La Hacienda

[obxlover]

My husband and I have ressie's at 8:00 one evening. I wanted to see Illuminations from the restaurant, should we okay with this time or should I try and make it later?

 

[TDC Nala]

I assume Illuminations is at 9.

You should know that not all tables in the restaurant have a view, and you are not guaranteed one. If the restaurant is busy you will not be able to request one, you'd have to take the next table available. So if that is your sole reason for booking here, you will be fine if you happen to get a view table. If you don't, that is kind of late for you to finish and try to get back outside to watch the show.

I do not know if your odds of getting a view table will increase if you go earlier. If you go later they are likely to decrease because people already at those tables won't leave them before the show.

 

[Sweettears]

We were there during Illuminations and really enjoyed it. However, if your main intention is to watch Illuminations I would watch it from another vantage point. If you've already seen it then you won't be disappointed. As the PP said you may need to request that you be seated in the main area.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We were there during Illuminations and really enjoyed it. However, if your main intention is to watch Illuminations I would watch it from another vantage point. If you've already seen it then you won't be disappointed. As the PP said you may need to request that you be seated in the main area.

Good to hear. I just added La Hacienda to our ADR list for a late dinner (7:45). We'll see Illuminations earlier in our trip, so this will be a bonus.

 

[Sweettears]

Good to hear. I just added La Hacienda to our ADR list for a late dinner (7:45). We'll see Illuminations earlier in our trip, so this will be a bonus.

We especially enjoyed it because it was December and in the 30s.

 

[luckyfin]

Eat slow! We were there last week and were in and out in 45 minutes, which worked great for us with an infant. The service was fast and efficient.

 

[Sweettears]

Eat slow! We were there last week and were in and out in 45 minutes, which worked great for us with an infant. The service was fast and efficient.

Thats what cocktails are for.

 

[obxlover]

Thank you!! This will be our second time to watch Illuminations during our trip. He is graduating with his master's degree which was noted on our ressie, hope that helps when I ask for a table near the window, and this is our meal without the kids to celebrate. There are ALOT of restaurants we wanted to eat at, but we think we will like the atmosphere here.

 

[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.

 

[Hopefully]

Thank you!! This will be our second time to watch Illuminations during our trip. He is graduating with his master's degree which was noted on our ressie, hope that helps when I ask for a table near the window, and this is our meal without the kids to celebrate. There are ALOT of restaurants we wanted to eat at, but we think we will like the atmosphere here.

Please don't "Plan" on anything special for your DH. Noting something on an ADR does not guarantee anything special. I don't want you to be disappointed. We go over DS birthday each trip and always note it. We have never had, nor expected, ANYTHING.
Sometimes there is a cupcake and a candle, but not necessarily.
If you want to insure something special for your graduate, you can plan, and pay, for it.
Good Luck