Illuminations Dining Package at Rose and Crown

[shoreward]

We went last week. We enjoyed the food and drinks and had good service. However we did not enjoy the experience and would not return. This was due to our table location, other guests, and the umbrella issue blocking our view during the show.

Have you considered contacting Disney to make them aware of your less than satisfactory experience?

 

[vacationer1954]

My husbands chair was situated in front of this gate. The hostess said this gate will remain closed during the event. However it didn’t. Many diners used this gate to leave for the bathroom even though they were supposed to head inside. Each time my husband had to physically stand up, lift his chair out of the way, even in the middle of dinner!

What did the manager say when you complained?

 

[smile145]

What did the manager say when you complained?

They said that people are not supposed to go out that way but they did not physically stop them. Also when we asked about the umbrella they said it’s for safety but I don’t get why not remove it completely instead of closing it during the show. Just out unluckiness of this particular table I guess.

 

[Corwin]

As I noted upthread, I made an ADR for the first time at R&C at my 180 day mark (i.e. back in November) in hopes of seeing Illuminations for our visit on Monday evening (Memorial Day). I would likely have booked the dining package when it was released if I'd known it existed. By the time I found out about it, though, all of the package reservations were gone.

However, I read in this thread that the designated viewing area was still available for non-package diners, so we kept our original 7:10 p.m. reservation. I am so happy we did! We had a great time.

The package diners were all seated outside in small tables along the water. In my opinion, their view was a little obstructed because they were in seats with a fence and a small island right in front of them.

We were seated inside, which was actually fine because Florida has been experiencing record-breading temperatures this week, with a high of 97 degrees on Monday! We had a leisurely dinner -- my son and I each had the fish & chips, which were fantastic, and my wife had the shepherd's pie, which she liked (but I did not when I tasted it).

Our server told us we could go outside to the designated viewing area around 8:45 p.m. We headed out at the designated time, and had a fantastic view. It is a standing area, with no seats. The only downside was the the breeze was blowing towards us, so we were downwind of the fireworks smoke and ash, but the show was still great. It was nice not having to stake out an area to watch the show 45 minutes in advance, so overall it was worth it for me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The hostess said this gate will remain closed during the event. However it didn’t. Many diners used this gate to leave for the bathroom even though they were supposed to head inside. Each time my husband had to physically stand up, lift his chair out of the way, even in the middle of dinner!

I understand why you won't go back, but anybody finding themselves in a similar situation should definitely speak to the manager.

 

[Dug720]

Thank you very much for reporting here about your experience with the regular dinner experience. I, like you, use to try to time my meals perfectly and request eating outside, by the window, etc. I won't stalk a spot an hour beforehand by the lake, it's not that important to me.

I can see how many don't like this new option, but I can tell you I much prefer to pay for the experience without trying to manage and hope that I get what I want with my requests.

We are doing the Illuminations package in September and happy I don't have to worry about my seating and timing my meal and allowing if restaurant is backed up, drizzling, etc. If I didn't want to pay, or couldn't, I guess I would just find a spot and hang there until the show.

I agree. Especially as one who travels solo, having this option for my July trip was a blessing. I had been stalking for my end of Sept visit before the announcement and pretty much gave up once the announcement was made. Fortunatrly the travel agency i use partnered with Attractions Magazine for a dessert party 9/30 so I splurged and bought my ticket for that. I really did not want to to the "NYE Times Square Depends" thing for a spot.

 

[js]

I agree. Especially as one who travels solo, having this option for my July trip was a blessing. I had been stalking for my end of Sept visit before the announcement and pretty much gave up once the announcement was made. Fortunatrly the travel agency i use partnered with Attractions Magazine for a dessert party 9/30 so I splurged and bought my ticket for that. I really did not want to to the "NYE Times Square Depends" thing for a spot.

That is great you got your ticket!
We are going Saturday, September 7. I originally had a table for four booked but my dd decided to come a few weeks ago so had to cancel. Then I stalked for a day/two and found a table for five for September 7, so happy.

Enjoy!

 

[Dug720]

That is great you got your ticket!
We are going Saturday, September 7. I originally had a table for four booked but my dd decided to come a few weeks ago so had to cancel. Then I stalked for a day/two and found a table for five for September 7, so happy.

Enjoy!

Great job!! You enjoy as well!!

 

[GaryDis]

We went last week. We enjoyed the food and drinks and had good service. However we did not enjoy the experience and would not return. This was due to our table location, other guests, and the umbrella issue blocking our view during the show.

Did you have the Illuminations package or just a regular ADR.

 

[smile145]

Did you have the Illuminations package or just a regular ADR.

The Illuminations dining package.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I understand why you won't go back, but anybody finding themselves in a similar situation should definitely speak to the manager.

Which will do no good. Sadly Disney knows "we can sell this out regardless" so unless it impacts booking they don't really care

 

[vacationer1954]

Which will do no good. Sadly Disney knows "we can sell this out regardless" so unless it impacts booking they don't really care

Disney doesn't care about what people say; talk is cheap, pardon the pun. What really would indicate a problem is an unexpected gap in attendance, dining reservations, or purchases. That's what Disney would care about, but that's just not happening.

 

[GaryDis]

For what it’s worth, we decided to skip Illuminations altogether. We wore ourselves out yesterday at the MK, had a marvelous time at the Tomorrowland Terrace HAE dessert part, nabbed the best table in the house, and figured between that and Fantasmic dinner package seating the night before, Illuminations couldn’t compete. Besides, AK opens ridiculously early tomorrow.

Nevertheless, we had a lovely dinner at the Rose and Crown, with a bit of a breeze and clouds making the outside (side of the building table) comfortable.

 

[MKTokyo]

We did the package tonight. We had the same table, and the same experience, that @smile145 had. We could not see each other or the show, at all, with the umbrella down. Thankfully we had been chatting with the family at the next table so they were willing to rearrange themselves a little bit when the show started, and with some squishing, we were able to see. The food itself was fine & good as it always is at R&C. However, I did not book the package to be hit by an excited little princess's wand (from the regular viewing area) & then almost have to sit in my fiance's lap to watch the show. They did not police the gate in any way & the whole evening was a carousel of standing up, rotating seats, and squeezing in. This was really not acceptable to us so we asked to speak to the manager. I wanted a 50% refund since we had no issues with the dinner but we were refunded the entire package cost. This is our second refund on a special event in as many days. Hopefully the trend does not continue.

I should add that they did not say anything about the umbrellas being a "safety hazard" at all. I fail to see how leaving the umbrellas up is going to create a "safety hazard" in any way. A CM came by & asked if they could lower the umbrella for other (non-package) guests' viewing. We politely said no because then it would block OUR view and we paid for the package. The CM informed us that they were required to lower it. Why even ask? They asked our neighbors, too, and the dad said "no, we do not want it lowered, but I gather it's not optional." I guess they expect people to go along with it but I am not the type of person who meekly says "oh, okay" when it's not actually okay & then complains behind the CM's back when they walk away. I will definitely tell you upfront if it's not okay. We didn't want anything special. We just wanted what we paid for. So, it was at that point that we asked for the manager. R&C, remove the umbrellas or let the package people leave them up!

 

[elgerber]

We did the package tonight. We had the same table, and the same experience, that @smile145 had. We could not see each other or the show, at all, with the umbrella down. Thankfully we had been chatting with the family at the next table so they were willing to rearrange themselves a little bit when the show started, and with some squishing, we were able to see. The food itself was fine & good as it always is at R&C. However, I did not book the package to be hit by an excited little princess's wand (from the regular viewing area) & then almost have to sit in my fiance's lap to watch the show. They did not police the gate in any way & the whole evening was a carousel of standing up, rotating seats, and squeezing in. This was really not acceptable to us so we asked to speak to the manager. I wanted a 50% refund since we had no issues with the dinner but we were refunded the entire package cost. This is our second refund on a special event in as many days. Hopefully the trend does not continue.

I should add that they did not say anything about the umbrellas being a "safety hazard" at all. I fail to see how leaving the umbrellas up is going to create a "safety hazard" in any way. A CM came by & asked if they could lower the umbrella for other (non-package) guests' viewing. We politely said no because then it would block OUR view and we paid for the package. The CM informed us that they were required to lower it. Why even ask? They asked our neighbors, too, and the dad said "no, we do not want it lowered, but I gather it's not optional." I guess they expect people to go along with it but I am not the type of person who meekly says "oh, okay" when it's not actually okay & then complains behind the CM's back when they walk away. I will definitely tell you upfront if it's not okay. We didn't want anything special. We just wanted what we paid for. So, it was at that point that we asked for the manager. R&C, remove the umbrellas or let the package people leave them up!

I’m sorry you had a bad experience too. Is this table you both had a table for 2?

 

[smile145]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience too. Is this table you both had a table for 2?

Yes it’s a table for 2, directly in front of the gate to the viewing area for non package diners with the chairs blocking the gate. They say no one can use the gate but don’t stop them so you have to keep standing up. Then the non package diners in the viewing area stand over your table. I am glad MKTokyo got a refund. I wrote to Disney not expecting anything but to provide feedback that this table needs to be removed and that if they continue to put the umbrellas down and block the view for package diners at this table entirely, then paying for the package is just stupid. I haven’t heard back yet but hopefully they give the feedback to R&C.

 

[elgerber]

Yes it’s a table for 2, directly in front of the gate to the viewing area for non package diners with the chairs blocking the gate. They say no one can use the gate but don’t stop them so you have to keep standing up. Then the non package diners in the viewing area stand over your table. I am glad MKTokyo got a refund. I wrote to Disney not expecting anything but to provide feedback that this table needs to be removed and that if they continue to put the umbrellas down and block the view for package diners at this table entirely, then paying for the package is just stupid. I haven’t heard back yet but hopefully they give the feedback to R&C.

Thank you. I have it booked for 4 on the final night and I figure it has to be better than standing out in the masses that night.

 

[MKTokyo]

Yes it’s a table for 2, directly in front of the gate to the viewing area for non package diners with the chairs blocking the gate. They say no one can use the gate but don’t stop them so you have to keep standing up. Then the non package diners in the viewing area stand over your table. I am glad MKTokyo got a refund. I wrote to Disney not expecting anything but to provide feedback that this table needs to be removed and that if they continue to put the umbrellas down and block the view for package diners at this table entirely, then paying for the package is just stupid. I haven’t heard back yet but hopefully they give the feedback to R&C.

During dinner, we refused to stand up. We just said the gate was closed & went back to our meal. But, telling people that should not have been our job.

 

[Dug720]

I’m solo and have it booked for 7/18. I’m getting nervous that I should maybe cancel it because I suspect they will put the solo at the crappy table - birthday or no. I’d been looking forward to it, but knowing that this could be my experience...

 

[SamFaniam]

Why not just book a regular reservation and use the standing area to watch Illuminations?