Illuminations

[Nikisha421]

Can you guys give me some advice...What is the best restaurant to see Illuminations from???

 

[Tigger's ally]

The patio at the Rose and Crown is where we always try to eat. I understand that the Mexican restaurant is probably the best overall view, but we are not fans of their menu nor does their setup give you many tables with a good view. Ditto on Spice road. R&C has quite a few tables with good views and even if you are sat inside, they lead you out to a nice private area to view as well.

 

[figment_jii]

Rose & Crown as a patio and a reserved viewing area for their guests. That being said, they don't usually accept table requests, but if you're seated at a table without a view, you can let your server know and they'll escort you out to the reserved viewing area before the show.

Spice Row Table also tables with an excellent view, but I don't know how the seating works there. I've also read the Tokyo Dining has some tables with a view and may allow guests to go out to the patio to watch (I haven't tried, so I don't know the procedure).

La Hacienda has a few tables with an amazing view and some tables with no view. They also do not (usually) accept table request and there is no reserved viewing area for their guests.

Monsieur Paul has a few tables with a limited view (most have no view), but I would not recommend eating there to view IllumiNations.

Overall, if seeing IllumiNations is a priority for you, I would make a dining reservation well before the show so you'll have time to eat and then go find a spot outside to watch IllumiNations from somewhere around World Showcase lagoon.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

The only TS restaurant that would guarantee you a good viewing of Illuminations is Rose and Crown. While others may result in a better view, they can also result in no view at all.

We make an ADR for about 7:15 at Rose and Crown. Their last ADR is 8:00. When we check in we request a patio table. We have gotten a patio 3 out of 3 times, but had to wait 15-30 min for a table. Of course, these requests are not guaranteed. Also, some patio tables have obstructed views, so you might still wind up getting up for the reserved area, which is still great.

We order appetizers (the scotch egg is AMAZING), and then by the time we finish the entrees, it's almost 9. If we were to go to the reserved area, we'd tell the server that we are going, and coming back to the table. We ask our server to bring dessert after Illuminations. This way, we enjoy dessert (and maybe a drink) while the park clears out a bit.

While we wind up spending over 2 hours there (including waiting for a table), we aren't costing our server the opportunity to wait on a party at our table after us, nor making other guests wait any longer. Remember, their last ADR time is 8, and by 8:15, everyone is seated. With a 7:15 ADR, waiting at least 15 min for a table, and ordering appetizers, entrée, and then dessert, there is no way we could be done before the last party of the night is seated.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 02/02/2017*)
.
1) Epcot "Illuminations" restaurant viewing
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view from standing-room-only area
. . . La Hacienda (MX) - excellent window view ***
. . . Spice Road Table (MA) - excellent open-air lake-side view
. . . Tokyo Dining (JP) - good window view, good patio view **
. . . Chef de France (FR) - obstructed window view **
. . . Monsieur Paul (FR) - excellent view ***
. . . Liberty Inn (US) - obstructed patio view
. . . Nine Dragons (CH) - partially obstructed view ***
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . Tomoorowland Terrace Dessert Party - great view
. . . California Grille - excellent table view, excellent balcony views
. . . Narcoossee's - good view, good balcony views **
. . . Ohana - good view from a few tables, no view from all other tables ***
3) Non-Eating viewing
. . . Wishes: Wilderness Lodge employee parking lot - good view
. . . Wishes: Poly Beach - good view, with piped-in music
. . . Wishes: Fort Wilderness Beach - fair view
. . . Illuminations: Boardwalk - poor view, only high fireworks
.

* Approx 50% of the tables
** Approx 30% of the tables
*** Less than 20% of the tables​

PATIO-or-WINDOW SEATS FOR FIREWORKS:
. . . you CANNOT wait for a patio or window tables or make an ADR for such
. . . you must take whichever table is offered when it is offered.
. . . if not, your ADR is canceled.
. . . too many people would wait for a viewing table.
. . . if they didn't get it they left, so, there were unused tables, lost revenue.
. . . now, the policy is you take what is offered
. . . the Podium person verifies you will take the offered table
.
SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the Seat Assigner determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the Seater then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . if you want to try for a good seat, get an ADR 2-2½ hrs before fireworks
. . . then, hope you get lucky
.
NOTE1:
. . . Even with the above policy, some people get a viewing table when asking for it.
. . . If eatery is not too busy, which doesn't happen often, they try to accommodate.
.
NOTE2:
. . . for the best chance at a viewing seat/table, make ressies 1-3/4 to 2 hours before event