Terrace Seating at Rose & Crown for Illuminations

[clkelley]

I no longer recommend trying to get terrace seating at Rose & Crown for Illuminations.

Three years ago when we went, we requested terrace seating and got a great seat and the servers timed everything perfectly and they all left during the show and everyone got a great undisturbed view of Illuminations.

Last November and also on Wednesday we got terrace seating for Illuminations, but noticed that the servers continued to walk around the terrace taking orders, bringing food, and taking away plates during Illuminations.

On Wednesday they even brought out desert to the table next to us and the staff sang Happy Birthday during Illuminations.

We were extremely upset and spoke to our server and the Rose & Crown management and they stated that terrace seating no longer guarantees no interruptions during the show.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'd understand your frustration if you were paying extra to see the show. You are paying for a meal, with Illuminations being a bonus.

 

[clkelley]

I am frustrated because it used to be the policy that those on terrace seating would get an uninterrupted viewing.

All of the other restaurants at WDW that have special fireworks/parade views still provide that service.

California Grill stops serving for the tables that have views of Fantasy in the Sky and so does Ohanna

Tony's Town Square stops serving for the tables that have views of Spectromagic.

It is such a simple customer service thing that provides goodwill for the guests and preserves the "show"

 

[ilovefh]

All of the other restaurants at WDW that have special fireworks/parade views still provide that service.

This I can tell you is not correct. At CRT we did not stop anything during Fantasy in the Sky. In fact, there were many many times that during Fantasy in the Sky I bussed, set and called a family up before the fireworks were even done.

 

[clkelley]

That may be true at CRT, but I didn't mention CRT.

I'm just saying that for Illuminations, if you want an uninterrupted view, you can no longer get it at Rose & Crown.

So we will no longer be visiting Rose & Crown.

 

[ilovefh]

That may be true at CRT, but I didn't mention CRT.

Right but you did make a blanket statement of "All of the other restaurants at WDW that have special fireworks/parade views still provide that service." I just don't want people to read your post and since you said "all" expect that all will do that, because that is not the case. I'm sorry you were disappointed, and feel free not to dine there anymore, but like addicted_to_wdw stated "I'd understand your frustration if you were paying extra to see the show. You are paying for a meal, with Illuminations being a bonus."

 

[HappyDVCer]

We have priority seating at the Rose & Crown in hopes to see Illumination during our dinner. They said there were no guarantees. But we thought we would give it a try. What experiences have you all had with this? What are our chances of this working out? Thanks!

 

[clkelley]

I have always gotten a seat on the terrace when we requested it for a 7:30 PS except for once. That one time we politely declined the table, had a quick dinner at the fish place and found a place around the lagoon for Illuminations.

As I stated above, even if you do get a terrace table, you may not be able to see the show as servers may be walking in front of you.

 

[slp87]

We decided before our last trip that instead of "risking it" for a patio table, we would just share an Illuminations cruise. Great time and none of the worry.

 

[Safari Steve]

The other day I decided to try Rose and Crown later in the evening. I ended up getting there around 8:30 and even though all I was interested in was food (and would have been happy with any seat), I lucked out and got a table on the lagoon wall. Because of the timing of my seating, if serving had stopped during IllumiNations, I would not have recieved my food or a refill of my drink until nearly an hour after I ordered. That in my estimation, would have been poor customer service, and I imagine that similar situations were a major contributing factor in the decision to continue service during the show. Illuminations is Big, Bright, loud, and about half of it takes place in the sky. The servers I observed during the show were very quick and unobtrusive, and I heard no complaints (certainly if I had, I would have backed up the people providing wonderful food to my hungry tummy).
One thing I spoke with my server about is the number of people who abuse the PS policy by getting an early PS, demanding a terrace/beer garden table (even though it's not guaranteed) and then staying for 2-or-more hours. Remember:
1) The servers depend on gratuities to supplement their income, the fewer times their tables "turn over" the less money they make.
2) Lingering beyond the end of your meal inconveniences others who have made PSs as well (and have as much right as you do to be there)
I'm not suggesting that anyone rush through a meal, and certainly the wait staff cannot ask you to leave. However, common courtesy and reasonable use of time is in order no matter where you are. R & C is a restaurant first and foremost.

PS: speaking of R&C, the Lemon Posset is divine!

 

[icelady]

I do believe Steve said it best.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Last year, we had a PS at 7:40 and we got a table on the patio. We took our time eating and ordering and I felt kind of uncomfortable because we were done a little earlier than 9:00 PM. We left our server a bigger tip because we felt we were taking up a table... I can't imagine holding a table for more than 2 hours.

 

[JLS]

I think the Rose and Crown patio is highly overrated as a place to view Illuminations - we got a patio table and you could barely see the fireworks from where we were seated. I think only if you are at the very edge of the patio do you have a good seat for Illuminations. Given the hassle at trying for a patio table, I recommend that people eat an earlier dinner wherever they want and then just watch Illuminations from around the Lagoon (but not downwind!)

 

[HappyDVCer]

We have never eaten at R & C and thought this would be the perfect time to try the food and see Illuminations. It will be my DA and DU's first time to WDW. Our priority seating is for 8pm, so we could get lucky and be seated in the patio area. But if people are holding their tables untill Illuminations, then I could be out of luck. So, I will let you all know how it goes. Thanks for all the info!!

 

[cloudydrms]

OK, now I feel like a complete jerk. We have PS at the R&C for 7:40 at the beginning of June. I was going to attempt to get a seat on the terrace. I was assuming that if we had PS at 7:40 that we probably wouldn't be seated until around 8:00 and then I wouldn't feel like I was "holding" a table, but now I'm worried about it.

What do you think? Am I a jerk?
Cindy

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

No, you aren't a jerk.

You'll probably be seated very close to your PS time. Order an appetizer, have dinner, linger over dessert, drinks or coffee, and tip well. We budget 1 hour for any table service meal at WDW, and we never eat dessert.

 

[clkelley]

Our PS time was at 7:30 and we weren't seated until almost 8pm.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

On the recommendation of a guide book, last week we tried booking at 7:30, arriving 1/2 hour early and politely requesting a patio seat. It was awful.

The reservation desk was almost rude with the request, it must happen every evening and they are probably sick of it. They were really abrupt with us. We decided to take our chances because the CM at the desk and the waiter both said during Illuminations the entire restaurant goes out to the patio. Looking at the back patio I thought it would be OK. So we sat inside.

The service and food was very slow, the food was OK. I really liked the salmon appetizer and my daughter's cottage pie was very good but the rest wasn't worth the wait. The fish and chips from the stand would have been just as good. We sat down around 7:30 but were just finishing our desserts when the show started at 9pm.

When Illuminations began we were put on the side patio, not behind the restaurant, we were 5 people deep, we were under a tree, the wind was blowing toward us, we were crowded like sardines and I was standing right behind a 6 plus foot gentleman. Could not see a thing and my eyes were tearing!! It was so bad I got the fit of giggles. There could not have been a worse spot!

I would not reccomend anyone attempting a patio seat. Someone else on this board reccomended that you get a pile of fish and chips, find a seat and sit there. That will be my plan next year.

I'd like to see a package like the Fantasmic Package. My husband has back problems and sitting on concrete without back support ruins the rest of the trip.