Candle Light Processional And Which Restaurant?

[AUTUMN SUN]

I need opinions. For x-mas holidays will be at wdw with dining plan. I would like to book CLP but am unsure of were to eat. I was going to do Le Celliers but since im on the dining plan and coral reef is two TS credits.......
I could do Le Cellier for early lunch and use 1 TS credit then Coral Reef for dinner and pay oop. If i reverse the two I would have to use 2 TS credits for Coral Reef at lunch and pay oop for Le Cellier for dinner. I was wanting to try Coral Reef cause the atmosphere looks so neat. I think my children would love it. Any suggestions or comments? Better ideas? thanks!

 

[Steve Hurley]

You are going to get alot of different opinions on this but I'll offer up what we did the last two years. It worked for us as we loved watching Illuminations after the CP.

We made an ADR at the Rose & Crown for 8:10 requesting a patio seat and did the 6:45 CP (absolutely an amazing show that truly got us in the X-Mas spirit). We have always enjoyed the food at R&C and have not failed to get a patio seat either time. The view from the R&C is amazing and you can actually feel the heat from the pirotechnics. It is a great way to end the evening after the CP.

No matter what you decide you will truly enjoy the CP.

 

[calie_j]

Since you are on the dining plan and have to pay out of pocket for CLP I would pick Coral Reef. It just makes sense to do it this way since it's the same price for the CLP package but would cost more credits on the dining plan to do it the other way.

The only thing I would look at is if there's a way to fit another Epcot evening into your plans to do LeCellier as a dinner. I've got 3 Epcot evenings in my itinerary to take advantage of all the great restaurants there and fit in the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Illuminations twice (we Love the nightime shows).

HTH, Calie

 

[AUTUMN SUN]

Since you are on the dining plan and have to pay out of pocket for CLP I would pick Coral Reef. It just makes sense to do it this way since it's the same price for the CLP package but would cost more credits on the dining plan to do it the other way.

The only thing I would look at is if there's a way to fit another Epcot evening into your plans to do LeCellier as a dinner. I've got 3 Epcot evenings in my itinerary to take advantage of all the great restaurants there and fit in the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Illuminations twice (we Love the nightime shows).

HTH, Calie

Hey, thanks for the response. WE can only do one night at Epcott. We are planning on seeing illuminations from the pontoon boat also, if I can get ressies. So it will go something like this: CLP, then dinner and last illuminations. I need to time it just right. I keep seeing poor reviews on Coral Reef. Is it worth it for the atmosphere alone? Thanks again!

 

[Nanajo1]

Hey, thanks for the response. WE can only do one night at Epcott. We are planning on seeing illuminations from the pontoon boat also, if I can get ressies. So it will go something like this: CLP, then dinner and last illuminations. I need to time it just right. I keep seeing poor reviews on Coral Reef. Is it worth it for the atmosphere alone? Thanks again!

I'm trying to work out your plan. CLP at 5PM, Dinner at 6:15 then cruise at 8:30. Is that how you think it will go? You will have a lot of ground to cover from the American Garden to the Living Seas back to the cruise area.
We like Coral Reef but they tend to rush the meal. We once had just received our appetizers when they brought out our meal. They try for a quick turnover at busy times. I think if I was paying for Coral Reef I would not want to rush it. We found lunch much less rushed and got to really enjoy the fish tank. When we do packages we usually go for the least expensive choice that still is acceptable to the majority. Garden Grill is not on our list anymore but our DGDs loved the dancing and the Ompah band at Biergarten.

 

[AUTUMN SUN]

I'm trying to work out your plan. CLP at 5PM, Dinner at 6:15 then cruise at 8:30. Is that how you think it will go? You will have a lot of ground to cover from the American Garden to the Living Seas back to the cruise area.
We like Coral Reef but they tend to rush the meal. We once had just received our appetizers when they brought out our meal. They try for a quick turnover at busy times. I think if I was paying for Coral Reef I would not want to rush it. We found lunch much less rushed and got to really enjoy the fish tank. When we do packages we usually go for the least expensive choice that still is acceptable to the majority. Garden Grill is not on our list anymore but our DGDs loved the dancing and the Ompah band at Biergarten.

Do I have to be at the boat at 8:30 for the illumination cruise? It starts at 9:30, right? If I have to be there at 8:30 I would do as you suggested above except have dinner between 6:30 and 7:00.

 

[Nanajo1]

I thought Illuminations started at 9pm. So I figured you would need to be there early enough to get aboard and out to the viewing area. I sure someone will have exact times for you.