Decent view of illuminations?

[kiltclan]

Hi all! Were headed up for our annual valen-birth-aversary trip and were looking to do something, as we put it, 'a little more grown- up' considering how we usually end at character meals and well actually be there for v- day.

Are there any resturants in Epcot with a decent view of illuminations or would we be better off looking for some other form of 'Romantic night out' for the big night?

TiA! We welcome any ideas!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 06/02/2016*)
.
1) Epcot "Illuminations" restaurant viewing
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view from standing-room-only area
. . . La Hacienda (MX) - excellent window view ***
. . . Spice Road Table (MA) - excellent open-air lake-side view (but, some seats are blocked by trees)
. . . Tokyo Dining (JP) - good window view, good patio view **
. . . Chef de France (FR) - obstructed window view **
. . . Monsieur Paul (FR) - excellent view ***
. . . Liberty Inn (US) - obstructed patio view
. . . Nine Dragons (CH) - partially obstructed view ***
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . Tomoorowland Terrace Dessert Party - great view
. . . California Grille - excellent table view, excellent balcony views
. . . Narcoossee's - good view, good balcony views **
. . . Ohana - good view from a few tables, no view from all other tables ***
3) Non-Eating viewing
. . . Wishes: Wilderness Lodge employee parking lot - good view
. . . Wishes: Poly Beach - good view, with piped-in music
. . . Wishes: Fort Wilderness Beach - fair view
. . . Illuminations: Boardwalk - poor view, only high fireworks
.

* = Approx 50% of the tables
** = Approx 30% of the tables
*** = Less than 20% of the tables​

PATIO-or-WINDOW SEATS FOR FIREWORKS:
. . . you CANNOT wait for a patio or window tables or make an ADR for such
. . . you must take whichever table is offered when it is offered.
. . . if not, your ADR is canceled.
. . . too many people would wait for a viewing table.
. . . if they didn't get it they left, so, there were unused tables, lost revenue.
. . . now, the policy is you take what is offered
. . . the Podium person verifies you will take the offered table
.
SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the Seat Assigner determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the Seater then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . if you want to try for a good seat, get an ADR 2-2½ hrs before fireworks
. . . then, hope you get lucky
.
NOTE1:
. . . Even with the above policy, some people get a viewing table when asking for it.
. . . If eatery is not too busy, which doesn't happen often, they try to accommodate.
.
NOTE2:
. . . for the best chance at a viewing seat/table, make ressies 1-3/4 to 2 hours before event

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

You can wait for patio or window tables. People do this all the time. We did this two weeks ago in a crowded Epcot at a crowded Rose & Crown. It took 45 minutes and was no problem. At no point did the the host tell us we couldn't, or that our ADR would be canceled if we refused a table. If they ever got militant about that policy, the After 4 Pass locals would riot.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hi all! Were headed up for our annual valen-birth-aversary trip and were looking to do something, as we put it, 'a little more grown- up' considering how we usually end at character meals and well actually be there for v- day.

Are there any resturants in Epcot with a decent view of illuminations or would we be better off looking for some other form of 'Romantic night out' for the big night?

TiA! We welcome any ideas!

I would book San Angel Inn forr dinner and schedule it so I could leave the restaurant, find a nice glass of champagne and watch Illuminations outside. This restauant is pretty, the food is good, and the service is excellent.

Or if you want to see WIshes, book Narcoossees and time it so you can enjoy WIshes from the porch.

 

[figment_jii]

I would not plan on being able to see IllumiNations from any of the restaurants in World Showcase. Very few locations has any kind of view and none will guarantee you a table with a view. You can try requesting a window/patio/IllumiNations viewing table when you check-in, but there is no guarantee that they'll be able to honor the request (I've been there when Rose & Crown was not taking requests). So, if seeing IllumiNations is important, I plan to finish up your dinner with enough time to find a spot to watch the show from somewhere around World Showcase lagoon.

 

[gmboy95]

I agree....plan to finish your dinner in time to find a spot....my favorite spot to watch is in Norway

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have seen Rose and Crown tell people that if they want to wait they can, but that puts them out of rotation and.....

One family seemed to still be waiting after we ate so they had waited about 90 minutes, no one at the tables they wanted seemed near finishing....

Not worth it IMHO

Personally I would go over to the Swan/Dolphin, have a nice meal, come back, go by the France Pavilion, get an adult beverage and watch the show!

 

[kiltclan]

Hi all! Thanks for all the advice! Weve actually seen illuminations so many times that it was more the 'Do something different' rather than just watch the show. It seems like it will be luck of the draw when it comes to requesting a decent view from a table though so Im not sure if itll be worth it

 

[Harambe]

For a different idea - drinks and apps at Tambu lounge at the Poly, then take the boat from the Poly to Magic Kingdom close to the time of the MK fireworks. You will see them while you are on the water, and it is very pretty! Then when you get off the boat, hightail it to your resort bus before all the MK people leave the park!

Happy anniversary!