candlelight processional - package or not?

[buzz2400]

I am debating whether to wing it and wait in the standby line or do the meal package. I will be in a wheelchair and don't care if my family leaves me in the standby line so that they can explore countries. My understanding is that you still have to wait in a line for the reserved seating. What time do they start standing in line for the standby line. If I don't get a seat, would I still be able to stand behind the people and see the show or does the CMs make you move. Any insight would help.

 

[Robo]

I am debating whether to wing it and wait in the standby line or do the meal package. I will be in a wheelchair and don't care if my family leaves me in the standby line so that they can explore countries. My understanding is that you still have to wait in a line for the reserved seating.
1. What time do they start standing in line for the standby line.
2. If I don't get a seat, would I still be able to stand behind the people and see the show
3. or does the CMs make you move. Any insight would help.

Depending on the popularity of the narrator that performance:

1. Standby line can go to 3 hours or longer.
Reserved area wait, 45 min.
2. Yes.
3. Nope.
However, the view from outside the theater can have severely limited sight-lines,
especially if you are seated.
But, the sound will still be very good.

 

[purple figment]

Who is the narrator? The very popular ones will have a stand by line starting very early. One year we were there when it was Neil Patrick Harris and Whoopi Goldberg. On both days the stand by line started at 11 AM when World Showcase opened.

You can hear the program very easily from outside the theater. We've listened from the tables outside of Liberty Inn. Seeing it, however, is difficult unless you are near the front of the area just outside the theater.

 

[Delirium]

We've never done the Candlelight Processional before, but are going to try and do so this year. We're winging it. The meal package came out after we had already made our dining reservations, the options available did not fit our schedule, and I don't think the kids would eat enough food to justify the cost anyway. All that said, I'm much more interested in the music anyway. And, 'hearing' the narration is more critical to me than seeing who is doing it. Definitely can't see me waiting 2-3 hours just to ensure a seat.

 

[adamreisinger]

I generally recommend getting the dining package if you can swing it cost-wise, because the standby wait times can get very lengthy for the show, as others have mentioned. The most cost-effective option would be to do the Ale & Compass breakfast, which is just $38 per adult. When I went with my parents a couple years ago, we did one of the breakfast options, spent the day at Epcot, then ended the day with the show and it was pretty good from both a cost and time management perspective.

 

[deedubb]

I always recommend a dining package if available and funds allow. The only time I think it is a waste of money is for parades.

You spent a lot of money for entry into the park. Why waste several hours standing in line?

 

[lolomarie]

We did the dinning package because this was a must do show for me and I didn't want to risk it. I have no experience not doing the package, so I can't comment on that. I really enjoyed the ease of it all and felt the value was there for what we paid and received. We did the Biergarten lunch.

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

I’m doing it for the first time this year because we will be there between Christmas and New Years and I’m scared of the crowds already!

 

[DisDad-]

We booked the package last year and have decided to pass on it for our trip this coming December. I felt like we could have saved money on our meal as there was plenty of space just outside of the stands with decent viewing where we could still hear the narration and music clearly.

 

[jaysmom4285]

We've been going to WDW in early December for years and always take in the CP without a dinner package. My experience has been that, on a weeknight with a narrator who is less well known, it's usually not hard to get a seat. YMMV, of course, but we've had very good luck that way.

 

[nascargirl]

The year we did the standby line for Neil Patrick Harris and Gary Sinse we lined up 1 hr before the last show of the evening. This year we are doing the dining package for Pat Sajak and may try the standby line for Gary Sinse.

 

[CinderellaDream]

We've done the CP dining package twice now, once with kids and once without. The show is visually beautiful but I would be just as happy standing outside and listening outside the theatre as opposed to waiting in either the reserved line for 45+ minutes or the SB line for even more than that. One of those things where I'm so glad we did it but probably won't do it again.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

CP is the only dining package I consider worth the money. It's the highlight of my Christmas trips!

 

[disneygolfer1985]

The year we did the standby line for Neil Patrick Harris and Gary Sinse we lined up 1 hr before the last show of the evening. This year we are doing the dining package for Pat Sajak and may try the standby line for Gary Sinse.

I think Gary Sinise is one of the best narrators. He is easily in my top 3. I saw him the first year he did it in 2000 and he was fantastic. Very into the readings and emotional. It was an awesome experience.

 

[buzz2400]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[kniquy]

You figure you have to eat anyways so might as well eat, pay a little more and not have to spend your afternoon waiting in line. You can certainly see what dining packages are available and see which might be your "cheapest" option. I do believe the dining package time might dictate the show you see, which may or may not make a difference to you. Not sure if you book breakfast if you can call to have your packaged switched to a later show.