Illuminations and asthma

[Mickey'snewestfan]

DS7 has asthma and chronic lung disease caused by repeated aspiration pneumonias as a kid. Smoke of any kind is one of his biggest triggers. We have reservations for the Rose and Crown for our first night to watch Illuminations, but having read the Autism thread below I'm now worried about smoke blowing our way.

Here's my question -- if we request an indoor table can we watch it from there? If we go outside to the patio and it's crowded how hard would it be for us to come back inside if the wind picks up (e.g. will there be crowds behind us we'd have to fight our way through).

We will be leaving home around 5 a.m. that day, so I'm very hesitant to switch to a viewing spot on the other side of the lagoon -- I'm sure we'll be desperate to get back to the swan and bed by the time Illuminations is over.

eta: I just reread my post and realized that I said he had the pneumonia "as a kid" implying that he's all grown up now. Somehow this cracks me up (probably because I'm running on too little sleep). He had the pneumonias as a baby and young toddler.

 

[Poohnatic]

I can't speak to what Rose and Crown offers as far as viewing from inside, but I will tell you that yes, the smoke frequently blows to that side of the world showcase.

As a result, my family ends up viewing in Germany most times we're there. I think in about three dozen viewings there, we've only been smoked once. OTOH, I needed my inhaler on one of the occasions viewing from the lower level between England and France.

Hope this helps.

Suzanne

 

[SueM in MN]

On our last trip, we got the smoke coming toward us when we were in Norway.
I can't speak for the inside of Rose and Crown either, but I'd be concerned about having any specific place that I have to be at for Illuminations because of worrying about which way the wind is blowing. It may work out just fine and the wind may not blow toward you at the Rose and Crown, but you can never plan for the wind.
It is possible to find spots pretty easily along the World Showcase waterway for Illuminations, so if you decide not to do the Rose and Crown, you still should be able to get a good view, although you might want to change your Illuminations day to a different day so you don't have to worry about an early morning and late night on the same day.

 

[scojos]

sorry to hi jack this thread but we have the same prob, ds6 has aspergers and severe brittle asthma and so we are faced with similar problems.
we have adr at the marrakash the night we are going to watch illuminations, but never having gone to epcot before (kids were to young last time) is there another restaurant were we can watch the fireworks from with less stress?
yes we are going to try and get a gac so does that allow us to watch the fireworks in a disabled area at epcot (ds does not like crowds) if so, where is it?
thanks
tracy

 

[spiceycat]

you can't tell until that evening which way the wind is blowing - you want it to blow away from you.

can't see the show if the smoke is blowing at you.

so which side can't be determined in advance.

yes there are disabled places - but they may be for wheelchairs, ECV only - not sure.

here is a map
http://www.willcad.org/maps/parks/2006-06/epcot-front-jun06_m.jpg

the places are in red the wheelchair with I next to it

the problem is there is only one in front of Germany (really between Germany & Italy) on the side that generally has the less smoke...

where there are several on the side that has the smoke (most of the time) - between Great Britian & Canada - and the main ones Showcase Plaza.

sometimes the smoke is worst at Showcase Plaza than france/UK/Canada side...

just depends on which way the wind is blowing.

 

[BillSears]

we have adr at the marrakash the night we are going to watch illuminations, but never having gone to epcot before (kids were to young last time) is there another restaurant were we can watch the fireworks from with less stress?

Marrakash is inside and fairly far back from the water. I'm pretty sure you cannot see Illuminations from there. As far as I know the only places where you can see Illuminations with a good view are outside at the Rose and Crown and the counter service tables on the water at the Mexican pavillion. I've heard you can see from some of the outside tables at Chefs de France but you would be sitting back from the water so I can't say what the view is like.

yes we are going to try and get a gac so does that allow us to watch the fireworks in a disabled area at epcot (ds does not like crowds) if so, where is it?
thanks
tracy

I believe the GAC would allow you to use the handicapped viewing area. However those areas are usually very crowded and the wheelchairs are usually placed up front at the railing. I've been to these areas when the wheelchairs were lined 2 deep and the area was so full they were turning away guests. So all things considered it might be best to try to find a quieter spot that is upwind from the show.

 

[pugdog]

Here's my question -- if we request an indoor table can we watch it from there? If we go outside to the patio and it's crowded how hard would it be for us to come back inside if the wind picks up (e.g. will there be crowds behind us we'd have to fight our way through).

If you can get a indoor table near the balconey you will see it great. If you want to go outside you won;t be to crowed either. The only people allowed in R&C during the show are the ones that are eatting there. You can't just walk in and watch.

 

[Schmeck]

I'd like to second the point that the handicapped viewing areas get very,very crowded! And since they are right up to the railings, it can be difficult to get out of that area as well, as the space behind it can get filled up too.

 

[SueM in MN]

We do not typically use the handicapped seating for Illuminations since we found the same problem as the other posters - very crowded plus in order to get a spot there, you typically have to get there quite a while before (at least an hour) and stay put.

IMHO, you would do much better to just find a spot up by the railing somewhere along WS lake (making sure you know which way the wind is blowing). It's very possible to get spots almost anywhere around WS waterway as little as 15 minutes before the show starts. The most crowded, busiest spots are near the entrances (about from Canada to Mexico and also around the International Gateway.)

 

[scojos]

thanks guys, you re great
tracy

 

[erinch]

my DS with asthma wanted to see illuminations, and consented to wear a filter mask. One advantage to Rose and Crown would be that it would not be far to exit world showcase if the smoke is triggering.

A bigger trigger for DS is the "hazy" stuff (fog)