Rose & Crown and Illuminations

[goofyme]

Is Rose & Crown a good place to eat for Illuminations? I was thinking of making a ressie for about 8pm. I figure if we are even inside it would be less crowded there then around the lagoon...just pondering...what is your experience??

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Definitely! A group of us watched Illuminations from inside Rose & Crown during last year's Mousefest (we even got a shuttle launch as a bonus). Before the show begins, they raise all the window blinds in the enclosed eating area, and you get a completely unobstructed view of the lagoon and fireworks. And if the weather is freezing outside, like it was last December, they turn on the ceiling heating units so you can watch the show in total comfort. I highly recommend seeing Illuminations from Rose & Crown!

 

[tiggersmyguy]

We had a 7:30 ADR at Rose and Crown in June. It had been raining very hard just before our ADR so the terrace area was closed off. We mentioned to our wonderful server that we would like to see Illuminations so when we finished eating at about 8:45 she took us outside. The tables and chairs were all still covered in water so she asked if we would mind standing. We told her no we wouldn't mind so she lead us to a roped off area next to the terrace(our own private viewing area that night!) It was beyond awesome . We felt like we were right under all the magic.

 

[flynnmnstr]

WE make ADRs from 7:20-7:45. Even if you are eating inside they take you to an outdoor viewing area. It's really nice.

Lauren

 

[budbeerlady]

I am so excited to read all these reveiws, we have a 7:30 ADR on our last night that I was considering changing since we are doing an illuminations cruise the night before. I will keep it and enjoy illuminations 2 nights in a row.

 

[tic-toc-croc]

If you have little ones, it may be better to get a table inside.

We had ADR for last year New Year's eve's early show. The table was outside front row up against the rail. There were so much fireworks, the black soot and fireworks shell rained down all over us and the food. There were pieces of shell still lit up with fire coming down. Servers tried to stomp them out as everyone screamed and ducked. It was extremely loud and close up too, was very scary for the little ones. Other than that, the big kids loved it! It really was the best seat in the house.

Since that was the first time we have done R&C for Illlumination, is it the norm to have stuff coming down like we had experienced?

 

[DebbieB]

I think 8:00 might be too late. I did it one time and made a reservation for 7:20, got there at 7:10 and asked for an outside table. We were not seated until 8:00. The outside tables will probably be gone by time they get to the 8:00 reservations.

 

[GolfCrazy]

We like Rose & Crown and were terribly disappointed with not being able to view the fireworks. We had asked for a table outside (via an ADR) for around 7:30 (4 of us) and were told no problem. We got there 30 minutes early and again were told no problem. We checked once or twice while we waited and were told each time; no problem with getting a table outside. Overall, we waited for about 75 minutes and once we were seated, we were as far away as possible to the outside and viewing the fireworks....no kidding....we were inside and as close to the bar as possible.

I can understand not always being able to accommodate, but we patiently waited specifically so we could experience Illuminations being we have heard so many good things about the viewing from here and were told multiple times (even that evening) that it was going to be no problem. Once they took us to our table they then acted like our request was a new one and looked around dumbfounded...we realize it was not our servers fault. By then, we were so hungry we did not fight over it too much it but it was very disappointing. Even more so when other people were seated outside immediately after we sat down. Again, often times we would moan & groan about something like this it but we were so tired and hungry we did not.

We ended up laughing about how next time we'll ask to sit near the bar and will probably end up on the balcony watching the fireworks!