Epcot dining with Illuminations view

[stacey_LI]

Are there any TS restaurants that are good for watching Illuminations from? Or is it more magical to watch from around the lagoon?
TIA

 

[Moliphino]

You can see Illuminations from La Hacienda, Rose and Crown, and Spice Road Table (I could be missing some), but you aren't guaranteed a table with good views. The Rose and Crown has a viewing area for diners who aren't seated outside with a view, but it's small.

If you really want to watch Illuminations you're better off staking out a place around the lagoon.

 

[Tigger's ally]

We always do Rose and Crown, set our ressie for approximately 1:30 minutes before and tip our server handsomely. Knock on wood but we have always got our seat outside on the patio. We have made this our family tradition for our last night there. Wonderful experience as they light the flames and do that countdown. Love it there.

 

[disnut8]

You can see Illuminations from La Hacienda, Rose and Crown, and Spice Road Table (I could be missing some), but you aren't guaranteed a table with good views. The Rose and Crown has a viewing area for diners who aren't seated outside with a view, but it's small.

If you really want to watch Illuminations you're better off staking out a place around the lagoon.

I agree and we watch Illuminations on every trip. I can tell you that if you don't want to be jammed on top of other people, go to the back of World Showcase since most will want to escape and run for the transportation after. We are in the back, where we can pick up a beverage of choice, don't have to stand for an hour since it's usually not crowded, walk up to the rail about fifteen minutes before the show, get another beverage, use the bathrooms, enjoy the show and then slowly walk to the front and let everyone else scurry out. Even using Disney transportation (buses), the latest we've been back in the room was not quite 10:30.

 

[AngiTN]

You can see Illuminations from La Hacienda, Rose and Crown, and Spice Road Table (I could be missing some), but you aren't guaranteed a table with good views. The Rose and Crown has a viewing area for diners who aren't seated outside with a view, but it's small.

If you really want to watch Illuminations you're better off staking out a place around the lagoon.

We've watched from all 3 over the years. I agree that if seeing Illuminations is important, don't use a meal for it. You would more than likely have an obstructed view in one way or another. From major, you can barely see to minor, you can mostly see.
We do the meal as a way to experience Illuminations to a small degree but mostly to eat. We consider Illuminations just a nice backdrop for the meal.
If we want to actually watch/experience Illuminations, we watch outside around the lagoon (in WS as PP mentioned).

 

[yaddakal]

We just watched them last week on the bridge near France . I don't think that there could've been a better spot !

 

[Hopefully]

I believe the very best view is outside around the lagoon

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

My husband and I did La Hacienda on a very cool night at Epcot and we were so glad we were inside the restaurant all cozy and warm! I made the ADR for 7:30 and when I checked in I asked for a window seat and they told me I may have to wait a bit longer and I said that is fine. Sure enough within 30 minutes we were taken to our table by the window with a lovely view of the lake and Illuminations. While I do prefer watching outside on the lagoon this cold night I was happy to be inside and it was a different experience for us.

The food was so wonderful too! really enjoyed everything about that evening. So I say go for it if you want to have dinner and watch Illuminations! You may have to wait a bit longer, but they usually accommodate a window seat as long as it is not super crazy busy

 

[TheRustyScupper]

(Not just Epcot):

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
. . . Tomorrowland 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

 

[AngiTN]

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

They must have really relaxed the entire "must take seat offered" deal
They are not refusing when asked for a seat in X area on a regular basis.
That or lots of CM are taking it upon themselves to do it their way

 

[PoohNFriends]

We did dinner at Rose & Crown inside then they were able to move us to the patio for dessert. I believe this was October, but could've been April; it was a lighter crowds and a little chilly at night. Anyways, the breeze blew the smoke from the show right in that direction. Wasn't the best view or experience because of that, but it also wouldn't stop me from considering it again.