Illuminations Dining Package at Rose and Crown

[Mrs~Incredible]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'holding pen'. The small area at the end of the lower patio that we were once brought to when dining inside had a table there when we dined on Feb 15th. It was definitely inside the gate to the lower patio though. Is there a different area where they bring folks? Perhaps somewhere that I haven't been brought to? I am not a R&C expert. We have only been brought to an area to watch the show after dinner once at R&C. I assumed that it was the usual place that people were shown to to watch after dining inside, but that could easily be incorrect. I would not have called it a holding pen?

There is the area with tables behind the beer cart (has tables and usually pretty full) where someone could go to watch I suppose, assuming that there was space. Or even at the end of the walkway down to that area and the lower patio. Some people were standing there (bottom of walkway) that may have come from the R & C restaurant. We were on the end of the lower patio only one table toward centre from there. It was pretty full outside the gate from where we were.
I'm not sure how the area behind the fish and chips window worked. Perhaps you could go there if there is space? WE couldn't see how that was set up/occupied as we were at the far end of the lower patio.

Hope that makes sense.

Lol, I am not an expert either, but I seem to remember a small area right next to the lower patio that was fenced in, I thought for R and C guests- standing room only (if you are looking at the lagoon from the lower patio, immediately to your left hand side). This was separate from the general tables and such left of that.

 

[Babsy]

Lol, I am not an expert either, but I seem to remember a small area right next to the lower patio that was fenced in, I thought for R and C guests- standing room only (if you are looking at the lagoon from the lower patio, immediately to your left hand side). This was separate from the general tables and such left of that.

OK, I know what you are talking about. I have seen that as well. It was not where we were brought (when dining inside R&C) to watch Illuminations. We were brought down to the lower patio, but just inside the metal gate directly to the right of what you are talking about. The area that you are referring to is what I am calling at the bottom of the walkway to the tables on the left with the lower patio of the R&C on the right.

I am trying to add a picture to show the area....

looks like it worked!! see below:

So the picture is of the table to our immediate left. The open gate next to them is where there used to be a roped off area that you are talking about I think. That is at the bottom of the path that leads down to the lower patio and is where I saw people standing during Illuminations that may (or may not) have been from inside the restaurant. However, it wasn't roped off in any way before as you can see from this photo with the gate open (from when we were being escorted inside).
The table that you see is where we had stood when escorted below to watch the show when we had been eating inside the R&C.

 

[Babsy]

picture of Illuminations with partial hedge in view

taken from second table from the left

 

[PPFlight75]

It sounds like the package is a great experience for certain diners, but it does take away from the availability for non-package diners (understandably, you are paying a premium to some degree). I wish the package had more food options and a non-alcohol option for kids. We would definitely do it if there was a way around paying that much for two teens who aren't drinking alcohol. As it is, we have two 13 year-olds, and I think we are going to skip our traditional last night dinner at the R&C this time. With the reduced availability for an outside table, it doesn't seem like a good use of our time and TS credit. Thank you to everyone for the reviews and information. That really helped make the decision.

I agree with you about the kid's price. Our 3 are going to have dinner at the resort and hang out while me and DH have this dinner booked for ourselves. Otherwise we would not have done it. They enjoy having a night or two hanging in the room and having dinner so it works out for us.

 

[Liz Z]

So excited for our illuminations package on March 10th!! Now i have to convince DH again to splurge for our trip with friends and our adult DD in July

Does anyone know if there is a GF menu? My Daughters friend has celiac and im hoping she would be able to enjoy a meal for $85

Ill ask when i go i just hope i don't get caught up in the festivities and i forget to ask

But if anyone has heard or knows more about what they can prepare would be of great help.
We're now in the planning stage for our July trip and have a feeling we might enjoy seeing this again and finally for the last time

Liz

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

OK, I know what you are talking about. I have seen that as well. It was not where we were brought (when dining inside R&C) to watch Illuminations. We were brought down to the lower patio, but just inside the metal gate directly to the right of what you are talking about. The area that you are referring to is what I am calling at the bottom of the walkway to the tables on the left with the lower patio of the R&C on the right.

I am trying to add a picture to show the area....

looks like it worked!! see below:

So the picture is of the table to our immediate left. The open gate next to them is where there used to be a roped off area that you are talking about I think. That is at the bottom of the path that leads down to the lower patio and is where I saw people standing during Illuminations that may (or may not) have been from inside the restaurant. However, it wasn't roped off in any way before as you can see from this photo with the gate open (from when we were being escorted inside).
The table that you see is where we had stood when escorted below to watch the show when we had been eating inside the R&C.

Yes! Great sleuthing!

 

[Cramden]

We did this last night and I am sooo happy we didn't cancel. Josh's review had me worried about the view but it was a non issue. We were seated at table 703 which is the third table as you enter the lower patio up against the railing.

We started with apps of Potato Soup for my daughter and my wife and I shared a Scotch Egg and the Cheese Board. All were delicious. I loved the accompaniments that are served with the cheeses.

My wife and I both ordered the Fish and Chips for our entree and our daughter the Cheesy Pasta. The fish was excellent and our waitress confirmed they are serving Cod inside R&C and Tilapia (which she said replaced another farmed Asian species, Pangasius) out at Yorkshire. Her explanation for using Tilapia at Yorkshire was a bit laughable. She said they sell so many orders of F&C at Yorkshire that if they used Cod it would become extinct. I loved her and thought her service was impeccable so I didn't have the heart to call her on it. Whoever is feeding her that line though needs to rethink that explanation. The only item ordered that was a bit underwhelming was my daughter's Cheesy Pasta. It was basically a large bowl of Elbow Mac covered in a very bland Bechamel Sauce. I'm thinking whoever put that together in the kitchen either forgot the cheese or they need to rephrase the description from Cheesy to Creamy.

The Dessert Trio was good but I was pretty filled up up on Black and Tans at that point to enjoy much of it. It was beautifully presented and what I did sample was well prepared.

I ended up having 4 pints and my wife 4 of the Specialty Cocktail. My daughter had 2 cups of Soda with each having a lighted clip. She got Buzz Lightyear and Ariel. Like others mentioned previously the drinks were free flowing and we turned down offers for more.

This was my first time eating at R&C and my first time watching Illuminations from that vantage point. My previous experiences were all in the FP area. This vantage changed the entire show for me. Maybe it was partly do to the 4 pints but the show had an entire new level of entertainment and enjoyment for me.

Again I encourage anyone who is on the fence about this to keep or get that reservation. I'm so happy we didn't get scared off and cancel this from our plans.

 

[Jennygt]

We did this last night and I am sooo happy we didn't cancel. Josh's review had me worried about the view but it was a non issue. We were seated at table 703 which is the third table as you enter the lower patio up against the railing.

We started with apps of Potato Soup for my daughter and my wife and I shared a Scotch Egg and the Cheese Board. All were delicious. I loved the accompaniments that are served with the cheeses.

My wife and I both ordered the Fish and Chips for our entree and our daughter the Cheesy Pasta. The fish was excellent and our waitress confirmed they are serving Cod inside R&C and Tilapia (which she said replaced another farmed Asian species, Pangasius) out at Yorkshire. Her explanation for using Tilapia at Yorkshire was a bit laughable. She said they sell so many orders of F&C at Yorkshire that if they used Cod it would become extinct. I loved her and thought her service was impeccable so I didn't have the heart to call her on it. Whoever is feeding her that line though needs to rethink that explanation. The only item ordered that was a bit underwhelming was my daughter's Cheesy Pasta. It was basically a large bowl of Elbow Mac covered in a very bland Bechamel Sauce. I'm thinking whoever put that together in the kitchen either forgot the cheese or they need to rephrase the description from Cheesy to Creamy.

The Dessert Trio was good but I was pretty filled up up on Black and Tans at that point to enjoy much of it. It was beautifully presented and what I did sample was well prepared.

I ended up having 4 pints and my wife 4 of the Specialty Cocktail. My daughter had 2 cups of Soda with each having a lighted clip. She got Buzz Lightyear and Ariel. Like others mentioned previously the drinks were free flowing and we turned down offers for more.

This was my first time eating at R&C and my first time watching Illuminations from that vantage point. My previous experiences were all in the FP area. This vantage changed the entire show for me. Maybe it was partly do to the 4 pints but the show had an entire new level of entertainment and enjoyment for me.

Again encourage anyone who is on the fence about this to keep or get that reservation. I'm so happy we didn't get scared off and cancel this from our plans.

Thanks!! glad to hear you had a nice time!

 

[Babsy]

Thanks @Babsy for the review. I got some pix for ya.
View attachment 383438 View attachment 383439 View attachment 383440 View attachment 383441 View attachment 383442 View attachment 383443 p

Hello Trish!

Thank you for the pictures! All mine are too big and I am struggling to find an easier way to try to make them smaller and post part of them. But thanks to you, now I don't have to!!!! Yay, Trish!

How did you like the package, BTW? Looks like you had a nice central table.

Babs

 

[Babsy]

I agree with you about the kid's price. Our 3 are going to have dinner at the resort and hang out while me and DH have this dinner booked for ourselves. Otherwise we would not have done it. They enjoy having a night or two hanging in the room and having dinner so it works out for us.

We will be babysitting our DGS's in Dec for DD and DSIL to do this on their own if it is still available for the new show. They were lucky enough to see Illuminations from the lower patio while on their honeymoon and would like to repeat the experience.

 

[Babsy]

We did this last night and I am sooo happy we didn't cancel. Josh's review had me worried about the view but it was a non issue. We were seated at table 703 which is the third table as you enter the lower patio up against the railing.

We started with apps of Potato Soup for my daughter and my wife and I shared a Scotch Egg and the Cheese Board. All were delicious. I loved the accompaniments that are served with the cheeses.

My wife and I both ordered the Fish and Chips for our entree and our daughter the Cheesy Pasta. The fish was excellent and our waitress confirmed they are serving Cod inside R&C and Tilapia (which she said replaced another farmed Asian species, Pangasius) out at Yorkshire. Her explanation for using Tilapia at Yorkshire was a bit laughable. She said they sell so many orders of F&C at Yorkshire that if they used Cod it would become extinct. I loved her and thought her service was impeccable so I didn't have the heart to call her on it. Whoever is feeding her that line though needs to rethink that explanation. The only item ordered that was a bit underwhelming was my daughter's Cheesy Pasta. It was basically a large bowl of Elbow Mac covered in a very bland Bechamel Sauce. I'm thinking whoever put that together in the kitchen either forgot the cheese or they need to rephrase the description from Cheesy to Creamy.

The Dessert Trio was good but I was pretty filled up up on Black and Tans at that point to enjoy much of it. It was beautifully presented and what I did sample was well prepared.

I ended up having 4 pints and my wife 4 of the Specialty Cocktail. My daughter had 2 cups of Soda with each having a lighted clip. She got Buzz Lightyear and Ariel. Like others mentioned previously the drinks were free flowing and we turned down offers for more.

This was my first time eating at R&C and my first time watching Illuminations from that vantage point. My previous experiences were all in the FP area. This vantage changed the entire show for me. Maybe it was partly do to the 4 pints but the show had an entire new level of entertainment and enjoyment for me.

Again I encourage anyone who is on the fence about this to keep or get that reservation. I'm so happy we didn't get scared off and cancel this from our plans.

Happy to hear that you enjoyed the Illuminations package as well! we were thrilled to finally get to see it from the lower patio together. I had been trying to get a table there, every year, by request ever since they started. Only managed it once, but that was a trip without DH.

This time, we were at 702 so the table just to your left. We had a partial hedge view, but we didn't think that it would be a problem for anyone looking full on at the hedge. Did you find it a problem to see over at all?

 

[trishadono]

Hello Trish!

Thank you for the pictures! All mine are too big and I am struggling to find an easier way to try to make them smaller and post part of them. But thanks to you, now I don't have to!!!! Yay, Trish!

How did you like the package, BTW? Looks like you had a nice central table.

Babs

Well I was disappointed that we were not against the rail but in the end our view was good. Our server was not as good as the one next to us. From the back corner she did the 5 tables from there ending next to us. SHE was amazing. Ours was ok but didn't chat and just plopped our desserts and ran at 9:23. At 9:29 I asked the other server where our girl was my chocolate would like some wine.

Our server showed up with it and again just dropped it and ran.

The other server was still chatting with her tables.

If I hadn't known(from here) they stop serving at 9:30 we would have sat there without a beverage because I don't think she was coming back.

However Dd is not the chatty with the help type and we had a lovely time so our server wasn't an issue for us.

We enjoyed the cheese plate a lot. DD shared with me. Both of us liked our meal too.

We had a sparkling duchess and it was nice but we switched to wine. SO lucky that she really only likes Pinot Grigio and my fav lately has been Pinot Noir. I happened to buy that exact brand at BC just the day prior and I would buy at home, very nice wine.

So overall for seating, food , wine and a nice place to just relax we both agreed it enhanced our Mom n Me trip

 

[trishadono]

@Babsy more pix

 

[trishadono]

I took this so people could see where the regular dining is. So the main row of Ill package would have been to the left. Then there was 3 table here on the right side of the lower patio/back corner. Then to the right of us , above was the regular seating.

Hope that helps someone.

 

[Babsy]

Well I was disappointed that we were not against the rail but in the end our view was good. Our server was not as good as the one next to us. From the back corner she did the 5 tables from there ending next to us. SHE was amazing. Ours was ok but didn't chat and just plopped our desserts and ran at 9:23. At 9:29 I asked the other server where our girl was my chocolate would like some wine.

Our server showed up with it and again just dropped it and ran.

The other server was still chatting with her tables.

If I hadn't known(from here) they stop serving at 9:30 we would have sat there without a beverage because I don't think she was coming back.

However Dd is not the chatty with the help type and we had a lovely time so our server wasn't an issue for us.

We enjoyed the cheese plate a lot. DD shared with me. Both of us liked our meal too.

We had a sparkling duchess and it was nice but we switched to wine. SO lucky that she really only likes Pinot Grigio and my fav lately has been Pinot Noir. I happened to buy that exact brand at BC just the day prior and I would buy at home, very nice wine.

So overall for seating, food , wine and a nice place to just relax we both agreed it enhanced our Mom n Me trip

So, there were tables NOT by the rail! I am sorry that you didn't get a table by the rail! I would have been disappointed too. The view does look fine in your pictures though.
From where we were seated you couldn't tell if everyone was by the rail or not - but it looked like all tables were by the rail from where we were sitting. It was super crowded on our night because it had been sold out, but someone came at the last minute (while we were waiting to be seated) with a party of 6, asked for a table, and were accommodated! I was so surprised! Plus, it meant that we were delayed getting seated and the area was swamped! Fortunately for us we were at the second table from the left so it wasn't crowded where we were sitting. I wanted to walk over for a better look, but it seems so congested that I didn't want to add to the confusion.

I think that we had the amazing server that you noticed! Her name was Fiona, and she was incredible. She had more tables than anyone else and was also the one given the extra table of 6 to serve. However, she still took time to chat and was always available when we needed her. We made a point to speak to the manager after the show and give feedback on how great she was. I hope that she gets the recognition that she earned!

 

[trishadono]

I think that we had the amazing server that you noticed! Her name was Fiona, and she was incredible. She had more tables than anyone else and was also the one given the extra table of 6 to serve. However, she still took time to chat and was always available when we needed her. We made a point to speak to the manager after the show and give feedback on how great she was. I hope that she gets the recognition that she earned!

YES ! That was the girl next to us.

 

[tarak]

I agree with you about the kid's price. Our 3 are going to have dinner at the resort and hang out while me and DH have this dinner booked for ourselves. Otherwise we would not have done it. They enjoy having a night or two hanging in the room and having dinner so it works out for us.

The price for the underage “adults” is what has me hesitating still. They should at least have some sort of mocktail available.

 

[Jennygt]

So, there were tables NOT by the rail! I am sorry that you didn't get a table by the rail! I would have been disappointed too. The view does look fine in your pictures though.
From where we were seated you couldn't tell if everyone was by the rail or not - but it looked like all tables were by the rail from where we were sitting. It was super crowded on our night because it had been sold out, but someone came at the last minute (while we were waiting to be seated) with a party of 6, asked for a table, and were accommodated! I was so surprised! Plus, it meant that we were delayed getting seated and the area was swamped! Fortunately for us we were at the second table from the left so it wasn't crowded where we were sitting. I wanted to walk over for a better look, but it seems so congested that I didn't want to add to the confusion.

I think that we had the amazing server that you noticed! Her name was Fiona, and she was incredible. She had more tables than anyone else and was also the one given the extra table of 6 to serve. However, she still took time to chat and was always available when we needed her. We made a point to speak to the manager after the show and give feedback on how great she was. I hope that she gets the recognition that she earned!

Did you notice if the party of six was against the rail or were the larger parties seated back ?

 

[trishadono]

Did you notice if the party of six was against the rail or were the larger parties seated back ?

The table right next to us was empty but could hold 6.

 

[Babsy]

Did you notice if the party of six was against the rail or were the larger parties seated back ?

I'm sorry. Unfortunately where I was seated, I couldn't see much but I think that the table that Trish showed was probably where they had been seated. She was there the night right after us.

There was a table to our right that had 5 seated at it and it was up against the rail. Perhaps 6 could have been seated there in a pinch, but I'm not sure. There were only 5 that night. Also, the table to our left was pretty big and up against the rail. There were only three people seated there, but it looked like it could have handled more.
Looking at the pictures that I took on my phone, I still can't tell where the party of six were seated, for sure.

TBH, I was mostly focused on looking at the hedge and wondering if people would have trouble viewing the show from the other tables. (Our table was perfect and the table to our left would have been even better for that.)
Trish's pictures shows what looks like a much smaller crowd in the middle area of the patio than we had. There were no empty tables when we were there and the center area of the patio was a jumble of people.