Will we have trouble getting in to see CP w/o a dinner package?

[Cleokitty]

Need some thoughts on this one. We would like to see the Candlelight Processional on Monday, 12/13. I have read that for the last couple of years, it has been really crowded and that you should do the package, otherwise you might not get in to see it.

We have two girls (6 & 8) and I wouldn't want to wait in line for an hour only to be told that it's full. On the other hand, I also don't want to spend $100 on a full meal just to insure a seat.

Also, is there one show time that is usually less crowded than the other two times?

All thoughts appreciated.

 

[Twigs]

We did the CP dinner package 2 years ago. If it is done the same as then, there were 2 lines, one for the dinner package and the other was for anyone who wanted to see it, but of course this line was very long and the people were there much much longer. If you want to ensure a seat, you would just have to make sure you were there very early, maybe a someone else here can give you a time reference or even a CM who works in the area would know about what time you should get there, I would think probably at least 2 hours before hand, but maybe I am way off. Good Luck, it was one of the most beautiful shows I have ever seen. A woman sitting next to me had told me she goes every year and cries every time and It did bring tears to my eyes. Even my DS's who were 10 at the time were touched by it!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I've been wondering this too. We want to go on Sun. 12-12 and since this is sort of a budget trip, we were thinking of taking our chances without the package. Has anyone done it, and how long did you wait? We were hoping to get into the 5:30(?) show, since my sister and her fiance are leaving that day and would leave right after that show. Are the earlier ones easier to get into?

 

[erikthewise]

My guess is that the 5:00 show is the least crowded. Of course it's not fully dark at that time (though it will be before the show is over) so the mood is not quite the same. I'd suggest getting in line about 4:15-4:30 and there's a good chance you'll get in. If not, go eat dinner and enjoy Epcot!
But check your daily park schedule -- the 5:00 show is sometimes not held (or not open to the public).

If you decide to do the dinner package, I'd suggest Garden Grill. It's only slightly more than regular price plus tip & tax.

 

[webmomom]

If it is not necessary to see all of the details, do what we are doing. We have done the dinner package for about 4 years, but this year I guess I am feeling tight with my money, anyway we are either going to grab something to eat at the American Pavillion or somewhere else and just sit on the ledges around the American Pavillion; You can hear the total show and in some case see it It really is the message and not the stage that people are there for as nothing really happens on the stage after everyone comes in. this way you don't have to stand in line for hrs.

 

[DebbieB]

For a Monday night, I would get in line 30 to 45 minutes ahead. You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[aurora19]

We usually have one or two people wait in line while the kids and dad eat dinner at a table in America - then when they start letting people in, they join us in line and we all get a seat together.

We've never done the dinner package and we usually do either the 5pm or the 8pm shows.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd and I were at the later showing of CP in mid Dec last year. We did the package, eating at Garden Grill. We had to wait about 45 minutes in the package line!!! I remember the non-package line was really long. I think that most of the people in that non-pkg. line did eventually get in and got seats but I'm not sure where they ended up sitting. The two of us were 2/3 of the way back, in the center and by the time they opened up the non-pkg line there weren't a lot of seats open that a whole family could sit together at. I'm sure people either split up or just walked away.

But I would think that the early shows might be less crowded, especially on a Monday. Good luck. It's a terrific show and worth the wait!!

 

[eleanor]

A funny thing one year we had eaten and were waiting in the CP package line when a lady came by( it was a really long line ) and said that she had a ticket and held up her ID and thought that she should be at the front of the line. Everyone looked at her and held up their ID. She seemed quite stunned that others had tickets also.

 

[Ronda93]

Someone mentioned partial parties waiting in line while others ate, etc. Everyone okay with this?

We want to see Marlee Matlin. Dinner at Le Cellier is not available and that's where we really wanted to eat. I'll stand in the non-package line, but don't want to break protocol.

How do people handle the Fantasmic line? That starts early, doesn't it?

 

[erikthewise]

Originally posted by Ronda93
Someone mentioned partial parties waiting in line while others ate, etc. Everyone okay with this?

My opinion is not important, but I can assure you that not everyone is OK with this. I would guess many if not most people would be somewhere between annoyed and livid, especially in the nonpackage line where it can make the difference between getting in or not. I suggest you eat before you get in line, or bring something with you to eat while you wait.

 

[llandaff]

Originally posted by erikthewise
My opinion is not important, but I can assure you that not everyone is OK with this. I would guess many if not most people would be somewhere between annoyed and livid, especially in the nonpackage line where it can make the difference between getting in or not. I suggest you eat before you get in line, or bring something with you to eat while you wait.

I agree with Erik. There's nothing more annoying than a party of two in front of you suddenly blossoming into a party of six as soon as the line starts moving. It makes no difference whether they are children or adults cutting the line.....they each take up one seat. I don't understand how anyone can think that this is OK.

Vicki.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry but I have to agree with those who don't care for 'line-busters'. There are only 3 of us, so when we get into a line that looks short then blossoms out to twice as long when others get into line with their waiting family it really annoys me. It happened one time that we ended up waiting, in the same place in line, for about 20 minutes once the show opened up. We figured that we would start to move up but suddenly about 6 families had others joing them, making the line about 40 people longer in front of us.

I can understand if you have little ones that have to have a potty break. But to leave one person standing in line while the rest of the family, about 5 people, go off to enjoy other attractions, bugs me.

 

[webmomom]

I totally agree with the other posters about line cutting. If I have to stand line and wait, they are not better then me so stand in line with me andd wait. I now have started to say something to these rude people. I never use to, but I now just do. If they can be rude and cut a line, then I can say something to them nicely.