Illuminations viewing

[prudence64]

Best place to try for a view of Illuminations if your party isn't willing to stake out a spot before 8:30?

 

[Robo]

Best place to try for a view of Illuminations if your party isn't willing to stake out a spot before 8:30?

There are so many places to view IllumiNations at Epcot's World Showcase
that are wonderful in their own way that its futile to try to list them... so I will.

• Bridge between UK and France
• Near the twin gift shops at the entrance to WS from FW
• Norway area
• Upper level (outside front terrace) of the Matsu No Ma Lounge in Japan
• Italy, near the Gondolas
• Mexico, at the new Cantina
• Mexico, bridge to the right of the Cantina (as you face the lagoon.)
• UK, the Rose & Crown outdoor dining area (ressies required.)
• UK, just to the left of the Rose & Crown (as you face the lagoon.)
• Many, many more great spots.

Be sure to avoid any tree branches that block your overhead view,
and watch out for any "islands" in the water
that block your view of the "center" of the lagoon.

Best Tip:
Don't stand down-wind of the fireworks.
Their SMOKE will ruin the show.
So, If the wind is blowing into your face as you look towards the Lagoon, you are in the wrong spot.

-----------------------

 

[Dr.Mickey]

I don't have a map or anything (nice one, Robo) but I would suggest the Japan pavilion courtyard area (kind of near the store entrance). The ground actually slopes up there, giving a good view over all the crowds pressing in on the railing. We used it for our son who had a bad experience with fireworks noise a few years before and he wanted to see it but was equally terrified. He had room to wander around, and I enjoyed the fact that I could enjoy the show without shoulders pressing around me. That may be our new spot.

 

[skipfierce]

Best place to try for a view of Illuminations if your party isn't willing to stake out a spot before 8:30?

Ive seen if from the front of the world showcase several times but it tends to get pretty crowded up there. This year we watched it from the Norway pavilion. Walked up just before the show started and could see just fine.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I prefer the bridge between France and UK

 

[Mikie]

I liked our view from the steps in canada and it was near the front, so our resort's bus line got CRAZY long after us as the people from further back in WS made it to the exits.

 

[vicb]

I prefer the bridge between France and UK

I agree. In May we literally finished dinner in France and walked to the bridge ten min prior to start of Illum. We were about 3-4 rows of people back but we could see just fine, then we had a quick walk out of the International Gateway.

 

[JeninTexas]

Is Illuminations something were you really need to be on the front row somewhere to have a good view? I will have my two children with me and if we need to be in front for them to be able to see then I will plan to stake out a spot early. I didn't know if the show was more like fireworks where they just need to be able to look up at the sky or if it has a lot of ground level effects (if that makes any sense??) TIA!

 

[vicb]

Is Illuminations something were you really need to be on the front row somewhere to have a good view? I will have my two children with me and if we need to be in front for them to be able to see then I will plan to stake out a spot early. I didn't know if the show was more like fireworks where they just need to be able to look up at the sky or if it has a lot of ground level effects (if that makes any sense??) TIA!

There are both, fireworks in the air and plenty of "on the lake" effects, with children it would be more important to be close to the edge so they can see. However I have never been a fan of staking out a spot super early. When my kids were young we watched one time from the raised porch outside the Japanese pavilion. I guess it depends on how busy the park will be on your visit.

 

[JeninTexas]

Thanks vicb! I don't want to spend a lot of time staking out a spot because we have a TT FP at 8:00 the night that we are planning to see Illuminations at 9:00. I'm hoping that will allow us some time to make it to "higher ground" as you suggest or possibly be in the front row somewhere. We are going on what is supposed to be a low crowd day.

 

[tinkerbee]

I haven't watched it from a bad spot. I never saw the point of waiting around for it to start. Our last spot was by Japan and it was lovely. It was nice to stroll slowly around instead of rushing to get to the parking lot. By the time we arrived up front we were one of the last out. Nice and quite no pushing or shoving.

 

[prudence64]

Thanks all. The last time we were there we were very obstructed. The older people I was with wouldn't sit on the ground and were too tired to walk to the other side of the WS, so we sat near the entrance, near a gift shop, but really couldn't see. Sounds like I will have lots of choices if we move further to the other side.

 

[vicb]

There are so many places to view IllumiNations at Epcot's World Showcase
that are wonderful in their own way that its futile to try to list them... so I will.

• Bridge between UK and France
• Near the twin gift shops at the entrance to WS from FW
• Norway area
• Upper level (outside front terrace) of the Matsu No Ma Lounge in Japan
• Italy, near the Gondolas
• Mexico, at the new Cantina
• Mexico, bridge to the right of the Cantina (as you face the lagoon.)
• UK, the Rose & Crown outdoor dining area (ressies required.)
• UK, just to the left of the Rose & Crown (as you face the lagoon.)
• Many, many more great spots.

Be sure to avoid any tree branches that block your overhead view,
and watch out for any "islands" in the water
that block your view of the "center" of the lagoon.

Best Tip:
Don't stand down-wind of the fireworks.
Their SMOKE will ruin the show.
So, If the wind is blowing into your face as you look towards the Lagoon, you are in the wrong spot.

-----------------------

Thanks vicb! I don't want to spend a lot of time staking out a spot because we have a TT FP at 8:00 the night that we are planning to see Illuminations at 9:00. I'm hoping that will allow us some time to make it to "higher ground" as you suggest or possibly be in the front row somewhere. We are going on what is supposed to be a low crowd day.

So if you will be at the front of the park walking back to Japan doesn't make sense. Be sure to refer to Robo's post and map!

 

[JeninTexas]

Not planning to walk back to Japan, just trying to be near the front somewhere. I'm guessing that Japan is the only area where there is an elevated area to watch from???

 

[winthropf]

I recommend anywhere upwind, as is with the wind at your back. Most of the fireworks are ground level and produce a lot of smoke.

 

[W.E.D.]

If you're visiting at a "slow" time, we've found there is typically a gap between Germany and the African Outpost with few people around. On our last visit we left the Biergarten at around 8:45. I figured there was no way we were getting a good view of Illuminations. Well, we walked out of the restaurant and there was absolutely no one along the lagoon in that area. Maybe it was a fluke, but it was one of the best views we've ever had.