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California Grill offers fine dining at Walt Disney World in a fantastic location – the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort! You can take in sights of Seven Seas Lagoon as well as Magic Kingdom theme park.
A meal at California Grill is a special experience any time of the year. But it’s perhaps even more memorable on New Year’s Eve!
Luckily, there is a special New Year’s Eve event at California Grill on December 31, 2023. It’s a playful and quirky party themed to Alice in Wonderland. And it lasts from 7:30 PM to 12:30 AM.
We’re going to let you know what to expect when it comes to dining and entertainment on New Year’s Eve at California Grill. And then we’ll share how to reserve this experience and where you might want to stay that weekend.
California Grill Menu for New Year’s Eve
First, let’s start with the food. Because if you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve at one of the nicest restaurants on the Walt Disney World property, you’re going to expect some very good food, right?
And luckily, it looks like the party will not disappoint!
Here are some select offerings you can enjoy at the different food stations. These stations, inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, reflect some favorite dishes from the past 50 years. And keep in mind that these are just some of what will be available on New Year’s Eve!
Chilled Appetizer Station
- Caviar
- Chilled Seafood Bar
- Ice Wine Winter Salad
- Wagyu Beef Tartare
Wood-Burning Station
- Bianca Pizza
- Fungi Pizza
Hot Seafood Station
- Seared Ahi Tuna
- Adobo Marinated Octopus
- Lobster Ravioli
Sushi Station
- A collection of original sushi creations
- Maki
- Nigiri
- Sashimi
From the Grill and Rotisserie
- Pork Belly “Porchetta”
- Roasted Duck 2 Ways
- Royal Beef Tenderloin
Sweet Treats from the Disney’s Contemporary Resort Pastry Chefs
- Blackberry Lavender Tart
- Lemon-Thyme Shortbread
- Pavlova
- Strawberry and Blackberry Mousse
Magic Kingdom Fireworks
At 11:50 PM in the Magic Kingdom, the Fantasy In The Sky Fireworks show will begin. And luckily, you’ll be in a great position to see it, as California Grill offers fantastic views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. It’s a truly special way to experience the very beginning of 2024.
Other Things to Do & Enjoy
The White Rabbit will be the DJ for the night! And he has put together a festive playlist that’s perfect for dancing.
Other Alice in Wonderland characters you might see include:
- The Doorknob
- Alice
- Queen of Hearts
- The Mad Hatter
- Dinah the Hat Lady
- The March Hare
During the night, you won’t want to miss taking a glimpse (and maybe a photo or two) of the stylish ice sculpture created in honor of California Grill and 2024.
And at midnight, you can mark the start of 2024 with a champagne toast.
Cost & Registration
The price for this special California Grill Disney New Year’s Eve celebration is $799, which includes tax and gratuity. A full payment is due when you book the experience. You’ll need to cancel at least one day prior or else you will be charged full price.
You can book the New Year’s Eve party by calling (407) 824-2013.
Where to Stay
If you plan on attending this memorable New Year’s Eve event at California Grill, then staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort would be very convenient. Click here for advice on how to get a more affordable rate for a stay at the Contemporary hotel.
You should also consider a stay at Disney’s Bay Lake Tower, which is right next door. If so, check out our top 10 tips for a Bay Lake Tower stay. And we highly recommend using David’s Vacation Club to book your room at Bay Lake Tower. This will save you a lot of money compared to booking it through the Walt Disney World website.
On New Year’s Eve, Magic Kingdom will be open until 1:00 AM. This means that bus transportation from Magic Kingdom to the other Disney World resort hotels should continue to run until 2:00 AM. So you could walk to Magic Kingdom after the party and then take a bus back to your hotel, if you decide to stay at an onsite Disney hotel.
Check out our advice on how to book your hotel on an Orlando, Florida Disney trip to save you money.
And you can also consider any of these top 10 New Year’s Eve events in Orlando.
