Best time at Rose & Crown for fireworks

[JGBdghhhgggfdth]

Hello all,

I have a reservation for 7:45 for October and was wondering if its too early to catch Illuminations. What do you think?

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that you will have a lovely meal at R&C, but that if you plan to see Illuminations from there you may be disappointed. You will not be allowed to wait for a table with a view, and if Illuminations is at 9, those tables are going to be few and far between at 7:45. In regards to Illuminations, I woudl nto choose any estaurantrestaurant for a view of the display. I would plan dinner with plans to exit in time to watch from aound the lake.

 

[sharonabe]

R&C does have a private patio for guests eating inside to move to for the show. I think you have a good chance. You're supposed to check in 15 min early, but I might push that a little and check in closer to your 7:45 ADR. Hopefully you won't be seated until 8:00. Linger a little over the menu. Order an app or two to share before your meal. That will stretch you to the 9:00 time. If you're not quite finished with your meal, you can return to your table to finish after.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Good restaurant but IMO your ADR is too early. I'd also rather eat and then find a spot to watch the show after.

 

[Nancyg56]

Good restaurant but IMO your ADR is too early. I'd also rather eat and then find a spot to watch the show after.

We generally have a nice dinner and then stroll abound the WC until we find a beverage that we want, either coffee or something stronger, depending on the weather, and then find our spot. I love Illuminations, and do nto like leaving my view in anyone else's hands. LOL!

 

[mckennarose]

Hello all,

I have a reservation for 7:45 for October and was wondering if its too early to catch Illuminations. What do you think?

Too early? Not at all.
We had a 7:25 reservation in May and I worried it would be too early, but you will still wait to be seated. We got seated closer to 7:40-ish on the patio with front and center seats. Its not a "quick" meal and your server will help space your meal out if you tell him/her you're there for Illuminations. Everyone seated around us stayed for Illuminations and I got the impression that if you have a reservation around that time, they expect that you're there for the show.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with the posters who feel Illuminations is best viewed outside around the Lagoon.
With a 7:45 ADR you are very unlikely to have an Illuminations view table. Folks with them then are staying in them.

 

[figment_jii]

When are you going in October? Illuminations is either at 9:00 pm (weekdays) or at 10:00 pm (Fri/Sat). If it's 9:00 pm, my guess is that most of the tables with a great view of IllumiNations will already be taken and won't be vacated until after the show. The good thing is that there is a reserved viewing area for guests dining at R&C during Illuminations (it's to the left of the restaurant when facing the water). If IllumiNations is at 10:00 pm, I think 7:45 pm is probably you're best bet to get a table, but even then it's not guaranteed and you might have to take the next available table regardless of location. I've found that once seated R&C is one of the faster places to dine (a three course meal takes about a hour for my family, compared to the 75-90 minutes at most other TS locations). So, there is a chance you'll be done well before the show starts.

 

[Carolina Beth]

We had a 7:20 reservation, had to wait a little bit. No outdoor seating, but when we were done with our meal we watched the show from the reserved viewing area. While having a patio seat would have been nice, I had no complaints with the viewing area. There were only a few other people watching with us.
7:45 would not be too early in my opinion.

 

[RedOnion]

It can be touch-and-go, but on a Saturday in October 2014 we made a 7:50p reservation and requested a view of Illuminations when we checked in. We waited 20 or 30 minutes before being seated--which I thought was heroically quick, actually. Drinks and appetizers--both of which are plentiful and good at the R&C--will surely help with the wait for a 10:00p Illuminations. For us, it came together like a dream come true.

 

[Stefecatzz]

A few years ago, I walked up to R&C around 7:30 & got a table after waiting 20ish minutes. We were a party of two & got seated inside both times but went to the outdoor viewing area for Illuminations which I always enjoy. The only time I've been able to get so far for a Friday in late Sept. is 8:30 so if I decide to keep it, fingers crossed that things will work out for the show.

 

[JGBdghhhgggfdth]

I have the 7:45 10/24 for Monday and a reservation for 8:10 10/29 on Saturday. I was thinking if Monday doesn't work out we can try on Saturday.

Thanks for the responses. I'm still not sure if I should keep both or just cancel one.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have the 7:45 10/24 for Monday and a reservation for 8:10 10/29 on Saturday. I was thinking if Monday doesn't work out we can try on Saturday.

Thanks for the responses. I'm still not sure if I should keep both or just cancel one.

Do you want to go twice? I would just pick one and cancel the other unless you plan to dine there both times.

 

[Stefecatzz]

I have the 7:45 10/24 for Monday and a reservation for 8:10 10/29 on Saturday. I was thinking if Monday doesn't work out we can try on Saturday.

Thanks for the responses. I'm still not sure if I should keep both or just cancel one.

Just curious to see how it went for you? Did you get a table on the patio with the 7:45 ADR or did you use the viewing area & sit inside? How was it?

 

[Kindermouse]

Also wondering how it went or if anyone has any suggestions for getting seating on the patio to watch illuminations. I'm hoping to do this for my birthday dinner this October so hearing your experience would be great.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We have dinner at R&C every trip and we always (16 vacations) time it to stay for illuminations. We always make a 7:30pm ADR. When you check in ask to be seated outside. Let them know you will wait for a table. We have NEVER sat inside and we only travel Christmas week and Easter week. We let the server know when we are seated we are staying for illuminations and that we will make it up in a nice tip. We start with ordering apps. We don't place our dinner order until our apps arrive at the table. We enjoy cocktails, dinner, and dessert. We always leave a extra tip since we are taking up a table longer than usual. Never problem. Have a great trip.

 

[Stefecatzz]

We have dinner at R&C every trip and we always (16 vacations) time it to stay for illuminations. We always make a 7:30pm ADR. When you check in ask to be seated outside. Let them know you will wait for a table. We have NEVER sat inside and we only travel Christmas week and Easter week. We let the server know when we are seated we are staying for illuminations and that we will make it up in a nice tip. We start with ordering apps. We don't place our dinner order until our apps arrive at the table. We enjoy cocktails, dinner, and dessert. We always leave a extra tip since we are taking up a table longer than usual. Never problem. Have a great trip.

One thing I'm wondering is if it matters how many are in your party. If it's a party of 2, maybe there aren't as many tables outdoors for 2?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

One thing to note: when Illuminations is at 9, last ADR at R&C is at 8 pm. So, if your ADR is after 7:15, you will be the last ones at your table. This means:
1. You don't need to worry about being hurried out; no one will be waiting for your table
2. While you can request to wait for a patio table, the closer you get to 8, the less likely you'll get it, as everyone with a 7:15 or later ADR will be asking the same thing, and there are only so many patio tables
3. Not all patio tables have a good view
4. The reserved viewing area for those without a view is still great, if your table doesn't have a great view.
5. We've had ADRs for 7:15 or so 3 times, and we are 3 for 3 in getting a patio table with at least a good view, if not excellent.

When Illuminations is at 10:00, just push everything above forward 1 hour