What Time Should I Schedule My ADR For Illuminations At Rose & Crown

[Lauren Giddins]

What time should I schedule my ADR if we want to watch Illuminations from Rose & Crown’s outside patio seating? My fear is that when we arrive to the restaurant’s hostess desk that they will say all of the patio tables are occupied. I’m willing to wait until one becomes available though. I’m planning on having a cake delivered to the restaurant through Epcot’s Food & Beverage Service for my Mom’s 65th Birthday. Will this help with getting preferential seating? Any experience with slipping the hostess $100 for preferential treatment (like what happens at many high end restaurants in my city)?

 

[mckennarose]

There's no harm in asking, but you may be refused. I don't know what Disney's policy is on accepting money like that so I can't comment on that.

@TheRustyScupper has posted great info about the newer policy of seating assignments. I'm copying his whole post from another thread:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/dinner-during-illuminations.3642229/#post-58366885

"
FIREWORKS VIEWING "411" (*rev 06/02/2017*)
.
1) Epcot "Illuminations" restaurant viewing
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view
. . . Rose & Crown (UK) - excellent patio view from standing-room-only area
. . . La Hacienda (MX) - excellent window view ***
. . . Spice Road Table (MA) - excellent open-air lake-side view
. . . Tokyo Dining (JP) - good window view, good patio view **
. . . Chef de France (FR) - obstructed window view **
. . . Monsieur Paul (FR) - excellent view ***
. . . Liberty Inn (US) - obstructed patio view
. . . Nine Dragons (CH) - partially obstructed view ***
2) Magic Kingdom "Wishes" restaurant viewing
. . . Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party - great view
. . . California Grille - excellent table view, excellent balcony views
. . . Narcoossee's - good view, good balcony views **
. . . Ohana - good view from a few tables, no view from all other tables ***
3) Non-Eating viewing
. . . Wishes: Wilderness Lodge employee parking lot - good view
. . . Wishes: Poly Beach - good view, with piped-in music
. . . Wishes: Fort Wilderness Beach - fair view
. . . Illuminations: Boardwalk - poor view, only high fireworks
.
* = Approx 50% of the tables
** = Approx 30% of the tables
*** = Less than 20% of the tables


PATIO-or-WINDOW SEATS FOR FIREWORKS:
. . . you CANNOT wait for a patio or window tables or make an ADR for such
. . . you must take whichever table is offered when it is offered.
. . . if not, your ADR is canceled.
. . . too many people would wait for a viewing table.
. . . if they didn't get it they left, so, there were unused tables, lost revenue.
. . . now, the policy is you take what is offered
. . . the Podium person verifies you will take the offered table
.
SEATING ASSIGNMENTS, THE NEW WAY: (almost all TS eateries)
. . . in most cases, the Podium person has no control over seating
. . . with the new system, the seat ASSIGNER determines your table
. . . the Assigner walks around with a computer and assigns the next table
. . . this assignment is then printed out at the podium
. . . the SEATER then takes the printout and leads guest to the table
. . . the printout info also includes party size, adults/kids, DDP, special diets, etc
. . . this is done without any consulting with the podium people ahead of time
. . . once assigned, it almost takes and Act-of-God to change the table
. . . to change tables, requires a lot of computer work for the Assigner and Podium
. . . if you want to try for a good seat, get an ADR 2-2½ hrs before fireworks
. . . then, hope you get lucky
.
NOTE1:
. . . Even with the above policy, some people get a viewing table when asking for it.
. . . If eatery is not too busy, which doesn't happen often, they try to accommodate.
.
NOTE2:
. . . for the best chance at a viewing seat/table, make ressies 1-3/4 to 2 hours before event"

 

[gharter]

I would say 7:30, 8 at the latest. I doubt anyone seated after 7:30 is leaving before Illuminations.

 

[kniquy]

7:30 should be safe and would allow you time if you wanted to wait for a table. Just mention it is for a celebration so hopefully they will be happy to accommodate. If you are going with a large party then you might be limited as to your options. As for the $100 -- don't do it. They are not allowed to accept tips in that position and they will decline, so better off to just use your charm.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We've also made a few ADRs for 7:30. We've always got a patio seat.
They won't accept a tip!
I would put on the reservation that you are celebrating a birthday and cake is being delivered. If you call and make ADR they will ask are you celebrating anything?
That may help. Good Luck!

 

[Dee McGee]

We scheduled our reservation for 7:50pm and the timing worked out perfectly so I would say anywhere between 7:45 and 8:00 should be fine. Requests for a patio table are not guaranteed, but they are usually pretty accomodating.

 

[purple figment]

A reservation between 7:30 - 8:00 would be good. When you check in ask the castmembers at the podium for a patio table. It is, however, a request made by many so it may not be possible. It will depend on how busy the park and restaurant are that evening, how many before you have also requested a patio table and are waiting and the size of your group. The castmembers will do their best, but it is not always possible to fulfill every request. If you are seated at a table without a view, the R&C is the only restaurant that has a dedicated viewing area just for their dining guests. Let your server know and you will be escorted to the area just before IllumiNations. Please do not offer castmembers money. They will not accept because doing so is a cause for termination. Just be polite with your request and hope for the best.

 

[odd man out]

We had a great view form Spice Road Table. The patio seating was not very crowded when we arrived at 7:40. But this was last week when the weather was a little chilly and people may not have been wanting to sit outside. From SRT the islands obscure the view of some of the action right at water level, but we didn't care.

 

[rentayenta]

I just made a reservation for 7:25 at Rose and Crown. Great idea OP!