Garden Grill PS for CP dinner package ?

[Serenity]

Thinking of making a PS for Garden Grill with the CP dinner package. Planning on 6:15 PS and attending the 8:15 CP. My questions is what is the wait time like during busy times? If I have a 6:15 PS, about what time will be acutally be seated? Will we be able to make it to CP for 8 so that we can get in before they open the reserved section to the standby line?

My reasoning for this is that we are trying to see the Tree Lighting Ceremony. I have read that the show starts about 5:45 with the actual tree lighting at 6 p.m. Since the Land is close, I figured we could make it there to check in by at least 6:10 or so. We are only planning on going to Epcot one day, and so I am trying to get in both the tree lighting and the CP.

Any info would be appreaciated.

Thanks!

 

[nisiemouse]

I think it would be difficult to make it to CP on time with a 6:15 priority seating. GG is a long walk from the CP. About 3 years ago we had a 4:35 priority seating and had to wait a little while to be seated. We barely made it to the 6:45 CP. They had already started letting non-package guests in. If you could guarantee that you would be seated right away maybe it could be done but don't underestimate the distance from the GG to CP.

 

[Serenity]

Thanks for your help. I have to hurry and decide since the dinner package goes on sale on Thurs. I really want to be able to do both the Tree lighting and CP in the same day, but don't think we can make it to any other restaurant by 6:15 (which is the latest that they recommend for the 8:15 show). The only other way I have thought it might work was to get a 4 or 4:30 PS, then do the Tree lighting, then CP at 8:15. But then I also worry that if we are not seated right away, we won't get out in time to see the tree lighting. Plus that is early for us to eat dinner.

Here's praying that I'll come up with a way to do it. This will be our only day at Epcot and probably our only December trip to WDW - so I really don't want to miss anything.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

 

[sixcats]

You can book the early CP show and eat afterwards. That is what we usually do since people line up early for the show, even with the packages. That way we don't have to worry about rushing our dinner.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm booking the Garden Grill CP also. My dd and I did it last Dec and had a 5:45 ps. Figured we were all set. We were seated fairly quickly. It only took us about 45 minutes to eat. It is a hike over to CP from there. And since we were full, we didn't feel like running, so walked leisurely. When we got to the Pavillion, there was already a long line of people waiting!! I asked a CM what the line was, figuring it was the non-CP package people. Nope, it was the package folks!! There had to be 150 people ahead of me, maybe more. They finally opened up the gate at about 7:50. We ended up sitting in the middle of the uncovered section, toward the crossway in between the covered front section and the uncovered area. They weren't bad seats and there were a lot of people that didn't get seats period, without the package, that night. I would suggest you watch the tree lighting, which is nice, go to the middle show of CP and then eat after that.

 

[Serenity]

Thanks for the advice.

We are still undecided about what to do. Hopefully we will figure it out before Thurs. A few posts on Strategey board said it is really hard to make it from the Tree Lighting to the 6:45 show - so unsure if we will chance that.

Thanks again.