Is Rose & Crown Illuminations seating worth it?

[quiltymom]

Yet another dining question from me!

We will only have one dinner to eat at Epcot, and I've been leaning towards le Cellier. Our kids will be 9 & 7 when we go, and I'm trying to figure out if we should do Rose & Crown ressies instead so it will be easier on the kids. Right now I'm leaning towards le Cellier - we'll be there on a Monday in mid-October.


What would you do? We've never seen Illuminations, but are also wondering if the kids will make it that late (we'll not be taking a break for naps - no one would sleep!).

Help! I'm confused!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Most definitely do Rose & Crown if you can get an ADR between 7:30-7:45!!!!! DW and I did that on our last trip. It was wonderful. We got our ADR for 7:30 and were seated on the patio next to the lagoon wall. We ordered our food including dessert and the meal courses were served so that we finished dessert with a few minutes to spare before Illuminations started. It was like we were in the lagoon watching it. No trees to block our view, etc. It was definitely a front row seat. Good Luck!!

 

[bicker]

I'll vote no. The issue is that your chances of being offered a table with a view of the show is 30%, and with those odds, and the fact that they will no longer let you wait longer to increase your odds, I feel that it is not worth it anymore. Just have dinner somewhere else before the show (or after it) and watch the show from somewhere around the World Showcase Lagoon.

 

[madalex]

There are plenty of great places to watch Illuminations around the WS lagoon, so it has never made sense to me to try to perfectly time one's reservation at Rose & Crown in order to watch from there. I would just make a resveration where ever you feel like eating and if your kids stay awake to 9:00 to see Illuminations, you will be able to find somewhere around the lagoon to watch it.

 

[disnut8]

I'd also go for Le Cellier instead of Rose and Crown. Yes, it would be absolutely fantastic to get a perfect table with the right timing of the meal to watch Illuminations at the Rose and Crown.

But when was the last time you cooked a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and everything was on the table at the exact time you wanted dinner and everything was piping hot and fresh?

It's just an unnecessary worry on your vacation.

I'd go for a 6:30 seating at Le Cellier. The meal should take an hour at the least, an hour and a hour at the most. By 8:00, you will be able to get a good spot anywhere around World Showcase for Illuminations.

 

[rolshuk]

We will only have one dinner to eat at Epcot, and I've been leaning towards le Cellier. Our kids will be 9 & 7 when we go, and I'm trying to figure out if we should do Rose & Crown ressies instead so it will be easier on the kids. Right now I'm leaning towards le Cellier - we'll be there on a Monday in mid-October.


This is my problem as well,having read this thread I can see myself getting to stressed about getting the "right" table at the "right time" . AS this is meant to a stress free holiday...(thats why I am planning everything )...I was wondering if anyone knows of a good spot near the Rose and Crown we could use as a back up plan

 

[Tinker74]

There is viewing deck in Rose and crown that you can use as your back up plan....then even if you are seated inside you can go out to this to watch illuminations.
We have a 7.20pm ressie and will not stress over the table..

 

[bicker]

On our recent visit, one of the two days we saw Illuminations, I believe it was that viewing deck that was off-limits, contracted insted for a wedding reception.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Too many people count on getting the patio at Rose and Crown (or the front table at Hoop de doo or a window seat at Ohana or half a dozen other "best tables").

Remember, only a small portion of guests can have these things, because there is a limited number of these tables.

If you want the food served at Rose and Crown or you like the ambiance there, or you are trying to relive that trip to England at age 16 (sorry, that's me) then book the Rose and Crown. Otherwise, pick Le Cellier.

 

[Brit17]

We will only have one dinner to eat at Epcot, and I've been leaning towards le Cellier. Our kids will be 9 & 7 when we go, and I'm trying to figure out if we should do Rose & Crown ressies instead so it will be easier on the kids. Right now I'm leaning towards le Cellier - we'll be there on a Monday in mid-October.


What would you do? We've never seen Illuminations, but are also wondering if the kids will make it that late (we'll not be taking a break for naps - no one would sleep!).

In my opinion, if you want a great meal, go to LeCellier ... if you want a good meal and a chance to see Illuminations from a great spot, go to Rose & Crown.

We got patio seating at Rose & Crown in Dec. 06 and it WAS wonderful to
see Illuminations from our table while enjoying dessert. However, our dinner at LeCellier was the best dinner we had during our whole trip and we still got to watch Illuminations from a nice spot outside of Japan.

 

[bradkay60]

It's hit and miss as to whether you'll get a ring side seat for Illuminations. We went one year and while we were in the restaurant at the right time, we couldn't see the show. We held off dessert and stood outside to watch then finished our meal. Waitress wasn't pleased, but what can you do. I agree with a previous poster, there are many good spots to watch. If you stress too much over whether you'll get the perfect R&C seat, you'll find you enjoy the show less.

 

[quiltymom]

Thanks once again for your insight (I seem to be saying that a lot lately!!! ). I think that the 6:30 Le Cellier idea is great, and if the kids get a little antsy being in the restaurant, we can always get the dessert to go and eat it while we wait.

But I can just see this scenario happening: I spend all this pre-trip time trying to figure all of this out, and the kids won't even want to see it! They'll most likely want to ride more rides. Oh well - we'll make a plan and just go with the flow.