La Hacienda San Angel for Illuminations?

[LondensMiMi]

Will a 7:30 reservation help claim a good spot to enjoy Illuminations or should we just stake a spot earlier and try to hold on to it? Thanks for your help!

 

[WEDWDW]

FWIW,this is my experience with Hacienda and IllumiNations:

I was "Pixie Dusted"(did not make ANY request) with a GREAT "IllumiNations view window table" at Hacienda during my trip in December.

It was AWESOME and since it was FREEZING outside it was more "awesomer" to watch from indoors as I enjoyed a great meal.

It was really cool-they pipe in the IllumiNations music.At the moment that the Narrator "blows out" the Lagoon Torches,the lights in Hacienda are dimmed.

Although I had a GREAT experience,there are VERY,VERY few "prime" tables.

Hacienda just isn't "set up" very well to provide a great IllumiNations experience for A LOT of Guests,only a FEW.

I would not encourage anyone to make a Reservation there JUST for the IllumiNations experience,unless the Guest goes in with a "if we get a "good" table,fine,if we don't,fine" attitude.

 

[LondensMiMi]

Thanks for that info....can you call ahead of time to request a window seat? If we just take our chances...where is the best place to go right after dinner to get a good spot for the show?

 

[emacek]

I'll ditto WEDWDW--our trip over Valentines we were timed perfectly for Illuminations and had a good seat for it BUT... if that had been my sole reason for being there we would have been disappointed.

To me it's like watching a sporting event from a glass enclosed party booth--you miss the immediacy of the moment. In fact I almost preferred it at bistro paris where they don't even make any attempt at piping in music and lower lights. I'd I definitely prefer standing outside hoping I got a decent spot.

FWIW--we have also done California Grill and timed for Wishes. To me--being removed from the event makes it lose something. OTOH--loved doing the wishes dessert party where we in park.

emacek

 

[GeneralTso]

We had dinner there right before the show and then stepped outside for the start of the show. I think it's so much better standing on the "shore" and seeing it closer like that.

Perfect to eat a nice dinner, then literally leave 5 minutes before Illuminations and grab a spot to watch.

 

[LondensMiMi]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. We will probably enjoy dinner and move outside for the show...leaving from La Hacienda where is a good place to grab spot?

 

[princesscharming]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. We will probably enjoy dinner and move outside for the show...leaving from La Hacienda where is a good place to grab spot?

Oh good I am glad you asked. I'll be interested in this too. We are trying for a good table for Illuminations, but if our table isn't good enough, we'll just eat fast and get going before Illuminations. Anything fairly close to La Hacienda?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Thanks for that info....can you call ahead of time to request a window seat? . . .

. . . such tables cannot be reserved
. . . you take your chances
. . . and, you may not wait for an open window table
. . . when your name is called, you MUST take the table offered

. . . we'll just eat fast and get going before Illuminations. Anything fairly close to La Hacienda?

. . . get going awfully fast
. . . people will have already claimed the better locations while you eat

 

[LondensMiMi]

[QUOTE
. . . get going awfully fast
. . . people will have already claimed the better locations while you eat[/QUOTE]

Thanks and....Where is the best place to get to fast?

 

[Madhatter266]

We had an 8:00 PM ADR last week and I asked if we could wait for a window seat to see Illuminations. I was told that they would do their best but no promises. As we were walked to our seat, the CM told us that about 80% of the restaurant had a view of the show. We were seated in a booth on the rear wall and thought that we would not be able to see anthing. When the show started, we were surprised that we really could see most of it. Our view of the "closer to ground" portions weren't that great, but all in all, we were happy. As we left we did notice that there are what appeared to be two areas to the side of the restaurant where you view of the show would be zero.

 

[TDC Nala]

I wouldn't go there if the fireworks view is the sole reason - not all the tables have a view and you are not guaranteed one that does.