Rose & Crown + Illuminations?

[checkwriter]

We have a 7:50 ADR for the Rose & Crown (week after Easter) with an eye towards scoring terrace seating for Illuminations. Anyone try this, and is it realistic? Any tips for getting the outside seating? Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

We have a 7:50 ADR for the Rose & Crown (week after Easter) with an eye towards scoring terrace seating for Illuminations. Anyone try this, and is it realistic? Any tips for getting the outside seating? Thanks!

I think it may be a little late. I would try to get there earlier and get your name in. Last year I was there during a quiet time in May and had a 7:20 PS, arrived at 7:10 and requested an outdoor table. We were not seated until 8:00 and I don't think too many people were seated outside after that. How many people? Most tables are for 4 (we had 2 people).

 

[checkwriter]

Good point. We have 8 (two tables). I'd thought of showing up around 7:30 and letting them know we wanted outdoor tables.

 

[bicker]

We've been very lucky getting terrace seating during our visits to Rose and Crown -- I think we're three for eight. But we always make reservations for around 7:30 for 9:00 shows.

I do know that the one time we had eight in our party, we were told right up-front that there was no chance of us getting a terrace table. You might get lucky, but the outside tables for larger parties are along the side of the restaurant, not on the terrace.

 

[Hopefully]

Other than politely asking, I don't think there is a "tip". We too have been lucky in being able to sit on the terrace. We have succeeded 3 or 6 times. We were either a group on only 2 or 3 however. I usually make my ADR for about 7:20, and arrive a few minutes early. I have told them that I was willing to wait for a table.
Good Luck!

 

[Vijoge]

I've given up on terrace seating. It seems a lot of big wigs manage to secure the stop for private dining. It's been roped off both times we were ther.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We've been out there once (out of luck). Most of the people around us were just sitting around with drinks so just because people are done eating around 7, if they are there for the fireworks, they'll just hang out until 9. A lot of people go to R&C for that. Good luck!

 

[bicker]

Wow, then the situation is getting a lot worse. Typically, they asked folks to leave if they were finished with dinner by 7:30. In a way, sitting having drinks at a restaurant dining table for an hour and a half is a type of abuse (after all, there is a bar area inside, for that). I wouldn't be surprised to see such abuse, one day, get translated into hard-ticket (top-dollar) seating for Illuminations at Rose and Crown, similar to what they've done at CRT. (I actually am not sure, but I think that might be a good thing.)

 

[ToTLaugher]

We have had terrace seating 3 out of 4 visits. If you don't get the seating you hope for don't worry. They have a private viewing area that you can walk out to for a great view, then you can go back in to finish your dessert and tea or coffee while the park empties. I can't imagine a trip to WDW without a night at the Rose and Crown!

 

[tinkamom]

We have had terrace seating 3 out of 4 visits. If you don't get the seating you hope for don't worry. They have a private viewing area that you can walk out to for a great view, then you can go back in to finish your dessert and tea or coffee while the park empties. I can't imagine a trip to WDW without a night at the Rose and Crown!

What is this area like? Can anyone go there or only R&C Patrons? I ask because the last time we were there our waitress brought us outside the restaurant, by the waiting area, to see Illuminations. She said it was the only place to see it!

 

[JC Butterfly]

I've never eaten at Rose and Crown and it's on my want to try list. Are you saying that even if I don't get terrace seating, there would at least be someplace that is available to me to watch Illuminations? (would beat trying to stand in line outside!)

 

[bicker]

There is a place you can stand to watch the show, yes.

 

[estnh]

We were there on our teen aged daughters birthday last year, and had a 7:30 reservation. When we checked in, the CM noticed the Epcot birthday pin, and asked us whether we would prefer to be seated at the first available table, or to wait longer for a patio table to view Illuminations.

Obviously we prefered to wait, and we weren't seated until 8:15, but when we got our table, it was absolutely perfect, and while we have seen Illuminations countless times, we never enjoyed it so much as that evening!

 

[tortoni]

We had an 8pm reservation once and they could not accommodate an outside table, but did take us to a nice viewing area at Illuminations time. It was one of the best viewing spots we have had over the years.

 

[PRaffen]

Could we make an ADR for around 8 just for coffee and dessert?

 

[Micca]

7:50 has worked for us several times, but there were only four of us.

 

[KTSMOM]

We have ADR's there for 4/1 at 7:30. I couldn't request the patio seating, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can get an outdoor seat. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[Pugrpooh]

We have ADR's there for 4/1 at 7:30. I couldn't request the patio seating, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can get an outdoor seat. I'll let you know what happens.

Hey! We might be fighting over outside seating. We have ADR's on 4/1 at 7:30 too! Seriously, I'm not going to worry about sitting outside even though I've never seen Illuminations, because we were at WDW on 4/1 two years ago, and it was COLD!!! Enough that you would want a sweatshirt anyway, but to sit outside for a couple of hours, I wouldn't want to do that. I wonder if they have patio heaters?

 

[KTSMOM]

Hmm..you make a good point. This is the first time i've gone to DW so early in April. We usually go late April and it's fairly warm. Guess i'll wait and see what the temp is like before I ask for the patio.
Illuminations is great..you don't want to miss it. It's worth standing/sitting in the cold to see it.

 

[mickeywho?]

When we were there last month we had requested sitting on the patio when we arrived for our 7:30 ADR. And it was closed! (Not the restaurant - just the patio eating area) We were told they were doing some rehab of the space and it would not be opened for some time.
Call ahead if this if what you were planning. It was a cool night so it turned out better to be sitting inside - and we walked over to a viewing area at Illum time.