We opted for the dinner package at the Biergarten. We have AR at 6:30 and have preferred seating at 5. The show is about 45 min.
We did this same thing last year and it was perfect. There were 7 of us and we got front row center! It was really magical! We were able to line up before anyone else. I think we waited about an hour although that wasn't nescesary to get good seats since we had bought the dinner package. The people with the passes are seated first. We just wanted to get to the front.
You can get good seats w/o the package. You just have to wait a little longer.