CP Dinner package/specialty cruise question

[UrsulasShadow]

Okay, I searched, but haven't seen this thread yet...has anyone attempted to book both the Candlelight Processional dinner package and the Illuminations Specialty Cruise for the same night? I'm looking at booking dinner for post-processional, then running to catch a cruise after dinner. Tell me if this sounds crazy...
1) 5 p.m. Candlelight Processional
2) 6:15 p.m. PS at Le Cellier
3) 8:30 p.m. or thereabouts (depending on Illuminations times; I'm assuming a 9:30 p.m. showtime) catch the boat for the Specialty Cruise.

Ok, I know that this is Christmas week I'm doing this, and the demand is going to be SO huge, the likelihood of my scoring both these things on the same day is outrageously small. BUT, what if I can? Does this sound feasible? Has anyone else done/attempted this?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

bump...

 

[UrsulasShadow]

bumping again...anybody?

 

[pic22]

Just a note, don't know if what you are looking to do is possible, but the candlelight procession dinner packages will not be available to reserver til around September from what I have heard. The specialty cruise can be booked 90 days in advance, I know they are limited, but you might have to book that first, then see if the procession and the dinner line up with the cruise. Depending on what becomes available first.
GOOD LUCK.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

That's right...both become available at 90 days. I think you're right, the cruise is going to be the harder of the two to score. I'll have to call on both first thing in the morning, on the same morning...thank goodness we have 5 phones in the household!

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

I thought I was the only one with this idea. I am planning on eating early, like 4 to 4:15 at Le Cellier) then doing the second CP and then rushing over to the YC & Beach Club Marina via the International Gateway. When we did Illuminations Cruises in the past we had to be there for 8:15 and with the later showing of Illuminations, I really think we can make he cruise... if I can get the cruise!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Exactly my thoughts! I wonder that your idea is better than mine...what days are you there? Maybe if we're there the same days, we can arrange to share a cruise, should one of us score and the other doesn't.

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We arrive on Dec 15 and leave on the 23. There are 10 of us going for most of the trip. DH is only going to be there the first few days, so I will be trying to get the cruise and CP package for Friday the 16th or Satruday the 17th. He has only been to Epcot for 1/2 a day about 18 years ago! He finally came with us for a few days in Feb but he didn't get to go to Epcot. I can't wait for him to see everything decked out for Christmas. We will probably try for a Wishes cruise later in our trip as well. I love being able to see the fireworks from the lagoon. You get a fantastic view and you don't have to deal with all the crowds! I have a feeling things are going to be hard to book during our timeframe. I tried to book the Family Magic tour two weeks ago and they were already sold out for most of our days! Are ya'll going to MVMCP?

 

[DebbieB]

That's right...both become available at 90 days. I think you're right, the cruise is going to be the harder of the two to score. I'll have to call on both first thing in the morning, on the same morning...thank goodness we have 5 phones in the household!

Candlelight Processional does not come out 90 days. They release the packages all on one date, usually at the end of August.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Candlelight Processional does not come out 90 days. They release the packages all on one date, usually at the end of August.

Wow, thanks for that info! I guess I just assumed since it was a dinner package, it would be within the 90 day restaurant ps window. Do you have any idea how one would determine when they're released?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

We arrive on Dec 15 and leave on the 23. There are 10 of us going for most of the trip. DH is only going to be there the first few days, so I will be trying to get the cruise and CP package for Friday the 16th or Satruday the 17th. He has only been to Epcot for 1/2 a day about 18 years ago! He finally came with us for a few days in Feb but he didn't get to go to Epcot. I can't wait for him to see everything decked out for Christmas. We will probably try for a Wishes cruise later in our trip as well. I love being able to see the fireworks from the lagoon. You get a fantastic view and you don't have to deal with all the crowds! I have a feeling things are going to be hard to book during our timeframe. I tried to book the Family Magic tour two weeks ago and they were already sold out for most of our days! Are ya'll going to MVMCP?

Darn it, we're going the 25th to the 31st...we'll miss each other entirely! And going after Christmas, we miss out on MVMCP, but they do continue the CP package until the 30th. Even so, your party would fill the boat, so there'd be no opportunity for sharing, would there?
Enjoy your trip!

 

[DebbieB]

Wow, thanks for that info! I guess I just assumed since it was a dinner package, it would be within the 90 day restaurant ps window. Do you have any idea how one would determine when they're released?

I would watch this board, news usually hits pretty fast. Also watch this site:
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/h_cpfaq.htm

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I would watch this board, news usually hits pretty fast. Also watch this site:
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/h_cpfaq.htm

Thanks, DebbieB. Do you know anyone who has attempted and succeeded (or not) to get both the CP package and the Illuminations cruise?

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

Ursulashadow
It would depend on how many are in your group. You can have 12 people per boat (if some are children... we have 5 kids in our group). I think you can have a max of 10 adults, I could be wrong though.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Ursulashadow
It would depend on how many are in your group. You can have 12 people per boat (if some are children... we have 5 kids in our group). I think you can have a max of 10 adults, I could be wrong though.

Yeah, there's 5 of us, 3 adults and 2 adult-sized teens. If I should be so lucky, though, to get the cruise, I'll be offering it up on the December Specialty Cruise thread; if not, I'll be begging from the same site!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Okay, I searched, but haven't seen this thread yet...has anyone attempted to book both the Candlelight Processional dinner package and the Illuminations Specialty Cruise for the same night? I'm looking at booking dinner for post-processional, then running to catch a cruise after dinner. Tell me if this sounds crazy...
1) 5 p.m. Candlelight Processional
2) 6:15 p.m. PS at Le Cellier
3) 8:30 p.m. or thereabouts (depending on Illuminations times; I'm assuming a 9:30 p.m. showtime) catch the boat for the Specialty Cruise.

Ok, I know that this is Christmas week I'm doing this, and the demand is going to be SO huge, the likelihood of my scoring both these things on the same day is outrageously small. BUT, what if I can? Does this sound feasible? Has anyone else done/attempted this?

Yup, this sounds crazy! Nope, doesn't sound doable to me. I see the possibility of so many things going wrong, and I'd spend so much time stressing about these things; 5pm CP being cancelled due to rain and having to reschedule (it happened one night when I was there-what a mess!); L Cellier running late on their PS, especially since this is a busy time, so you don't get seated promptly (I waited 1/2 hour after my PS time to get seated the night of CP);slow wait staff, trying to make a mad dash from Le Cellier to catch the boat at the Boardwalk for the Illuminations cruise, and encountering mobs of slow people blocking the way, so it takes twice as long to get there; and last, are you sure they won't want you to show up for the Illmuniations cruise until 8:30? When I did the Illuminations cruise in December, we had to be there by 8:15. IMHO, too much stress!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

The reason I said 8:30 on the Illuminations cruise is because Illuminations itself is a 1/2 hour later on this week, or so I've been told, so I cut the difference in half and added 15 minutes. My other option is to get a very early ps for le cellier, say, 4pm, which pretty much guarantees that I'll be seated closer to "on time", since they won't have had an opportunity to get backed up, then catch the 6:45 cp show (that's MORE than enough time!), which gets out at 7:30 or thereabouts, allowing me 45 minutes to an hour to get to the cruise. See, I'm an optimist! Still looking for anyone who may have tried this, and succeeded, or not.

 

[wilsonjen]

I am planning to do the same thing! I laughed out loud when I saw your post. Thought I was alone in my OCD Dec Trip Disney plans...

I say go for it! If you plan well and get the right times, it would make a magical night. My hope is to reserve both CP dinner & cruise for Saturday, Dec 17 for our party of 6. I've already posted on the Illuminations Cruise board about sharing our boat. I think your plan for an early dinner is a good one. Now, if they'd only tell us the time for Illuminations in December...

As our 90-day window approaches, I'll let you know if we are successful in securing both the CP dinner and the Cruise. I think you may have a hard time just because it's Christmas week, but you never know when a little magic can happen! Even if you can only reserve one instead of both, you might still luck out and grab a boat if there's a no-show.

Best of luck and keep us posted.