My concern is the two 9 year olds we will have with us. They wont mind standing but they will want to walk to the hedges...do you think it would be a problem if they stood there? At roughly 52", do you think they can even see over the hedge if standing there? I don't mind standing to watch the show. In all honesty, I prefer to stand.
You can't walk to the hedge. It is on top of that wall like structure in the water, IIRC. You are up against a railing that is as close as you can get to it. Shorter children could stand at the rail in the lower patio, or even kneel up on their chair for extra height, perhaps?
It has been a couple of years now since I sat in the middle table on the lower deck, but I remember thinking how perfect the view was. perhaps the hedge was smaller then? I encouraged some children to come closer to our table so that they could see as well as I could (they were standing behind us, perhaps having eaten inside?), so I expect that your children will have a fine view. I don't remember how tall they looked, but they stood while they watched.
In any event, I will try to take pictures and write a review when we get back. My problem is that I am not very good with either picture taking or being able to link such things on my computer (*sigh*). But I'll try. I will also take notes on what I see happening around me.
I will definitely ask about vegetarian/vegan options. I was vegan in the past and agree that it can be a healthy lifestyle. (I wish that WDW tried to offer people more choice for healthy eating. It is better than it used to be, but it seems like there is still a lot of room for improvement. More vegetarian/vegan options would be a great start.)
BTW: I LOVED the dessert party when it was nice enough to eat outside and stay at our table for Illuminations. We had a great table, but there were people seated at tables behind us that would have been fine, just not perfect like ours. As another PP said, all the tables have a good view. Most have a direct view with no one else in their line of sight. A few people are seated at tables that will 'see' others between them and the fireworks, but even then the people in front are staggered so that they do not really impede the view of the show, as far as I could tell. It just would feel a little less like the show is a private viewing just for you, if that makes sense. It kinda feels to me like the difference in watching Soarin' from the first row as opposed to row 2 or 3. The feet above don't really interfere with the view but they do detract a little from the really immersive feeling that you are truly soaring through the sky. You are more aware of the other people that are there.
MY main reason for booking the Rose and Crown over the dessert party is that we would want to eat dinner anyway but we don't really enjoy eating multiple sweets. So we are essentially paying for a table with a view of Illuminations. Then, unfortunately, I eat sweets because I am there, waiting, and it is part of what I paid for.
UGH! This is just a really bad idea for me as I cannot eat sugar without negatively impacting my health (even though I like the taste while doing so).
Which experience is 'better' for any particular family will be very subjective, I think. I am trying to explain my experiences to help others make a judgement call on what would work best for them. It is really difficult for you to know in advance which you will like better. And to a large degree the experience will be impacted by factors that you cannot control such. as weather, where your table is assigned, the attitudes and actions of others surrounding you, etc.
Good luck everyone!
