ADR at la hacienda too early for illuminations?

[disneyfam23]

Hi! I have an ADR for la hacienda for 6:45 and illuminations is scheduled for 9:00 - is 6:45 too early to stretch into an illuminations viewing? It will be me and DH and two kiddos 11 and 8 so idk how their patience level will be. Is it even that great viewing from inside the rest.? Or would we be better off eating and heading outside and finding a spot? I am flip flopping between this and san angel inn because I think the kids may like the inn better but I think DH and I will enjoy la hacienda more.

 

[AwesomeAg]

Yes, way too early. When my husband and I went there on our last trip the meal took about an hour.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You're generally better off eating then viewing outside, especially if you question the patience of the kids.

 

[figment_jii]

I would also recommend eating dinner and then heading outside to find a viewing spot somewhere around World Showcase Lagoon. La Hacienda has a few tables with outstanding/excellent view of IllumiNations, some tables with an okay/obstructed view, and some tables with no view at all. So there is a good chance you'll end up at a table without a great view and no real alternative for watching the show (they do not have a dedicated alternative viewing area like Rose & Crown).

 

[disneyfam23]

Thanks! That's what I figured. Now to pour over menus and decide which we'll look better.

 

[owynn]

I assume all table service meals in the parks take about an hour once seated. This would be for appetizers, entree, and desserts/coffee. The question is, once I show up at the podium, how long until we are seated. For most places, I would estimate 10 minutes. So a 6:45 ADR, you could expect to finish the meal around 8:00, which would mean you are sitting at the table waiting for an extra hour for Illuminations.