did I book too early a time at R & C ??

[sandee]

Taking my mom to DW next week for a couple days. I booked dinner at R & C at 7:30 p.m. one night with fingers crossed for a patio table for Illuminations. Should I call back and try to get a later seating? We will be getting appetizer and dessert as well as dinner, but don't want meal to end and have to leave 20 mins. before show starts. Also, if you are told only indoor seating is avail. can you just say no thanks and not eat there? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ttfn3]

Sandee
You should be fine. The two times we had reservations at R & C for Illuminations, our PS was for 7:30 p.m. Both times we were successful in getting patio tables. Just ask nicely at checkin. I also stopped by during the day and asked, but they said we would need to check back near our PS time. Once seated, we told the waitress we would be there for Illuminations. We ate a leisurely dinner and left a nice tip for the waitress.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

I see this question a lot.

Also, if you are told only indoor seating is avail. can you just say no thanks and not eat there?

You can't say no, they will make you sit down inside and eat a full meal and tack on a 20% gratuity. They will probably even tease you a little for not being able to see Illuminations.
I am just kidding of course. You can always just say no and leave. the R&C is not a pre pay PS.
Also, for real though, they won't let you hang around for a patio table to open up. So it is a take or leave it type of thing.

Bill
I think 7:30 will be good. We did 7:45 in June. We didnt even get seated till almost 8.

 

[sandee]

Boy! I was sitting here munching popcorn as I read your reply to my question and I almost choked ...you had me going for a minute there! LOL! I'm just gonna be at the R&C at 7:30 and wish for some pixie dust luck.. thanks for your help.

 

[Tigger7570]

We've eaten at the R & C several times and I think the time you picked was perfect. The first time we stopped by in the afternoon and the young man at the desk told me to arrive about 15 minutes before my reservation and let them know we wanted an outside table. We did this and like someone else said asked very nicely and we have always gotten an outside table and had a leisurely meal and then enjoyed Illuminations. You're going to love it. We love taking family and friends there who have never seen Illuminations. Have a wonderful meal.

 

[katypop]

hi Sandee,
hope you have good luck with your patio seat, but want to warn you it doesn't always happen, but there is an alternative. we made ps for 7:30 in may2000 and got our patio seat, it was wonderful. but in apr/02 we had ps on two different nights and did not get patio for either. both times we arrived a few minutes early, politely asked for patio seats if possible, and both times were going to be seated indoors, we asked if we could wait for a patio seat and were told no. so both nights we declined our seats. on the 2nd try we really wanted to see illuminations, so we looked at the outside patio area just to the left of the rc. we got a table right up against the wall overlooking the water and had a perfect view. one of us then went to the fish and chip wagon just to the right of rc while the other held our table. the fish and chips were very tastey and way cheaper than eating at rc. so...if you can get a patio table at rc great, but sometimes it's nice to a have a back-up plan

katypop