Candlelight Proc.

[mom_rules]

Can anyone give me their thoughts/opinions about this?

Did you do the package? Would you again?

Please tell me all about it!

 

[laceemouse]

There is another loooong thread about this somewhere, possilby on the next page now. We did it early December in 1999 and it was awesome. I am not sure if they had the dinners then, but we just walked right in no trouble. There is no extra cost if you do not do the dinner, but the dinner gives you a guaranteed seat. Do you NEED a dinner package? Probably depends on which date, who the narrator is, and the time of evening that you go (the 8:15 show is usually the most crowded.) Also, we are a family of six, so we do plan to book a dinner package to be sure we have reserved seating for all of us.

 

[paladin]

We always do the dinner package, usually twice in a trip. However, we eat at restaurants that we would eat in even without any type of package. We also like not having to line up for quite as long, though the length of the line varies by date. If you would eat at any of the listed restaurants anyway, why not go for it?

 

[trampslady]

This is the first year that we are thinking of NOT buying the package. My logic is that the price, for the most part, has now exceeded the expense that we would pay for dinner if it were not on the package--especially in Germany, and even at Le Cellier. And, we now have the DDE card, which means 20 percent savings if booked independent of the package. We will be there 10 nights, which has much bearing on my decision as we will have many opportunities to perhaps catch the show (staying at BCV). With Rita Moreno, Phil Donahue, and Haley Joel Osment as our options for speaker, I don't have a "must see" like I did with Andy Garcia and Gary Senise.

That said, if you are limited on viewing options and/or are going at a really busy time--BUY THE PACKAGE--you won't be sorry!

 

[mom_rules]

Thanks-I guess I should look into how much more expensive the pkg would be compared to the restaurant we would have eaten in anyway and decide that way?

 

[karrit2000]

If you usually buy very expensive items off a menu you can pretty much break even & be sure of having a seat for the performance. I don't normaly do the whole appetizer, entree, dessert thing but I did on this package & definitely got my money's worth.

 

[mom_rules]

So a dinner would include appetizer, main course, dessert and non-alc bev?

 

[trampslady]

Yes, unless it's a buffet restaurant, you get an appetizer, entree, dessert and beverage (non alcoholic).

Prices went up this year, and that small difference actually gets the package price over break even in most all cases--and well over in many cases.

 

[DebbieB]

We got the package the past 3 or 4 years but I think we'll skip it this year. One reason is I have the DDE and can get 20% off without the package. We're going Nov 26 to Dec 2, the week with Phil Donahue, I don't think he's going to be that popular where we could not get a standby seat. Last year the 2 nights we went standby we got better seats than the night with the pacakge.

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Hi mom_rules! The Candlelight Processional was an absolute highlight for me last December! Our narrator was Marlee Matlin and she was just inspirational... We went on a Friday night and were glad we went with the dinner package for that middle showing since the standby line seemed huge that night. We chose Alfredo's and were all pleased with our meals despite having read mixed reviews on the DIS. We went with the package not so much because we felt it would be cost-effective but because I wanted to be sure we had seats! I know December is touted as a relatively low crowd time, but we found it to be much more crowded than on our late August trip, especially on the weekends. For a weekend evening, we'd definitely do the package again!

 

[aubriee]

We plan on going our very first night on Dec 9th (last night for Jim Caviezel), but are having trouble deciding on a restaraunt. Later on we will have a choice between Eartha Kitt, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Harry Hamlin if we decide to try to see it again as walk ups. However, for Jim Caviezel's last night (and a Friday night besides) I would feel more comfortable having the pkg for a guaranteed seat. Any restaraunt ideas, anyone?

 

[mom_rules]

aubriee-we are in exactly the same boat-leaning towards Eartha Kitt though.

I noticed that the pkg is $10 +/- more expensive than regular dinner
buffet for biergarten but if you were to dothe more expensive places you would probably get your $ worth-does that look right?