Best night for Candlelight Processional w/o pkg

[dnroach]

I will be in the world 12/11-12/17, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to weigh in on which night would give us the best odds of seeing CP without the package? I could have sworn that I noticed somewhere that the 5:00 12/14 show is not open to the public; am I imagining things?

I might also mention that I will be attending with my mother who is in a wheelchair. I'm not sure if we would wait in the same line as everyone else or how that works exactly.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[Robo]

I will be in the world 12/11-12/17, and I was wondering if anyone would be willing to weigh in on which night would give us the best odds of seeing CP without the package?

First show of the night, not on or near a weekend.

I will be attending with my mother who is in a wheelchair.
I'm not sure if we would wait in the same line as everyone else or how that works exactly.

All guests not having the Dinner Pkg. wait on the RIGHT side of the theater (as you face the stage) all along the lagoon fence.

Epcot American Gardens Theater -NORTH (Facing Stage)

Epcot American Gardens Theater -WEST (Side)

 

[DebbieB]

I've always had good luck on Thursday nights. Depends on the popularity of the speaker.

 

[dnroach]

Will morning EMH at Epcot factor in on Tuesday the 16th? We had talked about seeing the 5pm show on that day, but will the park be busier since it is an EMH day?

If so, the only remaining options would be Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.... all days on or near the weekend. Hmm...

 

[Robo]

I also recommend that if it is IMPORTANT for you to get seats in the theater for a particular performance, you should arrive 90 minutes (or more) before the show-time, and wait in line.
(Reports here have seen lines begin 2+ hours before the show-time.)

And, the 90+ minutes early is not a guarantee that you will get a seat at a busy show.

OTOH, it COULD also be that 90+ minutes is a bit "too early" if attendance for that
particular show happens to be "slow."

But arriving a lot "too early" is better than arriving a bit "too late."

It should be noted that it is possible to hear the show from the open area behind the seating (between the theater and the American Adventure Pavilion.)

 

[Robo]

Will morning EMH at Epcot factor in on Tuesday the 16th? We had talked about seeing the 5pm show on that day, but will the park be busier since it is an EMH day?

If so, the only remaining options would be Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.... all days on or near the weekend. Hmm...

It is a small theater and a very POPULAR show.

That's why so many guests pay for the dinner package.
Even guests WITH the Dinner Pkg. line up 45+ minutes before the show.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I think I would go with the Monday, it being, according to you there, not an emh day. emh days only make the parks more crowded, and therefore CP probably more crowded. Fri/Sat/Sun would also typically be more crowded. With a wheelchair, there is an area for wheelchairs, etc, that is closer in the front of the theater. You also might run this by the folks on the disABILITIES board here. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

 

[buffalogirl]

dnroach-PM'ed you

 

[Matt'sMom]

I think I would go with the Monday, it being, according to you there, not an emh day... With a wheelchair, there is an area for wheelchairs, etc, that is closer in the front of the theater.

Just wanted to add that yes, a non-EMH day that is a weekday--lining up 2 hours in advance for the 5 PM show--may be your best opportunity to get in to the CP without the package. BUT... unless your family member can transfer out of the wheelchair and into a regular seat, your chances of getting in without the package could be rather slim regardless of when you go. We attended the 5 PM showing last Thursday evening... and although the CP package holders only filled about half to 2/3rds of the total theatre seating, I did not see any vacant wheelchair spaces remaining in the center section after the package crowd was seated. They were also filling the wheelchair spaces along the sides of the theatre with guests on the package, although I did not watch to see if every HA space was filled prior to admitting any stand-bys. I do know we spoke with several ladies in the check-in line at Biergarten who told us they had called a few days earlier and were told that the lunch there was the only CP package opening still available at that time.

Any ways, if at all possible, I would highly recommend you call asap and see if you can still book at least a tier 1 CP package for the first seating of the night. Otherwise, you may find that you will have to just listen to the music from outside of the theatre. It is a very popular show, and 'free'/stand-by seating for even able bodied guests can be hard to come by.