Candlelight Processional Costs!!!

[tomandrobin]

Is anyone else upset with the costs of the Candlelight Processional this year?

And the DDP requirement is now 2 TS credits? Last year it was one credit!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Is anyone else upset with the costs of the Candlelight Processional this year? And the DDP requirement is now 2 TS credits? Last year it was one credit!

1) I think it is a good thing.
2) The CP dinner has always cost more than just the meal.
3) But, DDP got it for the same price (aka, coupons).
4) This squeezed out regular folks from getting CP packages.
5) The 2-coupon charge should greatly reduce the popularity from DDP.
6) This would also make it easier to get a seat.

7) Unfortunately, because of DDP, the cash price went up.
8) Oh well, I guess one can't have everything.

 

[goofy4tink]

Am I upset? Yep. While I undestand that we always paid a bit more for the CP package, doubling it isn't fair!! It used to be the one TS credit on the dining plan...so you could figure that it was basically costin you about $25 or a bit more...if you take the one day price for the dining plan and subtracted the snack cost and the cs cost..you are left with the TS cost (sort of). Now?? No way is a dinner at any of those included restaurants worth $60...not even if they give us 'preferred viewing of IllumiNations' that night. Perhaps they should have just taken it off the dining plan roster....made everyone pay for it oop. I can understand the impact of free dining on the CP package..I really can. But now they (Disney) are penelizing everyone else because they (again, Disney) decided to offer free dining at this time. Criminy....what's next?? From $30 to $45 for dinner at Garden Grill. Does that make sense??? So, we're actually paying $15 to get 'free' preferred viewing??
And $60 for Tier 3 spots??? I don't think so.
Yep..they just should have taken it off the dining plan, rather than make everyone pay through the nose. I'm not truly sure what I'll be doing. I was planning on going twice..once with a friend who has never been, and again with another group who goes every year. But now, I'm just not sure. I know I won't be going twice. It's the time with my friend that concerns me.

 

[I Love Thumper]

I'm not on the DDP, and I do think the prices are still reasonable for the CP dinner package. Look at all the food you get for the price, plus preferred seating at shows that more times than not turn people away. It's a special package. You have to expect to pay a premium for it.

 

[vicki_c]

As someone who paid OOP last year, I'm glad they made it 2 credits. I think it seems more in line with the 2 TS credits that are required for the signatures, since it's not just a meal but the reserved show seating as well. The line to get into the CP (w/the package) was absolutely crazy last year, and we had to get in line WAY too early for buying a package. I hope the increased DDP price cuts down on some of the attendance.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm Goofy4Tink's friend, and have enjoyed spending an evening at Epcot having dinner and watching the candlelight processional with her the past few years. This year, I am choosing not to do the candlelight processional for the first time in 8 December trips to WDW.

Charging two TS credits for the dining plan is a big rip off. I would pay out of pocket before I would use two dining credits for the CP. I also think it's ridiculous that they are charging two TS credits for the tier one options. The tier 3 price is too high.

This year, I plan on doing my own budget CP dinner package. I will get some counter service, and sit at the table outside the Liberty Inn, and listen to the CP.

 

[tomandrobin]

I'm Goofy4Tink's friend, and have enjoyed spending an evening at Epcot having dinner and watching the candlelight processional with her the past few years. This year, I am choosing not to do the candlelight processional for the first time in 8 December trips to WDW.

Charging two TS credits for the dining plan is a big rip off. I would pay out of pocket before I would use two dining credits for the CP. I also think it's ridiculous that they are charging two TS credits for the tier one options. The tier 3 price is too high.

This year, I plan on doing my own budget CP dinner package. I will get some counter service, and sit at the table outside the Liberty Inn, and listen to the CP.

Garden grill for two TS credits is laughable and you still don't get an appetizer!

Save a seat for me and Robin, we won't be paying that upcharge for something that Disney keeps advertising that is free!

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not on the DDP, and I do think the prices are still reasonable for the CP dinner package. Look at all the food you get for the price, plus preferred seating at shows that more times than not turn people away. It's a special package. You have to expect to pay a premium for it.

Just because they included some preferred IllumiNations viewing does not make it worthy of two TS credits. Unless they make those restaurants two TS credits all the time, it is not a good use of money. Basically, Disney needed a way to make the CP package less desirable to those on free dining...and this is how they did it. They added some 'preferred' standing room for IllumiNations and are now trying to tell us what a great deal we are getting for our money. I'm sorry but I don't think that any of those restaurants is worth $60..not even with 'preferred' viewing for IllumiNations.

I'm Goofy4Tink's friend, and have enjoyed spending an evening at Epcot having dinner and watching the candlelight processional with her the past few years. This year, I am choosing not to do the candlelight processional for the first time in 8 December trips to WDW.

Charging two TS credits for the dining plan is a big rip off. I would pay out of pocket before I would use two dining credits for the CP. I also think it's ridiculous that they are charging two TS credits for the tier one options. The tier 3 price is too high.

This year, I plan on doing my own budget CP dinner package. I will get some counter service, and sit at the table outside the Liberty Inn, and listen to the CP.

Yep...that's what we'll be doing. I still can't decide what I want to do the week before with Peggy though. She deserves a good first experience and I resent Disney for making it so expensive to do that.

 

[CarolMN]

As someone who paid OOP last year, I'm glad they made it 2 credits. I think it seems more in line with the 2 TS credits that are required for the signatures, since it's not just a meal but the reserved show seating as well. The line to get into the CP (w/the package) was absolutely crazy last year, and we had to get in line WAY too early for buying a package. I hope the increased DDP price cuts down on some of the attendance.

ITA, especially since free dining has been extended into a significant portion of December.

Keep in mind that this year the package also includes a non-alcoholic beverage and an appetizer even if you are using credits as well as a reserved area for IllumiNations viewing.

 

[RMulieri]

I think it stinks ..Sorry but none of the restaurant choices are worth the cost nor the 2 TS credits and that includes Le Cellier.This just cemented the decision for me, If I feel like seeing it I will wait standby , but most likely I will skip it and use 2TS at Narccossees or Yachtsman Steakhouse.

 

[DVCPAT]

As someone who paid OOP last year, I'm glad they made it 2 credits. I think it seems more in line with the 2 TS credits that are required for the signatures, since it's not just a meal but the reserved show seating as well. The line to get into the CP (w/the package) was absolutely crazy last year, and we had to get in line WAY too early for buying a package. I hope the increased DDP price cuts down on some of the attendance.

Would you be OK with Disney linking all the popular show seats to 2TS credits? Why not add a few shows to reduce the crowd levels? I’m afraid Disney is reducing customer service, quality and innovation to increase profits. Raising prices through gimmicks will not appeal to the majority of people. Short term, it will generate some profit. Long term, it will sour peoples opinion of WDW.

 

[Fortune1211]

I'm sad too as this is our first time doing Christmas stuff at WDW. We're not getting free dining but did pay for the dining plan. I had the rest of my party all psyched up for this show and dinner at Biergarten and now We'll eat in Germany and then hope for the best for the stand-by line, if it doesn't work out we'll be hanging out with everyone else in America!


Shannon

 

[wdwfan16]

As someone who paid OOP last year, I'm glad they made it 2 credits. I think it seems more in line with the 2 TS credits that are required for the signatures, since it's not just a meal but the reserved show seating as well. The line to get into the CP (w/the package) was absolutely crazy last year, and we had to get in line WAY too early for buying a package. I hope the increased DDP price cuts down on some of the attendance.

ITA, especially since free dining has been extended into a significant portion of December.

Keep in mind that this year the package also includes a non-alcoholic beverage and an appetizer even if you are using credits as well as a reserved area for IllumiNations viewing.

ITA with both.



The price OOP is:

Tier 1
Seating 1 - $32.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $17.99 (Lunch)
Seating 2 & 3 -$44.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $22.99 (Dinner)

Dinner ONLY: The Garden Grill Restaurant - Land Pavilion (lunch is not available at this location)
Lunch and Dinner: Biergarten - Germany Pavilion

Tier 2
Seating 1 - $38.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $12.99 (Lunch)
Seating 2 & 3 - $44.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $14.99 (Dinner)

San Angel Inn - Mexico Pavilion
Restaurant Marrakesh - Morocco Pavilion
Nine Dragons - China Pavilion
Rose & Crown - United Kingdom Pavilion

Tier 3
Seating 1 - $51.99 plus tax & gratuity /ages 3-9 $13.99
Seating 2 & 3 - $59.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $15.99 (Dinner)

Chefs de France - France Pavilion
Tutto Italia - Italy Pavilion
Le Cellier Steakhouse - Canada Pavilion
Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining - Japan Pavilion
Coral Reef - The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion




You want to use only 1 TS when the OOP is $60? 2TS is the correct amount to charge.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I am not a bit surprised this has happened. The lines for CP have really been out of hand, and get worse every year. When it is that popular of a demand, prices will increase.
I never thought it worth the money before, so passed.
Like a dinner show, CP just depends on how much importance one places on it if they want to pay it or not.

 

[Fortune1211]

Do you really think Tier 1 is worth 2 TS credits? Really? It's not like they're going to be throwing filet mignon on the buffet at Biergarten just for the people that booked the CP package, kwim? Biergarten and GG are NOT 2 TS credit restaurants, far from it. And I don't care about the "standing room only" viewing for Illuminations, I'd rather pick a spot on a bench and sit! Again, we're not there for free dining, we paid for our dining plan.



Shannon

 

[disnut8]

No one has to do the dinner option for the Candlelight Processional. No one has to spend money to see the show. It seems like in recent years, that was the only way to "guarantee" you were going to see the show. Therefore, the average guest to Disney World was getting shut out unless they spent hours standing in the stand by line and then maybe they didn't even get in at all. And the number of people with the dinner option was getting larger and larger with those people also having to wait in that line for hours. And what does all that mean for Disney World? People standing around doing nothing. No one wants to see that in a theme park.

Maybe the solution for everyone is to simply drop the dinner package option all together. Put everyone back on the same playing field. First come, first served.

 

[Luv2Roam]

In a perfect world, everything would be free.
Unfortunately it is what it is. CP is extremely popular. For those who won't pay it, there are those who will. And I am sure someone's spreadsheets, graphs and reports somewhere show this.

 

[katdralion]

What gets me is that it's supposed to be free! They should just charge for the show and be done with it or do away with the dining package altogether and give everyone a fair shot.

 

[WEDWDW]

With the price increase,I don't know if it will be possible this year,but last year,my CPDP meal at Tutto Italia would have cost a few dollars MORE out of pocket than the CPDP price.(I ordered some of the most expensive items).

 

[floridascgirl]

We are going to pay OOP for the package. Which restaurant (Tier 1 or Tier 2) do you feel would give the most bang for the buck? I've read all the menus, but I would rather have opinions from those who have actually experienced the places.

Please forgive me for posting this question again. When I asked a day or so ago, the thread had already kinda fizzled out.