Best Place to eat to see Wishes/Illumination?

[perturbatrix]

Where is the best place to make ADR to see Wishes Fireworks at MK?

Where is the best place to book to see Illuminations at Epcot?

I'd much rather have a table in waiting than try to fight crowds to stake out a seat!

 

[Sosai X]

Make a dining reservation for about 7:30 PM, or about an hour before Illuminations is scheduled, at the Rose and Crown at England in World Showcase. See if you can get an outside table, on the lower tier down by the water. We did this last week. Amazing view of Illuminations.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

For Wishes... that is a tricky one, I have watched from the area around Columbia house and also at Casey's where you do not need ADR's....but it is crowded at the Casey's area.

 

[markm0926]

Make a dining reservation for about 7:30 PM, or about an hour before Illuminations is scheduled, at the Rose and Crown at England in World Showcase. See if you can get an outside table, on the lower tier down by the water. We did this last week. Amazing view of Illuminations.

I agree!
We did this same thing and it was a great time with a great view.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Rose & Crown in England is the only TS on the water with a view of Illuminations. However, they will not guarantee an outdoor seat and I've heard they no longer allow you to wait for an outdoor table after you've been offered a table. There is an area where you can get up during your meal to go out and watch, but then you risk having cold food. Illuminations is at 9pm every night except during the holidays when they do Holiday Illuminations at 9:30pm.

There are so many good areas to see Illuminations from and the biggest issue (for us anyways) is to make sure you're not down wind.

I can't think of a restaurant in MK where you would have a good view of Wishes. Stand on Main St, between the Plaza & Casey's. If you really want to eat during Wishes, you might want to try one of the monorail resort restaurants like Ohana's or California Grill.

 

[vbarry]

If you are wanting to sit down and eat it is nice to go to Ohanas and try to get a seat by the window or eat first and then go to the beach for fireworks. We love doing this every trip!

 

[sherreis]

I have a question about the beach at the Polynesian to watch the fireworks. If that is the only way you can see Wishes during your trip (cause of scheduling problems due to MNSSHP a couple of nights we're there) is it worth it? Or, is it going to leave us feeling cheated that we didn't watch it from inside MK?

 

[madalex]

Where is the best place to book to see Illuminations at Epcot?

I'd much rather have a table in waiting than try to fight crowds to stake out a seat!

There are many, many great places around the WS lagoon to see Illuminations (basically, anywhere that a tree is not directly in your line of sight). As a result, it is not necessary to stake out a spot an hour or more ahead of time to watch the show from (as it is with many other WDW parades and fireworks shows). You will be able to easily find a spot as little as 15 minutes before the show. Thus, the fighting crowds issue does not really exist for Illuminations.