I'm excited to see this & would love any tips & suggestions for optimal viewing. Also, if we opt to watch further away from the crowds, will we miss too much of what happens on the water vs up in the air? Thanks!!!
One of my favorite things about Illuminations is that it's fairly easy to walk up shortly before the show and get a good view (preferably with a beverage in hand). The lagoon is about 1.25 miles around, so even on busy days there's plenty of room to fit everybody (though they've been adding kiosks and buildings in recent years that block many of those views). I think the best views are looking east or west across the lagoon, from roughly Mexico to the African Outpost or from Canada to International Gateway, since those perspectives do a better job showing the earth barge moving across the lagoon. On the other hand, the show is designed for in-the-round viewing, so unless you're behind a building or an island, your view should be fine Although there are a lot of fireworks in the show, there are also a lot of fountains and other effects that are relatively low level. While you don't have to be in the very front row to get a good view (especially if you're not short or don't have kids with you), I wouldn't want to be more than 3-4 rows back. Luckily there are enough viewing areas that if one area is crowded, you won't have to go far to find another. I'd recommend starting to find a spot about 20-30 minutes before the show starts
I've found the best spot to watch the show is close to Mexico. Can't go wrong with a margarita in hand while watching Illuminations.
I always kind of thought of it as "meh," myself. Then again, I'm too nearsighted to easily make out what goes on on the surface of the globe.
