illuminations restaurant?

[jcarlstrom]

Is Rose and Crown the only sit down restaurant with a view of Illuminations?
Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[cmwilson523]

Le Chefs de France also has a view of IllumiNations, and they open all the windows and pipe the music through the restaurant's speakers so that you can hear the beautiful music that was written for Reflections of Earth. I haven't been to the Rose and Crown for dinner during IllumiNations, so I don't know how good of a view that you will get there. The view at Le Chefs de France really depends on where you are in the restaurant. If this is your first time seeing IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, I would strongly recommend eating dinner in time to get out and snag a spot on the promenade. Since a lot of the action takes place on the water (the pyro-barge, and the floating globe do not reach very high), you will want to be in a place that has a fairly unobstructed view. The show is so beautiful that it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it!

Have a fabulous time at WDW and tell Mickey that we all said hello!

Catherine Wilson
151 days til WDW....

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

It was a great view, but hard to get.

We had a 7:30 reservation, but they would not let us wait for a patio table. I was bummed. My husband mentioned to our server that the patio was the entire reason for us eating there.

After we were done with our meal, just about 20 minutes before Illuminations, our server said that a table had just come open on the patio, and moved us out there for dessert. She got one heck of a tip, and eating the chocolate Epcot dessert, while watching Illuminations was awsome.

We were very pleased with the food, and might go back even if it's not for Illuminations.

Have fun

 

[Penny2]

A less formal option is the Cantina in Mexico. However, having been to Rose & Crown, Cantina, Lounge in Japan, etc. I have to say that, to a degree, they all have limited site lines. You will miss some of the show due to trees, etc. But, that can be said of many places.

We had something happen to us once while seated outside at Rose & Crown and if they still let people do this...it was great. Right next to Rose & Crown is a small 'private function' space. We had dinner and were just hanging around, having a drink, waiting for the show. We would have waited about 1/2 hour. We saw a few empty tables in this space and asked our server if we could move and would he still serve us cocktails. He spoke with his manager and they moved us over. Then, others, asked to do it, too. It was great! A real win-win for all....we freed up the tables for others, had a better view of the show and still got our guinness....ain't life grand!!

Anyone watched from the Bistro? It's been so long since it was open that I forgot what the view was like.