Candle light processional without DP-help!

[kittycruize]

We are very excited to go to WDW at Christmas for the first time, but feel pretty overwhelmed! We would like to go to the Candle Light Processional on December 12th, but cannot do the DP. Can anyone give us advice on how to best to do this with 11 people? What show is best, do we line up, what time and where do we do this? How much time commitment is this for the evening? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[yulilin3]

You must line up early for the shows. Robby Benson will be the narrator and he is not one of the more popular ones so I would say try and plan o get in line at least an hour and a half before, preferably 2 hours
They do not have a lot of room for standby people so the spots fill up fast
I have kids that have performed during CP with a lot of different narrators. For the least popular I would get iin line around 2:30pm for the first show (5pm) to guarantee I would make it in, I also can't afford the package. For the most popular ones NPH for example I would get to the standby line around 11:30am and there were already people in line
I am a local so doing the rest of the park is not a priority to me
If you don't want to sacrifice so much park time you could always just hear the show from outside the theater
Good luck

 

[Nancyg56]

Are you saying no dining plan or no dining package for the show? They are different.

I agree that you need to line up early, the seats do fill up. With that said, I have decided to listen on the spur of the moment and have just stood at the entrance of the theater and enjoyed the show. What was a bonus for me was to be surrounded by voices! Members of the chorus for the earlier show had stopped by to see the one I was enjoying and sang along. It was a wonderful treat.

 

[Disneytam]

We decided to do the breakfast package for the shows since it seems easier to work into our day and the price is easier to swallow! With so many different places offering the CP packages I was really concerned that they wouldn't have any openings if you didn't do the package.

 

[Duffywannabe]

It's a nice show but 80% of the seats go to dining package purchasers, which is crazy. You need to be there 3 hours early of the show you want to be in just to make sure you get a seat. With 11 people, it would not go over well to have a few people hold spots. I mean if someone has to run to the bathroom that's okay. But 11 spots is not going to fly.

I would just stand at the back of the theater. You can see and hear fine. I stood back by the American Adventure sign and it was good. Other than the people walking by. But if you really want a seat, get there early and see the show twice before you get to sit and see it.

 

[georgina]

Yeah, we just stood at the back of the theater also, right behind the low fence. Walked up 10-15 mins before the show to get the front row standing spot (nobody walking in front of us there.) We could see and hear just fine.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

This year, we're planning to hear what we can from the American pavilion area while we eat. A few years ago, you could get in SB line at 11:30 and get a wrist band to return later so you didn't have to stand in line as long - any word on if they'll do that again?

 

[yulilin3]

This year, we're planning to hear what we can from the American pavilion area while we eat. A few years ago, you could get in SB line at 11:30 and get a wrist band to return later so you didn't have to stand in line as long - any word on if they'll do that again?

I was there yesterday and went up to the Chase Lounge to get a wristband for the eat to the beat concert with Boyz II Men and I asked the coordinator. She told me that at the moment there are no plans for the wristbands this year. That could tootally change though
My DD16 is singing with her choir when NPH is narrating and I hate to make that line all day

 

[writerguyfl]

Last year, I saw the Candlelight Processional twice. Both times were during the week for the late show. I entered the standby line roughly 40 minutes prior to the show. Hundreds of us got in without a problems, although we were near the back of the theatre.

I'm not doubting that some people will stand in line for 3-5 hours. But, in my experience, it's not necessary.

My Advice: Don't try to attend the first show of the night, but plan on being in that part of World Showcase. Ask a couple of Cast Members who are working the standby line about wait times. (Some Cast Members are more familiar with the procedure due to experience.) Doing that should give you a better idea about when you need to be in line.

Also, the suggestion to simply watch the show standing at the back edge of the theatre is a good one, too. The show is a concert, so there's really nothing to "see" except maybe the celebrity narrator. But, the narrators are just standing there and speaking.

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We are very excited to go to WDW at Christmas for the first time, but feel pretty overwhelmed! We would like to go to the Candle Light Processional on December 12th, but cannot do the DP. Can anyone give us advice on how to best to do this with 11 people? What show is best, do we line up, what time and where do we do this? How much time commitment is this for the evening? Any advice would be appreciated!

We aren't doing the DDP (dining plan) this trip.

But we are watching the show. We simply booked the dining package for the show. Breakfast and lunch aren't as expensive as dinner.

Without either, you may have a hard time getting in, especially with 11 people.

 

[ELSA711]

I know someone mentioned this before in a thread but I forgot to put it in my spreadsheet

If I having a dining package for the 8:15pm show is it safe to get into line at 7:30pm or do I need to be in line sooner even with dining package?

 

[Robo]

7:30 would be an ideal time to enter the Dining Pkg. waiting area for the 8:15 show.