Flavors & Fireworks Party at California Grill for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary
Walt Disney World has announced the new “Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort” coming to California Grill next month during the World’s Most Magical Celebration. This post covers dates, details, and pricing.
Per Disney, this new food and dessert party at California Grill will be an intimate event toasting to the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. Indulge in a cocktail party featuring fine food, simmering sips and beautiful music while you await the new Disney Enchantment fireworks spectacular.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed to the private Sonoma and Napa Rooms at California Grill to sample a selection of specialty drinks, sushi, and small plates that pay homage to the original menu from the Contemporary Resort’s opening in 1971. Guests ages 21 and over can also enjoy such libations from the complimentary bar as California wine, beers, and cordials.
After an elevated cocktail hour, step outside to the private observation deck reserved just for Celebration at the Top guests on the 15th floor. Here, you can enjoy a unique viewpoint of Disney Enchantment, complete with the synchronized music. The event continues back inside California Grill after the fireworks with petit-fours, cordials and coffee.
Now let’s turn to pricing, dates, and booking info for Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort…
Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will cost $129 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
This fireworks party at California Grill begins on October 2, 2021. Reservations will be available beginning September 17, 2021.
Guests are asked to adhere to the minimum dress code requirements at this Signature Dining experience. Dressier attire is also welcome. Please explore the minimum dress code requirements:
- Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional.
- Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition.
- Not permitted are tank tops, flip-flops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, hats for gentlemen, cut-offs, torn clothing and T-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics.
Know Before You Go
Reservations
Advance reservations are highly recommended. Learn when advance reservations can be made. Same-day reservations can be made on a limited basis and are subject to availability.
(Our note: It’s highly unlikely that’ll be possible with this. Given the 50th Anniversary crowds, new Disney Enchantment fireworks, and limited capacity of the private dining rooms at California Grill, this should sell out well in advance on a nightly basis.)
Checking In
Check-in takes place at the California Grill check-in podium, located on the second floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. A Cast Member will escort you up to the fifteenth floor in an elevator exclusively reserved for California Grill Guests and show you to the event location.
Parking
For your convenience, complimentary valet parking at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is included with Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at California Grill.
Alcoholic Beverages
Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. A valid form of government identification will be required to verify your age.
Fireworks
Fireworks are not guaranteed as part of Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. On rare occasions, evening fireworks may be rescheduled or cancelled.
Please refer to the entertainment schedule on Disneyworld.com, in the My Disney Experience app, or call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463 to confirm showtimes two weeks prior to your reservation, and check again the day of your reservation. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
Even though this is more expensive than the new Disney Enchantment Fireworks Pre-Party, After-Party, or Treats & Seats Party coming to Magic Kingdom for the 50th Anniversary, it’s still more appealing to us. Having food included as part of a fine dining experience for “only” $15 more than the Treats & Seats Fireworks Dessert Party makes this our top pick.
Additionally, we’ve been big fans of past special events at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, as well as Brunch at the Top at California Grill. That is the second-best dining experience we’ve had at Walt Disney World, behind only Victoria & Albert’s. Once you factor the nature of the meal, ambiance, price, and everything included, Brunch at the Top is very difficult to beat. We’ve found that brunch to be “worth it” in terms of the cost and experience–and just about everyone we know who has done it agrees.
Although Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is obviously not Brunch at the Top (different time of day, after all!), it instantly called that to mind. We’re hopeful there will be similarities beyond the location. Given our enjoyment of that brunch offering coupled with the menu and vibe here, this is the easy winner for us in terms of the Disney Enchantment fireworks parties. Of course, everyone’s preferences differ–both in terms of viewing fireworks and food–so what is best or works for us might not work for you!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be booking Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? What about any of the other new Disney Enchantment Fireworks Dessert Parties for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Which sounds most appealing to you? Are you a fan of Walt Disney World’s nighttime spectacular dessert parties? If so, which is your favorite? Do you agree or disagree with my ‘review’ of WDW’s dessert parties? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Mattie, I booked using the My Disney Experience App. I serached for “Celebration at the Top” and selected it through the drop down menu. Directions for how to book followed as I described in my previous post. I just checked again the same way through the My Disney Experience App and there were still dates availible (in blue) although not many. Keep trying. It took me a considerable amount of time to get in. Have your credit card ready. If you already have a card linked, it will be easier to book. I hope this helps.
Hello, everyone. I am not sure exactly when reservations opened today, but it was definetely before 6:00 a.m. A cast member told me online yesterday that you could book this like a regular ADR like any other restaurant (which I suspected was probably not the case). I was online around 5:30a.m. ish in the special events section on the website and that is when I was able to click and book online. Next, it looked like I was able to book, but when the calendar popped up to select a “range of dates,” even though some dates (not many) showed availibility. When I went to select something within the “range” it said, “no dates availible” in that range with a picture of Buzz Lightyear. Finally, one of the dates in my range came up (only one) and I was able to book for October 21st. I suspect the system was jammed with folks trying to book because I must have tried about 20 times before it finally worked. I hope folks who want to book this were able to do so.
Has anyone been able to make a reservation? I’ve been trying online since 4:45 am CST and it’s saying there’s no availability for any dates. When you try to call, the automated system says reservations are not available to be booked after October 2nd as the chefs are “still working on the experience “
Looked like they were only doing it on certain dates as they didn’t allow you to click on others for booking.
@Susan: I feel for you. Disney should push more for venues and CMs to be more sensitive to the needs of the disabled. For example, designate certain areas for those who are in scooters or wheelchairs for easier viewing. Or at least make CMs more aware of those in need. The last time we were in Disneyland I saw an older gentleman in a scooter behind a crowd trying to see the street performers. No one was even aware that he was there, not even CM’s. If they did, they should have done something. I should have thought about asking a CM to find a spot for him or push people away to make room for him but I never did and I still regret that. As a very short person (not even 5 feet tall) I try to take advantage of these events so we don’t have to stake out a spot 2 hours in advance. At least children have someone to hold them up.
Hi– Love all of your posts.
Curious if you have any more detail around this at California Grill.
Is it a cocktail party? Is it a sit down dinner?
What time does it start? Is there only one seating? If only one seating, seems they are missing out on a lot of revenue over the course of multiple seatings a night. We love California Grill and will be there first week of December, just trying to determine what this is exactly.
Thank you.
If you are in a wheelchair or scooter, when you go outside to see the fireworks you may have to get bold and ask people to move so that you get to see much. Last time we went to California Grille (pre-Covid) for dinner, NOBODY would move to let me see the fireworks! I went inside and watched them through the glass, by the stack of high chairs. I should have asked a Cast Member to find me a spot but I didn’t think of it at the time.
This is a minor point that may only be relevant to a minority of readers, but I am disappointed to see Disney releasing gendered attire guidelines, particularly after recently easing restrictions on cast members. I doubt highly that anyone would get kicked out for not conforming rigidly to the gender aspect of the guidelines, so why bother to designate them this way in the first place? I do think it is helpful to have some information about expectations, with specific examples, but this type of stuff is so exhausting to deal with as a gender nonconforming person.
Any idea what they will do when it is one of the Christmas party nights since that would mean a second fireworks
Will this reservation be like all adr’s? 7 am? Except you have to pay up front?
Is this similar to the dessert parties, as in the food is available buffet style/serve self as much as you can eat?
Why would anyone want to bring children to this event? This sounds like an upscale (expensive) adult-geared event that would be torturous for kids. The dress code requirements address Men’s and Ladies attire, so it doesn’t sound kid friendly. Plus there is no child pricing so I would think this is not meant for young families. Nothing at all against kids attending, but $129 for pasta and chicken fingers etc. would be nuts! Mature teens I think would be okay.
Did you notice that it said fireworks are not guaranteed? I think you would have to want to attend for the other aspects of this event and be okay if the fireworks were rained out. Personally I am over fireworks, but would enjoy them if I attended. Otherwise I have no plans to deal with mass crowds for any of the special 50th shows.
Is this a “sit down” dining experience with normal table service?
Knowing if this is kid friendly is a big one, especially with the price.
I’ve wanted to book California Grill for dinner for my dad’s birthday, but this may nix it if its not going to be kid friendly
Will this be a kid-friendly event? I’m assuming, based on the fact that they don’t have a separate price for children, they will be few and far between. However, my daughter has been excited to watch the fireworks from the restaurant since we started planning our trip (looks at calendar), two and a half years ago, to have it rescheduled four times. I just don’t want to do it and then have her be the only child (which can ruin it for her, and for the adult guests looking for a night out).
Kids are allowed right? But they’re full price?
I wouldn’t have hesitated to bring them to brunch, but I’m wondering if they’d feel welcome at this event.
We last did the fireworks dessert parties when they were in the $35-50 per person range and thought that was high!
We were on the terrace and as the fireworks started people stood up and if you were further back your view was obstructed.
We are interested in the California Grill party for sure.
I was wondering where you saw that bookings will open on the 17th? I may have missed it on their page.
And do you know, can this be booked on line or do you have to call at a certain time in the morning? Thanks
We splurged on Brunch at the Top on our last day/non park day a couple years back at your recommendation. We all loved it, and even though it was expensive thought it was worth it. I feel like we spent half the day drinking mimosas and alternating between the rooftop and the dining area. They never kicked us out.
The MK dessert parties have zero appeal to me. If we were going and had the budget I’d consider this.
I’d also like to know if they will also be offering regular dining, especially dinners. Otherwise, will the food offered at the party be filling enough to be a dinner?
Does this replace the usual dinner offering?
This sounds like a lot of fun! Any idea when the dining room will be available to book for the new 50th dining experience? We are celebrating my brother in law’s 50th birthday at Disney Oct. 2 – 9th (His bday is the 3rd) and would love to book at Cali Grill.