CP dinner package - set dinner selections??

[Carla]

Hi friends. Can those who have done the Candlelight Processional dinner package, please explain it? I thought you picked the restaurant you wanted and then could order anything on the menu but it seems as though that is not what others have experienced (stuff I read on the Dis). I didn't realize there was a set menu at the restaurants. Can anyone verify if this is true? We are considering Le Cellier or Coral Reef next year for Christmas eve with the CP but only if it's worth it.

Thanks.

[HappyCamper]

We did CP with Japan. Our dinner package allowed us into the show of our choice and an appetizer, entree, dessert, soda of our choice. Our entree did not include the tenderloin or the lobster and it did not include sushi as as appetizer. Tax and tip were included in the cost of the package.

[SuzyQ]

Some of the restaurants, such as the Beirgarten and others that would normally have a buffet, have a set menu. Most of the regular, a la carte, restaurants allow you to order off of the menu, but may (as mentioned above) have limitations.

Either of the two restaurants that you are thinking of would be worth it if you are interested in the following:

1) Would like to have a PS for the CP (i.e., special seating like in Fantasmic) rather than wait for an hour.

2) You would normally order appetizer, main course, dessert, etc. If you are like my DH and me, we usually split an appetizer and a meal because it is just too much food for us. So, in that case, it is not really worth it (though we are doing the Beirgarten with our family this Chrismas since there will be seven of us).

~Suzy

[Kaycee]

We did the CP package at San Angel Inn last year, and there were some limitations on what we could order. I don't remember if there were limits on the entrees, but I don't think so. I do remember we only had maybe two desserts to choose from, and they weren't very good ones either. And I think we were pretty limited on appetizer choices too.

[VillianGirl]

We had the San Angel CP dinner package (12/12, 8:00pm seating) and there were some restrictions but I thought it was still a pretty good deal. For starters you have a choice of soup or salad, not the other appetizers. I had the soup and it was tasty. You do have a choice of any entree off the menu. I had some sort of steak & shrimp combo - it was just okay. They also give you a dessert and I'm totally blanking out on what it was. All I can remember is that you get one and that whatever it was, it wasn't spectacular or bad enough to stand out in my memory.

I think the big bonus with the CP dinner package is not having to wait in as long a line as general seating. We were originally scheduled to go on 12/10 for the 5:00pm show but it was cancelled due to the rain. We moved the whole package to Friday night instead. We got in the reserved line 45 minutes early and got really good seats. I was talking to a lady who was there the night before and she said they got in line late the previous evening and it was all the way back to Morocco. The regular stand-by line was exponentially worse.

However, I should point out that if you don't mind standing you can see most of the show from outside the theater and then you don't have to mess with lines at all. It's really more of an auditory experience anyway.