Rose and Crown/Illuminations viewing

[sharona]

I've read some conflicting info on viewing Illuminations from R&C and am hoping to get some first hand info from your personal experiences.

Have you been successful at requesting and getting a seat on the patio to view the show? If so, did you arrive early for your ADR and what was the time frame involved?

If not seated on the patio, were you able to go out there to view Illuminations when it started? Did your waiter escort you to a viewing area? Were they enthusiastic about helping you or were you made to feel like a p.i.t.a? Did you feel like you were crowding the diners that were out there?

We have never seen Illuminations and may only be in EP one night at that time and we have a 7pm ADR at R&C. Trying to decide if we should try to change to an earlier dinner time there or somewhere else and stake out a good viewing spot, plan on watching from R&C or hope to finish dinner at 830/845 and take whatever the nearest spots are even if not ideal views.

Disclaimer: yes I am aware that what happens with one guest on one day doesn't necessarily mean it will happen again.

TIA

edited to add smiley because disclaimer was not meant to be snarky!

 

[figment_jii]

If not seated on the patio, were you able to go out there to view Illuminations when it started? Did your waiter escort you to a viewing area? Were they enthusiastic about helping you or were you made to feel like a p.i.t.a? Did you feel like you were crowding the diners that were out there?

In December, the server seemed more than happy to let us go out and watch IllumiNations from the R&C viewing area. We told her well in advance that we wanted to do that and she said it was fine. We came back in for dessert afterwards.

The viewing area is not on the patio. They'll tell you where to go.

Here is the photo from the viewing area.

 

[GeorgeG]

There is at least one thread concerning this each week.

1. Guests are seated at the first available table, whether inside or on the patio. If you decline the table because it's inside, you are not allowed to wait for a patio table to become available. The may be exceptions if it's not busy, but don't count on it.

2. Yes, there is an area to the left of the restaurant that you can be taken out to for viewing Illuminations if your table is inside. Just ask your server.

3. There is also a V.I.P. viewing area (standing) on the ramp leading down to the right of the restaurant, but you need to be on the list beforehand (ask when you make your ADR - again, no guarantees.

4. Some guests do go to extremes to drag their patio meal out for two hours so they can be there for Illuminations. The servers can be very patient in these cases, but that doesn't make it the right thing to do, especially if there are others guests waiting to be seated.

5. Illuminations can be seen pretty well from many locations around World Showcase. We seen Illuminations from just about everywhere, including the patio and special viewing areas. We even got seated on a bench on the area right down by the water below Rose & Crown, but that's purely by chance of being in the right place at the right time. It's nothing you can plan. While viewing Illuminations from places like that is, indeed, special, it can also be nice from standing back across the prominade just about anywhere.

6. There are also several boats that you can get tickets for that take you out onto the edge of the lake. They are not cheap and getting reservations are hard to get.

 

[purple figment]

Whether you can request, then wait for a patio table depends on the time of year, how busy R&C is at the time you arrive,how cold the weather is, how many parties ahead of you have already made that request, etc. Sometimes they make it very clear that you have to take the next availiable table. At other times they're more accommodating.

Also, not all of the tables on the patio have a view of IllumiNations.

We've eaten inside, but let our server know that we want to see IllumiNations so they pace the meal accordingly. Last time we ordered our desserts, watched IllumiNations, then came back to our table for dessert.

On other occasions we've finished around 8:30 and gone out to the viewing area and waited.

The viewing area is adjacent to the dining patio so you won't be among those who are eating out there.

 

[nicki.momof3]

There is at least one thread concerning this each week.

1. Guests are seated at the first available table, whether inside or on the patio. If you decline the table because it's inside, you are not allowed to wait for a patio table to become available. The may be exceptions if it's not busy, but don't count on it. Not sure where you got this info. We have eated at R& C a number of times and never a problem requesting a patio table. Was alwyas told it would be a little longer but were were gfine with that. Our last trip to R&C was christmas eve 2010 ( last month) so it was a peak time on a peak day and no problems with our request.

2. Yes, there is an area to the left of the restaurant that you can be taken out to for viewing Illuminations if your table is inside. Just ask your server.True - it is not on the patio - it is a seperate viewing area.

3. There is also a V.I.P. viewing area (standing) on the ramp leading down to the right of the restaurant, but you need to be on the list beforehand (ask when you make your ADR - again, no guarantees.

4. Some guests do go to extremes to drag their patio meal out for two hours so they can be there for Illuminations. The servers can be very patient in these cases, but that doesn't make it the right thing to do, especially if there are others guests waiting to be seated.I am not sure how fast you eat. But a dinner with a apps, entree, dessert, and drinks can easily take 2 hours. We always make a 7:45 reservation and it is always times perfect for views. No dragging out required. We tip our server for time spent with us. It is my reservation - I don't have to rush through a meal if I don't want to.

5. Illuminations can be seen pretty well from many locations around World Showcase. We seen Illuminations from just about everywhere, including the patio and special viewing areas. We even got seated on a bench on the area right down by the water below Rose & Crown, but that's purely by chance of being in the right place at the right time. It's nothing you can plan. While viewing Illuminations from places like that is, indeed, special, it can also be nice from standing back across the prominade just about anywhere.

6. There are also several boats that you can get tickets for that take you out onto the edge of the lake. They are not cheap and getting reservations are hard to get.

OP - make a 7:45ish ADR. Let the hostess know you want patio seating and that you are willing to wait for it. Eat at a comfortable pace. Tell you server you are staying for illuminations. Relax, have a few drinks and enjoy the show. It is totally worth it. Great viewing without fighting the crowds.

 

[Hoopfamily]

We asked for and got the table we wanted for viewing Illuminations.
We had a Reservation for 7:40 pm. I checked in at 7:20, we were a party of 5 adults & 1 child. I asked for a patio seat and the girl at check in said you have to take what you get, but If I came back in 5 minutes that might change. Sure enough it changed, and she got us the table furthest to the left on their patio. Great seats for the show. Only thing is if it's a little windy in your direction, you'll get fallout. Try the bangers & mash.

 

[LAPULAPU4U]

We've always been very lucky getting an outdoor "fireworks view" table. Although you can't request it at the time of your ADR, we've learned around 7:45 or later is the best time frame to make your reservation...then we very politely ask when we check in if we could possible have an outdoor table. We usually have to wait a little longer, but we don't mind. It's worked every time! Good Luck and ENJOY!!!

 

[sharona]

Thanks all for sharing your experiences with this. Our ADR is for 7pm and that was the latest available. We'll be having drinks, apps, dinner, dessert and coffee so I think we will still be there close to 9pm. Since both FW and WS close at 9pm that night, I don't think we'll be hurting anyone if we don't rush through our dinner. And, having worked in many restaurants when I was younger, we always tip generously.

Sitting on the patio would be nice but not a deal breaker as long as we can see the show from somewhere at R&C. As I said in my original post, we have never seen Illuminations and this will be our only night at Epcot so I want to make sure we don't miss it. I'll keep checking for a later ADR but we'll stick with R&C for dinner even if we can't change our time.

Thanks again for the info and advice!!!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

One additional point: the last time for an ADR is a 8:00 (they figure that after that, people won't want to leave). So, by 8:15 or so, everyone has been seated.

Thus, if you finish your meal at 8:30-8:45, there wont' be anyone waiting for your table.

 

[Hoopfamily]

So originally me ressie was also for earlier than I wanted, but I took what I could get. However I called EVERY day and about 3 weeks out finally got the time I wanted. If you want it try maybe you'll get it.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

SO the outside viewing area mentioned...where you can go if you are eating inside and Illuminations starts....is that area, which I understand is different from the dining area on the patio, is that area just for R&C guests or is it open to anyone?

 

[figment_jii]

SO the outside viewing area mentioned...where you can go if you are eating inside and Illuminations starts....is that area, which I understand is different from the dining area on the patio, is that area just for R&C guests or is it open to anyone?

That area is open only to R&C guests. I think it was set up because they really don't want people inside (or out on the patio but without a good view) to go out onto the patio and crowd the guests eating there. This special area is the left of the restaurant, right next to the lower patio seating area.

Here are a couple of photos of IllumiNations from that area:

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

That area is open only to R&C guests. I think it was set up because they really don't want people inside (or out on the patio but without a good view) to go out onto the patio and crowd the guests eating there. This special area is the left of the restaurant, right next to the lower patio seating area.

Thank you so much! We will be eating at R&C so I was just wondering if I should try really hard for a patio table or just not worry becasue in any event I can see without fighting crowds or late arrival squeezer inners etc.

Is that area big enough to have space if all from inside R&C go out there or does it get crowded also?

 

[figment_jii]

My guess is that it can get crowded when R&C is crowded, but we were there when it wasn't very busy (early December).

My feeling is that a patio table is best (because you can sit down and continue to eat during the show), but not all patio tables have a good view. There have been inconsistent reports about whether you can request and wait for a patio table. It's nice to know that the viewing area is also an option.

 

[pixarmom]

We've been to Rose and Crown twice recently - once in January and once earlier this month. Both ADRs were around 7pm and both times, we waited 20-30 minutes for our table. Both times, we requested a table INSIDE when we checked in and we thought it would be easy to get because everyone wants to be on the patio! When we were seated on the patio (again, both times) we asked if we could wait for a table inside and the CMs told us it was not possible to wait longer for an inside table - none are or would be available. So while so many posters can't seem to get a patio table, we can't seem to get an inside table!