Rose and Crown Outdoor Seating

[nicknamy1996]

I just made all of my ADRs for our September trip and the CM suggested moving my ADR an hour or so later (to 8pm) so we can ask for outdoor seating with a 'great view' of illuminations. I booked it for 8 she said get there early and ask for it.

So, questions...

1) Where is the outdoor seating at R and C? We've been through EPCOT many times, but I can't recall seeing outdoor seating at UK (other than the great seating area by the fish and chips CS) I tried finding some pictures online to get an idea but came up pretty much empty.

and 2) Has anyone done this? Is the view good? Is 8 the right time? Too late, too early?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[DVCJEN]

Most people book before 8 to try for a patio seat.
That said there is no way of knowing if you will actually get a patio seat since everyone seems to request one. Worth a try though, you may get lucky.

 

[vellamint]

Last month they were quite adamant about us NOT being able to wait for a patio table despite our being especially nice, sweet and respectful in our request......we did NOT get an outside table.....

I cancelled my reservation for this August - the food is no draw for us AT ALL.

 

[Redbudlover]

I like the food there a lot. That said, I have had three meals there where I absolutely froze to death outside. The wind blows off that lake all the time. My food gets cold faster than I do.....

I will never eat outside there again, though I plan to eat inside there....

 

[spaceace510]

there is some outdoor seating facing the WS Lagoon. And in case of rain it is covered and they do have tarp walls with "windows" I was eating lunch there once, with i loved btw, and it started thunderstorming. They would bring down the tarp, and everything would be like normal. But being able to watch that storm was a sight!

 

[Valjean13]

For our upcoming trip I made an ADR for 7:20. That way we can request an outdoor table and tell them we are willing to wait. I've heard of other people doing this and not getting seated until around 8pm. So if your ADR is for 8 I would show up quite early....or else change your time, just in case a table is ready early, then you are in the right time slot to get it. I am not exactly sure how they assign tables to people who show up really early, I assume they do not seat you 30 min early if everyone who actually booked that time has shown up to claim their tables. But maybe it depends on how busy the restaurant is.... regardless, I am going to ask really nicely. We waited for a table next to the aquarium at Coral Reef, and it was worth the wait....I am sure watching Illuminations from your table will be even more worth while!

 

[LilyWDW]

That way we can request an outdoor table and tell them we are willing to wait

Last month they were quite adamant about us NOT being able to wait for a patio table despite our being especially nice, sweet and respectful in our request...

Over the last couple months I have heard more and more people coming back and stating they have not been allowed to wait. As such, I would not put any money on being able to "tell them we are willing to wait" and actually being allowed to.

 

[kaytieeldr]

For our upcoming trip I made an ADR for 7:20. That way we can request an outdoor table and tell them we are willing to wait.

Do not bother. You can request patio seating when you check in, but you MUST take whatever table is available. You can no longer offer to wait, and Guests who insist will be politely invited to dine elsewhere.

 

[aubriee]

Do not bother. You can request patio seating when you check in, but you MUST take whatever table is available. You can no longer offer to wait, and Guests who insist will be politely invited to dine elsewhere.

This happened even as early as last May. We have always made our ADR for 7:10pm and have then been allowed to wait for a patio table. However, last May we weren't given that option. We were told we either had to take the table inside that was offered or else eat elsewhere. Then the exact same thing happened to us this last Sept.

To the OP, 8:00pm is much too late. You can be sure people who get out there 7:15pm or later, specifically chose their times to coincide with Illuminations and are not going to budge from those tables. Every time we've eaten there, the waitors are aware of it and purposely bring your courses slow. We've never been rushed when we've eaten out there and in fact the waitors usually time it so that we are eating dessert just as Illuminations start.

 

[KarenAylwood]

This happened even as early as last May. We have always made our ADR for 7:10pm and have then been allowed to wait for a patio table. However, last May we weren't given that option. We were told we either had to take the table inside that was offered or else eat elsewhere. Then the exact same thing happened to us this last Sept.

To the OP, 8:00pm is much too late. You can be sure people who get out there 7:15pm or later, specifically chose their times to coincide with Illuminations and are not going to budge from those tables. Every time we've eaten there, the waitors are aware of it and purposely bring your courses slow. We've never been rushed when we've eaten out there and in fact the waitors usually time it so that we are eating dessert just as Illuminations start.

We also booked for Rose & Crown hoping to see Illuminations. I had read somewhere that you should book between 7:15 and 7:45pm for the possibility of getting a good table for Illuminations.

 

[WEDWDW]

It has been a while back,but when I dined at Rose and Crown during IllumiNations,I was not able to "score" a patio table,but right before IllumiNations began,people inside were allowed to go out on the patio and watch from there.To me the view from there was good,but I don't think it is worth a lot of time and effort in trying to "score" one of the tables.I think the view from the patio area just past the Rose and Crown is much better,but it is reserved for private parties MOST nights during IllumiNations.In all my trips it has only been open to the Public once when I checked.IllumiNations from that patio is AMAZING-you are RIGHT on the water and the sound really BOOMS off of the water-AWESOME view!

 

[vellamint]

It has been a while back,but when I dined at Rose and Crown during IllumiNations,I was not able to "score" a patio table,but right before IllumiNations began,people inside were allowed to go out on the patio and watch from there.To me the view from there was good,but I don't think it is worth a lot of time and effort in trying to "score" one of the tables.I think the view from the patio area just past the Rose and Crown is much better,but it is reserved for private parties MOST nights during IllumiNations.In all my trips it has only been open to the Public once when I checked.IllumiNations from that patio is AMAZING-you are RIGHT on the water and the sound really BOOMS off of the water-AWESOME view!

Is this the area right down at the water - kind of where the Illuminations cruise boats are or no? I am asking because there seems to be a small patio (about 10 tables) to the left side of Rose & Crown that I saw people just going to sit in and am wondering if this area has a name.

 

[WEDWDW]

Is this the area right down at the water - kind of where the Illuminations cruise boats are or no? I am asking because there seems to be a small patio (about 10 tables) to the left side of Rose & Crown that I saw people just going to sit in and am wondering if this area has a name.

This area is between the Rose and Crown and the English Channel Bridge.Yes,it is right down on the water close to the English Channel Bridge.There is a path just past the Fish n' Chips counter that takes you down to it.The area you are talking about is "officially" an area for people waiting to be seated at the Rose and Crown I think.I do not know if either area has a name.

 

[vellamint]

Thanks ....

 

[ZoZo]

We did get patio seating on our trip in 2002, but were seated directly under a large awning. It really obstructed our view of IllumiNations, and we had to get up and stand at the railing to see anything (making sure that we weren't blocking anyone's view, of course). I was disappointed - we could have stood at the railing anywhere along the lake on our own, without going to R&C (our food was okay, but nothing spectacular).

 

[WEDWDW]

We did get patio seating on our trip in 2002, but were seated directly under a large awning. It really obstructed our view of IllumiNations, and we had to get up and stand at the railing to see anything (making sure that we weren't blocking anyone's view, of course). I was disappointed - we could have stood at the railing anywhere along the lake on our own, without going to R&C (our food was okay, but nothing spectacular).

Exactly.I just don't think the whole experience is worth a lot of time and effort.

 

[Threehearts]

I posted on this along time ago but I'll remember as best I can. I took my little guy on a mom and son only trip to WDW. He really wanted to see the WS fireworks and I really wanted to eat dinner at R&C that night. We got to the restaurant for our ADR and they said that outdoor seting was full and we would have to go inside. We were shown to a rather lonely table near the bar area entrance and I was very disappointed. My son on the other hand, was so taken with the kind CM that seated us, that he couldn't stop asking her questions and telling her how wonderful she was. She was incredibly nice to my child. About 15 minutes before the fireworks were to start, the CMs were telling everyone inside that they could go outside to view the show. We were asked to stay back. Several CMs came to our table and asked my son if he "wanted to start the fireworks show at EPCOT. He was clear out of his mind with the thought. They gave him a big sword, made an announcement and he stood up on a chair outside, in front of the whole crowd. The CMs counted down and "BOOM!!", the fireworks went off, when my son pointed toward the globe in the lagoon. Photos were taken by the staff and then loud applause from the restaurant patrons. After all of that excitement, my son was walked across the street to the wishing well, given an English coin and then told to make a wish. He got more pictures and a certificate. We were told that my son was given all of these opportunities becuase he and I were so gracious about not getting outdoor seating. How's that for a great night?! Threehearts

 

[texbob]

We were there last week and got the usual reply of not honoring our request to be seated outside. However, luck was with us and when it was our time to be seated, we scored a table on the lower balcony in the exact middle. It was what we thought would be the best table. At least the waiter told us so.

The only complaint I had about this table was the one light they leave on was directly over our table, and the big lights that rise up out of the little hedge out front to light up the UK pavilion was directly in our line of sight. This sort of ruined my chance to take good fireworks photos but it didn't detract too much from the show.

I turned around at one point and saw lots of people standing - presumably they came from inside. I think the show is short enough that standing probably wasn't a big deal.

 

[tiger4me2]

Funny when we go to Rose & Crown they always want to sit us outside & we always booked an early lunch per when they start serving. We rather sit inside & ask them to put us inside. The way I look at it I was there when they open they have room inside. But it is no problem with them as they told us most guest prefer sitting outside