Candlelight Processional ~ do I *need* a package???

[discookiemonsta]

We have never experienced a Candlelight Processional. Since we will be at Disney at Christmas this year, I thought it might be a nice experience for my family, which consists of my Dh, myself, two daughters ages 9&6.

I have read a lot about CP. I understand all about the CP meal packages, which would use up 2TS credits. I also understand that it is "free" admission for anyone in the park.

I'd rather not give up one of our TS credits. We will be at Epcot two nights (14th and 21st) so we'd have two chances to see it.

So, with that in mind, what should be my family's game plan? How early should I be there to get in line? Or is it just, plain and simple, worth it to do the package worth 2TS credits?

Thank you for all of your input

 

[Robo]

We have never experienced a Candlelight Processional. Since we will be at Disney at Christmas this year, I thought it might be a nice experience for my family, which consists of my Dh, myself, two daughters ages 9&6.

I have read a lot about CP. I understand all about the CP meal packages, which would use up 2TS credits. I also understand that it is "free" admission for anyone in the park.

I'd rather not give up one of our TS credits. We will be at Epcot two nights (14th and 21st) so we'd have two chances to see it.

So, with that in mind, what should be my family's game plan? How early should I be there to get in line? Or is it just, plain and simple, worth it to do the package worth 2TS credits?

Thank you for all of your input

Depends on the date (crowds are much heavier as Christmas approaches) and the popularity of the guest narrator.

------------------------
Examples of just how busy the CP can get-

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=43444084#post43444084


And, here is quote saved from the boards-

Neil Patrick Harris @ Processional Lined up from Noon.
• We walked by standby at 12:05 and there were already 30ish people in line. By 2pm on our way to the package lunch there were a few hundred. By 4 pm....oh my....many many hundreds....just wow!

• My friend got in line at 4:30 yesterday, and got in the 8:15 show.

• People lined up yesterday at 11:00.

• a CM will come by counting and give you an idea if you'll make it or not, if you miss the first show, you can stay in line for the 2nd show.

• I remember for Whoopi Goldberg 2 yrs ago seeing people line up around 1pm

• We got in line yesterday at 3:20 and we were at the last part of the roped area, once they made everyone standup, we moved about 25% more in. They walked around and told us it was iffy if we would be in the 5 show.

• For NPH on Saturday night people were lined up from noon. I think they basically sold the entire theatre for packages. The standby lines were INSANE for the 6:45 show, which was our show. Even the package line. By the time we got to the line, they had already started letting people in, but we didn't catch up to the line until it was in Morocco. By the time we got into the theatre, it was about 90% full and there were package people behind us. I doubt very many standby people got in at all.

• We got in the standby line at 1:30pm and there were 50ish people ahead of us. At that point we were near the trash can before the line turns into the fireworks viewing area. That landed us a seated spot at the 5:00 time slot, about 3rows from the back, almost center. The line was all of the way back to Germany, from what I could see, by 4pm. When we got out the line was beyond Germany, and the line for those who paid for the package was back to Morocco. I'm wondering how that worked out for the last two shows, if many of the standby guests got in?

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[stargazertechie]

Are you looking more toward the beginning of your trip, or toward the end? You've got some rather popular narrators, and I'd HIGHLY recommend the package, especially if you're hoping to see Trace Adkins

 

[pookybean]

oh no, I decided to not do a package because my son does not want to stay with us for the show.

does anyone know if i can book 3 of us on a package and one of us not? if we do 2 adrs would it be possible to request sitting together?

we moved our trip up by a few days and i was so excited to be there for trace!

 

[vleeth]

All that NPH talk is making me concerned.

I plan on being there Thursday, Nov 29th. It's his 4th day so maybe it won't be horrible? Its a really low crowd day also.

I was hoping for 6:45 and no package. Any idea when I should get in line.

 

[DizzneyDi]

I've used the dining package to see CP once, and listened to it a second time while having dinner outside the Liberty Inn. It's a lovely show but I would never wait multiple hours in line to see it! Is it just me??

 

[discookiemonsta]

For the 14th, I have ADRs at France for 5:40pm and on the 21st I have ADRs for Italy for 5:45pm. I don't mind going the to CP the 14th (I believe that's Olivia Newton John?) because I can imagine how much more crowded the 21st will be, especially with Trace Adkins there! I just cannot see myself standing in line for hours on end with two children with us. How long before the show start should we plan to line up?

 

[elphie101]

oh no, I decided to not do a package because my son does not want to stay with us for the show.

does anyone know if i can book 3 of us on a package and one of us not? if we do 2 adrs would it be possible to request sitting together?

we moved our trip up by a few days and i was so excited to be there for trace!

Last year I was in the CP during my college program, and my parents flew down to see me - we booked a dinner package for 3 (so I could eat with them before the show) and then once we were seated told the server that I wouldn't be going to the show, so my parents paid the package price and I just ate regularly.

We paid OOP for that meal (Rose & Crown if anyone cared) but I don't imagine it would be different if you were on the dining plan, as long as you talk to your server beforehand.

 

[RMulieri]

I would do the dinner pkg.If the narrator is popular, people start lining up in standby as early as soon as World Showcase opens.Less popular narrators still have people line up 1-2 hrs prior.Even the dining pkg doesn't guarantee a great seat and still involoves waiting in line.The earlier you get in line for your dining pkg, the better choice of seating.Once show time approaches they let ALL the pkg people in first, then the standby line.Sometimes you can wait standby for a couple of hours and STILL NOT make it into the theater.IF this is something you want to do and it would upset you to miss it, I would get the pkg.Unless you have several hours you don't mind waiting in line for the possibility of not gettin in to your show choice

 

[RMulieri]

All that NPH talk is making me concerned.

I plan on being there Thursday, Nov 29th. It's his 4th day so maybe it won't be horrible? Its a really low crowd day also.

I was hoping for 6:45 and no package. Any idea when I should get in line.

I wouldn't count on it.He is ONE of the most popular narrators.Like I said I have seen people line up as early as World Showcase opening for him.But I am thinking no less than 90 mins-2 hrs before showtime and even then no guarantees

 

[TDC Nala]

You'd need to ask yourself (and your party) some questions.

Do you want a seat in the theater?

How good a seat do you want?

Are you OK with waiting in line for at least an hour, possibly two or three, maybe more?

How popular is the narrator? The standby line starts forming for the really popular ones right when World Showcase opens. If you're at the back of a line like that, you may have trouble finding seats or at least sitting together.

Maybe consider paying OOP for a package at a less expensive place like Via Napoli, and using your dining credits elsewhere for better value. If you are not concerned with sitting in the theater and would just like to be able to hear, you can stand at the back of the theater, sit in the American pavilion (outdoors), and you can hear pretty much to the borders of Japan and Italy.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

We have had to line up from 2 pm and didnt get the 5 pm show last year the week after thanksgiving. Its an easy decision if you ask me, why not to Le cellier or a nice rest. enjoy a nice meal and stress free automatic seating for a very good xmas show. Plus if you are on the dining plan it is an extra credit but if you can not get all the food you need on the dining plan by using 1 extra credit than you might be bottomless. We have to struggle to eat all our meals on the dining plans.

 

[discookiemonsta]

So, if I decide to do a CP package, how early would I need to be in line for that?

 

[Robo]

So, if I decide to do a CP package, how early would I need to be in line for that?

45 minutes ahead, give or take, is a good rule-of-thumb.

Although arriving closer to show-time would still be OK,
guests arriving later on a busy night will be pretty far back in the CP Pkg. waiting line.

Like other WDW attractions and restaurants that are in high demand but offer limited availability,
the CP can require some extra investment in time to secure more consistently satisfactory results.



.

 

[kerri0616]

We went last year during Xmas week, so we chose to purchase a package. We also did not want to give up 2 credits, so we chose a relatively inexpensive lunch package at Via Napoli. We enjoyed the 5:00 CP. Some may argue that the show is better after it is completely dark...we however were very satisfied. And our meal at Via was wonderful. Lined up about 45 min before the show and had great seats.

K

 

[princess124]

All that NPH talk is making me concerned.

I plan on being there Thursday, Nov 29th. It's his 4th day so maybe it won't be horrible? Its a really low crowd day also.

I was hoping for 6:45 and no package. Any idea when I should get in line.

We saw NPH last year without a package. When I saw people lining up at 2pm, I jumped into the line. DH took the kids off to see the rest of WS while I waited. Only the first 10-15 families in the line made the 5pm show, others behind us were told that they may make the 6:45pm show and it was their choice to continue to wait or jump out of line. By 4:45pm, the line was stretching all the way to Italy.

My suggestion is if you don't mind waiting, the package is not necessary. The CMs walk down the line and ask how many in your party, they then take a head count and determine how many will get in. This will give you an opportunity for your family to join you later without issue. The only stipulation is that your entire party must be present by the time the CMs let you into the theater. If you're not all there, they will ask you to step out of line until everyone arrives.

We've been to Epcot so many times that I didn't mind sitting and waiting - plus my sore knee and feet were happy for the break. We used the money we would have spent on MVMCP tickets. Just be prepared, NPH will draw and people will wait hours to see him. If you can get in though, he is excellent and very talented. If you don't want to waste precious park time waiting, I would then suggest getting the package.

Hope this helps!

 

[vleeth]

We saw NPH last year without a package. When I saw people lining up at 2pm, I jumped into the line. DH took the kids off to see the rest of WS while I waited. Only the first 10-15 families in the line made the 5pm show, others behind us were told that they may make the 6:45pm show and it was their choice to continue to wait or jump out of line. By 4:45pm, the line was stretching all the way to Italy.

My suggestion is if you don't mind waiting, the package is not necessary. The CMs walk down the line and ask how many in your party, they then take a head count and determine how many will get in. This will give you an opportunity for your family to join you later without issue. The only stipulation is that your entire party must be present by the time the CMs let you into the theater. If you're not all there, they will ask you to step out of line until everyone arrives.

We've been to Epcot so many times that I didn't mind sitting and waiting - plus my sore knee and feet were happy for the break. We used the money we would have spent on MVMCP tickets. Just be prepared, NPH will draw and people will wait hours to see him. If you can get in though, he is excellent and very talented. If you don't want to waste precious park time waiting, I would then suggest getting the package.

Hope this helps!

This does help. I still need to think about it. We're on the Quick Service Plan, so it would cost us $150 to have dinner at Garden Grill. For that price I can add a day to our tickets and go to Epcot on our 'off' day just to do CP.

 

[bizziemom]

Okay, so... we are also planning on spending 2 days at Epcot. But I booked the CPP for just myself and my husband for lunch @ Le Cellier on Dec. 13. Its supposed to be a low-crowd day, and the guest speaker is the chick that does Ariel's voice, so I was expecting a lower crowd.

Now that I've made all our ADRs (there are 5 of us), I am thinking I don't want to take up 2 TS credits for the CPP. But I can't find out how much it would cost us OOP. Has anyone does the CPP lunch package @ LeCellier and paid OOP? Is it worth it or should we just us the two TS credits?

Or, could we get away with not doing the package since the crowds are expected to be lower that day? Whaddayathink?

 

[siskaren]

I could be wrong, but I would think that someone with a Disney connection like Jodi Benson would be a popular choice for the CP.

I haven't been able to find the prices for this year, but EasyWDW has the price for Le Cellier for last year as $53.99. I would see if you could get a reservation for one of the cheaper restaurants and pay OOP, but I would not take a chance on trying to see it without the package.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Okay, so... we are also planning on spending 2 days at Epcot. But I booked the CPP for just myself and my husband for lunch @ Le Cellier on Dec. 13. Its supposed to be a low-crowd day, and the guest speaker is the chick that does Ariel's voice, so I was expecting a lower crowd.

Jodi Benson (the chick that does Ariel's voice) is VERY popular. She has rapidly become a disney legend. As for the price OOP, I would suggest you try and book lunch online (and then dont actually book). It should tell you the price.