dinner & IllumiNations

[dream-a-wish]

Hello! This will be our first trip to Disney with our 5 children.
We are so excited. We arrive on May 9th and will be leaving on May 16th. I am trying to get our itinerary down.
I'm not sure where the best place to eat is at Epcot so that we can be sure to have a great spot for illuminations.
I'd appreciate any suggestions. We do have the dining plan also.

Thank you for your tips...I just love reading everyone's suggestions on the boards. It's so helpful!

I can hardly wait to get there!

dream-a-wish

 

[sk8bug72]

Outside of the Rose and Crown has a great view, if you can't see the fireworks from your table, you could probably stand at the back of the terrace during the fireworks. Also, you could try to get a table on the water at Cantina de San Angel (Mexico counter service), but you might need to get there up to an hour and a half before the fireworks start. We usually eat at any counter service restaurant, then find a place on the bridge about an hour before the fireworks start. Have a great trip!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

There really aren't many places to dine and see IllumiNations - and of course those places are jam packed with others wanting a view =)

Rose and Crown has some patio seating - they will not guarantee a patio seat but you can arrive early and request it.

Cantina de San Angel in Mexico has all outdoor seating overlooking the water but it's just (barely) mediocre counter service Mexican food and there will be lots of others trying to arrive early a stake a spot.

I BELIEVE the sushi bar area in Japan also has a view but I have not been there myself.

My advice is to make an ADR before IllumiNations so you can eat and then come and watch. We did this in October again and it worked well - dined at Alfredo's and then came right out and watched. The view is great from all areas of the World Showcase.

 

[dream-a-wish]

I like the idea of going to Alfredo's. I love Italian food. Maybe that's what I'll do..book the dinner there.
Thanks!

 

[larklynn98]

We had couter service at the tangerine cafe and camped out in an area

 

[ougrad86]

I very politely requested the patio at the Rose and Crown. We had a 7:30 ADR. Our beeper didn't work, and I went back to the podium at 8 to check on things. They said they had been looking for us all over the place (we were at a store just down the street - I could see the podium through the window, but they just didn't know where to look). They did ask if there was any special occassion, and I did say we were in WDW for out 25th anniversary, so that may have given us an edge. At first, the umbrella's on the lower level were in the way, but they collapsed those before the show, and dimmed the lights. It was a great view!
We were there another night, and it was a LOT less crowded on the far end (toward Germany) then it was as you got closer in the direction of Future World.

 

[bicker]

We've been quite lucky with Rose and Crown, being seated on the terrace 3 times out of 8 tries.

 

[jetstrip19]

How is Spoodles for a view?

 

[ougrad86]

Spoodles is in DTD. Can't see Illuminations from there.

 

[paras4ri]

Spoodles is on the Boardwalk, but you really can't see much from inside the restaurant. You can see some of the higher fireworks of Illuminations from outside on the Boardwalk and if you walk to the bridge just past ESPN you can also hear the music.