Should I change my reservation?

[Islandmom71]

I have a reservation at La Hacienda de San Angel for 5:15. Just checking and I could get a reservation for 7:45 or 8:15. I believe there is outdoor seating so we could eat and then see illuminations. I assume the outdoor seating is not guaranteed so do I either wind up eating outside and being able to enjoy the show or will I wind up sitting inside and rushing to finish dinner so I can rush out to find a space to watch. Thoughts?

 

[Carrie Lynn]

I think this is a personal preference and if you want to take that change. You can always request the outdoor Illuminations view and then when you arrive if it isn't available at the time you arrive, you can always wait for the seating that you are wanting. If you do the earlier seating then you are guaranteed to be able to just choose where you want to be and view the fireworks and such from!!!

 

[Disneylover99]

I would just keep the reservation for whichever time you want to eat.

 

[purple figment]

La Hacienda has only indoor seating. The patio area is actually the seating for La Cantina, the quick service in the Mexico Pavilion.

There are some window tables at La Hacienda that have a view of IllumiNations, but there's no guarantee that you'll be seated at one if you keep the 7:45 or 8:15 reservation. You can ask when you check in, but it is only a request and might not be allowed, even if you offer to wait for a window table. Some posters have said that La Hacienda does not accept requests and will seat at the next available table for your party size. Also, most likely anyone with a window table at either time will stay until after IllumiNations so at best you can possibly be seated at a table with a partial view or worst case - no view at all.

Neither 7:45 or 8:15 is likely to give you enough time to finish eating and find a good spot around the lagoon for IllumiNations. If seeing the fireworks is most important keep the 5:15 reservation. If you are going for the food and IllumiNations is secondary, choose the time you like best.

 

[Arden01]

We changed our 5:30 ADR for an 8:15 ADR on our first trip hoping for a water view to watch Illuminations. We did in fact get a table with a water view and were able to see most of the fireworks. It was all indoor seating, by the way. However, it was so, so much better seeing Illuminations a couple nights later outside. We saw so much more and soaked in the atmosphere in a way we couldn't have experienced at the restaurant. If you haven't seen Illuminations before, I would just keep your earlier reservation and find a place to watch outside.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We had a 7:30 ADR back in February a year or so ago and we requested a window seat and we were told we may have to wait a bit longer, but they did accommodate us and it was very nice! It was a chilly night so I was happy to be sitting inside watching Illuminations, but if it was summer time I prefer outside viewing! Even though they pipe the music in the restaurant it is not the same. I must say we did really love La Hacienda! That was a great dinner and I tried the Avocado margarita! YUM!

Good luck whatever you decide!