Dining or Fireworks?

[Kathy Chang]

Hello, thank you in advance for your input!

Since we booked our trip ~60 days out, we were not able to get many of the ADRs we would have liked. I was able to snag a few dinner ones, but they are so late in the day that we would miss the nighttime fireworks.

Fri 3/31 we have a 8:40pm Be Our Guest reservation. I picked this one up totally by luck - someone must have cancelled since I had been checking every day and there was never any availability. But Wishes fireworks is at 9pm. ... Which is the better choice? I hear Be Our Guest is really an amazing experience?

We're planning on watching Stars Wars fireworks on Sunday 4/2 at Hollywood Studios. (By the way, is it possible to watch Fantasmic at 830pm and the Fireworks at 9pm?).

Then on Tue 4/4 is our Epcot day. I have a reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at 825pm. Illuminations is at 9pm. !! What to do? There is an open reservation at 810pm at Spice Road Table that I heard is good to watch fireworks from. I would book it now to have options but Disney won't let me book within the same time frame. Any suggestions on what to do?

Am I putting too much emphasis on Fireworks?

 

[disneyvoice]

I would say it depends on whether you have seen all the night time fireworks/shows several times in the past. If you haven't seen them before then I would probably suggest ditching the late ADRs. We have seen them all multiple times so we often leave the parks right before the night time fireworks/shows to beat the crowds and get back to our resort a bit earlier. Another thing I would consider though is whether you really WANT to eat that late, especially if you have young children. We like to eat early, like between 5:00 and 6:00, because we don't like the feeling of having a heavy meal late in the evening. I wouldn't recommend scheduling a late ADR simply because it's the only time you can get. I think Akershus is nice, especially the character interaction, but if you are tired, starving, and then uncomfortable because you are eating so late it won't be the best experience. BoG is a dinner we do every trip, however I wouldn't do it if we could only get it that late.

You still have some time left and people cancel their ADRs all the time. If you stalk the system you might be able to get earlier times for both. I have always been successful in getting the ADRs I want within about 15 minutes of the time I originally wanted because I keep checking frequently.

 

[Robo]

1. Fri 3/31 we have a 8:40pm Be Our Guest reservation. I picked this one up totally by luck - someone must have cancelled since I had been checking every day and there was never any availability. But Wishes fireworks is at 9pm. ... Which is the better choice? I hear Be Our Guest is really an amazing experience?
2. (By the way, is it possible to watch Fantasmic at 830pm and the Fireworks at 9pm?).

1. Fireworks over BoG... Big time.
BoG is not what I'd describe as an amazing experience.
(And, we have eaten there a half-dozen times.)

2. No.

I'd say that the IllumiNations experience beats most meals.

 

[Ambehnke]

I have to agree with Robo. Don't get me wrong I've had some great meals at Disney and we eat at a lot of the nicer restaurants while we're there but it's never been anything better than our nice restaurants at home. It's cool to see the inside of bog but the meal itself is not worth the hype. I'd rather see the night entertainment.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you still want to do both, keep watching for cancellations. With the CC guarantee, people do cancel close to day of.

 

[Kathy Chang]

Thank you all for your input! I think I will keep an eye out for an earlier reservation, and if not I'll opt for the fireworks instead. Do you guys have any recommendations on a Table Service at Epcot?

 

[smidgy]

you should find a spot for illuminations at least 45 minutes ahead of time. if you want to eat at spcot, I wouldn't book anything later. you want to fbe able to be out looking for a spot at 8.. we love teppan edo in japan.. lots of fun beirgartedn is also fun/ our first few trips we concentrated on attractions and fireworks things you can't do at home. with 1-3 sit down dinners.

 

[AngelDisney]

Thank you all for your input! I think I will keep an eye out for an earlier reservation, and if not I'll opt for the fireworks instead. Do you guys have any recommendations on a Table Service at Epcot?

Try to book Spice Road Table under a different account as a back up and keep checking everyday. Pixie dust!

 

[kniquy]

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at 825pm. I

With it being flower and garden time there is so much great food to sample around the world. I would forgo the Akershus reservation to sample food and watch illuminations. BOG -- If you have never been is a must do. It is such an amazing environment. I only went for lunch a couple years ago, which we enjoyed, so i can't comment on the quality of the food for dinner. Although if this is your first time to experience the fireworks at MK then i would stalk for an early or late dinner reservation (be flexible) and watch the fireworks. Have you checked California Grill reservations? It is located on top of BLT and you can watch the fireworks from there with the music piped in. The only drawback is that it does take time out of your park. There is also Kona at the poly and ohana - but ohana is near impossible to get. At the poly you can watch the fireworks from the beach.

 

[smidgy]

yes you can watch the fireworks from the poly beach, and it's "ok" if you're not going to Mk that night anyway.. but in no way would I substitute that for watching them from inside the park.. no where near as good!

 

[lifepaused]

I would go fireworks first, Fireworks are more of an experience than dinning. Dinning you can do that any day of the year you want to. I have only been to DW once and I still think the fireworks displays are the best I have seen and give you the extra disney experience.

 

[Nancyg56]

I Like BOG, but in no way will it substitute for Fireworks. I would try for a breakfast or lunch there, and skip dinner.

I agree with everyone else about Illuminations. We like dinner at Via Napoli and then stroll out for Illuminations, but since you are rhere for F&G, you might be happy at the kiosks, then finding a dessert and beverage to enjoy while waiting for the show.