Time to get from Chef de France to Processional?

[bookworm75]

If we can get a 5:00ish ADR for Chefs de France, would we have enough time to eat and get to a 6:45 Processional show without being stressed or rushed? Or should we go with the 8:15 show? Would we then be rushed to get to our spot for Illuminations at 9:30?

 

[vicki_c]

I assume you're talking about a separate ADR, not the CP package?

Of course, it depends on the day and how close to Christmas, how crowded the parks are, etc. but I would say that's not enough time without the package to get a seat. And I think if you want the 6:45 show with the package, they will book you dinner a lot earlier than that. We ate at 5:30 with the package for the 8 PM show. Non-package guests line up 2 hours in advance or more, often. With the package, we still had to get in line 45 minutes ahead of time.

As for Illuminations, you will be kind of rushed after the 8 PM show to get a GOOD spot, but probably okay if you're not being picky about where you watch from.

 

[disneyjunebug]

I would say no. I've done Chefs before CP and We allowed 2.5 hours, because even though you are guaranteed seats, you still have to get in line to get that seat. And there are some seats that are behind pillars that you really don't want!

 

[TiffinyKC]

I would say no too.

We went to LeCellier for with our dining package this past Christmas and it was chaos getting to the package line, let alone the stand by line which would be on the opposite side of the WS.

We did go to one of the Whoopie Goldberg shows and we were told that was the most popular of the year, so maybe that played a hand in it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Nope.

 

[bookworm75]

I assume you're talking about a separate ADR, not the CP package?

Of course, it depends on the day and how close to Christmas, how crowded the parks are, etc. but I would say that's not enough time without the package to get a seat. And I think if you want the 6:45 show with the package, they will book you dinner a lot earlier than that. We ate at 5:30 with the package for the 8 PM show. Non-package guests line up 2 hours in advance or more, often. With the package, we still had to get in line 45 minutes ahead of time.

As for Illuminations, you will be kind of rushed after the 8 PM show to get a GOOD spot, but probably okay if you're not being picky about where you watch from.

Sorry, I wasn't quite clear. I had been looking at our Disney plan for a couple hours last night and assumed that you all could read my mind! We are planning to do the package and will be on the DDP. We were looking at Rose & Crown, but we've done that before so I'd like to try Chefs de France.

So from your replies I'm getting that when we call to make our ADR they will give us an earlier time. Will we be able to book the package at 180 days out? Somewhere I read that you book the processional at 90 days.

We are planning to go to Epcot the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, hoping that crowds are low....

So now the decision will be which show we want to attend, the 6:45 or 8:15.

Thanks for your help!

 

[vicki_c]

When you call to book the package (which will be whenever - might be 180 days, might be later. In 2008, they didn't release the pkgs until June 23, not sure about last year) -- they will give you the available range of dining times for the show you're attending - you only get a choice within a NARROW window of dining times. For the 8:15 PM show, I think our reservation at 5:30 was one of the latest ones you could get.

After we finished our dinner (at Tutto), we basically had to get right into the package line - there wasn't any extra time to do anything.

You're going during a good week though, so maybe the crowds won't be that bad. We were there Christmas week.

 

[bookworm75]

When you call to book the package (which will be whenever - might be 180 days, might be later. In 2008, they didn't release the pkgs until June 23, not sure about last year) -- they will give you the available range of dining times for the show you're attending - you only get a choice within a NARROW window of dining times. For the 8:15 PM show, I think our reservation at 5:30 was one of the latest ones you could get.

After we finished our dinner (at Tutto), we basically had to get right into the package line - there wasn't any extra time to do anything.

You're going during a good week though, so maybe the crowds won't be that bad. We were there Christmas week.

Thank you so much!! I will definitely take this into consideration for our planning. I'm going to copy and paste your post into an email to my SIL so she understands why I'm doing what I'm doing!