Reservations for Epcot Candlelight Processional Dining Packages begin 10/14

[crazy4wdw]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...inner-packages/?CMP=ILC-DPFY25Q4wo0911250018G

 

[hardcorestitch]

Be warned… the December 16-17 Lauren Daigle date may go QUICK. She’s a well known Contemporary Christian artist.

 

[pinkxray]

We have never been to the CP so I definitely want to do the dining package. Is this one of those times where you have no idea what time they will be online and have to spend your day stalking the website, but get busy at work and miss it? Or it is open at 6am?
Is this one of those situations where they are pretty much gone instantly or do they linger around for at least a few hours?

We are traveling the week of Thanksgiving and hoping to go the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is the first night.

 

[crazy4wdw]

We have never been to the CP so I definitely want to do the dining package. Is this one of those times where you have no idea what time they will be online and have to spend your day stalking the website, but get busy at work and miss it? Or it is open at 6am?
Is this one of those situations where they are pretty much gone instantly or do they linger around for at least a few hours?

Appears that last year, there were major issues. Some dates not showing up for booking until 7:15 a.m. through 7:30 a.m. People refreshing the page over and over. People were reporting that the website & app were crashing. Also, people who called in experienced up to a 2 hour wait. Hopefully, this year will be better. There will be a thread on the theme parks board where people will be reporting their experiences when attempting to make reservations. You can check that thread out on October 14th.

 

[TexasJedi]

For those who have done this the Candlelight Processional before, is a dining package pretty much mandatory to get a seat?

Do you choose your showtime at booking, or do you need to book an early dining reservation for the day to have a better chance at your preferred showtime?

 

[Debbie Jean]

Mandatory depends on the popularity of the narrator. I have seen the standby line wrapped halfway around world showcase starting at noon.

When you book you need to search CP dining packages, NOT the restaurant you want. You will see available times and each will have a performance time attached to it. Make sure you have the CP package you want at the performance you want. After you finish your meal and pay, you will get your CP passes for that specific performance.

Depending on the popularity of the narrator, people will start lining up in the dining ticket standby line an hour ahead. The dining package only guarantees a seat. If location in the theater is important to you be prepared to line up ahead of time… especially for popular narrators.

 

[DebbieB]

I’ve seen it standby on weeknights, get in line 45-60 minutes before.

 

[Dulcee]

Are all reservations open on that date? or is it only up to 60 days (plus length of hotel stay) like for typical dining?

 

[crazy4wdw]

Are all reservations open on that date? or is it only up to 60 days (plus length of hotel stay) like for typical dining?

Most likely will be 60 days (plus the number of days on your Disney Resort reservation).

 

[Dulcee]

Most likely will be 60 days (plus the number of days on your Disney Resort reservation).

Ah, thanks! That was my assumption. We haven't done any of the packages in years though, just wanted to double check.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Ah, thanks! That was my assumption. We haven't done any of the packages in years though, just wanted to double check.

Yes, that's how it's handled. Always annoyed us that Disney does it this way. It makes for a messy morning (on 10/14 this year), as you have folks all within the booking window for the first couple weeks of the event. It can be tough enough to get through when folks are trying to book just 60+ reservation days, let alone 2+ full weeks worth of packages. It'd be nice if they started this 60 days before the first shows.... Hopefully, the web site/app runs fine with all the traffic on 10/14..... these packages are popular.

 

[Coastie]

Yes, that's how it's handled. Always annoyed us that Disney does it this way. It makes for a messy morning (on 10/14 this year), as you have folks all within the booking window for the first couple weeks of the event. It can be tough enough to get through when folks are trying to book just 60+ reservation days, let alone 2+ full weeks worth of packages. It'd be nice if they started this 60 days before the first shows.... Hopefully, the web site/app runs fine with all the traffic on 10/14..... these packages are popular.

Unfortunately for us, our 60 day window is in 2 days, thus have to join the "masses" on 10/14 and will probable adjust other ADRs to accommodate. Too bad Disney doesn't consider those staying on property at least a day or a few hours "head-start" for the package ADRs, similar to the MNSSHP and MVMCP.

 

[buzzrelly]

Unfortunately for us, our 60 day window is in 2 days, thus have to join the "masses" on 10/14 and will probable adjust other ADRs to accommodate. Too bad Disney doesn't consider those staying on property at least a day or a few hours "head-start" for the package ADRs, similar to the MNSSHP and MVMCP.

Same! Our trip starts on 12/8 so I'll be stuck with the masses on 10/14 fighting for my spot at Via Napoli!

 

[Tinkerbell58]

I already have an ADR at a participating restaurant and would like change it to the candlelight processional. Will I be able to keep the ADR time when booking the package, or will I have to book a new ADR for the package?

 

[Debbie Jean]

I already have an ADR at a participating restaurant and would like change it to the candlelight processional. Will I be able to keep the ADR time when booking the package, or will I have to book a new ADR for the package?

CP package for a specific performance is required. If you are lucky the restaurant you want with the performance you want at the time you want to eat will be available. But, no, you do not currently have a CP reservation. You can join the masses on October 14th when actual CP reservations open… be sure you are searching CP and not the restaurant.

Let the games begin!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Booking CP meals have been the hardest bookings for me. I have always gotten something acceptable, but it drives me crazy.
Friends whom we will be joining us this year want Le Celluer, an expensive one, will that make it easier to get?? I don’t know.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Booking CP meals have been the hardest bookings for me. I have always gotten something acceptable, but it drives me crazy.
Friends whom we will be joining us this year want Le Celluer, an expensive one, will that make it easier to get?? I don’t know.

Someone can correct me, but last year, I believe they made some changes. It seemed like there were X number of candlelight packages available, so as long as there were packages left, you could book any ADR with time availability (through the package reservation of course, not through the regular restaurant). So really none of the restaurants were difficult to book because the packages ran out before the ADR time slots did, if that makes sense. I could be totally wrong but I think that's how I remember it.

The old way would be each restaurant had a limited number of package reservations, so some restaurants would "run out" before others. I imagine the new way makes it easier for Disney to "sell" any remaining packages from cancellations, since they aren't tied to a particular restaurant/time. But it's possible I made this all up in my head

 

[Coastie]

First time back for Christmas in several years, today was our 60-day window for ADRs... got some of the "hard to get" O'Hana, Home Coming and Yak and Yeti. BUT now have to hope the Candlelight Processional isn't going to change our schedule as we kept 4 nights open. For what it's worth, I sent a note to Disney regarding the CP window well inside the 60 days... just some wishful thinking...

 

[Debbie Jean]

Yes, that's how it's handled. Always annoyed us that Disney does it this way. It makes for a messy morning (on 10/14 this year), as you have folks all within the booking window for the first couple weeks of the event. It can be tough enough to get through when folks are trying to book just 60+ reservation days, let alone 2+ full weeks worth of packages. It'd be nice if they started this 60 days before the first shows.... Hopefully, the web site/app runs fine with all the traffic on 10/14..... these packages are popular.

Totally agree!

I’ve already made my ressies for other places. Frustrating not to be able to make one for CP. When reservations open, the day is a massive, messed up free for all… and I really can’t see why they do it this way… seems completely unnecessary

 

[kboo]

Appears that last year, there were major issues. Some dates not showing up for booking until 7:15 a.m. through 7:30 a.m. People refreshing the page over and over. People were reporting that the website & app were crashing. Also, people who called in experienced up to a 2 hour wait. Hopefully, this year will be better. There will be a thread on the theme parks board where people will be reporting their experiences when attempting to make reservations. You can check that thread out on October 14th.

I was online last year for 2 hours refreshing for Josh Gad. Ultimately we were successful but it seemed that they loaded dates at different times. I seem to remember some of the early December dates getting loaded before ours (over Thanksgiving weekend). Also you may be eating at an odd time - we got lunch but the latest time possible, for a 5pm CP show. This process had us missing our LL/VQ for Guardians, and then when we went back to ride there were massive delays due to the ride being down for a while.

Our lesson learned: don't try to do too much on a CP day, and know your priorities (whether you are ok with regular seating for CP or forgoing it completely, etc). Because we'd just gone last year, we were prepared to not go this year but then it's Constance Wu on our Epcot day, so I'm prepared to move some things around even if my kids roll their eyes.