Spice Road Table & Crystal Palace...questions

[Delphinidae]

I currently have a reservation for Spice Road Table at 8:30pm on our Epcot day because the Disney website said it's a good place to watch Illuminations from. Is that true, and can you see from your table or will we need to finish eating and move somewhere else? Also, are there any other restaurants you would recommend that we could watch from? I'm not sure how much our kids would enjoy SRT.

Second question. I have an ADR at Crystal Palace one night at 7:50. Would that give us enough time to eat (without rushing) and find a spot where we can see both MSEP and Wishes? I know people start getting their spots early, so should I try to get an earlier time? Last time I checked the next closest time to supper was 4:40. We are going in August and right now the hours show MSEP at 9 and Wishes at 10.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For CP, you will be cutting it pretty close for MSEP.

 

[Delphinidae]

For CP, you will be cutting it pretty close for MSEP.

That was kind of what I thought. Maybe I'll push CP to lunchtime instead. What time do you recommend trying to get a good spot for the parade?

 

[Ajbro44]

Last October we ate at the spice road table for dinner. It's nice that they pipe the music through the speakers but our view of the actual fireworks was not very good. While where your seated in the restaurant has some bearing on how well you can see the show, the islands in the lake were somewhat obstructing no matter where you say. I have read the restaurants in the England and Mexico pavilions were the best for the viewing Illuminations.
I hope this helps

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Rose & Crown is the only restaurant where they have an additional standing area for restaurant guests who are not able to see Illuminations from their tables.

 

[Delphinidae]

Rose & Crown is the only restaurant where they have an additional standing area for restaurant guests who are not able to see Illuminations from their tables.

Have you experienced it and if so would you say it's a good view? Or would we be better off not using a restaurant and just finding a viewing spot elsewhere? I'm not committed to having to be at any certain restaurant for this, I just wondered if it would help with a viewing spot.

 

[purple figment]

Most of the year IllumiNations is at 9:00 so an 8:30 reservation at Spice Road Table or any restaurant would be too late for a table with a view of the show. Anyone seated at a table with a good view is probably going to remain there for the show. Also, while there are some tables with a good view, in most cases it will be an obstructed or minimal view. HopperFan has posted photos from SRT that will give you an idea of what to expect:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/spice-road-table-and-illuminations.3456467/

Rose & Crown has an outdoor patio with tables with an excellent view, but anyone dining at R&C during IllumiNations can go out to the viewing area adjacent to the patio that is reserved for just the diners at R&C. here's a thread with photos from figment_jii showing the view from the viewing area adjacent to the patio:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/rose-and-crown-illuminations.3474832/#post-54975795

La Hacienda is another popular choice, but again some tables have an excellent view, but many have a partial or no view at all and there is no additional viewing area like there is at R&C.

At all the restaurants you can request a table with a view of IllumiNations, but since most parties make the same request it cannot be guaranteed so while you might get lucky, be prepared to be seated at a table with no view.

If seeing IllumiNations is important have dinner earlier. There are many places around the lagoon with an excellent view. Find a spot with a view of the center of the lagoon. You'll see the barges in the lagoon in the afternoon so choose a spot where the trees and islands don't interfere and where the wind will not be blowing towards you.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It's a good view if you get the right table. If you don't get the right table, there can be bad view to no view. Everybody wants the right tables, but they don't have enough room for everybody, so somebody has to get the wrong tables. At least for Rose and Crown you can go stand in their standing area.

 

[minnie mum]

@purple figment- you really out to save that post so it can be copied and pasted every time this question gets asked (like twice a week). That's one of the best, most concise answers I've seen.

 

[Delphinidae]

I'm sorry, I just skimmed the first page and a half looking for an answer before I posted because I was in a hurry.

Thanks for the help! If 8:30 is too late, what should I be aiming for? Is 8:00 still too late?

 

[purple figment]

Thanks, Minnie Mum.

To the OP: If you are hoping for a table with a view you probably want to make a reservation 90 or more minutes before IllumiNations, but it still won't guarantee a table with a view. It is going to depend on how busy the restaurant is that night, how many have asked and are already waiting for the same tables and whether the restaurant is even allowing requests that evening.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If you wish an ADR to see Illuminations from the eatery, I recommend 1½-hours prior to the Illuminations start-time. It is not hard to use up the time with food and drink. Any closer, other people will be at those tables, and are unlikely to surrender their view. The only caveat is there might be tree limbs in the way of a perfectly unobstructed view.

 

[LovesTimone]

I currently have a reservation for Spice Road Table at 8:30pm on our Epcot day because the Disney website said it's a good place to watch Illuminations from. Is that true, and can you see from your table or will we need to finish eating and move somewhere else? Also, are there any other restaurants you would recommend that we could watch from? I'm not sure how much our kids would enjoy SRT.

Second question. I have an ADR at Crystal Palace one night at 7:50. Would that give us enough time to eat (without rushing) and find a spot where we can see both MSEP and Wishes? I know people start getting their spots early, so should I try to get an earlier time? Last time I checked the next closest time to supper was 4:40. We are going in August and right now the hours show MSEP at 9 and Wishes at 10.

Spice Road Tables - If you are a party of 2 you most likely will not be given a window seat they are all 4 tops, we did get lucky on our last visit here, as the server saw us ( we had been the week before with some friends) and remember us and we asked to sit in his section, and we were granted our request at it happened to be at a window table, we were able to see most of the show, the windows are long and narrow, so not a vast view. We love the food and service here, it has been a great experience each time we have went for dinner. I would try to get a earlier time, then head out to watch the show.

Crystal Palace - Character dinning, with Pooh and the Gang, with buffet. Looking at this three ways, are you more focused on Character interactions first with the parade and fireworks being second? Or Parade and Fireworks first and character dinning second? Or Both are equally important?
1) You could go with Breakfast or Lunch, then QS later on for dinner and stake out your spot for the parade and fireworks.
2) After a long day in the park with the heat and humidity its nice to sit down in the air conditioning and have dinner, enjoy your interaction with the character, then head out for parade and fireworks, we have watched from the porch at CP twice, but for us its not important to be right on the street.

Not sure were you are coming from but August is beyond hot and humid!!! lots and lots of sunscreen, water, Gatorade or propel, head back to the resort for pool time trust me you will need it, or at least plan a break during the day, maybe head for a resort for QS lunch and relax..

Pixie dust coming your way

 

[Delphinidae]

Spice Road Tables - If you are a party of 2 you most likely will not be given a window seat they are all 4 tops, we did get lucky on our last visit here, as the server saw us ( we had been the week before with some friends) and remember us and we asked to sit in his section, and we were granted our request at it happened to be at a window table, we were able to see most of the show, the windows are long and narrow, so not a vast view. We love the food and service here, it has been a great experience each time we have went for dinner. I would try to get a earlier time, then head out to watch the show.

Crystal Palace - Character dinning, with Pooh and the Gang, with buffet. Looking at this three ways, are you more focused on Character interactions first with the parade and fireworks being second? Or Parade and Fireworks first and character dinning second? Or Both are equally important?
1) You could go with Breakfast or Lunch, then QS later on for dinner and stake out your spot for the parade and fireworks.
2) After a long day in the park with the heat and humidity its nice to sit down in the air conditioning and have dinner, enjoy your interaction with the character, then head out for parade and fireworks, we have watched from the porch at CP twice, but for us its not important to be right on the street.

Not sure were you are coming from but August is beyond hot and humid!!! lots and lots of sunscreen, water, Gatorade or propel, head back to the resort for pool time trust me you will need it, or at least plan a break during the day, maybe head for a resort for QS lunch and relax..

Pixie dust coming your way

There are 4 of us, DH and I, DD13 and DD9 (will be 10 when we go). I am not sure they would enjoy the food at SRT enough to make it worth it. We will probably eat elsewhere and just try to find a spot to watch from. We do have a pre-park opening breakfast ADR at Garden Grill that I haven't decided if I want to keep or not and that may affect what our other meals this day are.

Crystal Palace is not necessarily sticking around either, and I did already cancel the 7:50 ADR I had as I felt that was just cutting it too close to get a good spot for the fireworks and parade. I can't now decide if I want a pre-park opening breakfast here, a lunch, or none at all. We ate lunch here on our last trip and absolutely loved it. I would rather the lunch food than breakfast but didn't know if being here before park opening would help us at all or be worth anything. On the other hand, since we have been here before, we may try something else. My youngest daughter really loves the Pooh characters though.

We will be coming from Texas, but I am Louisiana born and raised and know all about the humidity! Sadly I've been in the Texas heat for so long that I do feel the humidity more than before. But yes we will be coming with sunscreen, water, cooling towels and probably mister fans! We don't normally like to leave in the middle of the day but I am trying to plan most of our meals for hotter parts of the day. Thank you for your pixie dust wishes

 

[LovesTimone]

There are 4 of us, DH and I, DD13 and DD9 (will be 10 when we go). I am not sure they would enjoy the food at SRT enough to make it worth it. We will probably eat elsewhere and just try to find a spot to watch from. We do have a pre-park opening breakfast ADR at Garden Grill that I haven't decided if I want to keep or not and that may affect what our other meals this day are. - You know your family best so if you are if'y on SRT then I would go with something else. A couple of suggestions Germany has a pretty fun buffet, there is some entertainment, and its so pretty inside... sorta Oktoberfest year around... or ...Teppan Edo fun, great food and great interaction with the chefs cooking for you. and last but not least Corral Reef, the Aquarium is really beautiful and not a bad seat in the house all the tables face it, food and service for us have always been great. We haven't tried Garden Grill for Breakfast hope you will post a trip report. Our DD loved this spot for dinner at around that age, again just a suggestion.

Crystal Palace is not necessarily sticking around either, and I did already cancel the 7:50 ADR I had as I felt that was just cutting it too close to get a good spot for the fireworks and parade. I can't now decide if I want a pre-park opening breakfast here, a lunch, or none at all. We ate lunch here on our last trip and absolutely loved it. I would rather the lunch food than breakfast but didn't know if being here before park opening would help us at all or be worth anything. On the other hand, since we have been here before, we may try something else. My youngest daughter really loves the Pooh characters though. - We have enjoyed all 3 meals here and for us Breakfast is our fav, Plus your DD can see Pooh and the Gang, With the early seating, once finished you can hit some of the main rides, make a plan for early morning and save FP for later on when its busy. Don't forget that the monorail resort are just around the bend... Lots of options here, QS or TS, when our DD as around this age we would head over to one of these for a later lunch or early dinner, it was nice to step away from the parks regroup, cool off, and relax some. Then head back find your spot, grab some Mickey bars and let the parade begin..