EPCOT Restaurants and Illuminations

[CathieArms]

I've ready many times that the patio at Rose and Crown is an awesome place to watch Illuminations. But, dh *HATES-DESPISES-LOATHES* eating outside. The beauty and fun of watching illuminations from such a prime location would be offset by his complete distaste of eating outside. And, honestly, I wouldn't be really excited to eat outside in the heat of a June evening.

With that in mind, is there another place you'd recommend eating dinner that you could get a fairly decent view of Illuminations?

 

[RMulieri]

None of the other places really have a good view. LEs Chefs de France if you get a window seat-BUT you have a sidewalk ,tons of people and shrubbery/trees in between you and the lagoon.Same thing with tokyo Dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're indoors at Rose & Crown at fireworks time they will let you go outside to watch the show. Heard Tokyo Dining can be good but I'd guess you must have a window seat and there are not that many window seats there.

There really isn't a great place to see Illuminations indoors (no idea about the setup of the new Mexican restaurant though - that should be open by the time of OP's trip next year. By then you will know if there are indoor viewing options there).

 

[DizDaD7]

What a shame. I on the other hand will request outdoor seating at most if not all our adrs. I was going to suggest the Mexican restaurant but that CS and is outside. Great atmosphere though n great view.

 

[morgan75]

Good luck with your searching. You may have to just eat indoors and then find a good spot to view the show. We are going during F&W and it will be our first time to view illuminations. We usually fly through epcot and I neve get to see it.

 

[madalex]

I've ready many times that the patio at Rose and Crown is an awesome place to watch Illuminations.

It is no more or less awesome than many other places arounnd the WS lagoon from which to watch Illuminations (basically, any place where your view is not blocked by a tree or a structure is as good as any other place: some people swear by certain locations, but the view really isn't any better from one unobstructed place to another). Plan a meal and plan for a place to watch from after your meal, but don't stress out too much over trying to combine the two.

 

[TDC Nala]

I was going to suggest the Mexican restaurant but that CS and is outside.

And closed. A new one is being built and it is much larger. It will be a CS at lunchtime and a TS for dinner. Word is that it will have Illuminations views but we don't yet have the particulars (outdoors/indoors, or how easy it will be to book a table that has an excellent view)

 

[tinka-belle]

Tokyo dining is upstairs, so a somewhat better view (semi-blocked by trees and the Japanese gate on the water though) than sidewalk level. Some people stand outside on the deck to watch, so even if you're near the window you might see heads of those standing on the deck, it's a step or two down from restaurant level so your view isn't totally blocked.

However, they do NOT dim the lights or pipe in the music, you can't hear anything at all. Sort of takes away from the show if you view it from the few window side tables.

 

[CathieArms]

Hmm...it's not so much that I WANT to watch Illuminations from a restaurant (as in plan to eat late on purpose so that we can be inside for it), but that I need a place to eat an 8:00 dinner and would like to book at a place that - if we run straight through 9:00 - we'll be able to see Illuminations. Hmm...decisions, decisions...Good thing I'm a planner.

 

[Golf4food]

Rose & Crown is the only one with a view until the new Mexico TS opens.

Eat wherever you want earlier and then go find a place to watch Illuminations.

 

[Golf4food]

Hmm...it's not so much that I WANT to watch Illuminations from a restaurant (as in plan to eat late on purpose so that we can be inside for it), but that I need a place to eat an 8:00 dinner and would like to book at a place that - if we run straight through 9:00 - we'll be able to see Illuminations. Hmm...decisions, decisions...Good thing I'm a planner.

Why not do a TS lunch and then grab a CS dinner and eat it while sitting by the water somewhere to wait?

 

[pooch]

and tell the CM at the podium you do NOT want an outside table. After she passes out from the shock of someone not begging to eat on the patio, help her up and have a nice inside dinner. At Illuminations time, grab your drink and head out to the patio to watch the show. They'll hold your table (and whatever you're eating at the time) until you get back. We've found R & C to have some of the nicest, most accomodating CMs on property!!

 

[GoMegGo]

We once had a 7:30 ressie at Biergarten and just as we exited the restaurant the lights went dim and the show started. We just wandered up to the rail and watched from the Germany area. Not many others were around, it was a lovely way to end the evening.

Perhaps you could count on doing the same or similar. I've found most people try to be near UK/Canada or Mexico so they can make a run for the exit. Being a little further back, the crowds were lighter and yo can take your time exiting (or even stay in the park if it's a pm EMH).

 

[lilosurf11]

I've always wanted to watch Illuminations from the Mitsukoshi Dining Room - on the deck outside. I bet it would be AMAZING!!

 

[kidd_freeper]

Eat indoors at R&C. Should be easy to do if you have an ADR for 8pm. Everyone else will be asking for outdoor seating.

When the fireworks start, they let those on the inside watch the fireworks on the outside on an unobstructed view from their patio, which is closed to those who are NOT eating at the R&C.

 

[MadToad]

We've watched Illuminations from the Bistro de Paris - we had a window seat.

Not the best view, but it was still very nice.

 

[asouza]

We went in June with a 7:45pm adr but it was so hot we asked to sit inside. The waiter got us a spot outside after dinner, standing room but a great view of the show. We were the only ones doing it so it was great. He got a very good tip.