Illuminations: How many views per visit?

[MrPeetrie]

I was watching a program about Walt Disney World on the travel channel, when they spotlighted Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. I began to think about how much I enjoy this nighttime spectacular. But at the same time, I usually only see it once during a 10-night trip. my DW usually says, "Oh, we've seen this already. let's go." So I wondered: How many times do you watch this during your stay? On a usual trip, we are in Epcot at night at least three times, but yet we only see it once. Do you watch it more?

[Giggy]

As a general rule once is the minimum but last time we ended up seeing it twice. We were there for 14 days and our second day was a full day in EPCOT, this was mostly focussed on Future World but we did then move on to World Showcase. It was late so we only did the Canada and United Kingdom pavilions before it started, the thought being we always start at the other end of World Showcase so rush these two normally. Later in the vacation we had a day that started at MK before catching the monorail to EPCOT around lunch time. That day we mostly focussed on World Showcase and had just got to the bridge between France and United Kingdom as Illuminations started.

As a general rule I like to get as close to everything done when there as possible because we have a few years between each visit. That doesn't mean things won't get done more than once though. Once is an absolute requirement but if I had the time and the money I'd do each of these things six or seven times and still want to do it again!

[Main Street Jim]

How 'bout two or three times a week?

My wife usually ended up at EPCOT in the evenings after working all day at MK anyways. We'd come into the park, have dinner somewheres, then stick around for the show.

My second-favorite all-time nighttime show!

[darthmacho]

This may be the first trip that we catch it more than once. We're setting aside two days for World Showcase, and the first of these days we're definitely staying for Illuminations and hoping to catch them during our La Hacienda dinner ADRs.

Our second WS day might not be as long, and I'm thinking I might do some nighttime exploring of Future World that day.

[DisneyDINK]

For viewing Illuminations,once is fine for me, especially since my trips are getting shorter, but more frequent.

Wishes on the other hand, I like to see two or three times. With Illuminations, you pretty much have to be in in Epcot's World Showcase to really enjoy it. With Wishes, you can be anywhere in MK, and you can also see it from many MK area resorts and restaurants too. I guess I prefer the traditional fireworks in the sky as opposed to rotating TVs and big fireballs.

[Maleficent_vf]

I love Illuminations! It has become a tradition that we see it once early in our trip and then again on our last night. It is a wonderful way to end a visit (not that I ever want them to end!).

[joonyer]

Illuminations at least once every visit, sometimes, if we are at Epcot again for a dinner.

But I prefer Wishes fireworks at MK, and we always see that show at least 3-4 times during every weeklong stay. Nothing beats those magical fireworks over the castle at MK. The essence of Disney Magic.

[kakn7294]

Of course it depends on the length of the trip but I'd watch this every night if I could! 2-3 times per trip seems to be our average.

[Melanie]

0

If I happen to be in Epcot, I'll stop and watch. But I never go out of my way to catch the show. Been there, done that, time for something new.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Still the best nighttime show on property... Maybe I'll see it twice or three times depending how long of a trip I am taking and it is the only show I will go out of my way for... I'll watch it the day I pick to visit Epcot and again the day I pick to visit DAK...

[Dopey's Girl]

I never really go out of my way to see it. If I happen to be there when it's goin on, I will stop to watch a bit, but I haven't seen the whole show start to finish in years.

Now Wishes, that I have to see at least a few times per trip.

[big blue and hairy]

Well....I voted for once, but there is a clarification. DW and I are Passholders and we go at least 4 times per year for short trips, so for me once each trip is seeing it a lot! It is by far my favorite night time show.

[AgentC]

I guess I have to go with 0.

I never go out of my way to watch it unless you count watching the fireworks part from the bridge between the Beach Club and Boardwalk.

If I'm there and it happens to start I will watch, but on most days we are trying to get as far away from the lake as we can before it starts. My children really don't enjoy it. They find it too loud. I don't think I've seen it more than once in our last 4 visits.

[Kairi_7378]

We haven't gone out of our way to watch it. It seems harder to find a decent place to view this show, and I am not one to stake out a place for an hour to watch a parade or fireworks.

[faline]

Years ago, I made sure I'd see this show every visit at least once. More recently, we'll watch if convenient but don't usually go out of our way to see it. It's still a pleasant show - I'm just not interested in planting myself in a spot and waiting for a signficant length of time. On a recent trip, we ended up with patio seating at Rose n Crown so certainly did stay to watch from that vantage point. On our last trip, we watched part of it on our fist night there as there happened to be some space along the fence as it started though the view was obscured. We even had a dinner reservation at La Hacienda one evening and left quite some time before the show started.

[Crow]

usually twice..longest trips are usually a wk. first night show is Illuminations and at least one other time. i dont see Fantasmic every trip although i like it..its hard to exit after
Wishes i like but i dont spend as much time at MK and if u try to leave w everyone else after..

[DisneyDawgette]

The last two times I went were very short trips, and trips with lots of kids, so unfortunately, EPCOT has been omitted. It's a travesty for me because it's my favorite park, and I absolutely ADORE Illuminations. My musically inclined DBF even enjoys listening to the score with me on occasion when I'm feeling particularly Disney!
So I went with two! It's great to open your trip up- until recently, EPCOT is always the first park we hit. And we normally grab it one more night on the trip! Wishes is our trip ender, and I spend the majority of the show bawling my eyes out! But that show is the epitome of Disney magic!

[Polynesian Dweller]

Over the years we've seen it a lot, to the point that we no longer watch it unless we happen to be there.

[iluvdumbo]

Every time we go, we always go to Epcot once (since we only go for a five day, 3 park day visit each time because of being able to get off of work / school), since that is the only amount of time we can go into the park during our stay. But we never miss it when we are in the park!

[Katzateer]

Usually just once since it is hard to find a good view without spending a longtime waiting. I am more willing to wait at MK for parade and fireworks.

But half the fun of waiting is people watching and talking to people waiting with you!Meet really nice fellow Disney fans from around the world.