Is the Candlelight Processional worth getting a dining package?

[maryj11]

We have never been to one. It seems to be very popular. I just wondered if it is worth buying a dining package for?
I have read we may not get a seat because most seats are for the dining package guests and that others line up early to get in.
Can we watch and hear from outside if we don’t buy a dining package?

 

[Aimeedyan]

Pre-COVID, it was worth it to us to avoid waiting in a long line (the more popular narrators had really crazy lines). Much of the seating is reserved for dining packages.

You can definitely hear from outside but the areas to stand with a view fill early, too. Pre-COVID, the lines for standby were on one side of the theater and dining packages on the other so you had limited areas to stand at the back behind the ropes.

If you don't care about seeing, you can find a seat near Regal Eagle and enjoy the music.

It'll be interesting to see if anything changes this year!

 

[Nabas]

"Worth it" depends on how much you value time.

Depending on which show (i.e. time of day) and the narrator, you can be standing in line a long time.

 

[maryj11]

"Worth it" depends on how much you value time.

Depending on which show (i.e. time of day) and the narrator, you can be standing in line a long time.

Which time of day is most wanted? Later shows I’m guessing.

 

[Nabas]

Which time of day is most wanted? Later shows I’m guessing.

That's been my experience.

 

[jimandami]

Which time of day is most wanted? Later shows I’m guessing.

This is also narrator dependent. I have seen people line up at 11:00 AM (for standby), when the WS opened, to wait for the first NPH show. It has always been worth it to get the package for us, but even with that, people are lined up 2-3 hours early when he is the narrator.

 

[maryj11]

This is also narrator dependent. I have seen people line up at 11:00 AM (for standby), when the WS opened, to wait for the first NPH show. It has always been worth it to get the package for us, but even with that, people are lined up 2-3 hours early when he is the narrator.

Oh I’m not sure I want to line up 2 or 3 hours early.

 

[kitkatwombat]

We went to the Candlelight Processional in 2017 so things may be different now, but it was 100% "worth it" for us to get the Dining Package. For context, we were there for the first showing of the NPH narration, and they didn't let a SINGLE person in who didn't have the dining package. So for cases like this, I think that they sell the maximum amount of seats that they can, and the standby queue has a near 0% chance of getting into the show.

 

[CynBeth]

We have always done a dinner package to guarantee a seat. We have seen this 4 times each with a different narrator and it has been amazing.

 

[Dakota731]

How much is the package and what restaurants are available! Hard to find any info on Disney site!

 

[jo-jo]

Pre-COVID, it was worth it to us to avoid waiting in a long line (the more popular narrators had really crazy lines). Much of the seating is reserved for dining packages.

You can definitely hear from outside but the areas to stand with a view fill early, too. Pre-COVID, the lines for standby were on one side of the theater and dining packages on the other so you had limited areas to stand at the back behind the ropes.

If you don't care about seeing, you can find a seat near Regal Eagle and enjoy the music.

It'll be interesting to see if anything changes this year!

Yes, you can hear the music, but if people sitting around you, and don't care about the music and are having normal meal time chatter, you may have trouble hearing. As you may guess, this was our experience.

 

[emilymad]

We think it is 100% worth it. Even with the dining package we lined up an hour before NPH. I am not sure we would do that for every narrator though.

I just hope they announce the packages soon....

 

[whiteness]

How much is the package and what restaurants are available! Hard to find any info on Disney site!

Weird, for some reason they haven't put any info up about it.

 

[rangerxenos]

I think it is worth it, I'm going to eat dinner anyway, and I don't have to wait in a huge stand by line for hours to get a seat.

 

[JennyDrake]

After 20 years of WDW during that time frame and multiple CP's here are my thoughts: You ARE going to wait in a line no matter what. The question is how long. Even WITH dinner package, plan to line up at least an hour before the start time. At least. The dinner packages are outrageously overpriced, but you ARE guaranteed a seat. If you don't do the package (and as others have said, depends upon the narrator) plan to stand in line for at least 90 minutes for the earlier show and 2 hours for the evening show -- and this is assuming a not super popular narrator.

 

[fla4fun]

I think the dining package should be done once, so you get the best experience for your first show. After that, it depends on how much you personally enjoy the show, and which narrator is there. I have done the dining package a few times for narrators I was especially wanting to see, and I have listened from a bench outside the American pavilion just for the atmosphere. Each method has its merits. I haven’t waited in the standby line though. I feel my time is worth more than that, and go for one of the other two options instead.

I do recommend the dining package if you are visiting Christmas week. I have done it Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.