Restaurants where you can see IllumiNations?

[Bren's Mom]

Are there any restaurants you can eat at and watch IllumiNations? Please share! Thanks!

 

[crisi]

None with a guarenteed view.

Rose and Crown patio is the most popular - but only about 30% of the R&C tables are outside on the patio - and they won't let you wait for a seat outside. Its a hard reservation to get with no guarentees (if you are inside the restaurant, they let you out on the patio to watch).

A few tables in the lounge in Japan and the restaurants in France have window seats - but the view is less than perfect from all of them.

The Cantina San Angel (counter service) has tables over the lagoon - it involves a fairly long camp out (the food isn't very good here, IMO, but they do have margaritas).

There are a lot of great spots to watch Illuminations from without the hassle of trying to eat while it happens.

 

[madalex]

There are a lot of great spots to watch Illuminations from without the hassle of trying to eat while it happens.

This is the key point to make. Illuminations can be seen from all around the WS lagoon and pretty much every spot is as good as any other (unless it is actively blocked by a tree or a structure). Thus, to try to organize dinner and getting a certain table at a certain time around seeing Illuminations is a huge hassle which can easily be avoided. Have dinner anywhere at WDW, but just be around the lagoon by about 8:45 and you will have no problem finding a great place to watch the show (some spots fillup earlier than 8:45, but many spots are still available all the way up to the time of the show).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Eateries with Illumination views
. . . Rose & Crown
. . . Tokyo Dining
. . . Bistro de Paris
. . . Cantina de San Angel

 

[mickeystoontown]

We ate at the Rose & Crown in August and they seated us outside on the patio. But, there was a canopy that would have blocked our view of the higher fireworks. Just to the left of the restaurant was a small roped off area that the restaurant holds just for the patrons. Even if you are still eating, you can tell your server that you want to go out and watch Illuminations. They won't clear your table or give it to anyone else.

That being said, we ate at Rose and Crown and were disappointed in the food. The
only thing we really enjoyed was the Potato and Leek Soup and the dessert. The other wasn't bad, it was just bland. But, that could be just because we are from Louisiana and are used to putting hot sauce or gravy on just about everything!

 

[fla4fun]

But, that could be just because we are from Louisiana and are used to putting hot sauce or gravy on just about everything!

I thought I was the only one who packs a small container of cayenne pepper to sprinkle liberally on my food . . . . Forget the salt and pepper - give me some cayenne!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Thanks to everyone who responded!