Illuminations...is it worth it?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I thought it was great -- but probably only worth it if you're planning a late start one day. I couldn't do a trip over 2 days without sleeping in once or twice anyway thought. I also think that if I had to choose between Fantasmic, Wishes and Illuminations I'd put them in that order.

 

[GEM]

What we do is watch Illuminations from near the International Gateway (betweeen the UK and France) and exit through there when it's over. Then we take the very short and uncrowded walk to the Beach Club and grab a taxi from there back to our resort. It's worth the $12 or so to be back in our room in under 30 minutes, as opposed to 90 minutes.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

What we do is watch Illuminations from near the International Gateway (betweeen the UK and France) and exit through there when it's over. Then we take the very short and uncrowded walk to the Beach Club and grab a taxi from there back to our resort. It's worth the $12 or so to be back in our room in under 30 minutes, as opposed to 90 minutes.

Thats a clever idea.

 

[GEM]

Thanks, but I can't take credit for it. Somebody else on this board suggested it to me years ago. We've always done it this way, and it works like a charm!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

My absolute favorite part of every trip is the slow, walk through Epcot after the Illuminations. Its romantic. We wait till the last few are leaving and we stroll happily, taking in the sounds and smells of Innoventions at night. The beautiful music (I have all of it on my harddrive and on CDs), The lights in the sidewalks, the spinning and twirling things overhead, all the beauty you miss during the day. I won the AllEars contest with my "essay" about it. They sent the freebies (lanyard, etc) {{a VERY NICE prize I may add}} and then they lost my email, and it was never published on the website with the rest of the winning entries. My luck; go figure.

 

[C.Ann]

It's the best lights/songs/fireworks display that Disney has going for them.. I wouldn't miss it for anything!!

 

[dsnymomof4]

We love Illuminations as well. Unfortunately though, you can't really see everything unless your close to the water. We always pick our spot at least an hour before it starts. DD5 fell asleep last year waiting for the show and stayed asleep the whole time. It is a really neat show for the kids to see, so maybe you can try and if the smaller ones get restless, one of you can take them to a quieter spot. I believe it lasts 20 minutes or so and after the show there is a mad rush to the exits. You should take your time and linger a bit in order to avoid the rush to the bus. Have a great trip!

 

[monorailsilver]

We go see Illuminations pretty much nightly when we go. Our kids love it too.

The first time with kids our dd was 15 mo old & the fireworks scared her so I covered her ears but we left before it was over which was OK considering we'd seen it many times before. She even hated the fireworks at the MK & we watched them from the beach at the Poly (we were staying there).

The next time we went, dd was 4 1/2 & ds was 22 mo. At first ds was scared of Illuminations & then we started shouting out the colors & with in 2 minutes he was hooked & dd loved it too.

So basically we stayed to watch it every night but 1 or 2 (off night & MK night) & then we'd head back 'home' to the Poly to catch Wishes.

But as for keeping the kids out late. We went back to our room mid day (per usual) & napped. My dh even naps some times. I try not to since I don't need one so I do crosswords & stuff like that or I go swimming/laundry.

Then the kids are full of energy (& not crabby) & they are able to stay up but as soon as we get home it is back to early bed time.

Don't miss it.