Ringing in 2027 from the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort is now off the table for anyone who hasn’t already booked. The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill, Walt Disney World’s ticketed countdown dinner on the resort’s 15th floor, shows no remaining availability on the official Walt Disney World website, with December 31 marked unavailable for both its early and late seatings.
The later seating disappeared first, and the earlier tables were snapped up not long after. The 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. dinner costs $299 per person, while the 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. dinner costs $379 per person, an $80 jump. Guests choosing the earlier slot don’t sacrifice the main show, either. Disney states, “Fireworks viewing will take place at the end of each seating.”
Ticket holders begin on the Contemporary’s second floor, checking in through the My Disney Experience app. A cast member then escorts each party up California Grill’s private elevator to the 15th floor, where a live band plays through dinner and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse stop by for photos. Guests 21 and older receive a complimentary glass of champagne for a toast, and every seating wraps up in a dedicated viewing area facing the special New Year’s Eve fireworks over Magic Kingdom.
Standard Signature Dining rules apply. California Grill expects neat, clean attire suited to an upscale restaurant, and swimwear is not permitted. Disney Dining Plan credits cannot be used for the event.
Disney says the four-course menu was created exclusively for this celebration, inspired by the chef’s culinary journey and California market cuisine. Dinner opens with sushi: a Pacific Woodland Roll and a Chutoro Maki Roll.
The second course offers a choice of Langoustine Gnocchetti Sardi, Wagyu Carpaccio, Fruits de Mer, Black Winter Truffle and Four Cheese Flatbread, or Tempura-Fried Coral Mushrooms. Entrée options are Aged Wagyu Striploin, Milk-Fed Suckling Pig, Hokkaido Scallop, Petite French Quail, and Brown ‘Butter’ Agnolotti. Dessert selections include Yuzu and Champagne Pavlova, Midnight Chocolate Delice, California Winter Citrus Cheesecake, and Coconut Panna Cotta, with additional paid add-ons available.
Reservations can’t be made at the moment, but that could change. Under Disney’s cancellation policy, guests who cancel less than 24 hours ahead pay a per-person fee, and no-shows are billed the full price on the card used to book. With that penalty in play, anyone whose plans shift has good reason to cancel early, which may release tables in the days before the event. Checking the Walt Disney World website or app every day offers the best odds.
Guests who miss out still have three parks to choose from. Magic Kingdom will present Fantasy in the Sky four times, at 6:30 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. on both December 30 and December 31, and the December 30 shows may be the less crowded option. On New Year’s Eve, EPCOT offers Luminous The Symphony of Us at 6:30 p.m. followed by Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration at 11:54 p.m., while Disney’s Hollywood Studios holds New Year Countdown Fireworks until 11:57 p.m.
For now, a daily check for cancellations is the only path to a table. Those who land one will pay $299 or $379 per person for an elegant, park-free welcome to 2027.
Did you score a New Year’s Eve reservation at California Grill? Let us know in the comments below!
