IllumiNations Question

[Toddym]

This has more than likely been asked before but...

Where is the best place to view Illuminations from?

Is it worth buying the dessert party tickets so we can get into the reserved area for the show? Or are there better spots to view it from?

Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

Personally, there are many great spots to watch illuminations from. The dessert party I would not pay for. You can view illuminations from the bridge between UK and France. My personal favorite spot is just to the right of Germany. There are quite a few benches and it usually isn't too crowded. The only key point is I would pay attention to the direction of the wind so you aren't having smoke blown at you. My location in Germany is located southeast so for most of the year the smoke will be blown away from you.

 

[Klayfish]

Not to be sarcastic, but the true answer is anywhere around the World Showcase. That's one of the beautiful things about Illuminations...it's a great view from pretty much anywhere. Our favorite spot is right at the entrance to World Showcase, probably because it's the shortest walk... but you'd have to make an effort to have a truly bad view of it.

We haven't done the dessert party. If you want to spend the money for it, I'm sure it's fun, but you don't need to do it to get a good view.

 

[Seoulbro]

We watched it from the 2nd level of the Japanese pavilion, right outside Tepan Edo Restaurant. We quite enjoyed it from there. However, like what other posters have said, any place around the world showcase should be fine.

 

[Jennasis]

Yup...no need to buy party tix. SOOOOOOOO many great spots for free anywhere around the lagoon. If you can see the middle of the water then you're good.

 

[Robo]

Our favorite spot is right at the entrance to World Showcase...
We haven't done the dessert party.

The entrance to World Showcase is where the dessert party and FP+ reserved areas are now located.

 

[SgtTibbs]

I'd do Illuminations as a walk up and save the budget for the Star Wars dessert. That was one heck of a show.

 

[richmo]

...The only key point is I would pay attention to the direction of the wind so you aren't having smoke blown at you...

I agree this is the most important point. If you feel the breeze/wind in your face as you face the lagoon, go somewhere else.

 

[Klayfish]

The entrance to World Showcase is where the dessert party and FP+ reserved areas are now located.

We were just there at the end of June and frankly never really noticed. Sadly, Illuminations was the one show we never actually "stopped" and watched. We saw it once as we were walking the World Showcase toward the exit (kids were just totally done for the night). Does it take up the entire front section? I recall in the past it took up the section arrow straight ahead of the WS entrance, but does it take up just to the right or left too?

 

[Robo]

We were just there at the end of June and frankly never really noticed. Sadly, Illuminations was the one show we never actually "stopped" and watched. We saw it once as we were walking the World Showcase toward the exit (kids were just totally done for the night). Does it take up the entire front section? I recall in the past it took up the section arrow straight ahead of the WS entrance, but does it take up just to the right or left too?

It can be sort of a "moving target" as to how much of the area(s) in the north central section of WS are reserved on a given night.
Figure that much of the areas around and between the "twin gift shops" (#13 & 13 below) will be reserved.

 

[Geoff_M]

About 8:15 PM, go get some fish & chips from the UK (or other nearby snack if you've already had supper) and then proceed to either the wooden fence along the water's edge in front of Canada, or the railing on the bridge between the UK and France (depending on wind direction) and sit down on the ground and enjoy your supper or snack. Not long after that, the pre-show music will start and you can enjoy the sights as people start to line up behind you and you'll have an awesome front-row experience of Illuminations. If you pick the bridge, you'll see all of the boats from the Illuminations cruises tied up directly below you.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Not to be sarcastic, but the true answer is anywhere around the World Showcase. That's one of the beautiful things about Illuminations...it's a great view from pretty much anywhere. Our favorite spot is right at the entrance to World Showcase, probably because it's the shortest walk... but you'd have to make an effort to have a truly bad view of it.

We haven't done the dessert party. If you want to spend the money for it, I'm sure it's fun, but you don't need to do it to get a good view.

I would have to politely disagree. There are places around World Showcase where the islands in the lagoon can block part of the view. So, especially for a first timer, I would avoid locations where an island is between you and the globe.

The area you describe is really kind of the "sweet spot" for the show. In fact, you may notice that the area between the Port of Entry and Disney Traders shops, referred to on the map as "Showcase plaza," actually slopes down towards the lagoon, so that people can see over each other's heads.

But, there are many other good locations.

 

[megster1123]

For our trip in October we had originally planned on starting one day at Epcot and then going to AK for the nighttime events. It looks like hours will not be extended past 7:30 though so we may end up crossing AK off altogether. I'm wondering about Illmuinations now - hadn't really planned for it since we were not going to be in EP past 5pm that day. Are viewing spots something that need to be staked out well in advance like a parade or if we decide to stick around would we be able to wander upon a decent spot? Eliminating AK would turn the evening portion of that day totally into a play it by ear kind of situation.

 

[Robo]

1. Are viewing spots something that need to be staked out well in advance like a parade or
2. if we decide to stick around would we be able to wander upon a decent spot?

1. Nope.
2. On a non-hoilday, I'd find a spot 30 min. before start-time.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

For our trip in October we had originally planned on starting one day at Epcot and then going to AK for the nighttime events. It looks like hours will not be extended past 7:30 though so we may end up crossing AK off altogether. I'm wondering about Illmuinations now - hadn't really planned for it since we were not going to be in EP past 5pm that day. Are viewing spots something that need to be staked out well in advance like a parade or if we decide to stick around would we be able to wander upon a decent spot? Eliminating AK would turn the evening portion of that day totally into a play it by ear kind of situation.

I usually go over holidays and I get a spot about 15-30 minutes before the start. Now timing also depends on where you plan on viewing. Popular spots like the bridge may be 45 minutes before. The spot I've mentioned before is usually not overly crowded. If you want a fully unobstructed view, then closer to 30 minutes should be fine.

 

[Geoff_M]

I would have to politely disagree. There are places around World Showcase where the islands in the lagoon can block part of the view. So, especially for a first timer, I would avoid locations where an island is between you and the globe.

The area you describe is really kind of the "sweet spot" for the show. In fact, you may notice that the area between the Port of Entry and Disney Traders shops, referred to on the map as "Showcase plaza," actually slopes down towards the lagoon, so that people can see over each other's heads.

But, there are many other good locations.

Actually, we think the Showcase Plaza is a terrible spot, particularity if you have kids. We went there one time and found a spot about half way back from the railing. The crowd was all seated down on the concrete as they waited for the show to start. It did, and the second it started the front row stood up, and everyone else in front of us stood up too. I could see, my shorter wife had an "OK" view, but our three kids couldn't see a thing. That was the last time we watched Illuminations from there. The sloping only helps if people are relatively the same height. It only gets worse when families in front of you, whose kids cannot see, start to put the younger ones up on their shoulders.

 

[goofy4tink]

The entrance to World Showcase is where the dessert party and FP+ reserved areas are now located.

That area, to the best of my knowledge, is where the show was designed to be watched from. I've watched from just about every vantage point...that area, between the two shops, is an incredible viewing spot. But...that is where special events are placed...as when CP pkgs had special IllumiNations viewing.
It's an incredible spot...very different than most other spots.

 

[DreamFlightCpt.]

The dessert areas and pretty all areas now blocked off to general public are/were the best places to view. However there is a small overlook near Germany that is my go to spot. Get there a little early and grab a beer from the quick serve spots right behind you and relax before the show starts, really anywhere else will have a great view if you make it work for you. Just don't go expecting all points around the showcase to be completely unobstructed.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Almost anywhere around the Lagoon is a good place to watch illuminations. I think dessert parties are the biggest rip-off Disney ever came up with--$60 for cake, coffee and a view.

Some pointers in selecting a spot:

• As mentioned above, try not to stand down wind of the water.
• Make sure you don't have obstructions like trees or a Japanese structure blocking your view of the water.
• The closer you are to the exits, the more crowded it will be. Since Epcot closes most nights as Illuminations begins, people tend to watch from where they can beat the hastiest retreat. If you imagine the lagoon like it's a clock with America at 12:00, the biggest crowds gather between 3:00 and 8:00, so between France and Norway with the heaviest crowds at 6:00 which is the World Showcase Plaza.

Illuminations is my favorite thing at WDW. Love it! Hope you and yours enjoy it as much.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The dessert areas and pretty all areas now blocked off to general public are/were the best places to view. However there is a small overlook near Germany that is my go to spot. Get there a little early and grab a beer from the quick serve spots right behind you and relax before the show starts, really anywhere else will have a great view if you make it work for you. Just don't go expecting all points around the showcase to be completely unobstructed.

This is my favorite spot as well. It's amazing how easy it to find a spot there. I find since it is farthest from the exits that's it is usually not as crowded. I either get a beer, a pretzel, or a Christmas treat during the holidays before the show.