Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

[osu2k1]

I am really looking forward to this! I think we might do the lunch package at Biergarten, so we don't have to use 2 credits (I am planning on doing CRT for the kids, and that's 2). I really hope my boys are good for it. I really want them to enjoy it!

 

[TDC Nala]

You do have to use 2 credits for the lunch package at Biergarten. All CP packages have been 2 credits, regardless of the restaurant chosen and whether the meal was lunch or dinner.

 

[haPevraftr]

This is our first time going to WDW in December (and may be our last) so this is a must do for our group. We are limited to one night that all will be there at the same time (Dec 30) before CP ends. If I call on the day that the Dining Reservations open (and have flexibility of restaurants and show times) will I most likely get a reservation? That having been said, is there a thread assigned to watching for the release (or upcoming release) date of the reservations? I would love to know so that I can subscribe to it. Anyone with CP dining experience, I would love to know details. TIA!

 

[Indians24]

This is our first time going to WDW in December (and may be our last) so this is a must do for our group. We are limited to one night that all will be there at the same time (Dec 30) before CP ends. If I call on the day that the Dining Reservations open (and have flexibility of restaurants and show times) will I most likely get a reservation? That having been said, is there a thread assigned to watching for the release (or upcoming release) date of the reservations? I would love to know so that I can subscribe to it. Anyone with CP dining experience, I would love to know details. TIA!

I can't speak from experience with crowds the week between Christmas and New Year's, but last year I attended the CP the first weekend of December and didn't book a package until October. I think pretty much every restaurant and time slot was open. So, if you book early on, I don't think you should have much trouble. If I recall correctly, there are three shows every night and three time slots for dinner reservations. The show you attend depends on what time you eat your meal. When you go for dinner, you get a sticker to wear that shows you have reserved seating for the show. There are two lines for the CP, one for people with the dinner package and another one for standby. Those with the CP package are seated first, and I think the standby line is allowed entry about 15 minutes prior to the show starting. The lines get VERY long VERY early, so if you want to make sure you get to see the show, the dinner package is a must. I was so glad I did it; the CP really was beautiful. Just a tip, though. It's still daylight for the first show, so the decorations don't look as nice. As for when they begin booking packages, I don't know of a website that you can subscribe to. I'd keep checking websites like allears.net and wdwinfo.com because I'm sure they will announce the dates, and I think it starts in July.

 

[erinscreen]

Just FYI--they have started booking narrators:

Schedule & Narrators†
American Gardens Theatre (5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 8:15 p.m.)
November 23 to November 25, 2012 — Isabella Rossellini
November 26 to November 29, 2012 — Neil Patrick Harris
November 30 to December 1, 2012 — Whoopi Goldberg
December 2 to December 4, 2012 — TBA
December 5 to December 7, 2012 — TBA
December 8 to December 10, 2012 — TBA
December 11 to December 13, 2012 — Jodi Benson
December 14 to December 16, 2012 — Olivia Newton John
December 17 to December 19, 2012 — TBA
December 20 to December 22, 2012 — Trace Adkins
December 23 to December 25, 2012 — Gary Sinise
December 26 to December 28, 2012 — TBA
December 29 to December 30, 2012 — Marlee Matlin / Jack Jason

and here is the link:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/candlelight-processional/

 

[TDC Nala]

There is a watch thread for the dining package on the Reservations sub board.

 

[kristin08]

So if you buy the CP package you are guaranteed a seat right? I really don't want to wait in line for hours before hand. But I think 20-30 minutes before would be tolerable. But if I get the package as long as I am there before they let the stand by people in (15 minutes early correct?) I will get a seat?

 

[TDC Nala]

So if you buy the CP package you are guaranteed a seat right? I really don't want to wait in line for hours before hand. But I think 20-30 minutes before would be tolerable. But if I get the package as long as I am there before they let the stand by people in (15 minutes early correct?) I will get a seat?

They give you a pass so that you can enter the theater before the general public. If you get there after the general public enters, there's no guarantee you will get a seat. Even the package people line up, but they won't fill the theater. When to line up depends on how good a seat you want.

I do not know at what time they allow the public to enter.

 

[RMulieri]

They give you a pass so that you can enter the theater before the general public. If you get there after the general public enters, there's no guarantee you will get a seat. Even the package people line up, but they won't fill the theater. When to line up depends on how good a seat you want.

I do not know at what time they allow the public to enter.

yup
I have seen people with the pkg come so late that even though they had the pkg, there was no seats really left since they let in all the pkg people and standby line already.If you want a GOOD seat get in line early.The only thing your pkg gets you is a seat if you get there on time.I know some of the pkg people will line up about 45mins-1hr before for popular narrators.Standby guests I have seen line up as early as opening of World Showcase ( this was for Neil Patrick harris and Stephen Curtis Chapman both extremely popular)

 

[tiggore91]

Can you book the CP online or do I have to call on June 26th?

 

[mmouse50]

I have always called the day they start booking.

 

[gr8vthsfam]

We will not have the dining plan, but want to see the later CP show. So I assume that we will need to eat a dinner vs lunch correct? So then my question is do we pay a set fee for CP or is the fee just the cost of our meals?
Thanks.

 

[siskaren]

We will not have the dining plan, but want to see the later CP show. So I assume that we will need to eat a dinner vs lunch correct? So then my question is do we pay a set fee for CP or is the fee just the cost of our meals?
Thanks.

There are 3 shows per night. If want to do the package with the 5:00 show, you would do lunch. If you want to do the package with the 6:45 or 8:15 show, you would do dinner. The cost is for both your meal and a seat for the show. Check the link in post #4 for more information.

 

[cruisingkat]

We will not have the dining plan, but want to see the later CP show. So I assume that we will need to eat a dinner vs lunch correct? So then my question is do we pay a set fee for CP or is the fee just the cost of our meals?
Thanks.

It is a set fee for the package - and you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert off the regular menu except those restaurants offering buffet meals.
The price is different depending on the package.
We booked a package for early Dec last year 3 days after bookings opened and ended up with our third restaurant choice as the others were already fully booked. And even if you book a package for a date based on the narrator for that date, that doesn't guarantee that you will see that narrator. We booked for a day Whoopi was supposed to narrate - she ended up cancelling and Geena Davis replaced her. By the time we learned she cancelled, we couldn't change our date and get one of our restaurant choices.
To answer an earlier post - The narrators change every 2 to 3 days,

 

[kellyg403]

I have only done the CP once, and that was several years ago. I loved it, but we just haven't been able to fit it in. This year we are planning to. I noticed that you have posted that the 5:00 showing requires a lunch reservation. We were hoping to do the middle showing and eat AFTER the CP and head back to the resort. Are all adr's required to be before your reserved show?

Kelly

 

[siskaren]

I have only done the CP once, and that was several years ago. I loved it, but we just haven't been able to fit it in. This year we are planning to. I noticed that you have posted that the 5:00 showing requires a lunch reservation. We were hoping to do the middle showing and eat AFTER the CP and head back to the resort. Are all adr's required to be before your reserved show?

Kelly

Yes, you have to eat before the CP. You used to be able to eat after for the first or second show, but the problem was that you would have to go the restaurant before the show to get your ticket for the guaranteed seating area and then go back after the show to eat. I would assume most people found that a bit inconvenient.

 

[TDC Nala]

The packages are tied to the showtime. If you book lunch you will receive passes to attend the 5 PM show. If you want the middle show you'll be assigned to a dinner reservation to take place prior to the show. They won't let you adjust it so you do the show first, and then eat.

 

[mike the canuck]

So is June 26th the first the day to start booking CLP ADRs?