Rose & Crown ADR timing - Illuminations

[jbehr12]

Again, untrue. Last time I was there was 2.5 hours. Try a scotch or beer flight to start, two soups, an appetizer, two entrees, and a desert. 2-2.5 hours easy.

I disagree that sitting at 7 wanting to view 9:30 Illuminations is not rude. IMHO it IS unfair to the server. Dinner at Rose & Crown will never take 21/2 hours. Never

 

[jbehr12]

Thanks so much. I feel much better about the 7:00 time now

Good I hope you have the same luck we did, it was incredible!!

 

[Shellee999]

You guys, you can also try Spice Road Table. We did a walk up around 8 and we were seated right along the water. It was an amazing experience!

I initially had an ADR for Spice Road Table, but the menu wasn't a hit for everyone, so I canceled it. But thank you.

 

[Shellee999]

I disagree that sitting at 7 wanting to view 9:30 Illuminations is not rude. IMHO it IS unfair to the server. Dinner at Rose & Crown will never take 21/2 hours. Never

Well it's actually a 9:00 Illuminations. So if we were to be seated right away, it would be 2 hours. Which I know is somewhat long by Disney standards.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We have had multiple 7:15 ADRs for 9:00 show, and it was perfect timing.

We asked for a patio table, and got one each time (some views are better than others, but never had a bad one). When we asked for the patio, they said they will try. If you don't get a patio, they do have a private viewing area you can go to for Illuminations, then come back to your table. So, still worth it, even if you don't get a patio.

We were seated around 7:30 each time. Ordered appetizers and dinner. Finished dinner entrees around 8:30-8:45, and ordered desserts. Desserts came AFTER Illuminations finished, which was PERFECT. We ate dessert while the park emptied. After we finished desserts and coffee (no one rushed us out), we had a relaxing stroll out.

The latest R&C ADR is 8:00 (or maybe 7:55 technically). They KNOW people will not get up to leave after 8:30, so they plan accordingly. If you finish eating at 8:30 or later, there won't be anyone waiting for your table.

Timing of things change, of course, if Illuminations is not at 9:00. I don't know if they extend R&C hours when Illuminations is later.

Pro tip: we used bus service to POR. Instead of walking all the way to the front of the park and busses, we realized it would be a MUCH shorter walk from R&C to the friendship boat, and then walk to the HS busses. Maybe took a bit longer, but much more relaxing, and we weren't in a hurry to get back. We checked the HS hours first, to make sure busses would still be running (HS was open until 10, so we knew busses would go until 11, at least).

 

[Shellee999]

Pro tip: we used bus service to POR. Instead of walking all the way to the front of the park and busses, we realized it would be a MUCH shorter walk from R&C to the friendship boat, and then walk to the HS busses. Maybe took a bit longer, but much more relaxing, and we weren't in a hurry to get back. We checked the HS hours first, to make sure busses would still be running (HS was open until 10, so we knew busses would go until 11, at least).

Thank you! But I'm confused about your tip. Did you take the boat to POR and then his back to HS?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Thank you! But I'm confused about your tip. Did you take the boat to POR and then his back to HS?

We took the boat from Epcot's International gateway (which is very close to R&C), and that boat goes to HS. From HS, we took the bus to POR. The HS boat dock was pretty close to the bus loop (with the gondola construction, the loop is somewhat further from the dock now, but the overall walk would still be a lot less than the walk from R&C to the Epcot bus loop). I'm sure this took longer than just walking to the Epcot busses, but, we preferred the shorter overall walk, even if it took longer.

But, before doing this, you do need to consider HS hours for the day, to make sure there will still be a bus for you! In our case, we left Epcot around 9:45, so we figured we'd get to HS around 10:30 the latest. HS closed at 10:00, so we knew there would still be busses.

 

[addiln]

We did have a party of 8 last year and our reservation was for an hour before the fireworks. They were running a little late they said and sat us around 8:15. I did ask for a patio table since we were there to watch the fireworks. It worked out perfect since we had our meal and finished that just in time as the fireworks started. After that we had coffee and dessert. It is my favorite way to watch illuminations.

 

[mckennarose]

We've dined at R&C several times for Illuminations and had ADR times from 7:10- 7:50 and have been asked almost every time if we were staying for Illuminations so they knew how to pace our meal. Keep in mind that you will most likely have to wait for a table, so you won't be seated right at 7 PM. I've waited from 10 minutes to 25 minutes there.

Interesting. I've read multiple people say that they asked for a patio seat and were allowed to wait. Sounds like it's up to whoever is working the check-in area.

I saw a rumor on here a while ago that they were doing away with the podium staff assigning tables to a person in the dining room assigning tables so there was no way to get a requested patio table. I have not found that to be true. The last time we dined there was May and the podium staff took our request as normal. We wound up not dining outside (our choice) because it was a downpour and half the patio was closed from flooding. We were there during the weeks of heavy rains every day during our trip, so it was out of the norm. But the point is that they were still willing to seat us outside at our request.

You guys, you can also try Spice Road Table. We did a walk up around 8 and we were seated right along the water. It was an amazing experience!

I second Spice Road Table for Illuminations! The food is wonderful! We sat inside in front of a large window and the view was great. We picked inside to relax in the air conditioning.

From what I've read, not super gluten-free friendly.

I had no trouble there. I had the mixed grilled skewers and the chef made a special vegetable saute for me. He was one of the best chefs I've talked to in WDW in preparing my meal. Super nice guy!
I haven't dined here recently, but I saw a picture from somewhere (DFB, maybe?) showing the mixed grilled skewers looking a little different. I had them with harissa sauce, which was really spicy, which I LOVED. Sometimes I think Disney changes their dishes to be more mild or bland to please more audiences. I loved SRT because they have more flavorful dishes.

I disagree that sitting at 7 wanting to view 9:30 Illuminations is not rude. IMHO it IS unfair to the server. Dinner at Rose & Crown will never take 21/2 hours. Never

From my experience, it seems that the staff expects that people coming after 7 are there for the show. I've been asked numerous times if we were staying for the show. I've never had anything that remotely resembles a fast meal here.

......... Last time I went in August there were a bunch of patio tables open still even during the fireworks so I wouldn’t worry about being rude because the tables probably won’t fill anyway. ..............

Wow, that's crazy! I've never seen multiple tables empty in the restaurant period... let alone for Illuminations! I have seen people occasionally leave early and the staff not fill the tables, but then some inside diners came out to sit for the show.

 

[Nancyg56]

Well it's actually a 9:00 Illuminations. So if we were to be seated right away, it would be 2 hours. Which I know is somewhat long by Disney standards.

2 hours with a party of 8 is a reasonable expectation for dinner, IMO. My crew is pretty darn chatty by the time we sit for dinner, so by the time they get settled, have a cocktail and we figure out what we are eating (translate that to I finally decide what I want to eat) we are already 45 minutes in.