IllumiNations

[jpeden]

La Hacienda de San Angel is the restaurant in the Mexico Pavilion that has views of the fireworks. If you want a fireworks table, make your reservation 1 hour - 1.5 hours BEFORE the start of Illuminations. They don't take specific requests for tables until you check in (I think you can check in either 30 or 15 minutes early). You will most likely have to wait for a fireworks view table (I think they call it a show view table) but if you have an 8:00PM reservation and Illuminations is at 9:30, not getting seated until 8:30/8:45 is to your advantage.

The view from the restaurant is really awesome. My wife and I had a wonderful dinner there on one of our trips to WDW last year. I highly recommend it.

 

[wilkeliza]

I have to tell you guys about this--last trip, we had the deluxe dining plan so booked an ADR at Flying Fish Cafe for the latest time I could get (9:15 I think). We were planning to exit via the International Gateway right after the 9:00 Illuminations show ended to walk to the FFC.

Instead of watching from my new favorite spot in Germany, we moved up to Italy where we found a rope separating the lake front terrace from the walkway. We watched Illuminations next to that rope with Heinz Ward and his GF and their 2 kids in front of us behind the rope.

Not sure if the waterfront of the Italy pavillion is where Disney brings most of its celebrity guests, but it sure looked like it that night, and I will be watching out in that place from now on.

Italy is one of the many places celebrities can request. It usually depends on where their dinner was on where they will put them. Sometimes that area is not roped off and it is a wonderful view.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have to tell you guys about this--last trip, we had the deluxe dining plan so booked an ADR at Flying Fish Cafe for the latest time I could get (9:15 I think). We were planning to exit via the International Gateway right after the 9:00 Illuminations show ended to walk to the FFC.

Instead of watching from my new favorite spot in Germany, we moved up to Italy where we found a rope separating the lake front terrace from the walkway. We watched Illuminations next to that rope with Heinz Ward and his GF and their 2 kids in front of us behind the rope.

Not sure if the waterfront of the Italy pavillion is where Disney brings most of its celebrity guests, but it sure looked like it that night, and I will be watching out in that place from now on.

We saw Illuminations from there as well. It was a great spot!

 

[msk]

Thanks for all of the ideas. Illuminations is one of the things I'm looking forward to. I have been to WDW many times, but we have never been able to stay for this nighttime show. Small children always dictated our schedule.

 

[mshanson3121]

These were taken in Germany? I've never seen the IllumiNations but they look beautiful!

 

[PeasandCarrots]

Say you're walking out of the WS during the time IllumiNations are going on, how good of a view will you get? Are there good viewing areas in China, Norway and/or Mexico? How crowded do they get? Do any restaurants in Mexico offer seating with a view?

There are lots of great places to see Illuminations. Sure some are better than others, but it's one of the easier shows to get a spot for w/in 15 minutes of it starting. I have watched it from the front, between Morocco & France (good underused spot), UK near the bridge and Canada up on the steps.

La Hacienda has seats with a view but you aren't guaranteed a window seat - you could make an ADR, get there early, then ask to wait for a window table. We did that once at California Grill, but we got there 1 hour early and told them we didn't mind waiting until a window seat opened up. La Cantina (QS) has a view but people camp it out early.

 

[RustManFan]

We once got to be in the terrace area near Italy and we aren't in any way celebrities!

I believe it was related to a special offer 'cause of our Disney VISA card...

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If Robo could chime in with his Illumination map that would be great! If you google it, some images show up but I think Robo has the best.

We were there over Easter with a big party so I booked the dessert party and it was worth it for the comfortable elbow room and excellent view.

However, Illuminations is wonderful, and a "Not to be missed" show and you don't really need to be there super early to see it. The view is good even if you aren't in the "front row".

The piece of advice I will repeat is give the crowd time to disperse by finding a bench (I usually sit in Italy, sometimes Germany) enjoy the ambiance and then slowly stroll out without a huge crowd. You will appreciate the details more when the crowd subsides.

Yes you can get a view from the Hacienda restaurant but I prefer other dining option in Epcot so I don't bother.

 

[mshanson3121]

If Robo could chime in with his Illumination map that would be great! If you google it, some images show up but I think Robo has the best.

We were there over Easter with a big party so I booked the dessert party and it was worth it for the comfortable elbow room and excellent view.

However, Illuminations is wonderful, and a "Not to be missed" show and you don't really need to be there super early to see it. The view is good even if you aren't in the "front row".

The piece of advice I will repeat is give the crowd time to disperse by finding a bench (I usually sit in Italy, sometimes Germany) enjoy the ambiance and then slowly stroll out without a huge crowd. You will appreciate the details more when the crowd subsides.

Yes you can get a view from the Hacienda restaurant but I prefer other dining option in Epcot so I don't bother.

@Robo.