Rose and Crown/ Illuminations

[leighmerz]

How is the food here? Also, If you do not get an outside seat to view illuminations, can you get up and view the show? What is a good time to make reservations there if you want to see the show?

Trying to decide between:

San Angel Inn, La Hacienda de San Angel, and Rose and Crown for dining then Illuminations. I have small children and would like to get out of Epcot asap once the show is over so I thought these were decent spots to leave! Suggestions?

 

[minnie mum]

We have always enjoyed the food at R&C. If you are not seated on the patio then your server will show you where you may stand to watch Illuminations. If Illuminations is at 9:00, then an ADR for any time after 7:30 should be good (if you eat really, really, slooooooooowly). However if you have very young children this might be problematic: can they sit quietly for over an hour and a half to 2 hours, and can they stand to have their dinner that late?

Of course your other 2 choices are on the other side of WS.

With small children, this is what I would recommend: Make an ADR at whatever restaurant appeals the most to you for your usual dinner time. (English, Mexican, whatever). When the time for Illuminations is near, find a viewing spot near the IG. Then when Illuminations is finished boogey through the IG and walk or take the boat to the nearest Epcot resort. From there you can take a cab to your own resort. Costs a little OOP, but will really avoid the awful crowds pouring out of the main entrance.

 

[leighmerz]

We have always enjoyed the food at R&C. If you are not seated on the patio then your server will show you where you may stand to watch Illuminations. If Illuminations is at 9:00, then an ADR for any time after 7:30 should be good (if you eat really, really, slooooooooowly). However if you have very young children this might be problematic: can they sit quietly for over an hour and a half to 2 hours, and can they stand to have their dinner that late?

Of course your other 2 choices are on the other side of WS.

With small children, this is what I would recommend: Make an ADR at whatever restaurant appeals the most to you for your usual dinner time. (English, Mexican, whatever). When the time for Illuminations is near, find a viewing spot near the IG. Then when Illuminations is finished boogey through the IG and walk or take the boat to the nearest Epcot resort. From there you can take a cab to your own resort. Costs a little OOP, but will really avoid the awful crowds pouring out of the main entrance.

Good Idea! Where do you go to call the cab though?

 

[minnie mum]

Just go into the lobby of the first resort you come to (I think it's the Boardwalk Inn). Go out the front door and there will either be a taxi waiting there or bell services can call one for you. Easy peasey.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We booked a 7:50 reservation for Rose and Crown and hoping that will get us to the 9:00 Illuminations. I figure there may be a wait, just hoping not to cut it too close.

Boardwalk and Beach Club are the 2 closest from the back entrance to Epcot.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We managed to snarf a table on the little canal structure on the lake at the R&C.

Didn't have to stand to watch the whole show. Did have to put up with the family who's child thought it would be fun to scream at every bang. Bang, Scream, laugh...repeat.

Anyway, if you get a table outside and watch the show, be aware that the wind might blow ash from the fireworks on you. We found it curious but funny. The folks at the next table tried to get the manager to give them their money back.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We really enjoyed the food at R&C, but PLEASE don't bank on watching Illuminations if you are seated inside. I was told by countless people that your server would show you out to some special viewing area pre-show if you were still dining just before the start of Illuminations. Our server told us she'd make sure she'd get us out to see the show, but it never happened. In fact, the evening we tried this...not a single party seated inside was taken out to see the show. What really ticked me off, there were spots open outside but pretty much everyone was being told there was no available seating out there. I know this b/c we opted to check out the patio all on our own while Illuminations was in progress when our server failed to get us out to see the show. So, I'd definitely eat there, but I'd NEVER (never ever) try and time it with Illuminations again.

I would recommend trying to head to Boardwalk for a quicker way out afterwards.