Any ways to gurantee an Illuminations viewing at an Epcot restaurant??

[mkovalm]

I've read about a lot of people making reservations at certain restaurants around the World Showcase just in time to sit down, eat a meal, and watch Illuminations. How many eateries give you a view of the show & can you guarantee a spot by making a reservation in advance? I'd love the Rose & Crown patio, but WDWInfo says you can't request it in advance. I'd love some suggestions so I can nab a spot somewhere in October!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Nope, no guarantees. Sometimes if you ask to wait until a patio table opens up, they will accept that request - but you can't make it until you get there. If the restaurant's too busy they will likely say that you have to take the next table that opens up for your party size, wherever that is.

The good news is that you don't have to be seated on the patio to see the show from Rose & Crown, there is an area where persons seated inside the restaurant can walk outside and watch. This won't really make much difference, though, if you are sold on watching while seated at your table.

La Hacienda de San Angel also has views of Illuminations from some tables (not all) inside the restaurant. I don't think they have a separate viewing area from those who do not have a view from their table. I believe you are also not guaranteed a view table there.

There are a few other restaurants (Chefs de France, Bistro de Paris, Tokyo Dining, possibly Nine Dragons) that have partial views of Illuminations. These views are not as good, for some you must be seated at a window table, and none of these restaurants pipe in the music.

 

[purple figment]

Absolutely no way to guarantee a patio table at R&C. It all depends on how busy the R&C is, how many people are already waiting for patio tables, the CMs at the podium, how close to the start of IllumiNations, the time of the year, etc. Since you'll be there during F&W the restaurant will be packed on Friday, Saturday and probably Sunday evenings so your best chance will be on a weeknight.

However, if you are seated inside, let your server know you want to see the fireworks and they will pace your meal accordingly. The last time we were there, we ordered our desserts, went outside to see Illuminations, then returned to have our desserts. There is a special viewing area reserved for just the people eating at R&C next to the patio which has an excellent view.

 

[Kelblum]

We ate LaHacienda, new Mexico restaurant, in November and a couple weeks ago. We did not make reservations for either time and went at 8:30. We were almost at the same table and the view of Illuminations was great.

The food was good too!

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

There's no alternate viewing area at La Hacienda like there is at R&C, unfortunately, and no guarantee you'll be seated by a window to see the lagoon. I'd say about 1/3 of the tables in there have a good to okay view of the show, about 1/2 have a partial view (you can see some of the fireworks, but not much else) and the rest there's no telling what you can see from them.

I do know that they'll let you get up and move closer to a window once it starts, as long as you don't block any other guests' views, but even then sometimes your view is limited. Also the globe seems really far away after seeing it from the R&C patio, but that may just be me.

Having done both, I'd say just err on the side of booking R&C and hoof it out to the viewing area if you can't get a patio table.

 

[Nermel9]

I actually was going to ask a similar question, so I hope no one minds me asking in this thread since it's very similar!

What is the best time to get an ADR for dinner at Rose and Crown if you want a table to watch Illuminations? Is 7:30 good? Later? I'd like to do that for the last night of our trip in October, but I'm sure a lot of people have the same idea, so maybe I would just be better off eating dinner early then finding a good spot for Illuminations after!

 

[mkovalm]

I actually was going to ask a similar question, so I hope no one minds me asking in this thread since it's very similar!

What is the best time to get an ADR for dinner at Rose and Crown if you want a table to watch Illuminations? Is 7:30 good? Later? I'd like to do that for the last night of our trip in October, but I'm sure a lot of people have the same idea, so maybe I would just be better off eating dinner early then finding a good spot for Illuminations after!

I was just going to ask this follow up question! I think I'm gonna make a ressie here and cross my fingers for a patio table. Knowing that there's an Illuminations viewing area is pretty cool, so now I just need to know when to make my reservation!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I'd love some suggestions so I can nab a spot somewhere in October!! . . .

You, and several thousand others.

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

I normally aim for 7:30 - 7:45 for R&C Illuminations viewing, though I do eat dessert when I'm there, so my meal takes a while. I've had an ADR as late as 8:15 and still been fine, though.

 

[RMulieri]

As TDCNALA said..No way to guarantee.You can try Rose and Crown , but it has been my experience( and at slow times of year) that they would not allow us to wait for a patio table. It was next available or not at all.

 

[sjs314]

I actually was going to ask a similar question, so I hope no one minds me asking in this thread since it's very similar!

What is the best time to get an ADR for dinner at Rose and Crown if you want a table to watch Illuminations? Is 7:30 good? Later? I'd like to do that for the last night of our trip in October, but I'm sure a lot of people have the same idea, so maybe I would just be better off eating dinner early then finding a good spot for Illuminations after!

I have read to try and make a ADR for 7:30, also I have read a few accounts that they no longer let you "wait" for a patio table, whether that depends on how busy it is or not I have no idea.
I too am planning on a ADR for Rose and Crown on our last evening during F&W which will be a Monday so I have my fingers crossed.