Fireworks Viewing

[FFMickey]

I just made my ADRs for my November trip. I have a reservation at Rose&Crown for 8:20 and Illumination is scheduled for 10 . We also have an ADR for Ohana at 6:55 with Wishes at 8 PM. Will we be able to see the fireworks from the restaurants or will we be finished with to Rose& Crown too early to stay and watch Illuminations?

 

[Hopefully]

I think you will be fine at R & C. Not so sure about 'OHana. Your ADR is close to Wishes. I think folks at window tables will be keeping them and you not be seated near a window with a view. Only a few have views. And you are not early enough to be finished to head outside.
Good Luck

 

[FFMickey]

Thank you for your input. We'll just play it ear. If we get to see it then wonderful. If not, it won't ruin our vacation.

 

[Lucius Best]

Last time we ate dinner at Ohana was a few years ago. Not sure if this is still the case, but when Wishes started, they dimmed the lights in the room and piped in the music, which was cool, you can see the fireworks but window seats have the best view, obviously. Your other option is to eat fast and hustle out to the beach after eating.

 

[purple figment]

At both restaurants there are some tables with a view of the fireworks, but many without so you can request a patio table (R&C) or window table ('Ohana), but there is no guarantee that the restaurant will take requests.

At R&C if you are seated at a table without a view there is an adjacent viewing area just for those dining at R&C. Let your server know you want to see IllumiNations and they will pace your meal. Most likely, you will be finished dining in time because R&C tends to be one of the faster places once you are seated.

At 'Ohana you might have a problem. By 6:55 'Ohana is frequently running behind schedule. Only some of the tables have a good view of Wishes so most people with the prime tables will stay to see the fireworks. By the time you are seated, you won't be finished dining in time to go outside to the beach. If seeing Wishes is important you might want to look for an earlier reservation.

 

[FFMickey]

I got my ADR changed to 5:35, so if we get done early, we will go to the beach and watch Wishes. Do they pipe in the music onto the beach? If we are still there, I'll still try to request a window view. It's my DGF's birthday that night and she loves Wishes and used to work in MK with the CP program.

 

[Lucius Best]

Yes, they pipe in the Wishes music on the beach at Polynesian.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

FIREWORKS VIEWING - MY STOCK ANSWER TO GUESTS AT MY CONCIERGE DESK(*rev 02/06/2015*)
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
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . Tomoorowland 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

 

[FFMickey]

Thanks for the great info, @TheRustyScupper

 

[rascalflatts1]

this is great info thanx

 

[amagalski]

Thanks. What if you're not on the dining plan? You still cannot wait?