Can you help plan dining @ Epcot so we can see illuminations ?

[MrsJobba1]

i think we will be on the ddp ( not sure yet) but can u advise best times for adrs / & restaurants for views. Do any restauants have viewing platforms? We don't mind eating then going to watch ( any advice on where to stand etc would be really appreciated.

We will be staying at Boardwalk so can walk home afterwards.

 

[LSUfan4444]

There are a few places that have seating where you can watch wishes but your best bet is to eat, then watch. If you are goping back tot he Boardwalk a good viewing location is on the bridge connecting France and the UK and you can usually get a spot right along the railing as late as 8:45 pm (assuming your group isn't that big).

For dining, I would likely make your ADR no later than 7:15. Don't feel you need to rush to somewhere specific to view Illuminations..the show can be viewed from basically anywhere around the lagoon. Once you decide on where you're going to eat, reply to this thread and I can suggest a good place to view the show.

if I had to say my two favorite places to watch it it would be the veranda in japan

or the bridge near France/UK as I mentioned earlier

 

[jerzeystar09]

In January, we found that the quick service restaurant in Mexico was perfect for Illuminations. It had mostly emptied out and we were able to get a table right at the railing and enjoy our meal and the fireworks at the same time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

There are restaurants from which you can view Illuminations, but there is no guarantee you will get a table by the window. As PP mentioned, I would pick which restaurant appeals to you and then find a spot to watch the show. Our favorite spots are in Italy, Canada and Norway.

 

[tink1957]

The best places we have found are Rose & Crown and La Hacienda with R & C having the edge in food. The best adr time is 7 to 8.

 

[Los213]

Your better off planning to finish dinner by 840 and walking to the water to watch the show, theres no real bad spot, just avoid trees. I personally like to watch the show by the entrance to the world showcase ( between Canada and mexico) so i can avoid some of the crowds once the show ends.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 06/02/2016*)
.
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

 

[JerseyJanice]

Best Illuminations viewing we ever had was following a dinner at the Biergarten. We had a 7:15ish ADR. Finished, walked outside and ta-da! we were in a perfect place to see the show. The globe is very close to that spot, and you can really make out the images it projects from there.

 

[MrsJobba1]

FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 06/02/2016*)
.
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

Many thanks