California Grill NYE Sellout: What Guests Should Know

By Jenna R. · Dining & food festivals · Tampa, FL

Published November 12, 2026

Disney opened reservations Wednesday, November 11, 2026, for The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and the event sold out by Thursday, November 12, according to reports. As of Thursday, November 12, availability for the December 31, 2026 dining event is reported as fully booked.

The event is set for California Grill, the signature restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort overlooking Magic Kingdom. Guests who secured a reservation are expected to get a four-course meal, live band music, a complimentary champagne toast, a Mickey and Minnie meet-and-greet, and views of the Magic Kingdom New Year’s Eve fireworks.

The report also says optional add-ons will be available for purchase. It does not list those add-ons or their prices.

Magic Kingdom is currently scheduled to operate from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2026, with Early Entry from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The same report notes that Magic Kingdom stayed open until 1:00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve last year, but that is not the current posted schedule for December 31, 2026.

What we know

• The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill — reservations opened Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
• California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort — the December 31, 2026 event is reported sold out as of Thursday, November 12, 2026.
• Event inclusions — four-course meal, live band, complimentary champagne toast, Mickey and Minnie meet-and-greet, and Magic Kingdom New Year’s Eve fireworks views.
• Optional add-ons — reported as available for purchase, but the specific add-ons were not listed.
• Magic Kingdom on December 31, 2026 — currently scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., with Early Entry from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

What’s not confirmed

Disney has not confirmed in the reporting available here that more reservations will be released for The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill.

Disney has not announced the specific optional add-ons or their pricing in the details reported. The report also does not confirm whether Magic Kingdom’s December 31, 2026 operating hours will be extended beyond the current 12:00 a.m. close.

Planning around this? Tell me when a table opens for California Grill.

What it means for your trip

If you missed California Grill, do not build your New Year’s Eve plan around a guaranteed late drop. Cancellations can happen, but this is one of the harder Walt Disney World restaurant reservations even on normal nights, and a holiday fireworks event makes it much tighter.

Your best move is to set a dining watch for California Grill and also choose a backup now. SupaPark’s dining Drop Watch can ping you if a table reappears, but the actual reservation still has to be grabbed in My Disney Experience.

If your main goal is seeing Magic Kingdom fireworks, separate that from the dinner decision. California Grill is the premium resort-view play, but Magic Kingdom itself is currently scheduled to be open until midnight on December 31, 2026, so park admission gives you a different path to the countdown atmosphere.

If you already have the California Grill reservation, treat your timing like a resort night, not a park sprint. Disney’s Contemporary Resort is walkable to Magic Kingdom, but New Year’s Eve transportation and post-fireworks crowds are not the night to cut it close.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is California Grill’s New Year’s Eve event sold out?

Yes, according to reports, The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill sold out by Thursday, November 12, 2026, after reservations opened Wednesday, November 11.

When is The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill?

The event is scheduled for December 31, 2026, at California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

What is included with the California Grill New Year’s Eve event?

Reported inclusions are a four-course meal, live band, complimentary champagne toast, Mickey and Minnie meet-and-greet, and views of the Magic Kingdom New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Go deeper — the full guides: Harambe Market: No Reservations Needed, How to Plan · Disney Character Lunch Reservations: Best Times and Tips · Where to Eat Mexican Food at Disney World

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.