Andrew is a little sad this month as his favorite nighttime show “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will be taking it’s final bow. After nearly 20 years of lighting up the skies over the World Showcase in Epcot, September 30th marks the last night to see this spectacular. When we heard there was a special dining package available at the Rose & Crown Pub in England we knew we had to check it out. With lakeside seats we figured this would be a nice splurge for Andrew, so he could get one last great view of the show. Read on to hear all about this dining package that we think is perfect for adults, and that will continue to be available even after Illuminations is retired for the new Epcot Forever show. (This article is also a part of the Disney Friends Blog Hop. The theme for this month is “Disney Splurges” so make sure to check out the bottom of this article to see more great articles on this topic!)

A glimpse of our view of Illuminations that night!

Dining Package Info

We have done many dining packages that include a meal at a restaurant with a voucher for priority seating for a show later the same day. We were really excited to try the Rose and Crown Dining IllumiNations Dining Package as this included enjoying your meal at the same time as the show. Here are the logistics:

Timing: This package is approx 90 minutes. The experience starts at 8pm, an hour before Epcot’s evening show:
- Until September 30 enjoy: IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth honors the majesty of our planet with a grand finale which lights up World Showcase.
- After September 30 enjoy: Epcot Forever offers dazzling fireworks, stunning laser effects and a soundtrack featuring some Park favorites in celebration of the past, present and future of Epcot.
What is Included: the package includes a 3-course prix-fixe menu that features a selection of Rose & Crown favorites—as well as a selection of unlimited non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages for Guests ages 21 and older (valid ID required).
Pricing: The IllumiNations Dining Package is $89 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $39 per child (ages 3 to 9), tax and gratuity is not included. (Separate Epcot admission is also required.)
How to Book: Dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance by visiting the dining section of the Walt Disney world website or calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463). Packages can be popular and we recommend booking sooner than later if interested. It is also good to note you pay for the package the day of booking.

The Rose & Crown has always been a favorite spot of ours.

Julie very excited for lots of Prosecco.

The Location

The check in for the dining package is the same as the Rose & Crown Dining Room Booth (the booth located right outside the pub). We were able to check in at the restaurant starting at 7:30, an hour and a half before the scheduled Illuminations show. If a little early parties will gather on the sidewalk directly behind the booth. Once ready cast members will begin to escort parties to their individual tables. The area designated for the dining package is on the left side of the restaurant. The patio tables are located on the lower level directly next to the water.

On our evening there was some inclement weather so they sat us up on the patio directly one level up from that area. We really liked the “bad weather” option. At many parties you may be shuffled off to some indoor location and then shuffled out for the show, but at the Rose & Crown being sat on a slightly higher level wasn’t all that different. We were still on the water, enjoying the fresh air, but under cover. We found our table offered a great view for a relaxing dinner. During the show everyone was allowed to go down to the lower deck if they wanted, but we actually found our view being a little higher up from the bushes may have been even better compared to some of the lower tables.

The Food

We have been to the Rose & Crown Dining Room before and anyone would love their classic pub fare. This smaller prix-fixe menu was perfect for us and included favorites we would order anyway. We were each able to select and appetizer and entree, and our meal was capped off with a special party specific dessert trio platter. Here are some photos of the menu and some details on what we ordered:

Menu Side 1: Meals and Non Alcoholic (Click to enlarge)

Menu Side 2: Alcoholic Beverages (Click to enlarge)

Appetizer: Crock of Potato Leek Soup ($8 value)

Even though it was warm we always enjoy this soup. The potatoes are blended to a nice creamy consistency and complimented with just the right amount of leek flavor. Topped with some fried onions it is comfort food at it’s best.

Appetizer: United Kingdom Cheese Platter ($14 value)

Whenever a cheese platter is on the menu we make sure to get it. This one didn’t disappoint with the perfect amount of delicious cheeses to sample with accompaniments and some crackers on the side:

Cotswald Double Gloucester with pickles
Irish cheddar with onion jam
Irish Porter with black currant glaze, almonds, and craisins

Entree: Fish & Chips ($23 value)

This is always the most popular item in the England Pavilion for good reason. The fish is beer battered and so crispy and served with tartar sauce. The fries are classic and perfect for some malt vinegar.

Entree: Bangers & Mash ($21 value)

This traditional English sausage is severed with Colcannon Potatoes, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onion jam, and red wine demi. Another great comfort dish with amazing sauce.

Dessert: Pudding Platter (estimated value $12 each?)

The dessert course was served when the fireworks concluded. Everyone received the same themed platter featuring an assortment of popular treats:

Sticky Toffee Pudding: Steamed Pudding “Cake” served with Warm Vanilla Custard and Hot Butter-Rum Sauce
English Trifle: Layers of Strawberries, Vanilla Custard, Graham Crackers, and Whipped Cream
Chocolate Nougat Bar: Inspired by the Popular British Candy Bar made of Nougat and Caramel covered in Milk Chocolate

It was great getting to try a few different treats in small size, plus how can you not love the decor like a mini Union Jack and the edible Mickey Spaceship Earth? (Since this was only offered on this menu we weren’t sure the exact value but since a single full size dessert was $8 we figured $12 was a good guesstimate for three minis.)

The Drinks

One of the best things about this Dining Package was that in addition to non alcoholic beverages, the adult variety were also included. Our server Lee was very attentive so from the start of being sat, to throughout the meal, we were able to order drinks whenever we liked up until showtime. We feel that this is where folks can really get a huge value out of the package. We didn’t go crazy, but definitely felt like we got a good value with what we ordered:

1 Sprite (estimated value $4)
1 Cider: Cider with a shot of Black Currant Juice (estimated value $10)
3 Sparkling Duchess: this was a party specific specialty cocktail of Prosecco, St Germain Elderflower liqueur, ginger ale and mint. These were festive and tasty. (Estimated value $14 each?)
We also enjoyed some Twinnings Tea and coffee with dessert (estimated value $8?)

We loved finishing the meal with some coffee and tea.

Final Thoughts

We absolutely loved this experience. While this package can be seen as a splurge at a higher price point, we think the value was outstanding. We have experienced the Happily Ever After Dessert Party with only desserts close to the same price. The A multi-course meal sounds like a better value to us. And then when you add in alcohol on top too this is the way to go. (If you don’t drink alcohol you may not find as much value, but we still think just the meal is better than a bunch of desserts). Having premium seats was so special as well, and we were so glad to be able to do this before Illuminations disappears. This really is a nice experience for a special occasion too. While something like the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party is probably great for kids, this experience really had a great relaxed vibe perfect for adults. We hope to maybe do it again for another special night sometime to check out the new show “Forever Epcot”. Cheers!

We hope you enjoyed our review of the Rose & Crown Illuminations Dinging Package. This was a part of the Disney Friends Blog Hop “Disney Splurges”. Click the arrow to read the next article in the blog hop. Or check out all participating sites below: