Candlelight's Now 2 Table Service Credits

[TDC Nala]

"Preferred viewing" usually means they rope off a section and give you a pass to get in there and watch Illuminations. They will most likely be places where you get a view without any trees in the way. There will not be any guaranteed SEATING - some of these areas might have a few benches, but most people will stand for the show.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, This was a hard CHOICE for me also. I REALLY want to see CP and will be at WDW the weekend AFTER Thanksgiving. I decided to do the Friday(Nov. 27th) 6:45pm show and have dinner(3:55pm) at The Garden Grill. We are on the DDP BUT I am pretty sure we will pay for this meal OOP. (I presume this will NOT be a problem?? Because I also have an ADR for the California Grill the next night Saturday and THIS is WHERE I want to use my 2 TS credits ) The things that influenced MY decision: it is the 1st night of CP SHOW,possibly too BUSY for standby line?? We are only visiting WDW for 5 FULL days. 3 out of 5 of us will definitely see CP but my two DS's(older) may opt not to?? (these same two ALWAYS ask to eat at The Garden Grille,we have not eaten there in years and they will have TURKEY,in case we DID NOT have it on THANKSGIVING) Epcot is open late that night so we will stay for EMH, and it may be helpful to have a reserved spot for Illuminations due to the CROWD. Also on this day we will SLEEP IN and do a later breakfast then dinner.(SO we will SAVE $$ on LUNCH) I KNOW I am PAYING more for the CP dinner meal but TIME is also $$ at WDW and this seems to be what will work BEST for MY family. Best of LUCK for everyone TRYING to decide what works for you and your family!! Joan

 

[DiznyDi]

We also were planning to do the dining plan specifically for the candlelight processional, but at 2 dining credits, we'll just pay OOP.

Is the TiW card not accepted for this?

 

[erionm]

The TiW card is not accepted for CP dinner packages.

 

[zalansky]

Are they taking reservations for this already? Also, I don't see where it says you get an appetizer. Help!

 

[DebbieB]

With free dining extending into December, my theory is all the packages would have been snapped up at 90 days if they remained 1 credit. Alot of locals come to Epcot to see CP and buy the package, they would have been shutout and Disney would lose alot of revenue. Considering the package price ranges from $33 to $61, that's alot to expect for 1 credit except perhaps the cheapest lunch.

 

[gkrykewy]

This year we noticed that many, many items were removed from restaurant menus and prices were increased when "free" dining started.

We did not notice this. We just returned from a trip that straddled the beginning of free dining (8/9 - 8/19; I believe FD started on the 15th), and ate at two restaurants (San Angel Inn, Le Cellier) twice: once before FD, and once during. The menus were identical for both sittings, as were the prices (we were not on the DDP). We did notice that both menus were shorter than last year, mostly at the expense of drink choices (we ordered unibroue beers at Le Cellier which were not on the menu, but were served).

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I don't know who to direct this to. Hopefully someone will see this and forward on to whoever is responsible for that page.

At one point it says those on the dining plan will use "2 dinner entitlements". I think it would be clearer if it said "2 TS credits".

 

[n2mm]

This changes my plans. I won't be adding the DDP to my DVC stay. I was going to just for the CP and because there is no TiW discount on the CP package. Since the CP will be 2TS, I'll either pay OOP or do standby. It's too early for my ADRs, so I still have time to plan.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I know this is disappointing, but it makes sense to me. The past few years, the top tier CP packages were a great deal for DDP participates making it almost impossible to book for those paying OOP. They were losing quite a bit on these packages, when you consider what they could have made. (CP packages were always sold out, before DDP came along.) Now many on DDP will choose the lower tiers & pay OOP, rather than use 2 credits. My guess is that the bottom tiers were the last booked, & they could be making much more on the top tier. This combo led to the change.

 

[ga9497]

I think it was moved up to 2TS because of the fireworks viewing that was added. I with they would give you a choice of either having the viewing area for the fireworks or not.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I don't know who to direct this to. Hopefully someone will see this and forward on to whoever is responsible for that page.

At one point it says those on the dining plan will use "2 dinner entitlements". I think it would be clearer if it said "2 TS credits".

The official disney language is entitlements aka credits (you know disney can't do simple!)

 

[Brian Noble]

I think the important part of the suggestion is to change it to "TS" from "dinner", unless for some reason the 5PM/lunch seatings are only one TS credit, er, entitlement.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

I wish they had not moved your thread, I don't think its getting any exposure in this spot and I am SURE people are going to flip about this change.

Don't feel bad about it. They did the same thing to me 2 weeks ago. Posts should be made on the dining plan forum if it's a question/comment solely relating to the dining plan. However, in my case, I'm still trying to figure out how calling Disney's official dining line (407-WDW-Dine), speaking to a dining CM, and confirming info with the dining CM's manager is considered a "rumor." If that's the case, then every thread that starts with "My friend just got back and told me..." should be moved & would be flooding the News & Rumor forum. I have an incredible amount of respect for the moderators (and I completely understand that they really have their work cut out for them). Additionally, I'm not trying to knock any of the mods b/c I almost always agree with their responses to posts. (So much that I don't even feel the need to respond to many posts b/c they took the words right out of my mouth & I couldn't have said it better than them.) In most cases, they're just trying to do what they feel is best to keep the forums organized & relevant.

 

[LisaInNc]

Grrrrr

We do the Candelight package every year!
2 dining credits is insane. So for the extra credit we get an appetizer and a preferred spot for Illumination....I don't need that I already have a great spot we like!

I actually think that with this change it's going to be a lot easier to get into the show as a stand by because there isn't a placed on the list that is worth credits with the way their menus are set up now.

I know that I will be there and I will NOT be using 2 dining credits for that package! We will try to get a seat and if not we can still hear it from the general area.

 

[thelionqueen]

Let's just say I need to be on the phone at 5:00am on Sunday Sept. 13th to make my reservations
Unfortunately I will be on a business trip in Las Vegas and I will be SO THRILLED to get up at 5:00am to do this
Anyway, at least I will have the opportunity to get the CP package closer to Christmas. We are going 12/13-12/24 and I am hoping there will be decent ressies left after all those making ressies 90+10
I CANNOT WAIT for it to go back to 120 days

 

[DVCPAT]

Grrrrr

We do the Candelight package every year!
2 dining credits is insane. So for the extra credit we get an appetizer and a preferred spot for Illumination....I don't need that I already have a great spot we like!

I actually think that with this change it's going to be a lot easier to get into the show as a stand by because there isn't a placed on the list that is worth credits with the way their menus are set up now.

I know that I will be there and I will NOT be using 2 dining credits for that package! We will try to get a seat and if not we can still hear it from the general area.

I agree…..doubling the cost is pure greed. Disney shouldn’t try squeeze every penny out of those who enjoy listening to the Christmas story.

 

[DebbyLof428]

Just curious as to how many of us are using 2TS credits or paying out of pocket for Candlelight package. I'm thinking OOP is the way to go.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can listen to the Christmas story for free. You just can't eat dinner and then get guaranteed seating for the Christmas story unless you fork the cash out.

 

[PoohHappens]

There is one thing I am not clear on. In the information I was reading from it seemed as though the DDP credits could only be used for the lunch time and the 5pm showing. Did anyone else see this or have an explaination. We will not be there this year, but I was still curious. (we can't take our november trip as planned as we are having a baby in October)