Candelight Processional at WDW 2012

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Some of the narrators have been announced. Check out this link to see who:-

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...on-john-added/

Background story:-

When I was pregnant with my beautiful daughter my DH and I found it really hard to choose a name, well I didn't find it hard. It's just that we found it hard to "agree" on a name .

Eventually we did decide about 11 days prior to her being born. Once she arrived and we told everyone that she had arrived into this world and that we had called her "Olivia" all of my friends said:-

"ummmm, der, of course that's what you were going to call her".

Hmmm, this was not the reaction that I thought I would get .

I asked them all "why do you say that"?

They all said "well your favourite movie of all time is Grease (this is true) and you absolutely love love love Olivia Newton John (this is also true)".


I seriously had not consciously made the connection but once it was pointed out to me it did all make sense. When I was very young I went and saw Grease 5 times at the pictures. I had a bit of a turbulent childhood and this movie really became a favourite escape for me and I was absolutely besotted with Olivia Newton John. Then Xanadu came out and the deal was sealed. I was a huge fan and have always liked her music.

So that's the background story.

Now back to the Candelight Processional part of the tale. I really had hoped that Neil Patrick Harris or Whoopi would be the narrators for our dates but alas that isn't to be. Imagine my surprise however when I see who is narrating smack dab in the middle of our dates for her first time ever....

Drumroll please





OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN

I believe this surely must be a sign .

With that said, I would love to know who the narrator at the start of our dates and at the end of our dates are before making a final decision but I think I know who we will choose.

[battymum]

Thats awesome - that will be so special for you

I have to confess - as we didnt travel in December - I dont really know what the candlelight processional is. Obviously have seen it mentioned many times, just havent followed up on any of those threads as it didnt relate to me.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Originally Posted by battymum

Thats awesome - that will be so special for you

I have to confess - as we didnt travel in December - I dont really know what the candlelight processional is. Obviously have seen it mentioned many times, just havent followed up on any of those threads as it didnt relate to me.

I'm with you, I didn't know much until recently. Each year for around a month they have well known actors/actresses/singers come to WDW and narrate The Christmas Story and they are surround by a beautiful choir and orchestra who play Christmas carols through the story.

[WAMUMOF4]

That's awesome I'm sure it will mean even more to you now

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Originally Posted by WAMUMOF4

That's awesome I'm sure it will mean even more to you now

My US TA has informed me that even though I need to book the dinner package on 26th June, that they could still move the narrators around, some could drop out, some could be added in so even though we will purchase the package for a particular night, we really won't know until a few weeks out exactly who we will get. It's pot luck kind of. Oh well, I think it will be a really unique experience anyway so I'm excited to share it with my family.

[Aussie Wendy]

That's so exciting! Hope she stays on that night. We went in 2008 and it was brilliant- a very special event-the choir was magnificant and the scene was set from the start with the choir procession with candles while singing. We did not know our narrator (and it did change from when I first booked to who we had on the night)-knowing them would have made it even better. We were also fascinated as an aside, by the interpreter who was so eloquent in her hand language for the deaf it was like she dancing her way through. We had a dinner package but were surprised by the number of people queuing really early-we realised later so as to get the best spots within the reserved area. We ended up joining the queue (I got panicy) about 40 mins prior I think (I forget now) and ended up a bit far to one side than I would have liked and 2/3 back perhaps. Lots of people were standing at the back watching and we did this another night too and watched some of it again.

[shushh]

I can't believe I missed this thread earlier! Yay for you Ms Shuttergirl. I think you'll love it. As already mentioned, the processional is pretty amazing regardless of who the narrator is. But if it does turn out to be ONJ, then all the more special !

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Originally Posted by Aussie Wendy

That's so exciting! Hope she stays on that night. We went in 2008 and it was brilliant- a very special event-the choir was magnificant and the scene was set from the start with the choir procession with candles while singing. We did not know our narrator (and it did change from when I first booked to who we had on the night)-knowing them would have made it even better. We were also fascinated as an aside, by the interpreter who was so eloquent in her hand language for the deaf it was like she dancing her way through. We had a dinner package but were surprised by the number of people queuing really early-we realised later so as to get the best spots within the reserved area. We ended up joining the queue (I got panicy) about 40 mins prior I think (I forget now) and ended up a bit far to one side than I would have liked and 2/3 back perhaps. Lots of people were standing at the back watching and we did this another night too and watched some of it again.

Gosh how crazy that you were there 40 mins before and still didn't get good seats. Unbelievable. Glad to hear you enjoyed it though and I will be sure to keep an eye out for the sign language person, sounds wonderful.

Originally Posted by shushh

I can't believe I missed this thread earlier! Yay for you Ms Shuttergirl. I think you'll love it. As already mentioned, the processional is pretty amazing regardless of who the narrator is. But if it does turn out to be ONJ, then all the more special !

Well we've booked for Sunday 16 December for ONJ, fingers crossed she doesn't change. The dining times are insane, the latest booking available for the package was 4.50pm for the 8.15pm show. We are going to Coral Reef. We gave our US travel agent 3 of our favourite dining options and said do your best. We are happy with what she got for us and look forward to this new experience.

[dabecs]

I can't wait to hear what you think of it, I nearly made our dates later so we could go (especially when I saw last year Steve Curtis Chapman was a narrator) but November just worked better for us. My girls probably would find it a bit long at their age anyway, and I don't think I saw Steve in this year's line up...

Olivia is a great name by the way

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks Dabecs. I will be sure to let you know in detail what we thought.

And her name is as beautiful as she is.

[Sugarglider]

well Ms. Shuttergirl - I have no story to tell re: CP. I have booked Neil and a lunch at Rose and Crown (and may keep changing - I CAN'T decide!) and have no related stories
Enjoy your experience with Olivia Neutron Bomb!

[ColinA]

Have been about a dozen times to the CP. With the standby lines people line up for maybe two hours and can still miss out on the seats at the back. We always get the lunch package and go to the first show. Even with the dining and CP package we still get into the line at least 1.5 hours ahead to get the real good seats in the middle and a few rows back from the front. Do not think because you have the package you will get a good seat. Turn up early or you might be back near Morocco in the line. Entry usually starts 25-30 mins before the CP.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Originally Posted by Sugarglider

well Ms. Shuttergirl - I have no story to tell re: CP. I have booked Neil and a lunch at Rose and Crown (and may keep changing - I CAN'T decide!) and have no related stories
Enjoy your experience with Olivia Neutron Bomb!

Oh Sugarglider, you know I'm so jealous. Neil will be absolutely amazing, he was definitely my first preference but we miss him by 2 weeks unfortunately. You will definitely have to let me know what you think.

Originally Posted by ColinA

Have been about a dozen times to the CP. With the standby lines people line up for maybe two hours and can still miss out on the seats at the back. We always get the lunch package and go to the first show. Even with the dining and CP package we still get into the line at least 1.5 hours ahead to get the real good seats in the middle and a few rows back from the front. Do not think because you have the package you will get a good seat, you might be back near Morocco in the line. Entry usually starts 25-30 mins before the CP.

Thanks Colin. We plan to line up approx 40 minutes before the show. I don't need to be up the front in the middle (although of course that would be lovely). Having see the Eat to the Beat Concerts there a few years back I think you get a pretty good view from all over the whole area so we are just happy that we will get a seat. Very much looking forward to it.