Watching Illuminations from Mexico/Hacienda de San Angel

[MammaMoe48]

I know people say the view is good from anywhere around the lake but we have dinner reservations for 6:30 at Hacienda and we should be finishing up just around the time people will begin gathering for the fireworks, are there places to sit and watch from the Mexico pavilion with a good view? Thanks.

 

[Robo]

I know people say the view is good from anywhere around the lake but we have dinner reservations for 6:30 at Hacienda and we should be finishing up just around the time people will begin gathering for the fireworks, are there places to sit and watch from the Mexico pavilion with a good view? Thanks.

In general, yes.

However, (unless you are there at a holiday time) if you are seated at 6:30, you would be finished dining long, long before most guests will be finding an IllumiNations spot.

You'd have time to walk to nearly any other spot, if you like.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Follow up: Does the Margarita Kiosk offer a non-alcoholic version of their frozen Margarita?

 

[Ryan2016]

The dining room has okay views but we tired the hacienda and we were stuck in a corner and couldn't see anything

Be careful there because people are requesting fireworks views as soon as the restaurant opens so you may end up not being able to see anything. Also some people get there and stay longer to see the fireworks if they have a good seat. I recommend going there and requesting your table as soon as possible.

We have reservations for spice road for the fireworks. They have a good view of the lake but I haven't been there for the fireworks yet.

 

[BoltzNBrew]

We have 8:15 ADR for La Hacienda with hopes to get a decent seat to watch from there. I am starting to think we need to move our time from 8:15 to like 7:45 just in case we are in a bad spot we can eat and go watch outside.

 

[Robo]

We have 8:15 ADR for La Hacienda with hopes to get a decent seat to watch from there. I am starting to think we need to move our time from 8:15 to like 7:45 just in case we are in a bad spot we can eat and go watch outside.

The earlier times will be safer.

 

[MammaMoe48]

We are going late August so I figured we'd be done with our dinner between 8 and 8:30 so we could go anywhere to watch, I'm just trying to figure out where a good spot is. I'd also prefer to sit someplace where there won't be people climbing over us or pushing us. I see there's a great spot at Showcase Plaza but I'm worried that if we are by the railing it may get so crowded that we'd be crushed against it. I've heard some stories about the crowds down there so I worry about bottle necks and crushing/pushing.

 

[Robo]

We are going late August so I figured we'd be done with our dinner between 8 and 8:30 so we could go anywhere to watch, I'm just trying to figure out where a good spot is. I'd also prefer to sit someplace where there won't be people climbing over us or pushing us. I see there's a great spot at Showcase Plaza but I'm worried that if we are by the railing it may get so crowded that we'd be crushed against it. I've heard some stories about the crowds down there so I worry about bottle necks and crushing/pushingGoPro Settings 1.

I can't imagine being in that little restaurant for 90-120 minutes.
We don't spend a hour in San Angel Inn.

Showcase Plaza is reserved for FP+ and Illum. Dessert Party guests.

 

[MammaMoe48]

I can't imagine being in that little restaurant for 90-120 minutes.
We don't spend a hour in San Angel Inn.

Showcase Plaza is reserved for FP+ and Illum. Dessert Party guests.

Thanks for the info. I was just guessing the time we'd be there based on how long it takes us to eat in most restaurants. If it might only take an hour, better for us so we can walk around a bit. I had contemplated using a FP but the we couldn't do Test Track so I'll just have to scope out a place ahead of time and hope it doesn't get too crowded. How's the view from CDF? We'll be there another day so we can just watch Illuminations then.

This is my first trip in like 25 years (35 for DH) but considering how much has changed since then, it might as well be our first visit.

 

[CAS239]

Follow up: Does the Margarita Kiosk offer a non-alcoholic version of their frozen Margarita?

No. All the frozen margarita's are premixed

 

[MammaMoe48]

No. All the frozen margarita's are premixed

Too bad, I was hoping DS could have something fun to drink while we had ours.

 

[CAS239]

Too bad, I was hoping DS could have something fun to drink while we had ours.

There might be something at the food stand. But the stand alone margarita stand is all premixed

 

[BayouQueen]

Okay...I dug out my stuff from our trip in 2014, because we did this very thing successfully.

We had a 7:30 reservation at Hacienda de San Angel, party of four. We told the hostess that we would like a seat to see IllumiNations and were willing to wait for it. The lobby was really crowded and we did have to wait quite a long time. I don't remember when exactly we were seated, but the upshot is that with that 7:30 reservation, we did have a table next to the window and did wind up our meal just about at IllumiNations time. (We had appetizers and margaritas, as well as our dinner. There is a margarita with basil in it that was really great.)

The view of IllumiNations is very good. You can see it all, I think, but you are indoors, behind a window, and I personally think that something is lost seeing it that way. I would rather be outdoors for a fireworks show. We are going this September and will probably do something else to see IllumiNations.

(I'll edit to add that I notice your question isn't exactly about this. You apparently are figuring dinner will be over and you'll be looking for a spot outside somewhere. Maybe my post will help you figure on timing or something anyhow. Have fun!!)

 

[MammaMoe48]

Okay...I dug out my stuff from our trip in 2014, because we did this very thing successfully.

We had a 7:30 reservation at Hacienda de San Angel, party of four. We told the hostess that we would like a seat to see IllumiNations and were willing to wait for it. The lobby was really crowded and we did have to wait quite a long time. I don't remember when exactly we were seated, but the upshot is that with that 7:30 reservation, we did have a table next to the window and did wind up our meal just about at IllumiNations time. (We had appetizers and margaritas, as well as our dinner. There is a margarita with basil in it that was really great.)

The view of IllumiNations is very good. You can see it all, I think, but you are indoors, behind a window, and I personally think that something is lost seeing it that way. I would rather be outdoors for a fireworks show. We are going this September and will probably do something else to see IllumiNations.

(I'll edit to add that I notice your question isn't exactly about this. You apparently are figuring dinner will be over and you'll be looking for a spot outside somewhere. Maybe my post will help you figure on timing or something anyhow. Have fun!!)

Actually, this is very helpful. I have some options now. Thanks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Okay...I dug out my stuff from our trip in 2014, because we did this very thing successfully.

We had a 7:30 reservation at Hacienda de San Angel, party of four. We told the hostess that we would like a seat to see IllumiNations and were willing to wait for it. The lobby was really crowded and we did have to wait quite a long time. I don't remember when exactly we were seated, but the upshot is that with that 7:30 reservation, we did have a table next to the window and did wind up our meal just about at IllumiNations time. (We had appetizers and margaritas, as well as our dinner. There is a margarita with basil in it that was really great.)

The view of IllumiNations is very good. You can see it all, I think, but you are indoors, behind a window, and I personally think that something is lost seeing it that way. I would rather be outdoors for a fireworks show. We are going this September and will probably do something else to see IllumiNations.

(I'll edit to add that I notice your question isn't exactly about this. You apparently are figuring dinner will be over and you'll be looking for a spot outside somewhere. Maybe my post will help you figure on timing or something anyhow. Have fun!!)

We've done similar. Nice window-side seating, great view of Illuminations. A relaxing evening. Very pretty restaurant.

 

[MammaMoe48]

I think what I am going to do is since we will be doing FW on our first day and will be FPing Test Track (so we can't FP Illuminations), I will do Illuminations on our second day when we do the WS and wont be using any FPs - then I can FP Illuminations and not worry about seating.

 

[Jaime4004]

We had an 8pm reservation at La Hacienda a few days ago. Showed up at 7:30pm and they said they couldn't guarantee that we'd be seated early, because the reservation was at 8. Took my cell phone number. Then texted 3 mins later that our table was ready. We sat right at one set of windows (the first set you see when walking in) but there was almost no view of Illuminations. Could see a few buildings lit up but that was it. One of the four of us could see some fireworks. We finished dinner right about when it was starting. I'm sure the other set of windows had a great view. Wasn't a big deal for me, i'm not really a fan of that show anyway. However, loved the food.