Candlelight Processional Advice

[eeyorethegreat]

We are hoping to do a trip to WDW at Christmas to see the decorations and hear the storytellers etc our dates are 24 Dec - 29 Dec. We are staying off property, something that we never do but I have to keep this as a budget trip. We are even packing sandwhiches! Part of this trip is specifically to see the Candlelight Processional. Here is the question... Like I said this is supposed to be budget as is as cheap as I can get it. Given though that it is just after Christmas, should I just suck it up and fork out the money for the dinner pkg so we get priority seating for the show or should we just get in line and wait and how long ahead of time should we get in line? Any experiences with either way I would appreciate. PS ther eare 7 of us all considered adults by WDW dining so the pkg would be well over $200! PPS we have been at Christmas before so I know all about the crowds. Our main focus will be on the Christmas theming. Another time in Dec is not an option-teacher...

 

[Justsyd2]

Since it's a budget trip I would only purchase the dinner package if it's within the budget -- otherwise, wait in line. Many people do not purchase the dinner package and they still get in!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Highly unlikely the OP will get into CP by waiting in the stand-by line Christmas week.

I personally, wouldn't wait over an hour in the stand-by CP line during Christmas week, when there's little chance of getting in. If the CP is a must-see, then you need to fork out the money for the package.

 

[Broadway Duchess]

We've seen the CP 4 times in the past few years, each time the week of Christmas (both Christmas Eve and Christmas night). We've been standby each time and have thus far NEVER had a problem getting in and getting great seats. We wait about an hour and change in line, but we know we want to see it, so it isn't a big deal. We make tons of friends in line and always have some sort of snack -- I'm a sucker for those darn turkey legs -- and it's just fun for us.

It wouldn't be worth it for my family to book the dinner, mainly because we don't love the meal choices, and we like the anticipation of the show. It's definitely our Christmas must see!

 

[DisneyLover83]

We had the package this past Christmas (2009), we went on Dec 20 and it was packed. The line for people with the package was into Morocco at 7:15 for the 8:15 show and the line for stand by was past the outpost in the other direction, there were a lot of people who did not get in from the standy by line. I would get the package!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I've never waited in line for it, but have seen both the dinner package line AND the stand by line quite long at 2:00 in the afternoon druing the week before Christmas. I can't imagine what time the obsessive person at the front of the line arrives.

 

[Minniemama350]

If you decide to go w/o the dining, try the earlier show. It is not as crowded, though I imagine it will be crowded nonetheless during that week. I used to take my chorus down to perform for it. The 5:00? was always less crowded.

 

[lindsey]

We have done both, but if I wanted to save money, I would wait in the stand-by line. You could make sure it's not the last show, that way if you don't get in, you will be closer for the next show.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

We booked the package this past December (27th) and even after the package people were let in there were still a lot of seats left. I'm not sure if everyone made it in, but many did.

 

[vsimeone]

We've done CP on Christmas Eve in 2004, 2006 and 2008. We have always done the dining plan but only because we've wanted to. In 2008, we had FREE dining!!!

I agree that if you don't mind waiting, you'll be fine in the standby line. I also agree with the suggestion not to wait until the last show.

Have a wonderful time! I wish I were going back this year to see it again!

 

[swilshire]

I REALLY wanted to see Whoopi Goldberg last year, but when I found out that we'd have to wait in line 3 - 4 hours, I gave it up. We wound up walking by during the show and trying to peer over the heads of those standing in the back to try to catch a glimpse of her. DD did manage to hold up her digital camera to get a shot of her.

One CM suggested that you could hover around and try to at least be in the front of those standing outside the theatre area. They had a pretty good view (with no seats of course). Even that seemed like more effort than my family was willing to expend.

Sheila

 

[SandrA9810]

I've waited in line since 4pm to see Gary, and on top of that, it poured down rain from 6-8pm... And then like the last 20 minutes of the final show. But no one let up or got out of line.
The following year I did the package, ate at like 3pm for lunch at Garden Grill and got in line around 7 for the final show. And we still weren't first.

To keep it budget friendly, book a lunch reservation, and then see like the middle show. The price for Garden Grill really isn't much more than on it's own. It's all you can eat, and you still have the characters there. It was well worth the cost for us. Also if you have picky eaters, they'd still have to pay adult buffet price, but can eat as much kid food as they want.
I could never justify paying 50$ for le celliers for kari to eat solely off the kids menu. But going to a buffet, she still has to pay the adult price. I hope that made sense.

I vote for the package.

 

[KimFIGFern]

We went to the CP last year for the first time. We had Free Dining at the time and used 2 TS points at LeCellier for the second performance. It was pretty crowded. I think if this is the main reason for you to go to Disney World, I would get the dinner package. This would be to ensure you actually see the show. Perhaps you could book a dinner at one of the cheaper restaurants?

.... and it was a WONDERFUL show. If it doesn't get you in the Christmas mood, I don't know what will! Have fun!

 

[mickaholic4077]

I've waited in line since 4pm to see Gary, and on top of that, it poured down rain from 6-8pm... And then like the last 20 minutes of the final show. But no one let up or got out of line.
The following year I did the package, ate at like 3pm for lunch at Garden Grill and got in line around 7 for the final show. And we still weren't first.

To keep it budget friendly, book a lunch reservation, and then see like the middle show. The price for Garden Grill really isn't much more than on it's own. It's all you can eat, and you still have the characters there. It was well worth the cost for us. Also if you have picky eaters, they'd still have to pay adult buffet price, but can eat as much kid food as they want.
I could never justify paying 50$ for le celliers for kari to eat solely off the kids menu. But going to a buffet, she still has to pay the adult price. I hope that made sense.

I vote for the package.

You can't have a lunch package and then go to see the 6:45 show. The 6:45 is a dinner show package. Also,Garden Grill is now dinner package only because it only serves dinner. Also,how were you able to get the lunch package for Le Cellier and then see the LAST show?

 

[Elmo007]

We went last year on DD. Not only did we get seats within the first 10 rows and only walked in 10 minutes before showtime, we also got priority Illuminations viewing. The package wa sthe way to go. (BTW we did have free DD but probably would have paid for it)

 

[SandrA9810]

When I booked the package, I booked an early eating time, and then told them I wanted to see the last show. I never had any problems. The waiter came out with the 5:45 stickers, and I said, i wanted to see the last show, and she brought me out the 8 oclock stickers.

I didn't want to be hurrying across the park to get in line, and we're lazy eaters. Plus we had a great time with Dale that day.


I've never eaten at Le celliers for the package. Kari is a very very picky eater and only eats from the kids menu, so spending 50$ on a 7$ kids meal is not very economical. But since she's an adult, she would have to pay the adult fare at a buffet no matter what she eats. Plus she can eat all the mac and cheese she wants. So eating at Garden Grill was the best option for us.
That's why when we're on the dining plan, I book all buffet/character meals for the table service, because on or off the dining plan, she'd still be charged the adult fare.

 

[Andrea from PA]

I've gone once -- and I would not consider it without the package.

Not all my kids wanted to go, so what we did was book dinner package for 2 -- DH & DS2 did the dinner, then swapped & my DD & I took the tickets to attend the CP. DS1 was just happy for more ride time with each group.

This saved us $ & got the folks who wanted to see the show good seating.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Sounds like if I don't want to take my chances, I am going to have to cough up the cash for the dinner package. I was planning on going to the first showing anyway so at least that package will be slightly less. This is one of the reasons for going at Christmas. We went for a much longer trip several years ago and were travelling with a family member (never ever again) she refused to go to the CP because she only wanted to go if her soap opera star was the narrator. No one wanted to make waves with this family memeber at the time - this has changed since- so we felt we couldn't go either. I always regretting having gone to WDW at Christmas and not just putting my foot down and saying "fine if you don't want to go, but we are going". So yes, this is really one of the reasons for making this trip.

Thanks for telling of your experiences!

 

[budbeerlady]

Thanks for all the advice. We really, really want to see this. Dont care who, I just regret not seeing it a few years ago when I could have.

My drawback is the 2 dining credits it takes but if that is what we need to do I guess that is how it will go....

 

[SandrA9810]

if it's going to take two credits, book the most expensive place you can... Live it up as much as possible.

if you're paying out of pocket go with the lowest tier price at lunch time.

It seems crazy now, but when you're walking past the line of people waiting hours to get in, you'll be happy. Of course i do think the person there has a greater effect on how big the turn out can be. But at christmas time, things will be crazy all around.