Rose and Pub/Illuminations?

[Atchley]

Has anyone ever eaten at Rose and Crown while Illuminations is going on? I think I've read about it somewhere before. If you have, can you see most of the show from inside the restaurant? Is there a place we can eat outside while watching? If so, is it closed off so others won't rudely try to crowd us out while we are eating? We are planning on going to Epcot for a late dinner on our arrival day and thought it might be nice to be able to sit down and watch Illuminations with dinner. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[beachblanket]

Years ago one could book an ADR at Rose and Crown about 1.5 hours out from Illuminations and on arrival ask to be seated outside facing the Lagoon. We actually did this in 2001 and got waterfont seating for dinner and the show. It was wonderful.

However, the requests got out of hand (everyone wanted those tables and too many people got too ugly when they didn't get them). So the staff at R&C in the evenings now specifically tell anyone asking that outside seating is not requestable (e.g. it's totally random luck of the draw).

Also, given the design of the restaurant there's limited room for the non-waterfront crowd to try and to get up front, ergo, if you're not one of the lucky few, forget sitting/standing with them at showtime.

Classic example of the impact those of few bad apples....

 

[BTown]

A lot of people rave about being seated on the patio during Illuminations. During our last trip, we had 8:00 reservations, got seated on the patio, saw Illuminations. It was nice, but only one problem, there is a cover of the patio that makes it impossible to see up. All you can see is what is happening at eye level. Of course, you could get up and walk closer to the edge of the patio for a better view, but then you crowd the guests seated in these areas, and it's sort of rude. So, unless you luck up and get seated at the front edge of the patio, you really aren't going to have a good view. However, the resturant is great, but if you are eating there in hopes of getting a good spot for the fireworks, make an earlier reservation and just stake out a good spot for the show after dinner.

 

[Atchley]

Thanks so much for your reviews! It helps a lot.

 

[beroh2253]

Last year in Sept. we had ADR's made for 7:30. My DW went up when checking in and asked if it would be possible to get an outside seat. When we were seated it was the lower outside balcony and we had a perfect view for Illuminations. Now her asking I don't know if that helped or not or we were just lucky. It was perfect timing we just fininshed desert and figured lets order a beer to watch the fireworks. The people dining inside were brought out to the balcony to watch. Best place in the worlds to watch in my opinion. We have ADR's already made this June at 7:30 and I hope we luck out again.

 

[beachblanket]

A lot of people rave about being seated on the patio during Illuminations. During our last trip, we had 8:00 reservations, got seated on the patio, saw Illuminations. It was nice, but only one problem, there is a cover of the patio that makes it impossible to see up.

Things may have changed at the R&C since we ate there in back in 2001, but at that time the first section of covering over the patio was rolled up at night if the weather was fair. That meant that people seated in the very front row of tables could see up.

However, again, my understanding is that now getting one of those coveted spots is completely random; if you request it the desk staff will tell you they can't take that request (and rumors go further, implying that if you even ask you're automatically "blacklisted" from the lottery).

Also, seasoned WDW vets avoid this place like the plague for Illuminations, referring to the behavior of diners there trying to shove their way into a patio viewing spot as an "ugly frenzy."

 

[NJRRK]

Last August we requested, at the podium that we be seated outside. The only thing we were told was that the wait was going to be a bit longer for that, about 30 minutes as opposed to 10 for inside.

We were seated on the lower patio and the waitress actually asked us if we were planning on staying for illuminations, we said yes and she brought us our dessert and coffee about 5 minutes before illuminations started and viola we ate dessert and sipped coffee while comfortably seated to watch illuminations.

The sunset over the World Showcase lagoon was very impressive also.

The only thing I did not like was the change in menu since the last time I was there, they didn't have prime rib or Chicken Leek pie anymore, my two favorites. But, I did have my black and tan (2 actually).