Rose & Crown & Illuminations

[jrtoastyman]

So, how exactly does this work? Got a reservation for 7:50 at R&C for an upcoming stay, where Illuminations is supposed to go on at 9. Pretty sure that's the last one of the night, or at least really close, since the restaurant "closes" at 8. I understand that it's a great place to watch the show, though, so I assume you're permitted to sit there and watch it until it's over, and then they kick everyone out?

Also, assuming you can stay there and watch, is the bar still open during the show? One of my wife and my favorite memories from a recent trip was watching the show from France while sipping on a glass of champagne, would love to continue that tradition with a pint of Guinness.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't see the show from the bar, so order your Guinness well before the show starts. No, they will not kick you out. And the restaurant doesn't close at 8. I just got an 8:05 ADR for November.

There's also a possibility you won't get a patio table (and you can't request one - best you can do is ask at the podium whether or not they will allow you to wait for one,and they might tell you that you have to take the first available table), which would mean if you want to see the show you'd have to leave your table and go out to the viewing area, but I don't see why you couldn't take your Guinness with you.

 

[jrtoastyman]

You can't see the show from the bar, so order your Guinness well before the show starts. No, they will not kick you out. And the restaurant doesn't close at 8. I just got an 8:05 ADR for November.

Huh. Wonder where I got that from, was definitely my understanding that they "closed," i.e. stopped taking ADRs, an hour before park closing. Evidently not, though. Do people with earlier ADRs tend to linger around and wait for the show? Can't imagine that's well-received by the servers, if so.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do people with earlier ADRs tend to linger around and wait for the show?

If they're in a place where they can see the show from their table, and they don't have a really long time to wait, chances are they will cling to the table. Hopefully they'll order some desserts or extra drinks.

If I go, it's to bring my parents, and we're not really worried about whether we sit outside or not. If we want to see the fireworks we'll get up and go out to their viewing area to see them. But I do understand that at some point they had to stop allowing guests to request that they could view Illuminations from their table because that's what everyone wanted and they couldn't all get it.

 

[epcotdad]

we ate there last year and got an inside table. when it is time for the fireworks they will take you to thier private viewing area and you can take your drink

 

[jrtoastyman]

did not realize they had their own private viewing area. That will work just as well. cool.

 

[figment_jii]

The viewing area is to the left of the restaurants (when you're looking at World Showcase lagoon). Just tell your server that you want to watch the show from the viewing area and they'll escort you down there (there is a CM at the entrance to roped area that only allows R&C guests entry). After the show is over, you can return to your table and finish your meal. That is what my family did last trip - we had our appetizers and entrees before the show, watched Illuminations, and then returned to the table for dessert. They do not kick you out as soon as the show is over.

Here are some photos of Illuminations from the viewing area:

 

[momabaarjo]

At some patio tables the view is partially blocked by the awning above...the viewing area below offers the best view!

 

[aubriee]

At some patio tables the view is partially blocked by the awning above...the viewing area below offers the best view!

Depends! It's a fairly small area. When we were escorted out there, we were among the first out there and were standing right next to the railing. Some parents decided to have their kids squeeze up in front of us. No problem they were kids and we were happy to step back for them. However, then the parents and grandparents had to squeeze up there with them to, so they could stand next to their kids. We weren't happy about being squeezed to the back, but thought not a big enough deal to make a scene, so let them get by with it. Then just before the show started dad and grand dad decided to put two of the kids up on their shoulders. We couldn't see anything and when we mentioned that we'd been nice enough to let them get in front of us and now we couldn't see, their response, was "Oh well, Disney World is for kids". They refused to put the kids back down by the fence, so we could all see. We gave up and just went back inside and finished our meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

I can't understand why they would put the kids on their shoulders when the kids were in the front and had an unobstructed view anyway. And the "Disney is for kids" thing, sheesh.

At any rate, they do have a viewing area but apparently can't vouch for the behavior of guests sharing that area with you.

 

[aubriee]

I can't understand why they would put the kids on their shoulders when the kids were in the front and had an unobstructed view anyway. And the "Disney is for kids" thing, sheesh.

At any rate, they do have a viewing area but apparently can't vouch for the behavior of guests sharing that area with you.

The reason they put them on their shoulders is the little girl started crying she was tired, her feet hurt, and she wanted daddy to hold her. She threw a fit to be held and didn't want to sit on the ground. When he placed her on his shoulders, her younger sister started crying she wanted on his shoulders too, so grand dad picked her up and put her on his shoulders, completely blocking our view. Basically they didn't want to deal with tired, cranky little girls.

 

[donnajherren]

When we went to DW earlier this year, we ate lunch at Rose & Crown. Our server made a note on our ticket so we could come back that night and watch Illuminations from the R&C viewing area.

I don't know how that would have worked out, or whether the CM at the time would have given us a hassle, because our dinner at Teppan Edo ran long (OMG SO GOOD), so we watched the show from Morocco.

 

[DebbieB]

Huh. Wonder where I got that from, was definitely my understanding that they "closed," i.e. stopped taking ADRs, an hour before park closing. Evidently not, though. Do people with earlier ADRs tend to linger around and wait for the show? Can't imagine that's well-received by the servers, if so.

When I ate there, the waitress asked if we were staying to watch the show, we said yes and they delivered the meal slowly. Our ADR was around 7:20 but we were not seated until around 8:00. We got a table right in front.