Candlelight Processional Dining packages are posted!

[Grasshopper2016]

For some reason, of all of the disdain, indifference, and incompetence that Disney has shown us over the last couple years, I'm having the most trouble getting over this one. We have a family tradition of Biergarten for lunch on our EPCOT day. Eight years running.

At precisely 6:00 am when my dining window opened at 60+5, I could not find a single reservation. But that didn't surprise me. It was already known on these forums that Disney had not yet released a single table at Biergarten for the entire month of December. Websites that show dining availability confirmed that. It seemed like my only way of getting a reservation was to book a CP package. So I followed Disney's instructions and logged on at 5:55 this morning and began search over and over for our Epcot day (December 20). Nothing. And now Disney tells us that they somehow sold out the entire month of December in minutes, and that many of us who were trying during that time were shut out.

How could the entire Biergarten restaurant (which is huge) sell out for the entire month of December, in seconds? What, exactly, did I do wrong that has led to the end of our family tradition? What is the point of staying onsite if the Disney does not actually provide the promised benefits?

I'm just so demoralized right now.

 

[TammTamm]

Absolutely false. I checked starting at 6am Eastern and I was never able to get beyond 12/25.

Yes this is a bold faced lie by Disney I'm disgusted by their attitudes and I am seriously thinking about staying off site, I just dont see the value. I started at 5am. I checked last night. I was up like many others I suppose, but it wasn't there, it either error out or no reservations, or can't reach server.

 

[Mickeynutty]

AND...perhaps the worst, they may release Biergarten at some point but only the ones who “catch it” at the right moment get it. This feels to me like I am in a bad gambling den where there are no clear rules. I HATE this!!!

 

[bavarian princess]

This really isn't helping......I can't get dessert packages for MK on the only night I'll be there - looking like a private thing or something as no one has them for that date (12/8)

I actually have booked the dessert party (after fireworks party) on December 8 but couldn’t get the candlelight package today as I was stuck at work and couldn’t log in early enough to snag one

 

[sherlockmiles]

I'm just so demoralized right now.

me too

 

[sherlockmiles]

I actually have booked the dessert party (after fireworks party) on December 8 but couldn’t get the candlelight package today as I was stuck at work and couldn’t log in early enough to snag one

thank you for this info. so happy for you, but now I'm super duper sad. (lol - want a +1 to your dessert party?)

 

[Jennasis]

I didn't event WANT the package. I just wanted to.eat at Biergarten on our Epcot day as it is DH's favorite and it is his birthday trip. I have never seen Biergarten sellout...ever. We will try for a walk up. I have no interest I. The CP (which we love but have seen many times and have no desire to be crammed In with everybody singing and unmasked.)

 

[mustachspot]

So for all of us that didn't get the coveted ressie, how early should we get in line for the Processional? This is my Daughter's first time singing and we want to be sure to get a seat at least? Any tips or suggestions for making the most of the situation?

 

[Debbie Jean]

For some reason, of all of the disdain, indifference, and incompetence that Disney has shown us over the last couple years, I'm having the most trouble getting over this one. We have a family tradition of Biergarten for lunch on our EPCOT day. Eight years running.

At precisely 6:00 am when my dining window opened at 60+5, I could not find a single reservation. But that didn't surprise me. It was already known on these forums that Disney had not yet released a single table at Biergarten for the entire month of December. Websites that show dining availability confirmed that. It seemed like my only way of getting a reservation was to book a CP package. So I followed Disney's instructions and logged on at 5:55 this morning and began search over and over for our Epcot day (December 20). Nothing. And now Disney tells us that they somehow sold out the entire month of December in minutes, and that many of us who were trying during that time were shut out.

How could the entire Biergarten restaurant (which is huge) sell out for the entire month of December, in seconds? What, exactly, did I do wrong that has led to the end of our family tradition? What is the point of staying onsite if the Disney does not actually provide the promised benefits?

I'm just so demoralized right now.

If you haven’t already done it, set up alerts for a ressie. This is such a wonderful tradition, maybe you can find something at Biergarten that will work for your family, CP or regular ressie.
Hoping you will get some pixie dust!

 

[tawasdave]

If you haven’t already done it, set up alerts for a ressie. This is such a wonderful tradition, maybe you can find something at Biergarten that will work for your family, CP or regular ressie.
Hoping you will get some pixie dust!

How do you set up an alert?

 

[bavarian princess]

thank you for this info. so happy for you, but now I'm super duper sad. (lol - want a +1 to your dessert party?)

I was about to suggest you the same since I have a booking for two but will be on my own

 

[sherlockmiles]

I was about to suggest you the same since I have a booking for two but will be on my own

lol - great minds think alike.
will PM you.

 

[emilymad]

So for all of us that didn't get the coveted ressie, how early should we get in line for the Processional? This is my Daughter's first time singing and we want to be sure to get a seat at least? Any tips or suggestions for making the most of the situation?

Same questions here. Do we even know the show times? We are going the first week of CP so we don't have other people's feedback yet. I really don't want to stand in line for an hour or more before hand.

 

[brentm77]

I didn't event WANT the package. I just wanted to.eat at Biergarten on our Epcot day as it is DH's favorite and it is his birthday trip. I have never seen Biergarten sellout...ever. We will try for a walk up. I have no interest I. The CP (which we love but have seen many times and have no desire to be crammed In with everybody singing and unmasked.)

Yep. It doesn't add up. Biergarten is one of those places you could usually get a reservation day of, even during busy times. They are holding reservations (either for dinner packages or for non-dinner packages). Which means it is a crap shoot if we happen to check when they are released. And that there is no benefit of having booked a Disney hotel room.

 

[tiana1989]

It’s so ridiculous. Biergarten reservations are usually SO easy to get, and they obviously weren’t saving it all for CP based on today. Disney should communicate if there’s something else going on.
Also, the people who got something but not what they wanted is just like last year when they did merchpass for that Minnie main attraction series. Like mug collectors would buy the pins because that’s all they got selected for in the hopes they could find someone with a mug online they could trade with, at the risk of wasting money on a product they didn’t collect while someone else was heartbroken over not getting it. It’s so stupid how Disney has these systems where we all fight over scraps to get what we don’t want, and then others are left out entirely. How in the world is that ok for a vacation destination? I get that you can’t always get what you want and we’re all privileged to be able to do Disney during the holidays, but like heck yeah, we’re paying lots of money to do this, aren’t we? There should at least be some level of organization and communication involved, not a freaking crap shoot for every aspect of our trips.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Same questions here. Do we even know the show times? We are going the first week of CP so we don't have other people's feedback yet. I really don't want to stand in line for an hour or more before hand.

I absolutely have not seen anything for certain, but while wrestling the system for a CP package this morning, it appeared to me that they are offering 2 shows - a 7PM and an 8:30PM. Again, that's just based on what I was seeing. Even with a lunch reservation, the package was for a 7PM show, so I'm expecting that's the early show. Many of the dinner people are saying 8:30PM show. It's very difficult to tell you when to get in line. Early is the obvious answer. We have already been in line an hour before one show, missed out on seating and stayed in line for the next. It really could depend on how many packages they actually sell. Theoretically, with only 4 restaurants participating, they might have less in the package line. Hope it works out for you. I also would not give up on watching now and then for a package to open up if they release more seats. Good luck!

 

[brentm77]

I absolutely have not seen anything for certain, but while wrestling the system for a CP package this morning, it appeared to me that they are offering 2 shows - a 7PM and an 8:30PM. Again, that's just based on what I was seeing. Even with a lunch reservation, the package was for a 7PM show, so I'm expecting that's the early show. Many of the dinner people are saying 8:30PM show. It's very difficult to tell you when to get in line. Early is the obvious answer. We have already been in line an hour before one show, missed out on seating and stayed in line for the next. It really could depend on how many packages they actually sell. Theoretically, with only 4 restaurants participating, they might have less in the package line. Hope it works out for you. I also would not give up on watching now and then for a package to open up if they release more seats. Good luck!

My reservation is for a 5:15 show, with an 11:30 lunch at Coral Reef.

 

[whiteness]

It’s so stupid how Disney has these systems where we all fight over scraps to get what we don’t want, and then others are left out entirely. How in the world is that ok for a vacation destination?

Because we buy it. And if we stopped, there are legions of others who would take our place.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

My reservation is for a 5:15 show, with an 11:30 lunch at Coral Reef.

Thanks for adding to my knowledge! That's the first 5:15 I've heard of, but it makes sense. We actually have 11:40 Coral Reef, but a 7PM show.

 

[tiana1989]

Because we buy it. And if we stopped, there are legions of others who would take our place.

Oh, I know. And next year they’ll probably be back to the full roster of restaurants but charge $10-$15 per reservation more knowing that everyone will snatch them up in minutes out of fear of another sell-out.

I do think there’s a breaking point eventually, though. It might take a while to get there, but it will. They rely on hooking people with nostalgia. First timers alone won’t keep them in business for another 50 years, so something some day will bite them in the butt. Their difficulty in selling the overpriced and misleading Very Merriest tickets gives me some hope.