If the sole reason for dining at CA grill is the fireworks and not food, I would 100% say yes, DAH is worth it instead. You can even eat at GF, see the fireworks from the boat dock or Gasparilla patio, and then head right to MK for the remainder of the night and use the saved Cali Grill money. The DAH is very fun because you really can walk around a practically empty park and experience it differently than when it is super crowded.We are arriving on January 5th 2019. And will be spending the day of the After Hours that week (Jan. 7th) in Animal Kingdom. (Fast passes for FOP, etc)
I had made a California Grill reservation so we could see the fireworks that evening and I am wondering if the Jan. 7th event is worth it?
We are just two - I'm 50 and he's 60. It's all about play and fun for us and no "need" to see a specific character. And we're staying at the Grand Floridian.
is the $$ worth it? Is the sacrifice of dinner at CA Grill (and needing to find another dinner reservation) worth it? And HOW do we get back to Grand Floridian?
If the sole reason for dining at CA grill is the fireworks and not food, I would 100% say yes, DAH is worth it instead. You can even eat at GF, see the fireworks from the boat dock or Gasparilla patio, and then head right to MK for the remainder of the night and use the saved Cali Grill money. The DAH is very fun because you really can walk around a practically empty park and experience it differently than when it is super crowded.
The biggest problem I had with DAH while also staying at the GF was getting back to the resort. The boat and monorail were both closed. Disney crammed ALL MK resorts onto one bus. The line was huge and chaotic. A driver from Yacht & Beach that had no one waiting took pity on us and pulled up and took a load back. It took me over 30 minutes to go from MK to GF.
If the sole reason for dining at CA grill is the fireworks and not food, I would 100% say yes, DAH is worth it instead. You can even eat at GF, see the fireworks from the boat dock or Gasparilla patio, and then head right to MK for the remainder of the night and use the saved Cali Grill money. The DAH is very fun because you really can walk around a practically empty park and experience it differently than when it is super crowded.
The biggest problem I had with DAH while also staying at the GF was getting back to the resort. The boat and monorail were both closed. Disney crammed ALL MK resorts onto one bus. The line was huge and chaotic. A driver from Yacht & Beach that had no one waiting took pity on us and pulled up and took a load back. It took me over 30 minutes to go from MK to GF.
I agree. I think if you are only going for the fireworks than I would switch to dah. But if you are going for the experience as well as the food then maybe don’t switch. It all depends on your personal preference. We love dah because we like riding rides multiple times and getting snacks all night.We are arriving on January 5th 2019. And will be spending the day of the After Hours that week (Jan. 7th) in Animal Kingdom. (Fast passes for FOP, etc)
I had made a California Grill reservation so we could see the fireworks that evening and I am wondering if the Jan. 7th event is worth it?
We are just two - I'm 50 and he's 60. It's all about play and fun for us and no "need" to see a specific character. And we're staying at the Grand Floridian.
is the $$ worth it? Is the sacrifice of dinner at CA Grill (and needing to find another dinner reservation) worth it? And HOW do we get back to Grand Floridian?
They were not running the boat or monorail? how were they getting people back to the TTC? we are staying at the poly - this is not an onsite thing only, right? presumably people will have their cars at the TTC so that would be an option however they are getting people there.
Is it true that MK DAH events have so far been on Mondays and Thursdays? My 40th birthday is in May on a Thursday. It'd be *awesome* to end the day with the DAH
My friend and I are booked to go on 2/14 so excited! Really looking forward to a kid free evening as have never been to MK without the kids before. We are staying Shades of Green, does anyone know if we could hop on the resort bus to the Poly at the end of the night or do they check that you are a hotel guest before letting you on the bus? Just not sure if the Shades of Green bus will still be running that late from the TTC
They were not running the boat or monorail? how were they getting people back to the TTC? we are staying at the poly - this is not an onsite thing only, right? presumably people will have their cars at the TTC so that would be an option however they are getting people there.
edited to add, I found one review that said the ferry boat is running to the TTC because the monorails are shut down. So hopefully that is an option for us rather than dealing with the bus situation with a tired kiddo.
This is what I experienced! I couldn't understand those that took the bus to CR. I was envious I wasn't staying at CR because I would have just walked.After DAH, it’s only buses to all resorts and the MK Ferry back to the TTC.
In prior DAH events all MK resorts shared a bus... and I mean all... CR, WL, FW, Poly, GF. We did that back in Feb 2017 and it took foreeeever. I was a much happier camper this year with it just being Poly/GF.
After DAH, it’s only buses to all resorts and the MK Ferry back to the TTC.
For Poly, you can take either a resort bus or MK Ferry to TTC and walk over.
In the more recent DAH nights, Poly and GF have shared a bus most of the time. I did 6/30 Poly and 9/20 GF, the buses both nights only went to those two resorts. Had a bit of a wait for a bus, but not awful. On my Poly night I did kind of wish I had taken the MK Ferry and walked - but at the end of the night they wait to load the FULL Ferry before taking off... so even that can be longer than you might expect.
In prior DAH events all MK resorts shared a bus... and I mean all... CR, WL, FW, Poly, GF. We did that back in Feb 2017 and it took foreeeever. I was a much happier camper this year with it just being Poly/GF.
Sorry, when I said boat, I meant the GF/Poly boat.
A ferry to TTC, then walking all through Poly to GF would not have been as easy. lol
Is it true that MK DAH events have so far been on Mondays and Thursdays? My 40th birthday is in May on a Thursday. It'd be *awesome* to end the day with the DAH
We are arriving on January 5th 2019. And will be spending the day of the After Hours that week (Jan. 7th) in Animal Kingdom. (Fast passes for FOP, etc)
I had made a California Grill reservation so we could see the fireworks that evening and I am wondering if the Jan. 7th event is worth it?
We are just two - I'm 50 and he's 60. It's all about play and fun for us and no "need" to see a specific character. And we're staying at the Grand Floridian.
is the $$ worth it? Is the sacrifice of dinner at CA Grill (and needing to find another dinner reservation) worth it? And HOW do we get back to Grand Floridian?
That is so convenient! I loved it when I stayed in Rarotonga and the DVC buildings are much closer. GF really has the worst transportation on the monorail.yes it's not so great for the GF but we love to hop off of whatever transport at TTC rather than going to the Poly since the DVC units are on that side.
That is so convenient! I loved it when I stayed in Rarotonga and the DVC buildings are much closer. GF really has the worst transportation on the monorail.
I don't hide the fact that I personally think DAH is a "well worth it" event. The "play and fun" part of your post struck out to me... that's why we go to WDW and when you have an event like DAH that tends to really enhance those elements of the park, it's a real winner for us.
If this were us (and I'm not sure the timing of your ADR), we'd keep the dinner at Cali Grill (I really like that place) but head into the park for fireworks and to start your DAH time. A nice dinner + MK DAH, can't get much better than that (in my humble opinion).
given that it is their flagship resort that is pretty disappointing! We have spent our last couple of trips at the Poly and ended up there on our next trip due to me messing up our reservations and losing my BWV (darn it, right? first world problems haha). I love it for easy transport to both MK and Epcot, our two favorite parks!That is so convenient! I loved it when I stayed in Rarotonga and the DVC buildings are much closer. GF really has the worst transportation on the monorail.