Best places to eat to watch the fireworks?

[poppie123]

I am in planning mode despite the fact i have 10 months, 3 weeks and 4 days until i go.

I can't book any of my ADR's until the 6th of Feb (that's what the kind lady on the phone told me when i booked) but that won't stop me planning and tweaking where i am going to eat until then.

I think i read on here once about people booking restaurants so they could watch the fireworks so......

1) Where is the best place to eat on the DDP to watch Illuminations in Epcot?

2) Where is the best place to eat again on the DDP to watch Wishes, i thought this might be nice for my daughters 15th Birthday whilst we are there.

Also what sort of times should you book the restaurants for so that you actually get to see the fireworks?
Any other tips on best places to eat to catch parades etc would be very gratefully received as i haven't got a clue!!

[paulh]

you will have to wait till the 22nd of febuary to book adrs,as ther updateing computer.So there only alowing think 80 days up till then,and on the 22nd feb they reintoduce the 180 day window

Fireworks for MK just before the bridge before buzz and stich
Epcot anywere thres not a tree(we watched them from room tohe outher week)
HS anywere in the seats as its a staidium based show, but try to get the middle
Paulh

[Elise79]

1) Where is the best place to eat on the DDP to watch Illuminations in Epcot?

You can see Illuminations from the Rose & Crown patio but it is pot luck as to whether you get an inside or outside table. Not sure of anywhere else.

2) Where is the best place to eat again on the DDP to watch Wishes, i thought this might be nice for my daughters 15th Birthday whilst we are there.

The view from the California Grill is AMAZING :cloud9: but it is 2TS although might be worth it you are celebrating DD birthday. We had our anniversary dinner there last year and they gave us a window table and decorated it with Mickey confetti :goodvibes

Naccoossees also has views of Wishes from the restaurant or you can step outside and watch from the deck area. Again 2TS restaurant.

I think that one of the Poly restaurants have views but I haven't eatent there so can't be sure hopefully someone else will know :goodvibes

I only have 3TS credits left to plan for next September :rotfl2: so have fun planning yours :goodvibes

[wickesy]

you will have to wait till the 22nd of febuary to book adrs,as ther updateing computer.So there only alowing think 80 days up till then,and on the 22nd feb they reintoduce the 180 day window


The latest news is that you can book an ADR for any day UP UNTIL 22nd February and then from 21st November the new system will be up and running and reservations will return to 180 days.

[Frances999]

Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian is fabulous - wonderful setting, excellent service and a delicious range of well cooked and presented food. If you enjoy seafood it's especially good, the king salmon and lobster in particular are incredible. It has great views for WISHES and you can easily step outside and watch from the terrace or Grand Floridian marina if you'd prefer to see the show from the outside. When we were at the GF in the summer, they piped the WISHES music all around the GF marina; it was a wonderful setting with great views.

We always go to Bistro de Paris before Illuminations - it's on the second floor so above ground level, but the view isn't that great as there are some trees which can get in the way. Rose & Crown offers the best views, but we didn't enjoy our visit a few years ago so won't be back. The best place to see Illuminations from, in my opinion, is an Illuminations Cruise - it would be a neat surprise for your DD's birthday. They can arrange a birthday package too, with balloons and cake. DH surprised me on our last trip - it was fabulous, the boat was all decorated out and I had a gorgeous cake.

[UKDEB]

Apparently, now that the new Tokyo Dining has extended into the space formerly occupied by the Matzu No Ma Lounge, there are good views of IllumiNations to be afforded from there. I imagine that the window seats at Bistro de Paris would give you a pretty good view. Les Chefs de France downstairs, too, to a limited extent. As with the Rose and Crown, though, there would be no guarantee of getting a seat with a view at any of these locations. The Cantina de San Angel (counter service) has outdoor seating overlooking World Showcase Lagoon. You could snag a table there early and hold onto it.

There is nowhere inside the Magic Kingdom to get a good view of the fireworks. We've seen them from California Grill (at the Contemporary) a couple of times, Narcoossee's (at the Grand Floridian) and 'Ohana (at the Polynesian). On each occasion, though, it has been when we've not tried to engineer it and so it's made for a much more relaxing time. It was just a bonus with the meal being the main event. Every time we've tried to time a meal with fireworks, it hasn't worked out for one reason or another and it's turned what should have been an enjoyable event into a stressful situation. As far as Wishes is concerned, my recommendation would be to book an early-ish dinner at one of the Grand Floridian or Polynesian restaurants and then wander down to the beach at either afterwards. That way you can catch both the Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks without having to worry about snagging a window seat. Or elect to dine at either California Grill where they have a viewing platform or Narcoossee's where you can stroll out onto the Verandah. Either way, you'll get to hear the music, too.

ETA: I was obviously typing whilst Frances was posting and she clearly has better first-hand knowledge of a couple of locations.

[mantismad]

I am in planning mode despite the fact i have 10 months, 3 weeks and 4 days until i go.

I think i read on here once about people booking restaurants so they could watch the fireworks so......

1) Where is the best place to eat on the DDP to watch Illuminations in Epcot?

2) Where is the best place to eat again on the DDP to watch Wishes, i thought this might be nice for my daughters 15th Birthday whilst we are there.

Also what sort of times should you book the restaurants for so that you actually get to see the fireworks?



1. Rose & Crown 7.30pm - illuminations starts at 9pm
2. Narcoosees (GF) (will count as 2 meals though on your DDP) to sit down aprox 1 1/2 hours before fireworks/wishes is scheduled. Wishes time varies depending on day you go.

[paulh]

rose and crown is ok for the fireworks,but the food there is some of the worst we have eaten in disney
Make sure youve eaten,because as soon as fireworks are about to start they drop umbrellas and bits fall on plate
Paulh

[Aardvarks]

1. Rose & Crown 7.30pm - illuminations starts at 9pm
2. Narcoosees (GF) (will count as 2 meals though on your DDP) to sit down aprox 1 1/2 hours before fireworks/wishes is scheduled. Wishes time varies depending on day you go.

Seconded on the above recommendation, we did both two weeks ago. The food at Rose and Crown was fine.

We also did Illuminations from Tokyo dinning with an 8.00pm table. They have a nice balcony outside.

Dont forget the dinner plus seat reservations for Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios.

Hollywood and Vine and The Brown Derby off this. Mamma Melrose used to offer this but I am no longer sure. Mamma Melrose is really great for children