Located across from the Aztec Pyramid in the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, La Hacienda de San Angel has a prime location on World Showcase Lagoon.
Open from 4p.m-9p.m. for dinner each evening, this is, and please, don’t spread this around, as we don’t want EVERYBODY knowing, a GREAT spot to watch Illuminations!
Let’s get to our experience, and I’ll be making suggestions along the way.
We had an 8p.m. ADR, and arrived a few minutes early.
Suggestion 1– Make a later ADR within an hour of Illuminations.
We were immediately called, and escorted to a dining area nowhere near the large windows looking out over the lagoon.
I asked if there was anything available by the windows, and was told it may be a few minutes. We waited only about 10, before we were again called, and this time we were brought into a much lovelier dining area overlooking the water.
Suggestion 2 – Ask for a window seat.
Our server brought a Vegetarian Menu.
Suggestion 3, if you have a special dietary needs, don’t hesitate to bring this to your servers attention. This one really applies to ANY Walt Disney World restaurant.
My friend John and I shared the “La Hacienda,” $49.95. It came with New York strip, chicken al pastor, chorizo sausage, vegetables, rice and beans.
Everything was perfectly cooked, and flavorful. The corn was amazing!
My wife had Tacos de Vegetales, grilled vegetables and queso fresco on flour tortillas served with roasted corn $18. She really enjoyed it, and says she can’t wait to go back.
Our friend Kandi had the Enselada de la Casa, Spinach salad with queso fresco, tomatoes, pomegranate, pine nuts, and avocado with mustard vinaigrette dressing for $14.
Just as we were finishing dinner, the lights dimmed and the music from Illuminations began to play.
We had front row seats for one of the most beloved shows at Walt Disney World.
After a great show, we had dessert. Our friends shared the Corn Ice Cream. Yes, Corn ice cream! It came with popcorn, and was sprinkled with paprika. I cannot recall the cost or exact name. We had a taste, and it was very good.
My wife and I shared the Empanada de Manzana, puff pastry filled with sauteed caramel apples, served with dulce de leche ice cream and cajeta (caramel sauce) $7.95, which was also very good.
This was a really great meal, and a really great location from which to view Illuminations, and look forward to our next trip and visit to La Hacienda de San Angel.
Nick is co-writer of the Disney Musings Blog
