View Illuminations from the Rose and Crown???

[lrauers]

What's the best way (if there is one) to get a patio or preferred table at this restaurant for viewing Illuminations? Can I request it when I make the reservation? What about the old slipping the host/hostess a good tip to get us a good spot?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

You can not request it when booking the ADR. In fact you WILL get a canned speil about how you won't be quaranteed a patio spot. Blah, blah blah. Only 25-30 percent of the tables are on the back patio so it is a chance. I never recommend the R&C for a veiw of Illuminations your chances of being dissappointed are high. In fact you can miss the tops of the fireworks if you are on the upper patio.

Although we still order the cheese plate, I haven't forgiven them for taking away the pie sampler entree although the beer sampler does make up for that somewhat. We go every trip but this is the only place I've ever see Bodington's which I now associate with my trips to WDW.

You can still ask for a patio seat but you will AGAIN get the same spiel about first come first serve. It looks like the hostess rotate, probably because I've seen some UGLY behavior about getting on the patio.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

We had an 8pm ADR at R&C (were probably seated late) - when it came time for Illuminations, our server offered to hold dessert while we left the table and went to a special viewing patio (if we wanted to). Then after Illuminations, come back to the table and she would bring dessert. It seemed that this "viewing area" is something they offer even if your table isn't in "viewing location"

 

[Nanajo1]

We had an 8pm ADR at R&C (were probably seated late) - when it came time for Illuminations, our server offered to hold dessert while we left the table and went to a special viewing patio (if we wanted to). Then after Illuminations, come back to the table and she would bring dessert. It seemed that this "viewing area" is something they offer even if your table isn't in "viewing location"

We did this during one dinner and it was great. We were told there were no outside tables available but we would be taken care of. There is a roped off area we were escorted to in time for the fireworks. The view was very good. The next time we went DH asked if an outside table was available but if not we would like to view Illuminations from the viewing area. The host said "you've be here before." To our delight we were seated on the back deck right on the railing. We've never seen Illuminations so close. Because I use an ECV the Host took us down around the fish and chips shop right to the deck. It was magical.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Do not waste your money slipping any to the Hostess/Host.

Your Disney Dining Reservation means you will be seated at the first available table for your party size after you check in at the podium, at or after your reservation time.

You can REQUEST patio seating, but you will have to take whatever table is first offered to you. It has been rumored that Guests who continue to insist on waiting for outside seating are politely but firmly invited to dine elsewhere that evening.

 

[KatMark]

Do not waste your money slipping any to the Hostess/Host.

Your Disney Dining Reservation means you will be seated at the first available table for your party size after you check in at the podium, at or after your reservation time.

You can REQUEST patio seating, but you will have to take whatever table is first offered to you. It has been rumored that Guests who continue to insist on waiting for outside seating are politely but firmly invited to dine elsewhere that evening.

This is very true. We've witnessed it twice with a party before and after us.

 

[tink too]

We dined at R&C back in 2006 and at the time, the recommendations on the Dis were to not even mention the patio, let alone having the guts to actually request it! I did as advised and played it cool at the check-in and my good behaviour paid off because we were ed with a table out on the lower patio!

The view was great, but as mentioned previously, those folks who had tables inside the restaurant were taken out to a separate viewing area if they wanted to see Illuminations up-close-and-personal!