Rose and Crown/Illuminations

[Beehn]

I would like to try and eat at Rose and Crown and catch Illuminations at the end of dinner. Anyone know how long to plan for dinner? I would like eat as early as possible, but not so early that we are forced to sit and order more drinks to wait for the show. So, for those of you who have done this, how long before the show do you book your ADR? Also, is there anyway to ask for an outside seat when you book or is it just the luck of the draw when you get there?

 

[Hopefully]

We have eaten at Rose & Crown many times hoping for a patio seat and an Illuminations view. I would say we were successful about 30 % of the time and I consider that good. You can not reserve a patio seat when you make your ADR. It is the luck of the draw when you check in. You used to be able to wait for one, but I do not think they allow that anymore.
If you are seated inside, all is not lost There is a special viewing area that you will be able to go to to view Illuninations. You will be standing, but it is still a great view. You can then just return to your table and finish dinner.
We always make our ADR's around 7:40 - 7:45. We are usually having dessert and coffee during Illuminations.
I know you said that you wanted to eat early, but I think you need to decide which you want more and make your ADR accordingly. Booking an ADR for an early dinner, expecting to sit at the table until after Illuminations is very inconsiderate. You are denying someone else the table to eat their dinner. The table was most probably booked as a later ADR and now that family is standing waiting for you to leave.
If you want to see Illuminations book a later ADR.
Have a great Trip

 

[Beehn]

I know you said that you wanted to eat early, but I think you need to decide which you want more and make your ADR accordingly. Booking an ADR for an early dinner, expecting to sit at the table until after Illuminations is very inconsiderate. You are denying someone else the table to eat their dinner. The table was most probably booked as a later ADR and now that family is standing waiting for you to leave.
If you want to see Illuminations book a later ADR.
Have a great Trip

That is what I'm trying to avoid. Just trying to gauge how long before the show I should book. I want as early as possible, (ie: I don't want an 8:45 ADR) but I don't want it so early that we are finished before the show starts. Thanks for the 7:45 suggestion.

 

[stephensmum]

We had adr for 7.30 last year. we were seated inside but shown to a viewing area before dessert, are desserts were waiting for us on return. We shared the viewing area with another family, who had just finished their desserts, I guess they must have had a 7.00 adr. We had starters.

 

[traviesojmt]

We always make our reservations for 7:30pm. During our last two visits, we have been seated on the patio with wonderful views of Illuminations. We do order appetizers and during both meals, our dessert was served just as Illuminations ended.

 

[bicker]

Yeah, 30% is about our success rate as well. Make sense; about only one third of the tables have a great view of the show.

 

[robhawk]

Made our for 7:20 last month. Coffee and dessert were served at 8:55. Perfect!!!!!!!!!
Have the sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

Rob

 

[vellamint]

I recently attempted to sit on the patio for Illuminations and failed. Now I have 7:30 reservations for my family this summer. Does anyone know if there are tables for 6 outside?

Also...while we were waiting I noticed right behind the bench we were sitting on a small patio with about 10-15 tables. I looked as if people were purchasing from the Rose & Crown take-out window and just going and sitting there. There were NO tables for 6 here but we would make do. This is NOT the area for people with reservations....

Has anyone sat in this area? Is it a decent view? I was really tempted to just go and sit in there myself instead of waiting to see if we got a patio table (which we did not).

Thanks

 

[bicker]

I don't remember any tables of six on the restaurant terrace.

 

[robhawk]

There is not a lot of room down on the patio. We had ten of us that night seated at two tables side by side. I think 6 could be done but it would be tight.

Rob

 

[NC State]

We had a party of 6, we arrived at 7 :30 pm. We told our server that we wanted SLOW service because we wanted to see the fireworks. We took our time and it's been the best location to view the show out of the 5 times we have gone to Epcot. We had no problems and the setting was great we had plenty of room and server had no problem with us. We also left her an extra tip (at that time the tip was included in the dining package).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hopefully is correct - Guests may request patio seating when checking in at the podium, but must ultimately accept the table that is offered when their party is called.

 

[traviesojmt]

I recently attempted to sit on the patio for Illuminations and failed. Now I have 7:30 reservations for my family this summer. Does anyone know if there are tables for 6 outside?

Also...while we were waiting I noticed right behind the bench we were sitting on a small patio with about 10-15 tables. I looked as if people were purchasing from the Rose & Crown take-out window and just going and sitting there. There were NO tables for 6 here but we would make do. This is NOT the area for people with reservations....

Has anyone sat in this area? Is it a decent view? I was really tempted to just go and sit in there myself instead of waiting to see if we got a patio table (which we did not).

Thanks

I know that they have at least 1 table for 6 on the patio. During our Aug 2006 trip, we sat on the patio at a table for 6. My parents were on the trip with our family of 4. It actually was the perfect table to view Illuminations. Again, I have no idea how many large table that they have, but our party of 6 did sit on the patio.
We also had a 7:30 ADR, but I am sure that it is just luck of the draw. We arrived a few minutes early and just asked if it was possible to sit on the patio. Good Luck.