CP package cost, tips, tier and dining plan?

[Twende]

I was checking out the cost of the 2008 CP dinner package and I have a question.

The cost of this meal at for example LeCellier, a tier three restaurant, is $53.99 plus tax & gratuity.

I am on the dining plan so for 1 TS credit I get the entree, dessert and beverage, NO appetizer!

The most expensive entree is $34.99. The most expensive dessert is $7.99 and I have no idea what beverages cost but let's take a guess at $4. That total is $46.98. So what is the $7.01 for?

Also what is the deal with the wording "tax" in the price description? What is being "taxed" in this package and how much is it?

I am questioning this more because the tip is based on the package cost of $53.99 not the actual cost, $46.98, of the most expensive meal.

How can this be? The tickets to the CP are supposed to be FREE!

 

[Twende]

Can't any one explain this pricing to me? DH says I should call Disney and ask them but this group always has the correct answer!

 

[Twende]

Come on! Some of you experts have to know how to explain this to me. There has to be something I am missing.

How can the cost be so high? In previous years it did not matter when you had the Dining Plan since you got an appetizer and the tip was included but that is not the case this year.

If you pay out of pocket for this package you get the appetizer but not on the basic plan.

What is going on here? Is Disney trying to pull a fast one hoping no one will notice or is this a mathematical error or what?

 

[Tricia1972]

We have never done the CP package.

However, for the Fantasmic Dining Package, because the Appetizer is part of the package you will receive the appetizer regardless of how you are paying. If you are paying OOP or using a DDP credit - you get the appetizer.

Disney does this across the board, even with the new Pilot menu at LeCellier. Because an appetizer is part of the package - you get the appetizer with a TS credit.

My guess is that Disney will follow that policy, and so long as an Appetizer is part of the CP package - you get the appetizer.


Regarding any tipping questions, you can post them here on The Disney Tipping Info Thread - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1870320

Hope this helps

 

[rigs32]

Isn't the price because if you do NOT use the dining plan, you DO get an app? If you use the dining plan, your meal is included and you get seating for the show.

 

[Tricia1972]

I did a little research on this, and I believe that Rigs32 is right. To me it looks like you do NOT get an appetizer on the dining plan.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What does the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package include?[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2008 Dinner Packages begin booking on June 23, 2008.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ring in the holiday season with a Candlelight Dinner Package, which includes dinner at a select Epcot restaurant and reserved general seating at the America Gardens Theatre during the Candlelight Processional. To make dinner reservations, call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463).[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]You must eat PRIOR to your Candlelight show time![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Packages not available on Sunday, December 7, at 5 p.m. (Community Relations Showing)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Must guarantee the package with a credit card when booking. Payment is made when you dine at which time you will be given your tickets for the general reserved seating. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Package includes a non-alcoholic beverage. Package does NOT include tax, gratuity or lobster entrees.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For Disney Dining Plan Guests:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining: Candlelight Dining Packages will be 1 Entitlement.

If using your Magic Your Way Package + Dining Table Service Meal entitlements toward the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, your entitlements include an entree, a dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage OR a full buffet and non-alcoholic, non-specialty beverage for each person on the package. Appetizers and Gratuities are not included.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For Non-Dining Plan Guests as well as Guests on the Deluxe Dining, Premium, and Platinum Plans:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Meal includes an appetizer, a entree, a dessert, and a non-alcoholic beverage OR a full buffet and non-alcoholic, non-specialty beverage for each person on the package. Gratuities are not included. Candlelight Dining Packages will be 1 Entitlement for Guests on a Disney Dining Plan.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tier 1
Seating 1 - $27.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $12.99 (Lunch)
Seating 2 & 3 -$33.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $14.99 (Dinner)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Garden Grill Restaurant - Land Pavilion
Biergarten - Germany Pavilion[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tier 2
Seating 1 - $37.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $12.99 (Lunch)
Seating 2 & 3 - $44.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $14.99 (Dinner)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]San Angel Inn - Mexico Pavilion
Restaurant Marrakesh - Morocco Pavilion
Nine Dragons - China Pavilion
Rose & Crown - United Kingdom Pavilion[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tier 3
Seating 1 - $44.99 plus tax & gratuity /ages 3-9 $12.99 (Lunch)
Seating 2 & 3 - $53.99 plus tax & gratuity / ages 3-9 $14.99 (Dinner)[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chefs de France - France Pavilion
Tutto Italia - Italy Pavilion
Le Cellier Steakhouse - Canada Pavilion
Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining - Japan Pavilion
Coral Reef - The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion​

[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

​

 

[goofy4tink]

The 'cost' of a dinner at LeCellier is...by your figuring....$34.99 for an entree, $7.99 for dessert, and $4 for a beverage. You are not figuring in the appetizer...that could be about $8+ more. That makes the $53 cost more understandable.
If you are using the DDP, then you are paying about $38 a day/night. That includes a counter service meal, a snack and your CP dinner..no matter where it is. I think that's truly worth it....$4 per snack, $10 or so for counter service, leaving $24 as your cost for dinner. Even though you don't get an appetizer with the DDP, it's still really worth it...especially with the CP package.

 

[Twende]

I finally called Disney and have been on the phone for over an hour. No one can explain it.

I have talked to at least 6 people so far. They finally transfered me to Katie who is the manager of LeCellier. She has been very professional and seems to be a real go getter so I suspect she will get to the root of this package price.

Katie says as far as she has been told that you do NOT get the appetizer with the regular dining plan. Now if it is included n the CP package dinner than this pricing would make sense.

She is going to call me back with an answer!

 

[Twende]

The 'cost' of a dinner at LeCellier is...by your figuring....$34.99 for an entree, $7.99 for dessert, and $4 for a beverage. You are not figuring in the appetizer...that could be about $8+ more. That makes the $53 cost more understandable.
If you are using the DDP, then you are paying about $38 a day/night. That includes a counter service meal, a snack and your CP dinner..no matter where it is. I think that's truly worth it....$4 per snack, $10 or so for counter service, leaving $24 as your cost for dinner. Even though you don't get an appetizer with the DDP, it's still really worth it...especially with the CP package.

Diane,
I agree that in our case the meal plan price is worth it for the day.
Where we are running into problems is our group size and the gratuity.

We have 17 -18 people in our dinner group. Each family has agreed that they will be responsible for their own tips for the trip. I think we are almost going to have to have a credit card attached to each of our suites so that the tips will go onto 2 credit cards and each family group will them pay either reimburse or pay ahead the appropriate tip amount to the owner of the credit card attached to their suite.

When figuring out tip amounts, my over 90 year old father noticed that the cost of the most expensive meal at LeCellier is not even close to the cost of the CP package. Again the cost of the package is not the problem. It is the fact that the tip is figured on the cost of the CP package not the real cost of the meal. Our tip is considered mandatory since we are a group over 6 and the rate is figured at 18%.

The question is why is the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package (Seatings 2 &3) price in tier 3 ($53.99) higher than the cost of the most expensive items ($46-$47) on the menus in those establishments?

It is in interesting question and one no one at Disney so far can answer.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ah, I think I see what you are saying. I think that if you are paying for the package, you are going to be close to the actual price. If I take the most expensive of the items..appetizer to dessert, I come up with a total cost that is actually more than the $53. But, if you are on the DDP, it is going to come out to be less because you don't get that appetizer included in your meal. So, how is that $53 comparable to what you getting for the DDP? I think that's what you're getting at. A total of about $46 in food, for a cost of $53 (cost of CP package)...I think that's what you mean.
Can't say for sure...but I 'think' Disney figures you're getting a pretty good deal with the DDP, even without the appetizer. I don't think the DDP was thought about when they instituted the prices for the package. They assumed that guests would be paying for the meal...appetizer, entree, dessert, beverage. In those cases, the costs are pretty close to each other.....about $59 if you go with the most expensive items...appetizer included.
The thing you may want to consider....they may be adding the automatic gratuity to your party, due to it's size...which will make it hard to split 'em up by 'room'.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I understood what you were saying from the beginning. But I did not have an answer for you, so I didn't post. I actually thought that was somewhat stingy of Disney weeks ago, when I first read about the Candlelight Processional Package costs. If they give customers the appy for a Fantasmic Package, then why not for the CP?

I am so glad you stuck to your guns and contacted Le Cellier. Hopefully, Disney will see their error and provide appetizers for your party or reduce the price of the package to keep your tip in line. If they do not, it's not the end of the world. But it certainly would seem the right thing to do on their part.

They should make the change for all of us, too. I am on the Deluxe Dining Plan this Christmas, so it doesn't affect me. But it's only fair that they institute it across the board.

If Disney somehow decides to not make any changes, I would consider paying out of pocket for that particular meal and use my table service credit elsewhere. In fact, I would suggest that to every member of my party. Then, everyone could decide whether to take the loss on the tip or not.

Please keep us posted! Best wishes!

 

[Twende]

I am glad that someone understood me from the beginning.


I most likely would not have caught this if it were not for us trying to figure out how to most fairly split the tips up between the families in our rather large group.

It is a challenge to figure out tips when you have a large group. In fact it is a real pain in the you know what! I miss last years plan!

Most of our Table Service meals are buffets so there is a set fee for the dinner or family served things like Ohana's so that makes figuring the tip ahead of time fairly easy although it will not allow for us to easily tip for really excellent service.

I have tried to find the information about the Fantasmic Dinner Package including the appetizer on the Regular dining plan. Can you use 1 TS from the regular dining plan and get the Fantasmic Package and it includes appetizer?

In fact I have having a hard time finding the information that is posted above about the CP dinner package. I know I read it yesterday and it said what is posted above but today I can not find it. Have the removed it from the site?

 

[CharacterFan]

I am glad that someone understood me from the beginning.


I most likely would not have caught this if it were not for us trying to figure out how to most fairly split the tips up between the families in our rather large group.

It is a challenge to figure out tips when you have a large group. In fact it is a real pain in the you know what! I miss last years plan!

Most of our Table Service meals are buffets so there is a set fee for the dinner or family served things like Ohana's so that makes figuring the tip ahead of time fairly easy although it will not allow for us to easily tip for really excellent service.

I have tried to find the information about the Fantasmic Dinner Package including the appetizer on the Regular dining plan. Can you use 1 TS from the regular dining plan and get the Fantasmic Package and it includes appetizer?

In fact I have having a hard time finding the information that is posted above about the CP dinner package. I know I read it yesterday and it said what is posted above but today I can not find it. Have the removed it from the site?

Fantasmic package on DP does come with an appetizer, this year. I know a couple years ago from eating there that they had a different menu at Mama Melrose for Fantasmic package. There should be a fee for getting the preferred seating, the prices for Fantasmic packages are going up next year. Otherwise people will book these packages to get appetizers and not go to the show. IMO, if you have regular dining plan then you shouldn't get an appetizer.

 

[Twende]

Fantasmic package on DP does come with an appetizer, this year. I know a couple years ago from eating there that they had a different menu at Mama Melrose for Fantasmic package. There should be a fee for getting the preferred seating, the prices for Fantasmic packages are going up next year. Otherwise people will book these packages to get appetizers and not go to the show. IMO, if you have regular dining plan then you shouldn't get an appetizer.

I would agree that if you have the regular dining plan then you should not get the appetizer but that only applies to the Fantasmic package. IMO

If you look at the information for the CP, there is no charge for the show. It is included with your EPCOT admission.

So why should I pay $8 -10 more for a CP dinner package than what that dinner would have cost if I bought all the very most expensive things on the menu? I am not asking for a free appetizer. I am asking for clarification of the pricing. The CP dinner package at a Tier 3 restaurant with seatings 2 or 3, should be no more than the cost of the most expensive thing on the menu.

Now if they want to start charging $8 -10 for the seats at the Candlelight Processional then advertise it as such.

That is all I am asking.

 

[Tricia1972]

I too find it odd that there is an inconsistency in the Fantasmic Dining Package and Candlelight Processional Package. Both shows charge no admission.

 

[goofy4tink]

Is my figuring wrong?? I still maintain that if you buy the more expensive listings at LeCellier, you are more than breaking even. It costs you $53 for the CP at LeCellier. If you use the DDP, one credit, and you order the entree, $35, dessert, $8 and a drink, $3..it is $46. BUT...you are not paying $53 for the package, you are paying $38 for the entire day's food, using the DDP!!
If you want to 'get your money's worth' and eat that $53 worth, then order an appetizer as well. That will bring you up to the $53 you are tipping on. Of course, you will be spending an addtl $8+ to get there.

You can also see a manager, at the end of your meal, and explain to him that you do not want to tip on the $53 charge since you only actually ate $46 worth of food, that the CP is supposed to be free, so you don't think that you should tip on that full price. Or, just tell him that you want to tip at a different level, rather than the 18% automatic they will ask for.

 

[cdtommie]

My thought is that they may build into the cost of the package a value for the guaranteed seating for the CP.

 

[Twende]

Diane, My point is your last point.


"You can also see a manager, at the end of your meal, and explain to him that you do not want to tip on the $53 charge since you only actually ate $46 worth of food, that the CP is supposed to be free, so you don't think that you should tip on that full price."

But I do not want to have to ask for management at the end of our meal and explain that I do not want to pay the automatic 18 % tip on the $53.99 but will pay it on the actual cost of the meals. We are a group over 6 so the percentage of tip is not negotiable.

I would like to have this worked out before we arrive. I guess I would have no problem in paying $8 - 10 for seats to the CP but if that is the case then do not say that the show is included in your EPCOT admission.

I did not hear back from Katie from LeCellier yesterday. I hope to hear from her today.

 

[honeymo78]

I would like to have this worked out before we arrive. I guess I would have no problem in paying $8 - 10 for seats to the CP but if that is the case then do not say that the show is included in your EPCOT admission.

CP is certainly included in your admission, however guaranteed seating is not. Like Fantasmic packages, the purpose of the CP dining package is to ensure seating, without having to line up an hour(s) in advance. I have heard many reports of people enjoying CP by just being in the area listening to it, without getting a seat.

While I have never done either package, I have always looked at the pricing with an eye to paying for the guaranteed seating - not a fixed price of course, depending on what you order you might get more for your money.

 

[Twende]

I just talked to LeCellier again and Katie is off today but she emailed another manager, Christina and she spoke to me today.

They have not gotten back to me because they do not have an answer yet. Christina is going to talk to Pricing and see if she can get an answer.

Christina agreed there is no charge for CP seats but perhaps it is an entertainment fee. I said then why is that fee not added to people who pay out of pocket and order the most expensive things on the menu and get the appetizer. She agreed that it was confusing and she would try to get an answer for me by this evening.

I mentioned DisBoards to her and that all of you are looking forward to an answer. She was familiar with the boards so Christina and Katie!