Is it really necessary to purchase a dinner package for CP?

[mom23boyz]

Do the restaurants only offer certain things as part of the Candlelight Processional dinner package? We'd rather just order off the menu. Plus, when I checked into Rose and Crown, we'd have to eat at 5:20 for the 8:15 CP. Can we do better ourselves?

 

[RMulieri]

The problem with this, is that you will need to get in the standby line EARLY and even then no guarantee you will get in and get a seat.People do the pkgs to guarantee a seat.I have listened from outside the area and heard it all, but could not see very much.If this is something that is important to you , book a pkg.As far as I know they don't restrict you to a certain menu.( at least they didn't ,maybe that has changed)

 

[aribelle]

Well, there are two lines to be seated for CP......the first line is those that have the badges/tickets that are given out after you have eaten and paid for you CP dining package. That line is seated first.

Then IF there are any seats left, 15 minutes before the show starts, those who did not do the CP dining package will get to fill in the empty seats.

It is recommended that if you are in the second line, without the badge, that you should get in line at least 1 hour before the show starts, earlier for the later shows.

But...it's also said that you can hear, but probably not see, the entire concert from outside the Pavillion.

So it really depends on what you want.....a guaranteed seat requires a CP dining package.....a chance at a seat requires standing in line for quite a while with no guarantee that you'l get a seat anyway.....and being willing to stand outside and probably not be able to see the speaker or choir, means just show up before the show starts, lol.

 

[DebbieB]

If you are going Thanksgiving weekend, I would say get the package. If you are there the following week, you should not have a problem on weeknights.

 

[irish dancer]

I would HIGHLY recommend the pkg. We did LeCellier the Thurs after T-giving last year at 5:30p for the 8:15p show. We went over to the theater after finishing dinner and were still FAR back in the reserved line. We ended up with ok seats but I don't think many in the 'stand-by' line got in at all. If you want to be able to sit and see the show I'd go with the pkg. We were not restricted on the menu last year.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Get the package for sure. I am one of those people that NEVER does the Fantasmic Dinner Package, however, the CP Package is a must. Both times we have been at WDW during the holiday season, if we hadn't had it, we would probably have not seen the show. There are no menu restrictions that I know of.

It seems like they sell quite a few CP packages, about enought to fill that theater without the standbys.

This was hands down one of the most wonderful holiday events I have seen, in our out of WDW. Make sure you see it!

 

[dseth]

I have done this both ways and I would highly recommend the package. The package seats are just fantastic. We ordered right off the standard menu at LeCellier and used one TS credit. You might feel like it takes up a chunk of your evening in Epcot, but IMHO it is worth it. The year we stood in the general seating line I was very worried that we wouldn't get in as the theatre started to fill. We made it in but had to sit behind a tree yes, we still were able to enjoy the music but the view - not so great.

 

[DisneyKidds]

If you were planning on eating in a World Showcase restaurant anyway, the package is a no brainer. We usually get it. It will guarantee you a seat to the show, which is a must see. We have seen the show several times by using the stand by line. We have gotten on the standby line and not gotten a seat.

So, to be better safe than sorry, and if you need to eat anyway, get the package.

Funny, everyone talks about getting the package so you can get a seat for the show......I got the package for our upcoming holiday trip as it was the only way I could get a table at Le Cellier! I had no luck getting a dinner reservation, but I suspected they were holding tables to book for the package. On the day they started selling the package I was able to get a table at Le Cellier.