Would You Believe A Bad Illuminations Experience?

[hvsteve1]

In all my trips to the World I have never felt ripped off and as disappointed with Iluminations (my favorite event) until this week. Because we had never been in EPCOT for Candlelight Precessionnal, I deced to buy the package. One of the motivators was the "reserved viewing area" for lluminations. This was my chance to enjoy one of those roped off areas from which we are normally excluded. We never eat meals in the park preferring the resorts (Boma, Jiko, V&A, Yachtsmen,etc). The package ran me $200 and we had a nice meal at Merrakesh (nice) and saw the show, which was very worthwhile, though it did involved 45 minutes in line to make sure our "reserved" seating was not in Siberia. I was dumbfounded to find our Illiminations viewing was at Showcase Plaza. I had never considered that a potentially good viewing area as it would appear to be an odd angle for the show. I also could not believe they expected people to leave the show at 9:15 and be in place for the show at 9:30 considering the distance, especially if somebody in the party cannot move fast because of being an older person or a young child. We made the run to the Plaza to find the plaza, itself, roped off. The guests, from several shows, were crammed like sardines into an area surrounding the two retail buildings at the entrance to the plaza. As late arrivals we had to move around to try and get the best viewing we could. As I suspected, it was a rather odd place to try and see the show. We also had problems with those concrete pillars and trees blocking part of our view. I was kicking myself for not ignoring the reserved viewing and just grabbing one of our usual spots in World Showcase. The park wasn't that crowded and we wouldn't have had to grab a spot an hour ahead of time. I don't know what the Disney people were thinking in offering this as a benefit for that kind of expenditure.

 

[KellyNY]

I am confused, where is Showcase plaza?

 

[vicki_c]

That's the area between the 2 matching stores at the entrance from FW to WS, I believe. We watched from there a few times and thought the view was pretty good.

We now prefer to watch from the bridge between France and the UK.

Where do you normally watch from?

Well the reserved seating for the fireworks is just an "extra" so they could charge more for the CP package this year. You're still really paying for the meal and the CP seating. We didn't pay much less last year than it is this year and we didn't get any fireworks viewing spot.

 

[vicki_c]

PS - I just saw another post from today (still on page 1 here) where someone said they had a "wonderful view" from that area as part of the package. So to each their own, I guess.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think that's the same area that the deserts are given for the International Dinner for the GG experience. I thought it was a good viewing area for Illuminations.

Bobbi

 

[hvsteve1]

I guess our real problem was the stress of getting there, the overcrowded situation and the fact thhat much of the view was blocked due to the overcowding. Also, I don't know if people are normally allowed to watch from the plaza, which is actually on the lagoon, or always kept a ways back where the tress and pillars get in the way. The early arrivers were mostly between the pillars so, I am sure, had no obstructions. I was just dissapointed that "reserved viewing" resulted in a more crowded and obstructed view than I could normally find on my own. I wonder if anybody knows if other viewing areas were given to people with the package or if everybody from the whole day of shows was jammed into that area?

 

[SandrA9810]

I hate standing there, unless they open up the stage area, that goes out to the water. It's an amazing view to sit right there next to the railing and feel the heat from the fire.

Generally when we watch the CP, we just walk back towards Germany to grab a seat. I've also had good seating near Morroco and Norway.

If they were offering reserved section for the CP dinner package, I would've booked an earlier dinner and saw the earlier show. I know it's not easy or easily possible to make it all the way across to the other side of the lagoon. As a seasoned goer, I would think you would've known that already.

Now generally for the Grand Gatherings, it's an area directly behind the store and over towards the boat dock. I've never seen them hold that large area between the stores as reserved area... it really isn't all that great. Another private spot they occasionally block off is that little area in front of Italy, but that's usually for private events, or Guest Relations special list.

 

[SandrA9810]

Now if you want a bad experience, try sitting in front of a brazillian tour group, that keep kicking up and trying to shove their feet up your butt and lean on top of you. They showed up like 2 mins before the show started and I was ready to leave 2 mins after the show started. It's not like they couldn't see, we were sitting down, and the view was good.

 

[vicki_c]

Steve - there's another thread here where someone said they could potentially have 3000 people at the reserved viewing area, but they had been averaging 750. But it seems that that is the only location for the reserved viewing with the CP package.

I know what you mean about the stress thing though -- and definitely, the later you get there, the worse view you might have, even in a reserved location.

 

[spodie]

I've never thought that that viewing area in the World Showcase Plaza was anywhere near the best seat in the house. I'm so glad that I didn't end up doing the CP package for 2 table service credits. It just doesn't seem like $200 for 4 people is getting you all that much. Sure, the meal is usually very good, but the in order to get a good reserved spot for the Candelight Processional, you still have to stand in line for a significant amount of time to get a good seat and then you have to go see Illuminations from where they want you to. I think that Disney still needs to add some extra incentives to make that package worth 2 table service credits or $200. If they don't, it's still only worth 1 TS credit.

 

[dyna]

We like the area between the 2 pillars but then we have seen Illuminations many times an don't have to have prime spot everytime. It's good if you get there early yet if you in a hurry to exit the park it puts you a bit ahead of most of the crowd.

 

[Robo]

I am confused, where is Showcase plaza?

#14 on the image below.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

The World Showcase Plaza is a pretty decent place to view illuminations from, BUT, depending on wind conditions, they may not always open up the full area all the way to the water.

 

[blondinkaya]

The World Showcase Plaza is a pretty decent place to view illuminations from, BUT, depending on wind conditions, they may not always open up the full area all the way to the water.

I was there on the 29th. Where I was standing in the Plaza wasn't even halfway full, and that was with the ropes up, blocking the area next to the water. Sorry PP had a bad experience. I wonder what day he/she was there. I would've thought Sunday would have been full, but it wasn't.

 

[kmk1180]

PS - I just saw another post from today (still on page 1 here) where someone said they had a "wonderful view" from that area as part of the package. So to each their own, I guess.

I've watched Illuminations from there and thought it was just fine.
IMHO there's no 1 perfect place to see all of Illuminations.
You'll miss something no matter where you are.

Gotta take it with a grain, no matter where they put people you'll find someone who will complain about the location.

To each their own as you say

 

[Praying Colonel]

If I only had 15 minutes to get from the American pavilion to the plaza, I would've just viewed it from WS. I'm not going to rush that large distance to get to a viewing area that's not any better than many others on the WS side of the lagoon.

 

[KellyNY]

If I only had 15 minutes to get from the American pavilion to the plaza, I would've just viewed it from WS. I'm not going to rush that large distance to get to a viewing area that's not any better than many others on the WS side of the lagoon.

ITA. To OP, I guess that was the problem. As you got there, you probably did not get any close spot as there were other guests as well. As for area, it is not bad at all, the angle is right and view is good, of couse when you do not have 5 rows of people in front of you, but that would be problem at any spot. Did they let you know where will be your spot in advance?

 

[kaffinito]

I don't care for that viewing area. I like it right next to it in area #13 between the store and Canada on Robo's map. Easy in, easy out from the main entrance, and there's a smoking section right there. I would have been bummed it I had paid extra to stand there, and then only had 15 minutes to get to the spot from the American Pavilion. The Wishes dessert party viewing is much better IMO.

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe it depends on crowds. When we were there in June we walked by that section and I noticed that a lot of people seemed to be jammed in there. I wouldn't like it in that case either plus I agree that the walk is too far in that amount of time.

 

[JPN4265]

Thanks, now I have something else to worry about on this trip.