Question regarding Viewing Illuminations

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Sat, 10/19/2013 - 12:11

TNMedic

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Question regarding Viewing Illuminations

Hello everyone, my wife and I have been lurking the forums for a while and last night we found ourselves in need of some assistance.

Our trip is scheduled for Feb 9 - 14, 2014 and want to be able to see illuminations preferably from a seated position in a restaurant. If anyone has a better alternative for viewing we are "ALL EARS"

In looking at the options of restaurants that have reservations it seems the Rose and Crown and the La Hacienda de San Angel have the best viewing possibilities. Can anyone provide guidance/feedback on which is the better option and what is the best reservation time to have the greatest chance of outside seating for Illuminations. Normally we would just try to find a spot to view and hope for the best but this trip is our 25th anniversary so we are putting a little more effort into some things.

Thanks in advance.
Medic and Mrs. Medic

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25th Anniversary Trip, Beware the Dreaded ES

Sat, 10/19/2013 - 13:16

Magic Days

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Congratulations on 25 years. We try to book rose and crown an hour before illuminations but there are a lot of people with the same thought so try early. The new place in morocco should be open by then and will be on the water as well. It seems like the wind is usually blowing toward the Mexican side when we are there so that's why we avoid it. I've heard people also enjoy watching from Tokyo dining as well. Our favorite viewing isn't on the water we avoid the crowds along the rails and use the elevated areas in the countries to enjoy the show. So if you get stuck with folks piling in around you step back and see if you can find a raised area. Better show with breathing room for us. I'm sure that where ever you view it there will be plenty of magic with the one you love.

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Sat, 10/19/2013 - 20:43

Allie

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I don't know the best time to make the ressie for, but I'd suggest showing up early for your ADR and requesting to be seated with and Illuminations view and tell the host you'd be willing to wait for one of those tables to open up. It won't guarantee it for you, but may give you a better shot. Good luck!

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Sat, 10/19/2013 - 22:09

JMUDukz

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We did Rose and Crown a few weeks ago. My friends has a reservation for 8pm (I was planning to meet them for drinks at 7 but R&C was not only able to seat my friends early but to change from 3 to 4, so I hung out with them the whole night!). I would say a reservation between 7 and 8 would be perfect. Make sure you check out what time IllumiNations will show that evening. The night we were there, it was showing at 10 vs 9, so we had an extra hour to hang out but our server was awesome, we told her we knew we were hanging out for a while, chatting and drinking, and we gave her a nice tip at the end of the night. It all worked out perfectly and I would HIGHLY recommend R&C for your viewing pleasure.

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Sat, 10/19/2013 - 23:50

TNMedic

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Thanks everyone for the suggestions, based on your input we made reservations for the Rose and Crown for 7:45, hopefully the seating will work out.

Medic and Mrs. Medic

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25th Anniversary Trip, Beware the Dreaded ES

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 15:57

Kristen K.

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La Hacienda San Angel had really big viewing windows that make it one of my favorite spots.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 22:01

coreyp

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Or you could team up with a bunch of people from this site and split the cost of a Specialty Cruise, worked for my wife and I when we went on our Honeymoon! PS, thanks again guys! haha

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Thu, 10/24/2013 - 23:33

TNMedic

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Thats a great idea, if there are others that are interested let us know.

Medic and Mrs. Medic

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25th Anniversary Trip, Beware the Dreaded ES

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 00:35

The Colonel

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Because:

1 you may not get a table with a good view
B you may not be taken at your ADR time
iii Illuminations may be going on while your food sits on the table getting cold

I would advise you to eat dinner at 6, relax, take your time eating, then emerge and watch Illuminations on the fence, where you will probably find a better view anyway. Then no anxiety about where you sit, what time your food arrives, etc. it's hit or miss whether these dining and Illumination plans come to fruition. And my experience has been, you can't tip your way to a good table either.

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Sat, 10/26/2013 - 00:20

TNMedic

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Perhaps I have been misinformed or I simply misunderstood. I thought there were tables outside at the Rose and Crown where you could dine and see the fireworks!! I fully realize that there is no guarantee we will get one of the outside tables but that was what we are hoping for.

Medic

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25th Anniversary Trip, Beware the Dreaded ES

Sat, 10/26/2013 - 00:36

Mandy

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There are tables but what others are saying is that if you eat during the show that you might ignore you food while the fireworks are going off. They are also saying that there is no guarantee to get the good view.

Sat, 10/26/2013 - 01:25

JMUDukz

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TNMedic wrote:

Perhaps I have been misinformed or I simply misunderstood. I thought there were tables outside at the Rose and Crown where you could dine and see the fireworks!! I fully realize that there is no guarantee we will get one of the outside tables but that was what we are hoping for.

Medic

We got there at 7 and had plenty of time to eat our meal and drink some beers while waiting. I say go for it. Check in early to see if you can get an outside table. If you don't get an outside table, you have plenty of time to develop a plan B.

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Sat, 10/26/2013 - 22:38

TNMedic

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JMUDukz wrote:

We got there at 7 and had plenty of time to eat our meal and drink some beers while waiting. I say go for it. Check in early to see if you can get an outside table. If you don't get an outside table, you have plenty of time to develop a plan B.

Just hoping the weather cooperates!

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25th Anniversary Trip, Beware the Dreaded ES

Sun, 10/27/2013 - 19:51

Nancy D

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Magic Days wrote:

Congratulations on 25 years. We try to book rose and crown an hour before illuminations but there are a lot of people with the same thought so try early. The new place in morocco should be open by then and will be on the water as well. It seems like the wind is usually blowing toward the Mexican side when we are there so that's why we avoid it. I've heard people also enjoy watching from Tokyo dining as well. Our favorite viewing isn't on the water we avoid the crowds along the rails and use the elevated areas in the countries to enjoy the show. So if you get stuck with folks piling in around you step back and see if you can find a raised area. Better show with breathing room for us. I'm sure that where ever you view it there will be plenty of magic with the one you love.

OOH! What's the new Moroccan place, Magic Days??

And Congrats on 25 years, Mr. and Mrs. Medic!!

Wed, 11/13/2013 - 21:46

Kristen K.

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Nancy D wrote:

Magic Days wrote:
Congratulations on 25 years. We try to book rose and crown an hour before illuminations but there are a lot of people with the same thought so try early. The new place in morocco should be open by then and will be on the water as well. It seems like the wind is usually blowing toward the Mexican side when we are there so that's why we avoid it. I've heard people also enjoy watching from Tokyo dining as well. Our favorite viewing isn't on the water we avoid the crowds along the rails and use the elevated areas in the countries to enjoy the show. So if you get stuck with folks piling in around you step back and see if you can find a raised area. Better show with breathing room for us. I'm sure that where ever you view it there will be plenty of magic with the one you love.

OOH! What's the new Moroccan place, Magic Days??

And Congrats on 25 years, Mr. and Mrs. Medic!!

Here's the information that DFB currently has about Spice Road (the new Moroccan place)- it's supposed to open "sometime in 2013"
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/04/02/confirmed-spice-road-table-restaurant-will-open-in-epcots-morocco-in-2013/

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Question regarding Viewing Illuminations