Candlelight Dinner Package - long lines?

[PeasandCarrots]

I just called WDW to ask when I needed to arrive for the show with the dining package and she told me 45 minutes to 1 hour before. I'm not sure I want to wait that long after paying for the package, seems kind of pointless. Sure the food isn't that bad of a deal but it's way more food than I can eat in one sitting (app, entree, dessert). Undecided now but at least I can cancel up to 2 days before.

To me this is them over-selling the dining package. We did the dining package years ago for NPH (which is arguably the most popular of the narrators) and walked up probably 20 minutes before the show and got a great seat.

 

[godders]

I had a dinner package for NPH (1st show). I got in line just before 4pm and there was about 60-80 people in front of me. The line was still in Japan and I was inside the ropes they had set up. We were let into the theatre at about 4.40 and I got a seat in the center block on the front row not under the awning. I don't think that many people got in line that early but once the line became noticible people joined in a panic. I took a picture of the line so I'll add it in when I'm on my laptop later

 

[crayon3448]

When I was there on 12/1 with NPH, I walked past the theater around 2 pm and I thought the DP line was longer than the stand-by. We did the dining package for the 6:45 show and we got seats that were good to us (behind a tree so there was no one sitting in front of us so our kids could see but they were in the back on the left). We got there about 6:20, but couldn't do any earlier with the kids as there is only a limited amount of time they want to sit still.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Yikes! Is it at least a bit better for the late one? At best we will be able to get there an hour early. I wish I would have seen these reviews sooner so I had time to re-do my plans. We are paying OOP for the DP and I will be super bummed if it ends up not being helpful.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I am a local who has been in the parks a lot recently, and I have noticed that the Dinner Package line for Candlelight Processional has been insanely long this year. Most nights, the Dinner Package line has stretched back past Morocco.

Don't know about this year but I last went in 2014 and the line was part Morocco the night we went as well. Until something dramatically changes with this event, once was enough for me. It's nice but not worth doing again.

 

[DVCTX]

I'd be hard pressed to to the DP again. Two years ago I got it for the 5 pm show with Whoopie Goldberg. Got in line more than an hour before showtime and I was far from the first person there. Then line did go back toward Morocco, not quite. I ended up with a decent seat in the third row far right. It was standing room only. There were these reserved seats near me that remained empty that I thought was wasteful considering they had great view and people had to stand. View attachment 209512

The reserved seats are set aside for the High School Choir chaperones and parents. If fewer parents attend than estimated, there may be some empty seats.

 

[yulilin3]

The reserved seats are set aside for the High School Choir chaperones and parents. If fewer parents attend than estimated, there may be some empty seats.

I don't believe chaperones get reserved seats, I know choir directors do

 

[Bete]

I prefer to do the package because you are guaranteed to get in. It's that simple. Most eat anyway; so, combining it with the show is a good deal.

Whether you stand in line earlier or not is a choice you make. I like being in the middle of the theater. So, we get there earlier.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've done the CP pkg at least once a year for the past 13 yrs! Yes, the lines have been longer in recent years. We used to get into line, for the 8:15 show, around 7:30-7:40, and we're back by Japan. The past few years, last week included, the line was back to Morocco, with a winding queue by Japan! Last Tuesday we got into the line at 7:30 and were at Morocco...with a sizable criwd behind us very quickly. We got into the theater around 8:05! Found seats that were just fine. I refuse to sit behind one of those trees, so when told to move down, to make room, I will move just so far. I've been in the second row and really don't care to be that close. Just past the overhang is perfect for me.
The point of getting the pkg is to know you're getting in. Yes, you will stand in line for 45+ mins. But, that's better than getting into the standby line 2+ hrs early, and still not be sure you're getting in! I have to eat dinner anyway...may as well spend a bit more and spend less time in line and know I'm getting a seat.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We went to NPH with the dinner package, last show, and we did wait in a line that stretched to Morrocco, but we had good seats. Plenty of stand by people did not get in. For the show before us, we stood outside the theater trying to listen, and we could not enjoy that experience.

 

[crazedprincess]

We were in Epcot twice over our trip (just returned home on Friday!) and we don't get the CP appeal and paying that much $$ plus standing in line for that long. It's a lot of money burning to stand in a line for hours. We sat in America during one of the shows and we were able to hear everything perfectly and we walked by and were able to see everything too. JMO though.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Last night the dining package line was all the way back by Morocco and that was about an hour before the show started (this was the 6:45 show). Many of those people with reservations were seated in the very last row on the bench (the metal ones). I know this because were stood right behind them on the curb area to watch the show, since I wasn't getting in the stand by line and waiting hours.

 

[DebbieB]

Last night the dining package line was all the way back by Morocco and that was about an hour before the show started (this was the 6:45 show). Many of those people with reservations were seated in the very last row on the bench (the metal ones). I know this because were stood right behind them on the curb area to watch the show, since I wasn't getting in the stand by line and waiting hours.

So was the entire theater package reservations? No standby got in?

 

[CampbellzSoup]

One of the few times I'm glad the people have the urge to record everything...

I'll watch online

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

So was the entire theater package reservations? No standby got in?

Oh some standby got in...they were seated in the right side of the theater, much closer than some of the people with reservations! That's when I thought to myself...so glad I didn't do a dining package for it!

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

One of the few times I'm glad the people have the urge to record everything...

I'll watch online

Or you can just stand outside the theater and watch. That's what we did and it was fine! We couldn't see the star on top of the "chorus tree", but so be it!

 

[DebbieB]

Oh some standby got in...they were seated in the right side of the theater, much closer than some of the people with reservations! That's when I thought to myself...so glad I didn't do a dining package for it!

I would have been ticked. I got in line for Whoppi Goldberg last year about an hour before and was in the beginning of the second section, where I prefer to sit. The front section is too close for me.

 

[shb5007]

We did the package with Trattoria breakfast yesterday (5pm show), it was amazing. The breakfast was good, we had an 8am reservation, but they took us at 7:30 (which allowed us to get to rope drop). The line to get in started very early, but we arrived around 4:20 and just walked right in and found a pretty nice seat (maybe 5th row, not in gold circle) without being behind a tree. I was smart and found a row which everyone had already scooted towards the middle, because I knew they would ask. The how was everything I could have hoped for. I did notice one VERY upset guest (non-dining package) yelling at a cast member because he was forced to sit in one of the back rows. When leaving (around 6pm) the line for the later show was into Morocco (with dining package). I thought Robby Benson did a very nice job.

 

[ebenmax]

Does anyone know how wheelchairs with dining package go in or where they sit? Can my family of 5 addt. members sit with me?

 

[Bete]

Does anyone know how wheelchairs with dining package go in or where they sit? Can my family of 5 addt. members sit with me?

Actually, you have the best advantage. There is a separate line on the dining package side for scooters and wheelchairs. You get into the theater first. There are limited spots for wheelchairs; so, you still want to get there early.