I think I made a rookie mistake - wwyd?

[A&Bmama]

This is our first trip with the DDP.

I made a reservation at Rose & Crown at 7:50 in the hopes of being able to see Illuminations from a Patio table. I realize that there is no guarantee we will be seated there. I have tried to get an earlier ADR time but nothing is available unless I want to eat much earlier than Illuminations.

After doing a little more research it appears to me that this is the latest possible ADR time for R&C so it is more than likely everone who had earlier ADR times will already be filling these seats. I think I would rather just eat elsewhere and view Illuminations afterwards but DH is set on trying to view from the patio.

We have planned to see Illuminations on another evening during my trip but I don't care! If I am in Epcot during Illuminations I want to see it! LOL

I think I have read that "sometimes" the inside diners are allowed to go to the patio during the show. Can anyone confirm this? Is this always the case?

 

[mollygirl13]

When we ate at R & C we had 7:50 reservations. We were not seated on the Patio as those seats were already filled.
Our waitress asked us as soon as we sat down if we were interested in seeing Illuminations. We told her we were & she told us she'd escort us outside after our meal.
After our meal, around 8:45 or so, our waitress escorted us to a roped off area beyond the patio. We had the BEST view! It was so close and it was an amazing experience.

Now, I do not know if this is every night BUT we could not hear any music that went with Illuminations. Can anyone confirm if is standard or was there just a problem with the speakers that particular night?

 

[Goofymum]

In 2008, my friend and I also had late reservations at Rose and Crown in hopes of seeing Illuminations from the patio. It of course was already filled up by the time we were seated, however our waitress also asked us if we were interested in seeing Illuminations. We were not quite finished with our dinner so she told us as soon as Illuminations was over we could return to our seats and have our dessert...which we did! We also had a great view!

 

[A&Bmama]

When we ate at R & C we had 7:50 reservations. We were not seated on the Patio as those seats were already filled.
Our waitress asked us as soon as we sat down if we were interested in seeing Illuminations. We told her we were & she told us she'd escort us outside after our meal.
After our meal, around 8:45 or so, our waitress escorted us to a roped off area beyond the patio. We had the BEST view! It was so close and it was an amazing experience.

Now, I do not know if this is every night BUT we could not hear any music that went with Illuminations. Can anyone confirm if is standard or was there just a problem with the speakers that particular night?

That sounds great! I will certainly ask if we can go outside to view if the don't bring up the subject first. I just don't think I could stand to miss Illuminations when we are that close. In fact, I would rather go hungry than miss it!

 

[A&Bmama]

In 2008, my friend and I also had late reservations at Rose and Crown in hopes of seeing Illuminations from the patio. It of course was already filled up by the time we were seated, however our waitress also asked us if we were interested in seeing Illuminations. We were not quite finished with our dinner so she told us as soon as Illuminations was over we could return to our seats and have our dessert...which we did! We also had a great view!

We'll probably be in the same boat. I figure we might finish the main course before Illuminations and then have dessert after. That might work out for the best anyway, much of the mass exit of the park should be over by the time we are done our dinner.

Were you able to hear the audio during your visit?

 

[sjs314]

When we ate at R & C we had 7:50 reservations. We were not seated on the Patio as those seats were already filled.
Our waitress asked us as soon as we sat down if we were interested in seeing Illuminations. We told her we were & she told us she'd escort us outside after our meal.
After our meal, around 8:45 or so, our waitress escorted us to a roped off area beyond the patio. We had the BEST view! It was so close and it was an amazing experience.

Now, I do not know if this is every night BUT we could not hear any music that went with Illuminations. Can anyone confirm if is standard or was there just a problem with the speakers that particular night?

I have a ressie for Rose and Crown too, hopeing to watch Illuminations for there and interested about being able to hear the Music???

Anyone?
TIA

 

[pixiechick]

As long as you go outside you will hear the music with no problem at all! Seriously, you couldn't possibly be any closer to the action! Enjoy!

 

[A&Bmama]

As long as you go outside you will hear the music with no problem at all! Seriously, you couldn't possibly be any closer to the action! Enjoy!

Ahhh, the angst is gone. I can't wait for this ADR now!

Thanks, this is why I love the DIS!

 

[Teacher510]

So what would be the best time to ask for? 7:45? Earlier to try for a patio table?

 

[oybolshoi]

So what would be the best time to ask for? 7:45? Earlier to try for a patio table?

6PM to 6:30PM has been our experience ... anything after that and anyone lucky enough to snag a table on the patio isn't going anywhere until after Illuminations is over. Trust me ... been there, done that.

If you're seated in the dining room you will be given the option to go outside and watch the show but it can get crowded.

Personally, having done it both ways, we actually prefer eating earlier in the evening and staking out a spot somewhere else around the world showcase. Norway is nice and so is Japan.

 

[figment_jii]

In the past, they have not allowed people to request a patio table. So even if you get an earlier ADR, if the table that opens up is inside, then that's the table you will get.

6PM to 6:30PM has been our experience

Wow, was that for a 9 pm Illuminations?

We've been on the patio once and in the viewing area once and both times the audio worked. I'd guess that something was amiss with the system on the night the PP was there.

 

[oybolshoi]

In the past, they have not allowed people to request a patio table. So even if you get an earlier ADR, if the table that opens up is inside, then that's the table you will get.


Wow, was that for a 9 pm Illuminations?

Yes, that was for 9PM. And we've requested patio seating when we check in at Rose & Crown, but they always tell us it's not guaranteed. It's like asking for a window table at CA Grill - you can ask but it doesn't mean you're going to get it.

We haven't dined there in the evening for a couple of years now. The menu has shrunk so much that it's not worth the hassle of trying to get a table, whether it's inside or out. But I can understand why people who've never had the experience want to try for it.

 

[sjs314]

6PM to 6:30PM has been our experience ... anything after that and anyone lucky enough to snag a table on the patio isn't going anywhere until after Illuminations is over. Trust me ... been there, done that.

If you're seated in the dining room you will be given the option to go outside and watch the show but it can get crowded.

Personally, having done it both ways, we actually prefer eating earlier in the evening and staking out a spot somewhere else around the world showcase. Norway is nice and so is Japan.

In the past, they have not allowed people to request a patio table. So even if you get an earlier ADR, if the table that opens up is inside, then that's the table you will get.

Wow, was that for a 9 pm Illuminations?

We've been on the patio once and in the viewing area once and both times the audio worked. I'd guess that something was amiss with the system on the night the PP was there.

Now I am a bit sad, I did my research here on the DIS and made a ressie for 7:25pm, recomended time by more than one person on here said 7:30pm and also read you could request a patio table and wait up to 1 hour before you had to take the seat offered

I have watched Illumination from about every place around the Lagoon but I think my favorite spot was last year over near Mexico , oh well will see what happens in November

 

[bunkkinsmom]

WARNING: DOWNER ALERT AHEAD!!!!

I really don't try to be the downer about this, but I have to give the warning:

We did R&C last year for Illuminations and will NEVER do it again. The dinner was fine, we were sat inside and our server said that she would come get us before the show and walk us down. She did just that, so far no problems. When we got down to the "designated area" for viewing, I realized I had definitely gotten better views on my own, but who cares! It's Illuminations!!! Well you know how R&C has the pub and the restaurant? All the people from the pub were in the same spot. If it had been just me and DH, that would have been fine, but with a 7, 5, and 3 year old, lots of drunk people in a tight space with us drinking, cursing, and smoking did not fare very well for us. Lots and lots of cigarette smoke. AND the breeze kicked up and we got ash rained on us. We left pretty quickly.

FYI - Previous Posters are correct, you can't ask for outside tables, you have to get there by 6 to get one before the show, and you can hear the music.

I hope your experience is better than ours was!

 

[beroh2253]

We are only 1 for 4 in getting outside, and this was the lower patio with the tables with the umbrellas and is the best view in EPCOT, the outdoor patio under roof may not have all have the best views with the roof being in the way but we never were seat there so I don't know. The 3 times we sat inside we were taken outside to see Illuminations from a patio they have roped off for Rose and Crown guests that eat inside. I think we usually booked for 7:40 and got to see Illuminations about dessert time. This is a beautiful restaurant inside so don't be disappointed to be seated there.

 

[sjs314]

WARNING: DOWNER ALERT AHEAD!!!!

I really don't try to be the downer about this, but I have to give the warning:

We did R&C last year for Illuminations and will NEVER do it again. The dinner was fine, we were sat inside and our server said that she would come get us before the show and walk us down. She did just that, so far no problems. When we got down to the "designated area" for viewing, I realized I had definitely gotten better views on my own, but who cares! It's Illuminations!!! Well you know how R&C has the pub and the restaurant? All the people from the pub were in the same spot. If it had been just me and DH, that would have been fine, but with a 7, 5, and 3 year old, lots of drunk people in a tight space with us drinking, cursing, and smoking did not fare very well for us. Lots and lots of cigarette smoke. AND the breeze kicked up and we got ash rained on us. We left pretty quickly.

FYI - Previous Posters are correct, you can't ask for outside tables, you have to get there by 6 to get one before the show, and you can hear the music.

I hope your experience is better than ours was!

Thank you for your honesty, cigarette smoke UGH we will be there during F & W so I am prepared for drunks everywhere , I am really having second thoughts now

 

[oybolshoi]

we will be there during F & W so I am prepared for drunks everywhere

we will be prepared for you, too!

 

[kabuki]

we will be prepared for you, too!

I think I resemble that quote!!!

 

[sjs314]

I think I resemble that quote!!!

Great Toon !

 

[kabuki]

Great Toon !

Thank you! Ren is my personal fav.!