CP Dinner worth it for reserved seating?

[Simba's Mom]

I was wondering if people found it worthwhile to get the CP Dinner Package in order to get the guaranteed seating at CP? Is it very hard to get seats otherwise? Are there any shows that you can almost walk in and get seats, or should I do the package if seeing CP is a high priority to me (which it is)?

 

[zagafi]

Hmm...this past December we did the package, and while we got seats, we got stuck out in the rain. This IN SPITE of there being many open seats under the amphitheater still open.

People were FURIOUS about this. We paid for the package, lined up well in advance and still got soaked. We got NO explanation for why those seats were left unused while we got wet.

So yeah, you'll get a seat, but not necessarily a good one.

 

[Grumpy92]

It really depends on when you are going. The closer it gets to xmas the longer the line to get in will be. The line can get to be an 1-2 hour wait at times. If you are going early in December and you dont want to spend the extra $$ you can probably get away with it. If you are planning to attend the week of xmas then plan on getting there early to wait to get in. The line gets whatever is leftover after the dinner pkg guest are let in. Personnally I always get the pkg just for the convenience of not having to worry whether I will have to be there early and wait in a lengthy line.

 

[Chuck S]

We got a package last year for Early December, as we'd never seen CP and it was a priority for us. The package really cost very little over what a regular full meal would cost, and was worth it for us. We plan to book again this year.

 

[CarolMN]

Since we always plan to have at least one nice sit-down meal in EPCOT, the CP Dinner Package is a no brainer for us. I also like the 15% discount that has been included with the package in the past. (It's a 15% discount on most, but not all, merchandise purchases on the day of your Package). The price of the package hasn't been more than the cost of the meal for us, but so far, we've only elected to eat at the Tier III restaurants.

Even with the package, it's a good idea to get into line 30 minutes or so ahead of the show. That way you get to select your seat (within the reserved section). Disney does reserve some of the better seats for "VIPs". Those are for the choir directors and chaperones of the high school choirs that participate.

If you are going to the CP on a weeknight early in December, you will not need a package (or have to stand forever in a line) to get a seat. However, to get a seat on the weekends or on the days closer to Christmas, you will either need to purchase the package or plan to spend a very long time in line - as much as 2 hours or more. Even then, you may not get in.

If seeing the CP is a priority for you, my advice is to splurge on a dinner package.

 

[mitymott]

We go in early to mid dec and found people standing in line for hours to just try to see the CP. We get the package and usually end up eating at Le Cellier. We also take advantage of the 15% discount and do all our epcot shopping that day.

 

[eva]

We've been twice in early December and got the CP package both times. We were glad that we did. Both of the shows we went to there had seating for people with CP only. Everyone else had to stand outside the theater. Maybe it depends on what day you hit, but we went on weekdays the first week of December both times.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We have done the CP package in Dec. the past two years and just loved it. We have done the 6:45 show both times, so that we could have dinner before the show. We never waited in line more than 10 minutes either time, and we got great seats once we were inside. For dinner you get to pick an appitiser, main entree plus dessert off the menu. We will be doing the CP package again this Dec. again. I think it is a great package.

 

[mrsltg]

Can someone please give me some details on the CP? I am going to WDW again this December and I'm interested to see if it's something I might like to do. Also, is it an "adult" event, or something that my 3-yr-old would enjoy?

Thanks!

Erin

 

[DebbieB]

http://www.wdwig.com/h_cpfaq.htm

Hmm...this past December we did the package, and while we got seats, we got stuck out in the rain. This IN SPITE of there being many open seats under the amphitheater still open.

The night we went they had a bunch of empty seats in the front section and wouldn't let us sit there either (it wasn't raining that night). They said it was reserved for "gold plan".