Dining and Wishes

[sk8ingmom]

...so I'm a big dummy...

This ain't my first rodeo - I know better! I just happened to think today that I should get an ADR for the evening of the marathon (1/13/08) to celebrate DH's accomplishment. What better way to celebrate finishing the WDW Marathon than dinner at California Grill during Wishes? Right? RIGHT?? OK, granted, I should have thought of this a few months ago. CA Grill is all booked up, so here are my questions:

1) Can you see Wishes from any other restaurant?
b) What is the best restaurant to view Illuminations?

 

[Pakey]

You can also see Wishes from Narcoosies at the Grand Floridian.

For Illuminations, the boards have said the best restaurant for this is the Crown & whatever in England (never eaten there) if you can get an outside table but there is no guarantee that you will. You can also see part of Illuminations from Bistro de Paris (upstairs in France) if you get a window seat but there's no guarantee of that either. I'm thinking that all of the window tables at Bistro are for 2 people only. We eat there every trip and have never gotten a window seat!!! There's also the counter service in Mexico that has seating up against the water. I think that's about it.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

For Illuminations, the boards have said the best restaurant for this is the Crown & whatever in England (never eaten there)...

I LOVE that you called it "Crown & whatever!" That's brilliant! That's what I'm calling it from now on!

Just to clarify, though... it's the Rose & Crown, and you are right, it's a great place to view Illuminations.

sk8ingmom, If you can't get in to the R&C, or Bistro de Paris, I recommend that you pick a great restaurant in Epcot, then go to the beer garden next to the R&C (doesn't require a reservation) to watch Illuminations.

 

[JD3419]

We have done Wishes from the beach at the Poly before. Just plan a meal at Kona around the Wishes start time, which I believe is 8 pm. You can either have a late dinner or an early one; then grab a few drinks from the pool bar and head over to the beach.

 

[Hopefully]

I think it is late to get an ADR for the Marathon weekend, so some of the alternatives mentioned may be the best bet.
We saw Wishes while eating dessert at 'OHana a few years ago. It was amazing!! But that night at least, they did not pipe in the Wishes music. I have read since that they do, so I am not sure.
Good Luck