Best Places to Watch IllumiNations??

[Tinker_Belle]

I'm bringing my parents to WDW for the first time since they took us 20 years ago. I can't really see my father standing through IllumiNations, as I usually do (I'm not a "camp out" for hours kind of person), so I'm thinking we'll have to find a place to sit early. I read about the possibility of getting a window seat at La Hacienda or Tokyo Dining as well as getting a table early at La Cantina. Has anyone done this? How much of the show do you sacrifice for comfort? Any other good places?

TIA!

 

[emptynestr]

I'm bringing my parents to WDW for the first time since they took us 20 years ago. I can't really see my father standing through IllumiNations, as I usually do (I'm not a "camp out" for hours kind of person), so I'm thinking we'll have to find a place to sit early. I read about the possibility of getting a window seat at La Hacienda or Tokyo Dining as well as getting a table early at La Cantina. Has anyone done this? How much of the show do you sacrifice for comfort? Any other good places?

TIA!

We just came back home on Christmas Eve after a week in Disney. We had lovely seats just outside of Germany where there are several benches. We enjoyed the view from there and we were able to sit. We didn't get there extra early either. Have a wonderful time!

 

[sdwrdt]

Day before Thanksgiving, we watched from La Hacienda restaurant. Wonderful food and pretty good view.

You give up: the noise of the fireworks, the higher-shooting ones. But no sense of the show. The music/words are piped in. They did have a problem with the lights dimming, but that didn't really take away from anything.

Another nice place to watch from is Rose & Crown Pub in England. That has been a tradition of ours every time we've gone (this is our 4th time.) But I'm not sure we'll do it again. The family didn't enjoy the food as much and we were on the upper level under the awning. Missed A LOT of the fireworks because of this!

 

[OKW Lover]

The biggest tip is to be sure you are not down-wind.

You'll see the show more clearly if the wind is at your back since it will blow the smoke/debris away from you.

 

[pattibehan]

We were there in August and also sat on the benches in front of Germany. Even with lots of people in front of us wehad an unobstructed view..and we didn't get there super early, either!!

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Thank you all so much for the great tips!

 

[nicki.momof3]

Here is the advise I recieved from DIS and I followed it on 12/21/10 (last week) and it was amazing.

Get a 7:30pm reservation at Rose and Crown. Ask for a patio seat (they have huge heaters so it is very warm on cold nights - it was 30 degrees last week). Tell them you will wait for a while if needed to get a patio seat.

When seated tell your server you are staying for illuminations. Order a appitizer, drinks, dinner. Your server will time dessert to eat during illuminations or before your choice. We have a perfect view, no smoke, no crowds, no wait. We were on the second level of the patio and we had no view obstructions. We saw everything 100% perfectly.

It was AMAZING!

It was a picture perfect Christmas holiday night. The kids had a great view of the show, we didn't have to stake out a seat and we had some drinks while we watched the show.

Food was great also - really enjoyed our meal.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Here is the advise I recieved from DIS and I followed it on 12/21/10 (last week) and it was amazing.

Get a 7:30pm reservation at Rose and Crown. Ask for a patio seat (they have huge heaters so it is very warm on cold nights - it was 30 degrees last week). Tell them you will wait for a while if needed to get a patio seat.

When seated tell your server you are staying for illuminations. Order a appitizer, drinks, dinner. Your server will time dessert to eat during illuminations or before your choice. We have a perfect view, no smoke, no crowds, no wait. We were on the second level of the patio and we had no view obstructions. We saw everything 100% perfectly.

It was AMAZING!

It was a picture perfect Christmas holiday night. The kids had a great view of the show, we didn't have to stake out a seat and we had some drinks while we watched the show.

Food was great also - really enjoyed our meal.

That sounds like a great idea. How was the food?

 

[nicki.momof3]

We had the greens salad and cheese tray for app - it was very good - the salad as big enough to share.

My husband had the sheppards pie and I had the the filet. We really enjoyed both.

We skipped dessert because we were very full.

Our son and the fish and chips off the kids menu which was a nice change from the traditional kids food offered at WDW.

It was well worth the cost (we did have free dining) but would have paid for that seat and illuminations view.

Call early for a ADR - they fill up - it is a popular option.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Thank you!

 

[jimmiej]

There are benches across from the China pavillion that will hold 3-4 people each. We've watched from there several times. Close to quick-service food options and bathrooms. Also, not enough room for late-comers to get in front of you.

 

[lnk1229]

The last time we were there we watched Illuminations from the benches by China.... A Perfect view and an unobstructed view... It was the middle of the summer so we did arrive early but it was worth it.. we used a snack credit and enjoyed dessert while we waited...

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Thank you! I think the benches will be perfect, since we really wanted to eat at Le Cellier.

 

[HappyMatt]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[DisneyAgain2011]

Which is better - chef mickey's or crystal palace?

 

[KingRichard]

Here is the advise I recieved from DIS and I followed it on 12/21/10 (last week) and it was amazing.

Get a 7:30pm reservation at Rose and Crown. Ask for a patio seat (they have huge heaters so it is very warm on cold nights - it was 30 degrees last week). Tell them you will wait for a while if needed to get a patio seat.

When seated tell your server you are staying for illuminations. Order a appitizer, drinks, dinner. Your server will time dessert to eat during illuminations or before your choice. We have a perfect view, no smoke, no crowds, no wait. We were on the second level of the patio and we had no view obstructions. We saw everything 100% perfectly.

It was AMAZING!

It was a picture perfect Christmas holiday night. The kids had a great view of the show, we didn't have to stake out a seat and we had some drinks while we watched the show.

Food was great also - really enjoyed our meal.

I would second this!!

We have done this the 3 times we went and will be doing it a forth very soon!

 

[FlyingDumbo]

I like to watch from Norway. There is a great bakery there and a great view. It is also nice to be close to the exit for when the show is over.

 

[CandyHead09]

I'm bringing my parents to WDW for the first time since they took us 20 years ago. I can't really see my father standing through IllumiNations, as I usually do (I'm not a "camp out" for hours kind of person), so I'm thinking we'll have to find a place to sit early. I read about the possibility of getting a window seat at La Hacienda or Tokyo Dining as well as getting a table early at La Cantina. Has anyone done this? How much of the show do you sacrifice for comfort? Any other good places?

TIA!

If stairs arent a problem for them best place for Illuminations are the steps of Teppan Edo, the restaurant in Japan! Great view! No need to wait around for an hour pretty much no one sits on the steps, I dont know why.

Maybe because they think they are going to be uncomfortable but it's not bad at all.