Perplexed about DP and Candlelight Processional; need opinions. This is long....

[Bete]

I want to go to 3 CPs while I'm there in December. Main reason is that I want high definition video of it. I toyed with this last year and I got very good results, but I didn't do the whole show; so, this year I want to do the whole show. I figure I'll need to video it at least twice to get the results I want for it. I'm a perfectionist! Then I want to go one more time to just enjoy the show without videoing it. I use a monopod and that's ok for the show; in case, anyone is wondering about it. I feel I need the CP dinner package to get the reserved seating for CP.

Anyway, there doesn't seem to be any info out yet to tell you that you can get the CP dinner package with the basic dining plan this year. This is what I want to do for it; use it as a dining credit. CP dinner packages have been included before with the basic dining plan, but without an appetizer this year on the basic plan Disney may say no to the CP dinner package which includes appetizer. Disney may say deluxe plans only can use it for the CP dinner package, as an example, this year. Heck, Disney may say no DP for any CP dinner packages.

Next, my 180 day mark for ressies comes mid June. I want Le Cellier and I know I better make ressies right at the 180 day mark to get the good times for it. The same is true of a few other places of my choices. I want Le Cellier as a CP dining package, if I can do it on the basic dining plan. I probably will do Teppan for my second time to CP on the package, if I can do it on the basic DP. Here's the rub, CP packages typically don't go on sale until the beginning of July. I'm afraid to wait the extra two weeks for it; because, I'll miss out on getting the ressies I want like Le Cellier, if I wait it out and find out you can't do the basic DP for the CP dinner package, afterall. I may do the cheapy Biergarten CP package, if it's not going to be included on the basic DP anymore and pay out of pocket for the CP dinner package. I may even opt to go for lunch on the CP package; because, it's cheaper, if I'm doing it this way and I'll go to the early show for CP.

I'm feeling the only thing I can do is make regular dinner ressies for the places that are popular right at the 180 day mark for the basic DP. Then when the CP dinner packages are available, then I can see if I can do it on the basic plan or not this year. If I can do the CP dinner package on the basic plan, then I'll cancel my regular basic DP reservations for the 3 places I want to use on the CP dinner package.

This all seems ridiculous to me. I know calling dining reservations to get concrete answers for this will not work. I'll get a different answer each time I call about it or I'll get a not so sure answer about it. My rule of thumb for CM questions is that if I get the same or close to the same answer three times in a row then I may believe it. You can tell I've been burnt in the pass.

Does anyone see any different way of handling this? Does anyone have a definitive answer about this, this year.

I know you can get the Fantasmic package on the basic DP this year which is similar to the CP package; so, I'm hoping the CP package will be available, too.

I feel like a nut writing about this, but I would really like to know what's what before the last minute. I'm a planner and I like getting the exact times I want and the exact places I want.

[Bete]

No real info is available yet as to whether or not CP dinner packages will be in the dining plan or not. All I was told is to keep calling as it gets closer to being on sale.

The CM did read the Fantasmic package details for dinner and it absolutely states no appetizer with the basic plan if you you use it as a credit for this option. I know some have posted that they have received an appetizer on the Fastasmic dinner package with basic DP. I think you should consider yourself lucky.

I think the restaurant has a hard time differentiating those who have paid OOP for the Fantasmic dinner plan from the DP people. If you buy the package OOP it does come with an appetizer. This is were the confusion is for the restaurant for the appetizer. I was hoping the same would be true with the CP packages on the basic dining plan.

I guess we will have to see how all of this evolves.

I still would appreciate any other knowledgeable posters to share their feelings and understanding on this matter.

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I posted a similar question about this a while back but didn't get any responses.

I wonder if they'll limit which seatings/tiers are eligible under the basic dining plan or even make it a 2 credit meal.

My ADR date is in June also so I'm booking a dinner ressie at that time and then when the CP dinner packages are announced I'll switch to that (if it's covered for 1 credit under the basic plan)--if it's not we'll keep the original ressie and get in line for the first showing then have dinner after.

[TDC Nala]

I posted a similar question about this a while back but didn't get any responses.

I wonder if they'll limit which seatings/tiers are eligible under the basic dining plan or even make it a 2 credit meal.

My ADR date is in June also so I'm booking a dinner ressie at that time and then when the CP dinner packages are announced I'll switch to that (if it's covered for 1 credit under the basic plan)--if it's not we'll keep the original ressie and get in line for the first showing then have dinner after.

I'd assume you didn't get any responses because nobody knows yet.

Note that it's been widely reported on the board that if you book the Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose or Brown Derby, and you pay for it using the basic dining plan, you still get everything that comes with the package booking, including the appetizer. I have not seen anyone post that the appetizer was excluded. At any rate, even if it was, they would still be able to book the package, albeit without the appetizer. (The Fantasmic package is also available at Hollywood and Vine, but at buffets the appetizer inclusion is irrelevant.) If WDW chooses to allow guests on the basic DDP to book Candlelight Processional packages, it's possible they will work it the same way. Even if they exclude the appetizer, they may still permit booking, then it's up to the guest to decide if they wanted to book it to get an appetizer or if they wanted to book it to get access to the Candlelight Processional.

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Yeah, I realized when I posted that no one knew the official answer yet--I was just looking to see if there was any speculation out there yet. That's all.

[kaytieeldr]

Guessing ONLY, based on absolutely NO information from Walt Disney World:

IF Dining Plan credits can be used to 'pay for' the Candlelight Processional, Disney will not differentiate between Basic and Deluxe Guests.

Making 'regular' dining reservations at the 180 day point will have no effect, positive or negative, on the availability of any CP package at any restaurant (likely those Guests have been calculated into the available reservations).

TCS Nala is generally correct, and there's no reason to think otherwise in this case: If the CP Package includes an appetizer for Guests paying cash, it will include an appetizer for Guests using DDP credits.

The OP should have one or two 'backup' restaurant choices planned for the Candlelight Processional, on the chance that one or more of the original choices is not available by the time the OP's call gets through.

Where the OP says "may opt for lunch", this may not actually be a choice for the Guest; last year, weren't the dining reservation times based on the show chosen (or the other way around), and weren't Guests no longer allowed to see the CP first, then dine (something that had worked well, for the Guests, in previous years)?

[bigbabyblues]

Where the OP says "may opt for lunch", this may not actually be a choice for the Guest; last year, weren't the dining reservation times based on the show chosen (or the other way around), and weren't Guests no longer allowed to see the CP first, then dine (something that had worked well, for the Guests, in previous years)?

You are correct, at least for the 2007 packages, and I doubt they change it back. If you were going to the 5:00 show, you had to eat before that, which would be a late lunch.

I did make an ADR today for Marrakesh on the day we plan to go to the CP. This was the ONLY one I made that I could not get my requested time, or close to it. I am guessing (ONLY guessing) that they have some times blocked out for the CP packages. I wanted 2:30, which was a time offered for the 5:00 CP last year, but 1:30 was as late as I could get until 3:30. I could be wrong, but that's my thought.

[PrincessTiffany]

You are correct, at least for the 2007 packages, and I doubt they change it back. If you were going to the 5:00 show, you had to eat before that, which would be a late lunch.

I did make an ADR today for Marrakesh on the day we plan to go to the CP. This was the ONLY one I made that I could not get my requested time, or close to it. I am guessing (ONLY guessing) that they have some times blocked out for the CP packages. I wanted 2:30, which was a time offered for the 5:00 CP last year, but 1:30 was as late as I could get until 3:30. I could be wrong, but that's my thought.
I don't really care about the whole appetizer issue. The thing I want to confirm is the availability of seatings. We will be on the Basic DDP and I can start making my ADRs on June 15 and I want to book LeCellier. I feel pretty confident that I will get a dinner an early reservation there on the night that I want to do CP. I guess I'm confused as to the fact of what to due when the packages come out in July. Am I going to have to call and cancel my original ADR and rebook for the package? Are there a set number of times already set aside? Am I going to risk losing my LeCellier ADR? It really bugs me that the CP dinner packages won't be available at 180 days out, like the ADRs.

[Bete]

I don't really care about the whole appetizer issue. The thing I want to confirm is the availability of seatings. We will be on the Basic DDP and I can start making my ADRs on June 15 and I want to book LeCellier. I feel pretty confident that I will get a dinner an early reservation there on the night that I want to do CP. I guess I'm confused as to the fact of what to due when the packages come out in July. Am I going to have to call and cancel my original ADR and rebook for the package? Are there a set number of times already set aside? Am I going to risk losing my LeCellier ADR? It really bugs me that the CP dinner packages won't be available at 180 days out, like the ADRs.


With the lack of info, I can't see any other way but to make a regular dinner reservation at the 180 day mark and later on if CP package is available for DP then do the CP package in July and cancel your earlier ressie for regular dinner once you book the CP package. It's ridiculous, but for the more popular places you have to be safe. I do believe they set aside a certain amount of CP dinner packages and when they are gone that's it. At least you are covered with the regular dinner reservation in case it doesn't work out for the CP dinner package and DP. I will still do the CP package, but I'll do OOP for it and go to a tier one place for it. I'll save my extra dining credit for a signature restaurant which will be fun to do, as well.

[bigbabyblues]

I plan on canceling my ADR at Marrakesh at the same time I make the one for the package.

[kaytieeldr]

Just be sure to have your CP reservation set before cancelling any existing 'plain' reservations :)

[bigbabyblues]

Just be sure to have your CP reservation set before cancelling any existing 'plain' reservations :)

I will! :thumbsup2 That's why I went ahead and made it. We'll be going to CP the day after Thanksgiving (assuming they have it then, since there are no hours or anything yet:rolleyes: ) and I was afraid of not getting an ADR to eat at all if I didn't get it.