Candlelight Processional Dining Packages can be booked starting October 29

[erionm]

It's been YEARS since we've done a Candlelight booking so memories of how it ran is muddy to me -- and it could've changed since then. Based on a screenshot above, it looks like you choose a dining time tied to the show? Do you then receive a ticket/wristband/handstamp or something that gets you into the show tied to your reservation?

Yes, when you make the CP package reservation, you will know both your dining time and CP show time. When you pay for your meal at the restaurant, you will receive your credentials (a sticker) that indicates CP show time and it's stamped with the date.

Also, how does the Regal Eagle same day reservations work? Do you need to head to Regal Eagle to make those reservations? If so, does anyone know when the Regal Eagle "opens" for you to go and make the reservation I person? Or do you do them through the app?

Regal Eagles typically opens at 11:45 am and you check for availability at the register where you place your order. If available and you purchase, they will give you your credentials when you pay.

 

[NicoleLarson]

We have a party of 5 but 2 do not want to go to the show. Should I make the reservation for 5 or do a 3 and 2 and ask to sit together at the restaurant?

 

[NYCgrrl]

We have a party of 5 but 2 do not want to go to the show. Should I make the reservation for 5 or do a 3 and 2 and ask to sit together at the restaurant?

Doesn’t make difference how you sit but I’m assuming you mean that three of you want the dining package and two of you don’t . So when the meal is over three of you will get the CP tickets but the others will not.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Doesn’t make difference how you sit but I’m assuming you mean that three of you want the dining package and two of you don’t . So when the meal is over three of you will get the CP tickets but the others will not.

Correct, 5 people want to eat together but only 3 want the package. So when I make the reservation do I make it for 3? And then make another reservation for 2 (who do not want the package), then ask to sit together? I'm assuming if I make the reservation for 5 then I'll have to pay for 5 packages, correct?

 

[R&RsMom]

Of course the weekend we're going features Whoopi Goldberg as the narrator. Pass.

We saw her 2 years ago and she was great.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Correct, 5 people want to eat together but only 3 want the package. So when I make the reservation do I make it for 3? And then make another reservation for 2 (who do not want the package), then ask to sit together? I'm assuming if I make the reservation for 5 then I'll have to pay for 5 packages, correct?

Depends on whether the CP offer is prepaid or not. If it isn’t prepaid just book a table for 5. If you have to pay for 3, book a table for 3, then book a table for 2.

 

[erionm]

Depends on whether the CP offer is prepaid or not. If it isn’t prepaid just book a table for 5. If you have to pay for 3, book a table for 3, then book a table for 2.

It's not prepaid, but the restaurant might require you to pay the package price for 5 if that's what the CP package reservation is for.

 

[NYCgrrl]

It's not prepaid, but the restaurant might require you to pay the package price for 5 if that's what the CP package reservation is for.

If it’s not prepaid how can the restaurant require you to prepay?
I’m not getting it but for the sake of less confusion just make ADRs for 3 and 2.

 

[tetera]

.

 

[Disneydawg74]

If it’s not prepaid how can the restaurant require you to prepay?
I’m not getting it but for the sake of less confusion just make ADRs for 3 and 2.

I think that’s the best idea. The Candlelight package is a fixed price situation and if you booked for five they could say everyone is on the package (there’s a bit of a premium built into the price). I must say hats off to all of you who have to work to accommodate so many different preferences amongst your groups when you plan your trips. I’m always in awe.

 

[djbogue]

Tomorrow is the big day. I get to get up at 4:30 am ct

 

[srdavidson]

I just got a notification from Mouse Dining and clicked on it. Got all the way to the confirm page and it kicked me out! I almost had one! Apparently another glitch.

 

[chiburple]

I have a very silly question: for those of us planning to book in the app, how do you refresh the page? Pulling down doesn't seem to do anything, but maybe it does?

 

[Artygal90]

Tomorrow is the big day. I get to get up at 4:30 am ct

I have a glitch reservation that accidentally dropped last week. I know I *should* wake up super early to secure a “real” one….but oh man I don’t want to get up at 4:30 am tomorrow. One reason I’m planning to use a TA for our next trip!

 

[gracelrm]

So to make reservations for the CP dining package - do I use My Disney Experience? Will a something appear that says CPDining Package or do I go to book dining just like a normal dining reservation. I haven't done a CP dining package since MDE came around.

 

[ajwilhorn]

So to make reservations for the CP dining package - do I use My Disney Experience? Will a something appear that says CPDining Package or do I go to book dining just like a normal dining reservation. I haven't done a CP dining package since MDE came around.

I'm wondering the same.

 

[shaunacb]

What do folks think is the best value for these dining packages? In terms of what the food would normally cost you compared to the package price?

 

[NicoleLarson]

What do folks think is the best value for these dining packages? In terms of what the food would normally cost you compared to the package price?

Chefs de France, you can actually come out ahead. Seems like most places are $5-10 more, except Japan restaurants. Definitely the worst by far.

 

[Artygal90]

What do folks think is the best value for these dining packages? In terms of what the food would normally cost you compared to the package price?

I have a spreadsheet for this! It's hard because not all of the restaurants have the same offerings - Garden Grill and Biergarten are buffets, Spice Road Table is small plates, Rose & Crown is a regular restaurant - and without knowing what all the inclusions are, especially at places without straightforward entree choices (e.g. Shiki Sai) it's hard to compares apples to oranges. That said, here is what I came up with for our short list of restaurants we considered booking. For the "Non-Package Price" at restaurants that aren't prix-fixe, I took the most expensive entree, dessert, and alcoholic drink that could reasonably be expected to be included in a dining package to come up with a total:

Restaurant	Estimated Non-Package Lunch/Dinner Price	2024 Candlelight Processional ("CP") Lunch/Dinner Package Price	CP "Premium" Adds $___ to your meal
Spice Road Table*	$49	$61	$12
Rose & Crown	$53	$66	$13
Biergarten	$49	$71	$22
Garden Grill	$62	$84	$22
Le Cellier	$90	$104	$14
Shiki-Sai	$74	$105	$31
Teppan Edo	$66	$105	$39

* This is based on splitting the cost of the tagine and shared dessert platter 3 ways for my party of 3 - your math may vary. Also I sure hope they include more than one tagine and dessert plate if your party is bigger! My math could also be off on Teppan Edo and Shiki-Sai - I had a hard time looking at their menus and figuring out what would be included as an entree on the dining package menu.

For us, we picked Biergarten since it has 1) live music, 2) festive Christmas decor, 3) cuisine we don't get to try often at home, 4) dessert AND appetizers available at the buffet (not an inclusion at the regular restaurants), and 5) we have first-timers in my party and I think it's a classic Epcot meal. However, if it was just up to me, I would be taking the opportunity to try out Le Cellier, since it's only about $14 more expensive than a normal dinner there would cost. Spice Road Table *seems* like a good value, but since it's small plates I'm not sure you're actually getting enough food to justify the cost....at least looking at the pictures I think I would be hungry after eating there.

Edited to add a short rant: I didn't even run the math on the Creperie because I'm annoyed it's a sit-down restaurant at all, let alone being sold as a dining package. Crepes are street food! They are meant to be cheap, sold from a cart, and eaten hot on a park bench. I'm sure they're delicious but man I'm annoyed the new crepe place is table service, it just feels wrong. #rantover

 

[Thoreauaway]

Thanks for doing the math!! Not doing the Candlelight Processional (and very relieved that I don't need to be a part of the throngs frantically refreshing on the app tomorrow morning) but I always appreciate a good value breakdown.

rant: I didn't even run the math on the Creperie because I'm annoyed it's a sit-down restaurant at all, let alone being sold as a dining package. Crepes are street food! They are meant to be cheap, sold from a cart, and eaten hot on a park bench. I'm sure they're delicious but man I'm annoyed the new crepe place is table service, it just feels wrong. #rantover

It's interesting because although it's called La Creperie de Paris, the restaurant actually serves Brittany-style crepes/galettes. In Bretagne there actually are many creperies which are sit down restaurants, including several Michelin-starred or Bib Gourmand places. The prix fixe menu La Creperie offers is very similar to what is offered at similar restaurants in France, where you get a starter soup/salad, savoury buckwheat crepe (galette), a cider, +/- a sweet crepe for dessert. So on this front at least, I'm not bothered by the authenticity

That said from the reviews I've read of the place its crepes are mediocre at best... so perhaps they would've been better off as a street stand type of place.