Candlelight Processional Lunch & Dinner Packages

[Sabi]

Is it worth doing?
Really the only way to get a guaranteed seat is to get the dinner package?

I'll going December first week, No EPCOT is so full of people...

The Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are now considered a Signature Dining Experience and will require 2 Disney Dining Plan table service credits per person age 3 or older.

[laceemouse]

Well, you will have to go and get a seat early if you don't do the package. People always say the crowds are very low the first two weeks of December but we were there the week after Thanksgiving last year and Epcot was packed. The CP is very popular, especially the later in the evening shows. You could just wait and see how crowded it is when you go I guess?

[Chellymouse]

I would strongly suggest it. The least expensive tier for the lunch seating isn't too bad if you would prefer to do OOP instead of dining plan. We have never attempted to wait for a seat and have always done the dinner package. We've been in Dec (the first week or two) several times, including right after 9/11 and we have seen people wait for hours and not get a seat and we've seen people who try at the last minute and wind up with a seat. I would say it depends on how bad you really want to see it. If CP is on your "must do" list for Dec (it's definitely on ours!) then I would strongly recommend the dinner package.

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

If you are going to WDW the first week of December this year and you plan on going to Candlelight Processional Package I would get on the phone immediately! Call today. I'm going to WDW that same time and was on the phone early in the morning calling at the 90 mark and wasn't able to get exactly what restaraunt I wanted. By this time I don't think there will much to choose from. However you may get lucky and something has opened up.

[magicaldisney]

Even if you get the package, you will still need to line up about 1/2 hour early and the line is long!!!!! If you want to sit up front you will need to line up much earlier than that.

[MyMuse]

Since Candlelight Processional is my #1 thing to do for my trip, I did the CP package.

However, most times & places were gone and we ended up with Garden Grill, which is fine since it did give a break for the budget. But I really wanted Teppan Edo. Of curse, Le Cellier was beyond gone.

I'm really looking forward to it and can't wait!

[Olallamom]

I was there the second week of December last year and I couldn't have imagined not having done a CP package. The people on the CP packages almost filled up the entire area. I am disappointed that it is 2TS now but I still booked it for my family.

[goofy4tink]

I remember one time, about 3 yrs ago, when I was walking through WS. As I got to the area of the American Theater (where CP is held) I saw a woman sitting reading a book. But, she was in line for CP, in the standby line!! She had one of those little folding doohickys that look like a cane but unfold into a seat of sorts. It was about 3:00 at the time. When I passed by again, about 40 mins later, there had to be 30 others behind her. Later that afternoon...the line had really grown. But, that lady was still first in line for that show.
I would think that if you have a group, you might want to either book the CP pkg or plan on getting into the standby line at least an hour ahead, but 2 hrs might be better. There is a huge number of people with the pkg and while there are seats left over after they have entered, there aren't a lot that will fit more than two people side by side. A larger group would have to split up and spread out throughout the theater.
Another option might be to grab a bite to eat at the American Pavillion and take it outside to the tables. YOu do have to do that early though..don't wait until just before the show starts. You can sit there and listen to the narration and music. Then, you can get up and head over, across the walkway, and stand on the walkway behind the theater and watch the show if you like. But, there seem to be more and more people doing that nowadays.
I always do one pkg each Dec, and then walk by and listen for a bit at other shows...that way I can sometimes catch several different narrators in one trip.