La Hacienda - Best Ressie Time??

[reallybadeggs]

I've searched the boards but haven't gotten a direct answer to this question:

What is the best reservation time at La Hacienda to maximize the chances of getting a window table for Illuminations?

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're only interested in Illuminations I can't recommend the restaurant - because I have no idea what your chances of getting a window table are, but you can't be guaranteed one, and you can't request one. And about a third of the tables in the restaurant have no view at all. I'd go with Rose & Crown. At least they have an area for persons seated inside the restaurant to go outside and watch the show.

 

[reallybadeggs]

I would also prefer R&C, but I am 26 days out and the chance of landing a late dinner reservation there is.....none.

I have 3 reservations at La Hacienda, 7:30, 7:45 and 8:30. For a total of 13 ppl. However, several people decided yesterday that they'd rather eat at Teppen Edo, so I am going to cancel two of the reservations.

Just wondering which one gives me the best chance at a window table.

 

[Colleen27]

Early is better because that gives you a chance to offer to wait for a window table to open up, if the restaurant is willing and able to accommodate your request. There really aren't many tables with a good view relative to the restaurant size so I'd keep the 7:30, request a window table and indicate you're willing to wait, and hope for the best.

 

[scanne]

We just ate there in August. Had a 7:30 reservation. Showed up at 7:15. Waited 45 minutes to be seated. Saw a smidge of Illuminations. I would recommend eating dinner early then finding a place to watch along the lagoon. The food was excellent. Service was friendly. Getting food to table took AN HOUR!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Early is better because that gives you a chance to offer to wait for a window table to open up, if the restaurant is willing and able to accommodate your request. There really aren't many tables with a good view relative to the restaurant size so I'd keep the 7:30, request a window table and indicate you're willing to wait, and hope for the best.

La Hacienda will not take requests to "wait" for a window table. They seat you in the order you arrive based on your adr. They have about 10 tables total that are windows and EVERYONE wants one. They simply apologize and do not take names. Been there done that. People were pretty much begging to wait... it wasn't pretty

 

[reallybadeggs]

La Hacienda will not take requests to "wait" for a window table. They seat you in the order you arrive based on your adr. They have about 10 tables total that are windows and EVERYONE wants one. They simply apologize and do not take names. Been there done that. People were pretty much begging to wait... it wasn't pretty

So, this being the case, it is luck of the draw. So, I would guess that the 8:30 reservation would be a bad choice to keep, because no one with a window table is going to get up after 8:30.

How ugly did it get? Were people waving $50s??

 

[hannahdrewmom]

There was a grown man almost crying offering money saying it was his wife's birthday. Then there were people behind him saying to move on it was their birthday too.

We didn't ask since we saw all this unfold. We ended up with a partial window table (partially blocked by a column.) So it is totally luck of the draw. It was not a very good view of the show and we had some rude people that decided to stand over our shoulder. I wouldn't do it to see the show obviously.

 

[DVCconvert]

I have 3 reservations at La Hacienda, 7:30, 7:45 and 8:30. For a total of 13 ppl....

for the same people on the same date??????????

 

[dvcHammer]

Never plan on an Illuminations view dinner unless you pay specifically for the privilege. Window table seats are a luck of the draw find, and at La Hacienda are not great window seats to begin with.

 

[Colleen27]

La Hacienda will not take requests to "wait" for a window table. They seat you in the order you arrive based on your adr. They have about 10 tables total that are windows and EVERYONE wants one. They simply apologize and do not take names. Been there done that. People were pretty much begging to wait... it wasn't pretty

Interesting. The night we were there (back in March) the couple in front of us asked to wait for a table overlooking the water and the hostess didn't say it wouldn't be possible. Maybe she just politely ignored his request? Or maybe she saw that they'd be seated in the main room anyway so didn't bother to clarify? Or maybe they aren't as strict about it early in the evening when there aren't scores of people looking for a fireworks view? We were seated before them so I don't know how they made out with their request.

 

[reallybadeggs]

for the same people on the same date??????????

Nope, 4, 4 and 5 (13 people total).

 

[Mjkre]

Wow. I am really shocked by this thread. We ate at La Hacienda last November. Our reseravaitions were for 7:45. I politely asked the host when I checked in for a table of 9 if we could have an illuminations view windoow seat. I told him we were more than willing to wait.

He gave us a beeper and we went into the "temple" and shopped a bit. Maybe we waited 15 minutes. We were taken to a long table near a window. The only people in between us and the window were an elderly couple who were so nice.

We had a FANTASTIC view of the illuminations. I am not sure we could have found a better view anywhere; I have seen it from Rose and Crown, the "reserved area" after the Candelight Processional and various places around the lagoon. Plus, two of the children are not crazy about the sounds of fireworks, or having things explode very close. Watching it from behind glass was a plus for us.

I guess we got lucky. I was told, however, that as long as you are in that particular room, which is tiered, that you will be able to view illuminations. I specifically asked could we please not be placed in the "side rooms" which has no view. Please, Thank-you and all that is important. No one said to us that we could not ask. Maybe things have change.

The food, btw, was average Disney food. Some of us liked, some thought it was ok. But we rarely have fantastic food at Disney these days.

 

[reallybadeggs]

Wow. I am really shocked by this thread. We ate at La Hacienda last November. Our reseravaitions were for 7:45. I politely asked the host when I checked in for a table of 9 if we could have an illuminations view windoow seat. I told him we were more than willing to wait.

He gave us a beeper and we went into the "temple" and shopped a bit. Maybe we waited 15 minutes. We were taken to a long table near a window. The only people in between us and the window were an elderly couple who were so nice.

We had a FANTASTIC view of the illuminations. I am not sure we could have found a better view anywhere; I have seen it from Rose and Crown, the "reserved area" after the Candelight Processional and various places around the lagoon. Plus, two of the children are not crazy about the sounds of fireworks, or having things explode very close. Watching it from behind glass was a plus for us.

I guess we got lucky. I was told, however, that as long as you are in that particular room, which is tiered, that you will be able to view illuminations. I specifically asked could we please not be placed in the "side rooms" which has no view. Please, Thank-you and all that is important. No one said to us that we could not ask. Maybe things have change.

The food, btw, was average Disney food. Some of us liked, some thought it was ok. But we rarely have fantastic food at Disney these days.

Well that's promising. Thanks for the input. I will keep my 7:30 and hope for the best. I would guess that where we are a smaller party (5 ppl) maybe we would have a better than average chance of getting a table with a view.

I will say, however, that judging by some of the other posts, maybe it's getting to the point that Disney needs to change the reservation system for this restaurant (and the R&C) and make it an "Illuminations Package" where you can guarantee a window seat or seat with a view (similar to the Fantasmic Package).