How early to stake a spot for Illuminations?

[anneofgreengables]

Thinking of getting some food to-go, saving a spot for Illuminations and eating there. How far in advance do we need to save our spot? Where are good spots to eat (not talking about Rose and Crown but about sitting somewhere outside to eat)? Thanks.

 

[Lizziejane]

not sure about spots to eat, but we "nabbed" our viewing spot 2 hours early. We got a table right on the edge with a prime view. The next 2 hours were the most stressful of my life! If my husband got up to go get a drink, someone kept trying to take his seat, etc. With only half an hour to go, people were crowed around us so bad we literally had to push the table right up against the wall to try and prevent people from standing in the 6-inch space between the table and the wall! By show time, parents had placed their kids on the wall, behind the wall, one even sat on our table! The fireworks were spectacular, but to be honest, I'll never try to save a prime spot again, it wasn't worth it to me. People simply don't respect anyone else's space. Next time, I plan to be standing off in a corner somewhere, happy to watch what appears above everyones head.

 

[anneofgreengables]

Lizziejane, are you talking about Rose and Crown or somewhere else? I was thinking of just sitting on the ground somewhere and want to know how early I should do that.

 

[Lizziejane]

We were right across from France, a table by the wall at the waters edge. I (stupidly) assumed that no one would try to squeeze in between us and the wall. D-uh! A spot on the ground will be fine, but if you have a good view, be prepared for about 1,000 other people to squeeze between you and the edge of the water. No such thing as "your space" when it comes to parades or fireworks!

 

[byoung]

A lot start getting there spot 3 hours early.

 

[Eljay]

Don't waste your time or your nerves on trying to stake out a spot. Just enjoy the World Showcase and when the lights go down, stop and enjoy. The only thing you might want to do is determine which way the wind is blowing to avoid getting smoke in your eyes!

 

[YorkieMommyKandis]

LOL Speaking of people being rude when it comes to "personal space"....

We went one year to Myrtle Beach with my parents, for the 4th of July. At one of the major shopping places they have a big fireworks show. My dad didn't like people crowding us in so he happened to have some fart spray with him that he picked up in one of the stores. That stuff keeps people away!! The poor people that would walk past us would nearly pass out from the smell...each person asking who in their party let one go. Not a very nice thing to do but it's also not every nice to rudely step on top of people just to steal their spot. My DH can have very bad gas from time to time...just a thought.

 

[Kathkazoo]

We sat on a bench tucked into bolders in front of Canada right at the water's edge. I sent ds(17) to get fish and chips from U.K. and we stayed there for about 90 min. until fireworks started. The bench faced away from the water so when they started we stood up to watch. One woman yelled at us for standing up by hey I had been sitting there for 90 mins and she had pushed her way up through the crowd and had only been there for 5.

 

[emma'smom]

We sat at a table near France the in March. I kept a glass of wine on the table to lay claim to to it (even though we weren't actually in a restaurant). We did have to stand up with the show started, but we could see.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The Cantina seating area, by the water is nice. It will be crowded.

 

[safetymom]

Wow I can get a good view about 15 mins before the show starts. We were eating dinner at the Biergarten the other night and strolled out when the show started and we could see everything. We didn't block anyones view or crowd them out either.

 

[Melwood23]

I use to do the same, get food, then head toward Italy. But once in a while that section I had found would be roped of for a special occasion , after I had sat down for almost 2 hrs..

But now I found a new spot that can't be used for special occasions.

In Canada, next to the Popcorn/Beer stand, there is a bench. I am sure some of the other DISer's know which one I am talking about. And if you pick the right night, you get to listen to Off Kilter play .

As for how long, for me, it is easy for me to sit for 3 hrs. By the time I am ready for Illuminations, I have been at WDW at least 4-5 days and ready for a nice, sit down evening in a park (my legs thank me for it everytime )

 

[J&J]

Everyone here is right we also got a good viewing spot three hours ahead and waited. People who show up at the last minute get in front of you and don't care that you have waited. So now we get a spot half hour before and hope it will no problems. Good luck

 

[SueM in MN]

If you want a 'prime spot' with a table and bench for waiting, you may need to get there 3 hours to 90 minutes ahead of the show. But, there are viewing spots all around WS and it is possible to walk up to the fence 15 minutes before the show starts and not have anyone within touching distance of you.
Just look for the barges that are in the water - that is where most of the fireworks are shot from. Also, wind direction is very important. If you are in the wrong place, you will get lots of smoke blowing at you during the show.

 

[zuzu310]

I totally agree with the other posters who said that it is not worth staking out a prime spot. I only get angry and stressed out from all the people crowding in front of me. Don't come five minutes before the show and then plop your kid in my lap! This year, I think we may just scope something out 1/2 hour before the show and hope for the best. It is really just not worth the stress. With all of those people visiting Disney, you have to figure some will not respect other's space.

 

[ksloane]

LOL Speaking of people being rude when it comes to "personal space"....

We went one year to Myrtle Beach with my parents, for the 4th of July. At one of the major shopping places they have a big fireworks show. My dad didn't like people crowding us in so he happened to have some fart spray with him that he picked up in one of the stores. That stuff keeps people away!! The poor people that would walk past us would nearly pass out from the smell...each person asking who in their party let one go. Not a very nice thing to do but it's also not every nice to rudely step on top of people just to steal their spot. My DH can have very bad gas from time to time...just a thought.

I love it!!!

 

[Dandylyon]

LOL Speaking of people being rude when it comes to "personal space"....

We went one year to Myrtle Beach with my parents, for the 4th of July. At one of the major shopping places they have a big fireworks show. My dad didn't like people crowding us in so he happened to have some fart spray with him that he picked up in one of the stores. That stuff keeps people away!! The poor people that would walk past us would nearly pass out from the smell...each person asking who in their party let one go. Not a very nice thing to do but it's also not every nice to rudely step on top of people just to steal their spot. My DH can have very bad gas from time to time...just a thought.

Where do you get fart spray? (Not that my DH needs it)

 

[deekaypee]

Stake out a space at least 90 minutes in advance, and expect to have to "define and defend" your territory. I bring a picnic blanket when possible, one of those with a water resistant side and a fuzzy side. It sort of demarcates a territory--no perfectly, but somewhat--in ways that help offset the slight panic I feel around so many people in such a tight space.