Narcoossee's and Wishes Fireworks Viewing From Deck

[robinb]

We celebrated our 12th anniversary at Narcoossee's on Monday night. I made my PS for 1 hour before Wishes and we arrived extra-early to request a Wishes table. We were rewarded with a primo table front and center! We sipped our wine and nibbled on the fantastic appetizers (crab/lobster cakes and mussels) while we watched the castle change colors across the bay. About 5 minutes before the start of the fireworks a trio of adults in view blocking proportions parked themselves on the rail in front of us. My husband rapped lightly on the window, smiled and made a two handed waving motion asking them to move. The fattest one gave us a look like we were the rude ones and turned her back on us. Our wonderful view of the castle turned into a not-so-wonderful view of their big butts. They not only blocked our view, but also the view of the family sitting next to us. Their 5 year old daughter is afraid of the noise from the fireworks and Narcoossee's and their piped in music seemed to be the perfect for them.

Our server said the they are not allowed to ask people to move from the rail. I would have done it myself, but my husband did not want me to make a scene. Since it was his anniversary too, I agreed not to give them rude tit-for-tat . I think that Narcoossee's needs to protect the fireworks view for their paying customers. At the very least, they should clear the deck about 30 minutes before the fireworks and block it with a rope and sign. That should discourage all but the most determined jerks. If California Grill can do it, so can Narcoossee's. I chose the restaurant especially for the fireworks view and it was ruined by a bunch of rude lookie-loos.

I read a lot of reviews of Narcoossee's and no one mentioned people on the deck, so it was really unexpected. Just be aware that you too might have your view ruined .

BTW, the rest of our meal (seared Tuna and baked Grouper) were really good. The food is great, but your view may be obstructed.

 

[Beth]

I'm sorry for your experience.

Just wanted to say, though, whenever we've eaten at Narcoose's during the fireworks... If we were seated in an area that "didn't" have a good view of the show, our server encouraged us to go out on the deck to view it.

We were able to walk just outside of the restrooms, though, and weren't blocking the view of anyone inside the restaurant.

 

[lwestwise]

(This pasts Thanksgiving season, just after Wishes premiered) We had a wonderful dinner at Narcoosee's and after our dessert, we still had our coffee, we had a great view of the water and MK. We were so excited, Wishes was soon to start. Our waitress told us that we could take our drinks out on the deck and watch. The music was out there as well. It was so nice. This is my favorite place to watch.

I kinda expect that there are other people that make reservations an hour or more before Wishes and nurse their appetizers/desserts and drinks just for a chance to see Wishes. Just like at the parade,people expect that they are going to get a good seat under the sidewalk cover against the bldg and still be able to view the parade without anyone getting in front of you.
Don't get me wrong. There are those that push there way to the front or push there kids to the front after your family has sat for over an hour on the curb and your view is blocked by them sitting on top or standing in the roadway in front.

It's unfortunate that your expectations were not met.
Next time, maybe you could do as we did and take your drinks out on the deck to view. It really is a great time.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by lwestwise
Next time, maybe you could do as we did and take your drinks out on the deck to view. It really is a great time.

Just so you know, we didn't "nurse" our drinks and appitizers, the server paced the meal so that our entrees were served just as Wishes started. Exactly what we expected. That means that we couldn't stand out on the deck and enjoy Wishes even if we wanted to or our food would get cold. Other people were on the deck like you, some of which had drinks and came back into the restaurant to return to their seats. However, they politely stayed where they did not block the view of the other diners. I'm sure that you did the same. This family was not dining at Narcoossee's. They were on the deck to watch Wishes. They didn't care if they blocked our view, as long as they got their view. They stood at the rail so we could only glimse the castle every once in a while between them.

I know better than to expect a bench to be a great view for the parade, but I didn't know that my front row seat at Narcoosee's would end up with a view of a trio of rude butts.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I had thought that the deck area was only for paying customers at Narcoosee's--?? That you can't really get to it w/o first coming in the restaurant..
And having seen the view from inside blocked by the deck-people, we now always go out on the deck to see the fireworks. No matter what part of our meal that happens to be, we've always come back in and resumed w/o a hitch.

 

[robinb]

No, there is an entrance to the deck near the boat launch too. I just wish I had known about the "deck people" before. I guess I would have asked our server to hold our entree until after the fireworks. I don't want to pay those prices for cold food, even if I did order the pan seared tuna rare .

 

[MamaQuack]

Wow, how disappointing for you and your husband. I am constantly amazed at the disrespect others sometimes show. Fortunately there always seem to be the other response - the kind, thoughtful people - who make me not so callous. I am so sorry your evening was spoiled and hope you will have another opportunity to enjoy an special dinner and view there. Although we have not had view blockers while dining there we had in April some incredibly loud, clearly drunken viewers out on the deck. My ds(13) kept remarking how obnoxious they were - so if he thought that you can imagine what they were like. I politely mentioned it to the host who told me "we are not allowed to ask a guest to leave".

MamaQuack

 

[TammiMcMan]

I agree that you were not asking too much to view the fireworks from your table as you were eating dinner. Did you ask to speak to the manager when you're server stated there was nothing he could do about the deck people? Of course if people are encouraged to view the fireworks from there, they are absolutely going to block out the view from anyone inside the restaurant. I think the deck design is poor, even the most thoughtful people watching from the deck, can't help but be standing in front of a table view. Perhaps if enough people complain, in a future rehab, they might lower the deck, so that you need to step down onto it, thereby enabling those still inside to view the fireworks.

I do think you're mistaken that there is an entrance from the boat dock. We've been to the GF many times and I've walked that area quite a bit. I believe the deck ends well before it reaches that edge of the restaurant. The only way you could get onto the deck is if you walked over the rocks in the lake and climbed up onto it.

 

[robinb]

I meant that the entrance to the deck was on that side of the restaurant, just to the left of the doors. I saw it when we tried to catch a boat back to the Polynesian to pick up our DD from the Neverland Club.

No, I did not ask to speak to the manager. My DH didn't want me to raise too much of a fuss and I agreed since it was his day too. I am considering writing to the restaurant and hotel managers. Perhaps limiting the deck to only Narcoossee's guests would help weed out the riff-raff.

 

[Gaiusrex]

They may not shoo away people from the deck because they want to keep it available for guests of the GF. They are shelling out a big chunk of change to stay at the resort, and it may be their privalige to use the resort grounds.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I know someone will help me out if I'm wrong, but didn't the CG just recently change their ps check-in policy? I thought that I had read somewhere that you now meet the hostess on the 2nd floor and you are escorted up in the elevator. If the CG can do this, then I don't see why it would be a problem at Narcoossees. However, that still doesn't change the fact, that Narcoossees deck is on the same level as the restaurant. Even if they opened it up to diners and bar patrons only, there is still a chance that if you remain inside, someone might be standing right in front of your view.

At one point, I thought that they had tables out there. I know being at the bar once, we were encouraged to take our drinks out on the deck for the fireworks. It was a while ago, but I honestly thought that we did sit down outside. For some reason, I remember gaining access to the deck from inside the restaurant on the right hand side of the hostess podium. But, things may have changed in a year.

We did learn our lesson though, while this is a great restaurant, with a wonderful view and food, it is definitely not a spot for romance. DH and I also ate here last January for our 20th. Our first table was a window table, but the family sitting behind us had a young child who just couldn't sit still. He was actually climbing onto the back of my chair and swinging himself into the empty chair beside me. My husband quietly approached the hostess and requested a change of tables. We ended up sitting a little further back in the restaurant, which was fine. Our meal was wonderful and I'd definitely bring our kids, it's just not comparable to Jiko's or the CG for atmosphere.