Candlelight Processional Questions

[Piwacket's Mom]

Hi, this will be my first trip and I have been searching for information regarding the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. I will be at Disney mid December and want to see this show. I can't tolerate a lot of standing so I now plan to use a wheelchair that day. My question is regarding whether or not to use the dining package option.

1. I read somewhere there is only seating for guests who did the dining package. Am I correct?
2. I read the wait to get into the event site is equally long for those using dining package as those not. Am I still correct?
3. If only dining package guests get to sit, what are the others doing? Is it some type of arena?

Any information will be very helpful and appreciated. thanks

 

[Robo]

1. I read somewhere there is only seating for guests who did the dining package. Am I correct?
2. I read the wait to get into the event site is equally long for those using dining package as those not. Am I still correct?
3. If only dining package guests get to sit, what are the others doing?
4. Is it some type of arena?

1. Not true.
2. No.
3. The info that only dining pkg. guests get seats is not true.
4. It's in an outdoor (but partially covered) theater.
Guests who DO have the dining pkg. will be admitted earlier than those standing in line,
and DP guests will have a better choice of seating.
DP guests should arrive in the waiting area about 45+ minutes before show-time.

Dining Pkg. is a good plan if you are interested in seeing the CP.
A lunch DP is less expensive than a dinner DP.

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

1. Not true.
2. No.
3. The info that only dining pkg. guests get seats is not true.
4. It's in an outdoor (but partially covered) theater.
Guests who DO have the dining pkg. will be admitted earlier than those standing in line,
and DP guests will have a better choice of seating.
DP guests should arrive in the waiting area about 45+ minutes before show-time.

Dining Pkg. is a good plan if you are interested in seeing the CP.
A lunch DP is less expensive than a dinner DP.

thank you so much Robo. I am working toward lowering my dining package and adding days. there is just too much to see.

 

[Robo]

thank you so much Robo. I am working toward lowering my dining package and adding days. there is just too much to see.

It depends on the popularity of the CP narrator and the day and date of the CP in question as to
how many guests will line up, standby, to see a given show.

Last year, Disney experimented with handing out "come back later cards" to guests waiting in line in the afternoon for that night's CP.

That way, the guests with cards had an "appointment time" to come back later that night to be admitted to the CP performance.
(Rather than just spending hours waiting in an ever-growing standby line.)

I don't know if they will be doing this for the CP in 2015.

 

[asbyrneva]

Last year the Package line wait for Neil Patrick Harris was really long so as Robo says it depends on narrator. Others nights might not be as long, but some standby did get seated that night although I would say not great seats.

As Robo also said package with lunch is a nice alternative if you are willing to do a sit down for lunch.

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

All this information has helped me a lot. I appreciate it. I saw those lunch times and didn't understand it.

 

[sharonabe]

If you do a lunch package, you will see the 5:00 show. The other two shows are dinner packages. All CP dining packages will "cost" 2 of your TS credits.

 

[goofy4tink]

I usually go to CP at least once each Dec trip. And I get a CP dinner pkg for one night. I have to eat any way, so it's not a huge deal. But....even those that hav the pkg still find themselves standing in line for 45 mins or so. They are allowed in, and after about 10 mins, those in the standby line are allowed in. There have been times when there isn't much room for the standby people...again, it depends on the narrator. I have seen the standby line start up by 2:30!!!
There is no standing room inside the theatre area. Everyone has a seat. There is seating available for those that have mobility issues.

If you don't want to do a pkg, or wait in the standby line, you can always just head to that area, close to show time, and get a spot on the sidewalk, outside the theatre. BUT.....your line of vision may be impacted if you are sitting in a wheelchair. Many people do this....in fact, for the popular narrators, like Whoopi or NPH, that area can be up to 6 people deep!! The CMs have to stand there to make sure there is room for other guests to move past!!

 

[Piwacket's Mom]

I usually go to CP at least once each Dec trip. And I get a CP dinner pkg for one night. I have to eat any way, so it's not a huge deal. But....even those that hav the pkg still find themselves standing in line for 45 mins or so. They are allowed in, and after about 10 mins, those in the standby line are allowed in. There have been times when there isn't much room for the standby people...again, it depends on the narrator. I have seen the standby line start up by 2:30!!!
There is no standing room inside the theatre area. Everyone has a seat. There is seating available for those that have mobility issues.

If you don't want to do a pkg, or wait in the standby line, you can always just head to that area, close to show time, and get a spot on the sidewalk, outside the theatre. BUT.....your line of vision may be impacted if you are sitting in a wheelchair. Many people do this....in fact, for the popular narrators, like Whoopi or NPH, that area can be up to 6 people deep!! The CMs have to stand there to make sure there is room for other guests to move past!!

thanks. i cant wait to see this year's line up

 

[Nancyg56]

Two years ago we booked our package on TBD night, but that ws the evening we were planning to be in Epcot. I did have CL at the BC and when told the CM that I was hoping that we would get Neil Patrick harris, she simply said that no = one knows yet, and kind of giggled. Surprise! Our night was his night! YAY!

We ate at the Coral Reef that night, but if I ever bok the package again, I would book a meal in the Wold Showcase close by the pavilion, and choose the earliest dinner vailable for the last show. We were admitted early for our ADR that night, but that seldom happens, and I like to be in the line for the concert earlier rather than later, so next time I would make different choices for place and time for dinner.