Rose & crown/illuminations

[iggler]

It is my understanding that if you are at rose and crown during illuminations you can see it from the restaurant and they have a special viewing area for the customers. My questions is what is a good time to plan dinner there and be able to see it while there? I would like sit out on the patio, but cannot reserve that spot, the website just mentions to be there early to get a chance of being seated out there, so my other question is how early should we be there? How long does it take to be seated? Also how long can we expect to be for our meal? Right now we have a 6:55 pm ADR. If this good timing for all of the above?
Thanks

 

[Niki in NJ]

Almost everyone would love a patio seat, so they are difficult to get. We have dined there twice and both times decided to just eat inside. I would arrive maybe 6:30 for your 6:55 ADR, and tell them you would like to sit at the patio if possible. They might tell you to wait until a seat opens up, or they might tell you that they can't seat you on the patio because they have nothing available. It's worth a try. If you do get seated around 7ish, there's a good chance you will be finished eating well before Illuminations (our meals never took more than an hour to an hour and a half). If that's the case, you would still have plenty of time to get a great viewing spot. If you do sit inside, and are still there when Illuminations starts, then they have a patio area reserved for guests to walk out to view the show.

 

[TDC Nala]

No guarantees for the patio seating. As noted above, there are times at which you are not even allowed to wait for it, you have to take whatever is first available.

 

[pigby]

Our ADR is 7.45pm - thought that this would be a good time - but I now wonder... any advice?

 

[TDC Nala]

Our ADR is 7.45pm - thought that this would be a good time - but I now wonder... any advice?

A good time for what - are you OK with the possibility that you might be seated inside? An earlier time may not get you a patio seat either, as it's possible you won't be able to request one. At least they do have an area for guests seated inside to go out to the patio and watch the show, but I usually can't tell how much it means to individual posters that they be seated on the patio for the show. For some, it's a dealbreaker if they can't get a patio seat.

 

[pigby]

A good time for what - are you OK with the possibility that you might be seated inside? An earlier time may not get you a patio seat either, as it's possible you won't be able to request one. At least they do have an area for guests seated inside to go out to the patio and watch the show, but I usually can't tell how much it means to individual posters that they be seated on the patio for the show. For some, it's a dealbreaker if they can't get a patio seat.

I wouldnt be devasted if I couldnt get a patio seat - but thought that it would be nice to do so - for this reason, we thought of being at the podium at around 7.30pm (15 mins early) and being prepared to wait up to half an hour for outside seating, then if nothing came available, then we would give up the idea sit inside.

 

[TDC Nala]

That will work if they are allowing guests to wait, but many times they will tell you that you have to take the next available table no matter where it is in the restaurant. The problem they are having is that everybody wants a table with an Illuminations view.

 

[iggler]

It would be nice to have a patio table, but not a deal breaker if we can't get one.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We've eaten there in the past (and are planning to again on our upcoming trip) and ate inside but then went out to the patio to watch the show and it worked out fine

Sure, sitting at a table out there would be better, but just having an area you can see great from that you don't have to stake out for a while is really nice

 

[DSLRuser]

6:55 is too early for illuminations. Even if you are seated 20 mins late @ 7:15. The meal will take 60-90 mins max. Making you finished between 8:15 and 8:45. It would be plain rude to the just sit an occupy that table for the 15-45 mins prior to illuminations and the 15 mins of the show.

You will be taking up a table from someone who is trying to get a meal, and costing the server money because she could not turn that table over.

If you want illumination, go at the time of your adr, and make your adr within 60 mins of 9:00pm. And just take the table they give you. As it has been said, everyone wants the patio seat. And they know that.

 

[ThreeKMom]

We've also eaten there in the past and plan to again in August. On our last trip we were seated inside and finished our dinner about 30 - 40 minutes before Illuminations was scheduled to start, we asked if we would be allowed to leave and return to the viewing area at the start and it was not a problem. We walked around the world showcase a little and returned to the patio to watch the show. Just be sure to check with your waitress to be sure they will let you back in. If not head to the bar and hang out there untill show time!