitstaff if this would be permitted on the evening of your visit if your dinner ends before the fireworks begin.
Another excellent viewing location at Disney's Contemporary Resort is located near the breezeway that connects to
Bay Lake Tower, Faye. You should be able to hear the music well from here, complete with a dazzling view of the bursts above Cinderella Castle! The
Electrical Water Pageant may also appear just before or after Happily Ever After that evening, so keep your eyes on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon around this time. This simplistic yet entertaining display never fails to bring a nostalgic smile to my face!
Faye, I hope you've found this information helpful and I wish you a trip filled with memorable moments. If you have any additional questions before you embark on your grand adventure, please feel free to revisit us here at
planDisney anytime. We're here to help you make the most of your time at The Most Magical Place on Earth!
Warm wishes,
Lauren