Hello Janice,
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question. You are certainly making quite a trek for your magical vacation, but it sounds like you're off to a great start with some fantastic plans!
Dining at
California Grill is a treat! The food is delicious, and you can't beat the view. You're going to love seeing
Disney Enchantment and the
Electrical Water Pageant from the observation deck. You absolutely can arrive early to view the nighttime shows. Although, if your reservation is at 9:15 PM, I would normally recommend heading to the check-in podium on the 2nd floor of
Disney's Contemporary Resort by 8:45 PM anyway. You might want to bump that time up a little just to give yourself time in case other guests are checking in as well. Simply have your reservation confirmation ready and let the Cast Member know you would like to view the fireworks.
If you're heading to
EPCOT during your stay, you'll want to make sure you see
Harmonious too! This new nighttime spectacular is one of my favorite shows in all 4 parks. Plus, you are going to love
how Spaceship Earth is illuminated at night. The beacons in all of the parks are beautiful, but Spaceship Earth is particularly stunning. I hope it stays that way even after the
50th Anniversary Celebration ends.
Hope this helps. Have a magical vacation!
Diane