Illuminations Dining Options besides Dessert Party?

[CFioren317]

I can't seem to find the thread that has where you can eat and watch Illuminations. Besides the dessert party. Isn't there some restaurants that having dining options to watch it?

 

[roydavid7771]

I don't believe there are any dinner packages that include a meal and exclusive viewing of Illuminations. Having said that, our favorite place to watch Illuminations over a wonderful meal is in Mexico at the Hacienda de San Angel. Ask for a table next to the window and enjoy the sounds (they pipe the music in) and spectacle of Illuminations over a margarita in a cliamte controlled environment!

 

[mom2cinderella]

Here's what TheRustyScupper recently posted:

FIREWORKS VIEWING (*rev 2/14/2014*)

1) Epcot "Illuminations" restaurant viewing
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view from 1/2 of the tables
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - poor patio view from 1/2 of the tables
. . . 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 (Bistro de Paris) (FR) - excellent view, but only from a few tables
. . . Liberty Inn (US) - obstructed patio view
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . California Grille - excellent table view, excellent balcony views
. . . Narcoossee's - good view from just a few tables, good balcony views
. . . Ohana - good view from just a very few tables, no view from all others
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



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

NOTE:
. . . 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.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

Any experience with the new policy? Trying to decide if we should make ADRs at Rose & Crown. Definitely would not want to eat inside.

 

[purple figment]

Any experience with the new policy? Trying to decide if we should make ADRs at Rose & Crown. Definitely would not want to eat inside.

There has never been a guarantee that you could wait for a table with a view. I haven't noticed any difference in seating since they have had table assigners - sometimes R&C will let you wait, other times they will not. It depends on how busy the restaurant is, how many others have already asked for a patio table and if the CMs are allowing parties to wait that evening, what time your reservation is for, how many in your party...

Is there a reason you don't want to sit inside other than wanting to see IllumiNations from your table? R&C is the only restaurant that has a viewing area adjacent to the patio that is exclusively for their diners. If you're seated inside let your server know you want to see IllumiNations. Remind them just before the start of the show and they will take you there. It has a very good view.

There is no way you can guarantee a patio table when making an ADR for R&C. You can request one when you check in at the podium and hope they are accepting requests, but you'll have to be prepared to be turned down.

La Hacienda has some tables with a very good view of IllumiNations, but most reports have said they are less likely to allow anyone to wait for a window table and it really is luck if you get one.