Taking food into Illuminations FP+ area

[crusoe2]

Our fastpass window just opened and there wasn't much to choose from at Epcot. So I went with a fastpass for Illuminations. We usually grab some counter service food and find a spot nearby to watch the show while we eat. Will we be able to bring food into the fastpass viewing area? And how early will they let us in to stake out our spot?

 

[crusoe2]

Just bumping this back to the first page.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You can take food in, but there is no where to sit. You would have to stand or sit on the ground. I would get there a few minutes before the FP+ window opens to stake out a spot.

 

[gap2368]

I would not do a FP for this you can find a spot in world show case about 30 minutes before just find ( there are even some benches) the only way I would do this is if you do not want to do TT or if soaring is not open you do not want to do that

 

[Oswin]

I can't see them telling you that you can't have food or drink there, since it's outside and there are trash cans all over the place. You will not have anywhere to sit though, unless the CM there doesn't mind you sitting on the pavement until showtime. I'm not sure that you can get into the FP+ viewing area any earlier than when they open up the time slot. I would not use a FP for Illuminations unless it was July 4 or December 31, though.

 

[GPC0321]

You'll have to sit on the concrete ground to eat, but you can definitely take food in. We did FP+ for IllumiNations because there simply wasn't anything else we wanted to use it for, so why not? It was a wonderful view, and the area is really big. We got there early, sat on our ponchos on the ground until it was time for it to start, then got up and went close to the rail at the front to watch. It was very cool.
However, I've heard the tables near Yorkshire fish-n-chips and the quick service in Mexico both offer great views. You'd have to stake that out very early, I'd think.

 

[Robo]

I've heard the tables near Yorkshire fish-n-chips and the quick service in Mexico both offer great views. You'd have to stake that out very early, I'd think.

More info-
The tables near Yorkshire fish-n-chips are outdoor seating. Very few available.

The table service restaurant at Mexico (La Hacienda) has indoor dining.
Not all of the tables have a window view. IllumiNations is not viewable except through the windows.

 

[GPC0321]

More info-
1. The tables near Yorkshire fish-n-chips are outdoor seating. Very few available.

2. The quick service (La Cantina de San Angel) in Mexico is indoor dining.
Not all of the tables have a window view. IllumiNations is not viewable except through the windows.

I thought La Hacienda (TS) was the indoor dining with window views of IllumiNations, and La Cantina was the outdoor covered patio QS?

 

[crusoe2]

Thanks for all the replies. Yeah, Illuminations wasn't really our first choice but there wasn't much left. This is for our arrival day and we won't get to the park until late afternoon/early evening at best. We've watched Illuminations from that general area before - back before it was a Fastpass attraction. Back then there were big planters with wide ledges that you could sit on. Are these gone or are they just not inside the Fastpass viewing area?

 

[Robo]

I thought La Hacienda (TS) was the indoor dining with window views of IllumiNations...

Yup.
Fixed.
Thanks!