La Hacienda for watching Illuminations

[tx2tn]

How good is the view from La Hacienda? We want to make reservations for around 8pm and watch illuminations while eating. Is this a good plan?

 

[minnie mum]

Am a little pressed for time, but this is a common, frequent question. Try a search for similar threads and you'll get lots of into.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do not select this restaurant if all you really want is to see Illuminations from your table. About a third of the restaurant has a substandard view or no view at all, and you are not guaranteed a view table.

If your main interest is the restaurant and its offerings, and you see an Illuminations view as a possible bonus, it's a good choice.

 

[marilyn23]

We ate here in December 2010 mainly for the view. We were really disappointed. The restaurant had recently opened so we didn't realize it was indoor viewing, we were hoping for some outdoor viewing like Rose & Crown offers. We had an obstructed view. We are big fans of illuminations and were really disappointed. Furthermore with the exception of myself the rest of my family really didn't like the food.

For a great view of illuminations, we find an outside spot early,around 7:45, and get some quick serve or snacks and watch the show. We had prime viewing this yr from a fenced area by Canada pavillon. We got there early and when some of us were bored from sitting we had our other people save our places so we could run and get a drink or walk to stretch our legs a little.

 

[catne]

If you're really trying for Illuminations view, you need a 7:15 or 7:30 reservation time, and order slowly (beverage order, then peruse menu for awhile, etc. to stretch out your table time.) By 8:00 PM all of the tables in the window-dining-room will be full and no one will budge from their seats until Illuminations is over.

If you are lucky to get a table AT the windows in the main dining room, the view is very good. However, the rest of the tables in that room vary from OK to mostly obstructed views. And 1/3 of the restaurant is no view at all. They do turn the lights down very low (too dark to see your food)and pipe in the Illuminations music. You are allowed to get up from your table and walk into the back of the main dining room to watch from there if you like, but that's a really lousy view.

When you check in, ask for a window table in the big dining room..we made the mistake of just asking for a window table and were seated right next to the window in the side room..with a view of nothing. So much for perfect timing, etc. Though we liked the food I would not try this place for the view of Illuminations...if you really want to see Illum.and eat here, get a 6:30 or 7:00 meal, and after you eat go find a good spot along the top of the World Showcase to watch Illum.

 

[Hopefully]

How good is the view from La Hacienda? We want to make reservations for around 8pm and watch illuminations while eating. Is this a good plan?

No,it is not a good plan. Only a few tables have a good view and from those tables it is fabulous. We were seated in the side room at a window that had no view at all.
We enjoyed the food, but I would not make an ADR primarily to see Illuminations.

 

[Golf4food]

We had a window table last year in December. Well, I did. My wife could see the wall. And my view was half outside, half reflected lights from indoors. And the food was not very good and mostly lacked any real flavor at all. Service was slow and poor. We have little desire to return, and certainly would never plan for it to have a spot to view Illuminations. As others have said, 90% of the seats provide no view outside at all, or at best an obstructed view.