Rose & Crown for Illuminations and Dessert?

[dixiepixie]

We eat at Rose & Crown every year for dinner and sit outside to watch Illuminations. I know sometimes it is tricky to get an outside table, but I have never had a problem. This year, I am dying to try Le Cellier for dinner, but have gotten spoiled with my view for Illuminations. :blush: Could I make later reservations at Rose & Crown for dessert or will it be hard to get an outdoor table that late?

[SBETigg]

You could get lucky, but I think it will be pretty much next to impossible to get a table with a view after eight in time for Illuminations. You could still pop in for dessert and use their other viewing area, the one they will lead you to if you have an inside table. Best wishes.

[Bri]

Our intention is to watch Illuminations from Rose and Crown as well. Our ressie is for 8pm, do you think we will have a good shot, or should i move it up a little bit and tell them we will wait for an outside table?

[dixiepixie]

Our intention is to watch Illuminations from Rose and Crown as well. Our ressie is for 8pm, do you think we will have a good shot, or should i move it up a little bit and tell them we will wait for an outside table?

I've always made my reservations for 7:30, and have never had a problem. They won't let you wait for an outside table, you just need to let them know thats what you would prefer when you check in. Good luck!

[LisRich]

Last year we had ADR's for 7:50 pm (Illuminations was at 9:30) and got an outside table w/a great view. However, it is all the luck of draw whether you get a patio table and I don't think they will let you wait for an outside table b/c everyone wants one. I believe the policy is you have to have the table that is next available but as a prior post commented, they do have a great viewing area if you get seated inside. Be sure to check in very early and hopefully they can accomodate you. Good luck!

[Bri]

Thanks for the info. I think we will keep our
8pm ressie but check in at 7:30ish and tell them we want an outside table. Hopefully it works out!

[McGoofy]

A few weeks ago, we ate there with a 7:50pm reservation, and the timing was perfect. We had just finished our main course, when they let us go out to the special roped off area to view Illuminations. While we watched that, our server cleared our table and re-set it so that we could order our desserts when we came back to the table.

As for the outdoor patio seating outside the pub area that's available for non R&C guests, it is first come first serve basis. I have found that if you get there after 8pm, it is doubtful that any seats will be available and chances are everybody that is sitting there will be parked there until after Illuminations.

[TammiMcMan]

Telling them you want an outside table has no effect whatsoever. They don't note anything on your reservation when you check-in. It's basically whatever pops up as the next available table for your party size, is where you'll be seated.

Playing the game of when to check-in, is nothing more than rolling the dice. I've seen people sit down to dinner at 6pm and nest there until Illuminations and I've seen people arrive at 8:30pm and get the perfect view table. The worst had to be a group of 4 that we saw on our last visit there. They were being escorted to their inside seats when they noticed that the patio table next to ours was being vacated. They turned around and proceeded to sit at the dirty table and refused to be moved. Pretty unbelieveable.

Even if you do get an outside table, the view is sometimes better from the standing room area that they have set aside. The outside tables which are under the awning have no view of the upper fireworks.

Definitely make the reservation if you enjoy the food though. Or if you don't want to secure a spot hours before, you can stop by the pub and then slip around to the viewing area.

[Figment52]

Even if you do get an outside table, the view is sometimes better from the standing room area that they have set aside. The outside tables which are under the awning have no view of the upper fireworks.


Very true! Last trip we got an outside table by chance, probably because there were only two of us. I believe the ressie was for 7:40pm, though we weren't seated for about 20-30 minutes later. Anyway, it was a two-seater table, on the upper patio right next to the main building. While we did get to see much of Illuminations, the upper fireworks were completely blocked from view by the awning.

It didn't really bother us all that much, as we don't make a point of catching Illuminations every trip. For those who want to eat and see the entire Illuminations display, though, you may want to keep that in mind.