Best Epcot restaurant to view illuminations

[kniquy]

When we plan our dining reservations one thing we would like to do is select a restaurant where we can have dinner and also view illuminations. I know there are a few restaurants that we have passed that are right on the lagoon. I am wondering which ones are on the dining plan and would give us the view we are looking for.

 

[HopperFan]

None will guarantee you a view as all have limited seating with a view.

- But at least Rose & Crown has a small viewing area outside you can go to if your table does not have a view.
- La Hacienda de San Angel is on the water and has some tables by the windows but no guarantees. No outside viewing.
- Spice Road Table has about 5 tables along the water on the patio, and about 5 windows inside that would have tables next to them. No viewing area.
- Tokyo Dining has a few window seats with a view of the fireworks.
- There would be partial viewing from the next row of tables at most of these but you wouldn't be able to get up and move to the window as those are lined with tables.

 

[kniquy]

I don't know the name of it but i thought that there was a restaurant near Morocco that was pretty open and right on the water. Possibly it isn't part of the dining plan. This is something that my husband wants to do.

Last year we ate at Biergarten and then just walked outside to watch illuminations. Our only problem was that our dinner was rushed because we had late reservations -- my fault because we only planned the trip 2 months in advance for over NYE week, so we were left with taking what we could get for reservations.

 

[HopperFan]

I don't know the name of it but i thought that there was a restaurant near Morocco that was pretty open and right on the water. Possibly it isn't part of the dining plan. This is something that my husband wants to do.

Last year we ate at Biergarten and then just walked outside to watch illuminations. Our only problem was that our dinner was rushed because we had late reservations -- my fault because we only planned the trip 2 months in advance for over NYE week, so we were left with taking what we could get for reservations.

Yes. That is Spice Road Table. They now take Dining Plan and Tables in Wonderland. They also take reservations. They have some seats along water. Outside views are decent if you get a table on the water. Inside is about same size but not as wide. There is an island in front of the restaurant the blocks some of the view.

This is all the tables along water outside. I am standing by the rail at end of patio. Tables further in from this have the roof blocking the view.

This is looking out towards where "earth" will be. Those two buildings on other side of lake ... between them is FP+ seating and "best" view. You can see the island all seats will be looking at.

 

[kniquy]

Yes. That is Spice Road Table

Thanks for the pictures!! that is exactly the restaurant i was thinking of. Seems like a good location, but if you are not right on the water views might not be as good. It is on the dining plan, but i wonder how that works with being tapas style.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Restaurants board...

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Rose and Crown is the only one where you can get a view no matter where you are sitting in the restaurant (although for most tables that will mean getting up and walking outside.)

Noplace else will "guarantee" you a view.

Spice Road has full entrée options also, not just tapas.

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks for the pictures!! that is exactly the restaurant i was thinking of. Seems like a good location, but if you are not right on the water views might not be as good. It is on the dining plan, but i wonder how that works with being tapas style.

Pull up the menu. When they joined the DDP they expanded the menu to work out.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 08/16/2015*)
.
1) Epcot "Illuminations" restaurant viewing
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view from standing-room-only area
. . . La Hacienda (MX) - excellent window view ***
. . . Spice Road Table (MA) - excellent open-air lake-side view
. . . Tokyo Dining (JP) - good window view, good patio view **
. . . Chef de France (FR) - obstructed window view **
. . . Monsieur Paul (FR) - excellent view ***
. . . Liberty Inn (US) - obstructed patio view
. . . Nine Dragons (CH) - partially obstructed view ***
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . Tomoorowland Terrace Dessert Party - great view
. . . California Grille - excellent table view, excellent balcony views
. . . Narcoossee's - good view, good balcony views **
. . . Ohana - good view from a few tables, no view from all other tables ***
3) Non-Eating viewing
. . . Wishes: Wilderness Lodge employee parking lot - good view
. . . Wishes: Poly Beach - good view, with piped-in music
. . . Wishes: Fort Wilderness Beach - fair view
. . . Illuminations: Boardwalk - poor view, only high fireworks
.

* = Approx 50% of the tables
** = Approx 30% of the tables
*** = Less than 20% of the tables​

PATIO-or-WINDOW SEATS FOR FIREWORKS:
. . . you CANNOT wait for a patio or window tables or make an ADR for such
. . . you must take whichever table is offered when it is offered.
. . . if not, your ADR is canceled.
. . . too many people would wait for a viewing table.
. . . if they didn't get it they left, so, there were unused tables, lost revenue.
. . . now, the policy is you take what is offered
. . . the Podium person verifies you will take the offered table
.
SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the Seat Assigner determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the Seater then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . if you want to try for a good seat, get an ADR 2-2½ hrs before fireworks
. . . then, hope you get lucky
.
NOTE1:
. . . Even with the above policy, some people get a viewing table when asking for it.
. . . If eatery is not too busy, which doesn't happen often, they try to accommodate.
.
NOTE2:
. . . for the best chance at a viewing seat/table, make ressies 1-3/4 to 2 hours before event

 

[JimmyV]

FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 08/16/2015*)
.
1) Epcot "Illuminations" restaurant viewing
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view from standing-room-only area
. . . La Hacienda (MX) - excellent window view ***
. . . Spice Road Table (MA) - excellent open-air lake-side view
. . . Tokyo Dining (JP) - good window view, good patio view **
. . . Chef de France (FR) - obstructed window view **
. . . Monsieur Paul (FR) - excellent view ***
. . . Liberty Inn (US) - obstructed patio view
. . . Nine Dragons (CH) - partially obstructed view ***
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . Tomoorowland Terrace Dessert Party - great view
. . . California Grille - excellent table view, excellent balcony views
. . . Narcoossee's - good view, good balcony views **
. . . Ohana - good view from a few tables, no view from all other tables ***
3) Non-Eating viewing
. . . Wishes: Wilderness Lodge employee parking lot - good view
. . . Wishes: Poly Beach - good view, with piped-in music
. . . Wishes: Fort Wilderness Beach - fair view
. . . Illuminations: Boardwalk - poor view, only high fireworks
.

* = Approx 50% of the tables
** = Approx 30% of the tables
*** = Less than 20% of the tables ​

PATIO-or-WINDOW SEATS FOR FIREWORKS:
. . . you CANNOT wait for a patio or window tables or make an ADR for such
. . . you must take whichever table is offered when it is offered.
. . . if not, your ADR is canceled.
. . . too many people would wait for a viewing table.
. . . if they didn't get it they left, so, there were unused tables, lost revenue.
. . . now, the policy is you take what is offered
. . . the Podium person verifies you will take the offered table
.
SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the Seat Assigner determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the Seater then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . if you want to try for a good seat, get an ADR 2-2½ hrs before fireworks
. . . then, hope you get lucky
.
NOTE1:
. . . Even with the above policy, some people get a viewing table when asking for it.
. . . If eatery is not too busy, which doesn't happen often, they try to accommodate.
.
NOTE2:
. . . for the best chance at a viewing seat/table, make ressies 1-3/4 to 2 hours before event

 

[WDW_Diane]

We had a wonderful experience on Friday night at La Hacienda San Angelo Inn. I have a shellfish allergy and was super concerned about that at a restaurant with so much seafood. It was also my birthday. I had two elderly relatives with me, and it was very important that we get a window table so they could watch illuminations without having to be outdoors in the frigid air.

While we did have to wait about 40 minutes extra to get to the window table, the entire staff was extremely accommodating to us that evening. When two people were seated about 6 inches away from our table and my aunt mentioned their loud voices to our server, The matter with discreetly taken care of within minutes. I feel like they went out of their way to make a magical experience for us there. Of course we tipped well.