Candelight Registration: What the heck just happened??

[themur]

There are close to a million APs. Unfortunately can't handle everyone.

Funny about people complaining/disappointed about no dinner packages. Last year these boards were full of posters complaining about Disney gouging people for Candlelight. Just goes to show that inevitably people will be disappointed.

Hope the lucky "winners" enjoy the holiday tradition and share photos!

[Miss Stitch]

They should have at least sent emails to all of us to give everyone a chance. Seems like a lot of AP holders didn't get one. (myself included)

(and yes, they do email me, so they do have my addy!)

[huskydawg]

They should have at least sent emails to all of us to give everyone a chance. Seems like a lot of AP holders didn't get one. (myself included)

(and yes, they do email me, so they do have my addy!)

I recieved an email on Nov. 13 telling me that the Candlelight sweepstakes were open. I also received another email on the 16th announcing last call on entering.

I believe they also posted the information on Facebook.

[Miss Stitch]

I recieved an email on Nov. 13 telling me that the Candlelight sweepstakes were open. I also received another email on the 16th announcing last call on entering.

I believe they also posted the information on Facebook.

I know. Some people got an email. Some did not. That was my point.

[ohmyjustin]

Over a million APers but I'd be willing to guess maybe 250,000 of them entered the lottery.

[ccinsf]

There are close to a million APs. Unfortunately can't handle everyone.

Funny about people complaining/disappointed about no dinner packages. Last year these boards were full of posters complaining about Disney gouging people for Candlelight. Just goes to show that inevitably people will be disappointed.

Hope the lucky "winners" enjoy the holiday tradition and share photos!

It is funny I am upset they aren't gouging people for money with dining packages. Also, I should be pleased they are doing a truly free, truly nice thing for their AP holders. All of those nights and all of those celebrities must cost a pretty penny.

However, where I get upset is simply in the way it was handled. If they hadn't advertised that dining packages were available, I would not have had the idea I could attend one way or the other. I literally booked an entire trip at great expense just to see this because they advertised that one way or the other I could get in.

The dining packages would have been very limited sure, but so are the tours that run once or twice a day, and I always manage to get into those.

This would have been a huge positive PR thing for Disney if the Parks Blog hadn't completely mismanaged expectations. I assume this mismanagement came from this thing literally being thrown together without much thought.

[G24T]

I believe they also posted the information on Facebook.

Confirmed, it was a November 5th update, but it appears to be the only one that ever mentioned the sweepstakes.

[Malcon10t]

I literally booked an entire trip at great expense just to see this because they advertised that one way or the other I could get in.

Well, you might have booked the trip, at great expense, and been upset when you couldn't get a dinner. For years, prior to them stopping the dinners, I tried each year. We tried numerous computers at once, and never got a reservation. They truly would crash every year, and only a lucky few got a reservation.

What weekend did you reserve everything for? Perhaps someone has an extra ticket on that date.

[bayouguy]

This just hasn't been a good idea from the get go. This was a great tradition for Disneyland. It's been ruined with too many nights. I will return to Disneyland on Friday, December 21.

[Malina]

I know. Some people got an email. Some did not. That was my point.

Ditto. I never received any emails, and I'm definitely in their system.

[GiRiMama33]

There was a post on FB when the sweepstakes began...that is when I entered. I did not get any e-mail about it that I can recalls.
I ended up winning tickets for the 16th, but I did not recall registering for a Sunday. I wish I could go, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen.

[edcub]

Last year about 10 minutes before the start of the show they quietly moved small parties to open seats. We were seated about 10 feet from the orchestra. Try to stand along the ropes between the seats and the standing area and chat nicely to the cast members. They moved us!!!

What they have done previously is shortly before the start, they "make magic" for a few people in the standing crowd, usually someone/s who has been there a long time.

[Crazee4mm]

In years past (except last year) I have always been seated when the lights went out without having a ticket. They called this "back filling" and they usually did this under cover of darkness to avoid making others mad. This year I was prepared to spend at least $1000 for tickets and dinners for friends and a few select co-workers to see Candlelight. Unfortunately, the dinners were cancelled and the seats were limited to AP's only. Even the guests had to be AP's! Out of 4 pass holding friends, all 4 of us won seats. We all put "4" as the size of our parties. Therefore, we all will be attending 4 times due to each of us being a singular winner with 3 guests each time. We will be there on the 9th., 10th., 12th., and 16th. On each of these dates our "performance time" will be 7:30. This should cover all our bases in case a performance (or two) gets cancelled due to inclement weather.

[G24T]

Hey all, thanks for your input thus far on the subject. I got back not to long ago from a spur of the moment evening trip with me and the fam and I went to both Candlelight performances. I feel like I have most of my questions answered now and posted a new thread where I've shared some hopefully helpful info regarding the way this year's Candlelight works:

Candlelight Ceremony - What to Expect

[EpicOswald]

I know this is off topic, but what is the candlelight procession?