Candlelight Processional Dinner Package ?

[MDM]

I have a few questions about this dinner package.

1 - Is there a difference in the seating between a Tier 1 dinner package and a Tier 3 dinner package?

2. Do you have to eat before the show in order to get your ticket for seating?

3. We have a Dec. 18-23rd vacation planned. Is seating difficult during this time period?

4. Does it get rained out?

Thanks for your help!

MDM

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Seating is on a first come first served basis in the theater, it doesn't matter where you eat. You can eat before or after the show, you pick up your package "vouchers" at the park entrance at guest services. During the time frame you will be there I would highly suggest the package.

 

[xterratri]

Echoing the previous reply. We did the package at Garden Grill-cheapest tier but we wanted the character meal anyway on Dec 16th last year, with a great first meal at the world and great seats for the show. We enjoyed CP so much we tried going a second time later that week by waiting in the normal line- no joy lining up 45 minutes before the show. Maybe if we had lined up earlier, but that's not how I like spending my time at the World. Our dates this year are Dec 17th-24th so we will definitely get the package again and are actually planning on getting it twice- Garden Grill and Biergarten. You pick your dining time but if you want the later shows, you will likely eat before and early shows will eat after. I liked the later shows because I thought it was more impressive in full darkness. It probably could rain out in a torrential downpour but it is covered. Enjoy the holidays at the World. Any more ??? just PM me. I have pictures but don't know how to insert them here.

I do have a question though. Any idea if we will be able to use the DDE or DVC or AP discounts for this? You pay when you reserve it and we will do it no matter what but....

 

[John Dobbertin]

Have a hard time seeing the price of the WDW dining/candlelight is worth it. We saw this four times in December '04 (early in the month & then later). Always did it in the "standby" & always everyone in the standby was seated. Look at the prices for the dining combo vs regular restaurant prices. Is it worth a 45-minute wait? I think it is.

 

[xterratri]

I reiterate- Everyone in standby is NOT always seated. We did not get in for the second show we tried going to later that week. I may not have made that clear. In addition, the "cheap" tier really isn't anymore expensive than dining at those restaurants anyway. The others, I don't know enough about to say.

 

[DebbieB]

I've done the package 3 or 4 times. I've added up the cost of the appetizer, entree, dessert and drink and it usually comes up about to the cost of the ticket. However, we usually don't eat all that normally, we usually split meals. Since we stay at BWV, we take the package meal leftovers and dessert back to the room, we eat after the show. There are no discounts for the package. Since I now have DDE, I think this year we will take our chances on standby unless there is a popular narrator that we definitely want to see (going Nov 26 to Dec 2). We saw the show once on the package and twice standby last year (3 different narrators) and we had better seats with standby because they were in the center, the package seats were in the front section but on the far left.

From what I've heard, closer to Christmas it does get more crowded and makes standby harder.

It does sometimes get rained out if there is lightning (rare that time of year). Not sure what happens then.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Tier 1: Adults $28.99; Child (3-11) $11.99 (plus tax)
Tier 2: Adults $37.99; Child $11.99 (plus tax)
Tier 3: Adults $44.99; Child $11.99 (plus tax)
"Prices do not include lobster entrees. Gratuity is included. Non-alcoholic beverage is included."
Repeating myself from another thread: We did see Jim Caviezel (12/5-12/7) narrating & did it standby. Everyone in that line was seated -- & those standing in that line with us who had been to the event many times said they had never seen the standby line as long as it was that night.

 

[Sunkissed]

We used the CP package last year on 12/3 (Kirk Franklin narrating). Tried for Le Cellier, but ended up at Rose & Crown, which we loved. The cost was reasonable only a dollar or two more than if the meal was priced separately.

Just to add: If you are staying on-site, your resort may have your package materials available at check-in. This happened to us at CBR last year, which was a pleasant surprise. We received a name tag type thing with our date and showtime, plus a reservation ticket for our meal.

I would recommend the package, but for some it may not be cost-efficient. We will be booking the package again in 2006.