Your Reaction to the New Candlelight Processional Policies?

[kath1210]

1. The price of the packages have increased;
2. Tax and gratuity are no longer included in the package price; and
3. There are now "required" dining times based on the performance times.

All of these changes have turned me off to the CP packages, and I don't think we'll be booking one this year.

How about you?

 

[phisigprincess]

I'm still booking for 2 reasons. First reason is that we're on the dining plan, and it's still only 1 TS credit and the second is because last year we almost didn't get a seat and with Kirk Cameron narrating on our day, I'm not taking that chance!!!

Though if I was paying for it OOP, I would definately agree with you.

 

[BYC]

I have decided not to book. I wanted to go to the 5:00 show, and eat at 7:00. I cannot eat a big meal in the middle of the day. I cannot eat dinner so early! 7:00 is the earliest for me. I am VERY disappointed. I hope I can get a decent seat to see it. Question for those who have gone without the dinner package....If I went early and grabbed seats for my family, would I be able to hold them till they got there if I put jackets or something on them?

 

[magicaldisney]

I am still going to book because this is our first CP and I'm not real sure what to expect.

Maybe those of you with a lot of CP experience can help.......We will be attending November 27. Do you think it is necessary to have ressies with it being that far away from Christmas?

TIA for any info.

 

[DreaminDisney]

I'm still booking for 2 reasons. First reason is that we're on the dining plan, and it's still only 1 TS credit and the second is because last year we almost didn't get a seat and with Kirk Cameron narrating on our day, I'm not taking that chance!!!

Though if I was paying for it OOP, I would definately agree with you.

I called disney travel twice today. 1st they said you could not use the ddp for this.

I called back and spoke with a different CM and she said you could use ddp but it required 2 TS credits. I asked if that was for all 3 tiers and she said yes.

Wonder what I'll be told if I call again............

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you can't eat after the show, that's the end of it for me.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I often liked to do the show, then dinner, then Illuminations. May be the first year for no CP package for me. Also, with the gratuity extra, regardless the increase (if any) in the meal prices (maybe they decreased, not sure), that would be a 15-20% increase over last year, a healthy one to say the least.

 

[01Sweetpea]

I'm going to book the package. This is our first time seeing CP, the ONLY day we have available to see it is the FIRST day it is available. I'm not taking any chances.

Yes, I will be paying a HUGE amount of money for dinner, and yes, most likely my 2 11yos will probably STILL order from the kids menu, but I am NOT missing this.

I am paying so much money for this trip already, that for ME the few extra hundred bucks it is going to cost to ensure I get a seat is worth it.

 

[DisneyLover1091]

I've never gone to one of these before but later on in my life I will. So i'm just browsing

 

[DreaminDisney]

If you can't eat after the show, that's the end of it for me.

That was another thing I was told... Dinner then show. We couldn't do show first.
I guess we have to wait till tuesday to find out.

 

[BroadwayGirl]

I have decided not to book. I wanted to go to the 5:00 show, and eat at 7:00. I cannot eat a big meal in the middle of the day. I cannot eat dinner so early! 7:00 is the earliest for me. I am VERY disappointed. I hope I can get a decent seat to see it. Question for those who have gone without the dinner package....If I went early and grabbed seats for my family, would I be able to hold them till they got there if I put jackets or something on them?

If they do things as they have in the past then no. If your family members are not in line with you when the stand-by line opens they won't have seats. Because of the popularity of this event I would actually consider saving seats for them akin to line cutting if they had not been with you in line (quick trips to the restroom or to get a cup of cocoa aside, of course) prior to the show. Keep in mind the stand-by line can start building more than an hour before showtime and it often stretches far into Italy before they open up the stand-by seating.

 

[CarolA]

I am booking, but I am also going to complain. If I wasn't going with a group I might not be booking and if this continues we will see what happens next year.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I called disney travel twice today. 1st they said you could not use the ddp for this.

I called back and spoke with a different CM and she said you could use ddp but it required 2 TS credits. I asked if that was for all 3 tiers and she said yes.

Wonder what I'll be told if I call again............

and when i called i was told 1 ts credit regardless of which tier, as the top tier is 1 credit if dining without the show...the only difference is that you are getting the show without having to stadn in a long line

 

[Maxie86]

I have been waiting impatiently for the package to be available, but now with the changes I don't think I will be booking. This will be our first cp but I am considering not doing the package because I really want to eat after the show. There will be three nights we could see it and by not booking we can go another night if the weather is bad. So I guess we will be standing in line, but I reserve the right to change my mind.

 

[4mcbjCtr]

It is funny that you keep getting different answers everytime you call Disney. When I called on 8/7, they told me they didn't even know until the day they start selling tickets, if you will even be able to use the dining plan or not. She said they hadn't received all the rules yet.

 

[Talking Hands]

I'll book the package and just eat a light meal at CS after the show. I was pretty much restricted to the 5pm show with dinner after because of my diabetes. Can't eat too late. Have the heavier meal at lunch and a lite one at night.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

I am going to book the CP package. I have been to WDW twice for Thanksgiving and did the 8:15pm CP package with dinner at LC. The first time I let the CM pcik the dinner time and I had to run to the theatre just to catch the show in time and sit in the rain. The second time I chose the dining time. We made it with plenty of time to stand in line waiting for the reserved seating, and got pretty good seat under the roof/cover. Now I am going in early December and only have two nights to choose from, I hope to get the 8:30pm (?) show and 5-6pm dinner at LC. I will know in less than a week if this is possible. Tuesday morning is going to come so early!

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

I'm still going to try to book a package, but if I can't get a reservation for the last seating then I'm not going to do it. It just wouldn't be the same for us to eat dinner in the early afternoon.

I was so distracted by the seating times that I didn't notice that tax and gratuity are no longer included. That stinks too. I will definitely let them know when I (try to) book this that I'm not happy with the changes.

K

 

[ticktock]

As far as the price increase and the tax/tip not being included I say fine, if the market will bear it. This is America, they can charge what they want for their product.

BUT, the fact you HAVE to eat before the show is absurd. I have stomach problems and never know when a meal is going to bother me. Should I have to pay for the show (which is the only reason I have done the package in the past, NOT for the food ) and then miss it if I become ill?

I know when I have booked this in the past they have tried to push an earlier dining time on me and I refused. I just won't be able to do this anymore . Too bad for Disney since this is the only time they get me to pay for their overpriced park food. If I'm spending that kind of money I'd rather spend a little more and go to Jikos or V&A. I certainly won't be on the dining plan .

 

[jlovesee]

Im in a minority who actually likes the new packages. I do not like eating late and prefer eating around 4PM as then I have time to "walk it off" so to speak. I also don't want to be sitting through a show feeling hungry.

I do not see a HUGE jump in price, obviously gratuity is not included, but I expected a jump in price anyway and honestly never having been on the dining plan I've never had gratuity included and I really wouldn't WANT it to be included. I do like the fact that they have an lunch option.

Jennifer