Candlelight Procession

[Bbgrizzle]

Hi,
I made my Disneyland vacation reservations today (For December) and I was informed that the Minnie's Christmas party would not be held the weekend I will be there. Instead, for that weekend only, they will be having a "Candlelight Procession and Ceremony". Does anyone know what this is all about? I'm kinda disappointed that we'll miss Minnie's Christmas party.
Thanks

 

[sramille]

I would also like to find more info on the processional.
Anyone?

 

[Tink33]

What is the Candlelight Procession?

The Candlelight Procession begins with a procession of choir members making their way from the gate by the Firehouse, up Main Street, up Small World Mall and into the Fantasyland Theater. During the trip the choir members hold candles and sing Christmas carols. Once in the theater the choir members fill the stage and form a living Christmas Tree. A celebrity guest narrator then tells the story of Christmas. Throughout the story the narrator pauses and the choir sings Christmas carols. Live musicians, including the spectacular fanfare trumpeters, accompany what is always an emotional evening.


History

The first Candlelight Procession was held in 1955. It was actually a Choir Festival with individual choirs performing under a gazebo near the Jungle Cruise. For the next few years the ceremony consisted of participating choirs who performed around the hub facing the choir director. In 1960, Candlelight grew to 800 singers who followed the Christmas parades. Finally, in 1961 a narrator was added to the Ceremony. Past Disneyland narrators include Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, John Wayne, James Earl Jones, Mary Hart and, last year, Edward James Olmos.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

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Some more....

For awhile, the choir members would process up Main Street, all holding candles, and they would go to a riser in shape of a Christmas Tree in front of the Train Station. They would go up those steps, forming a Christmas tree, and sing from there. (I never saw this, though a coworker whose dd was a CM who married Prince Charming - the one from the MS Electrical Parade - and was part of the CP, told me about it every year)

It ended up getting so crowded, that they began having the CP in the Fantasyland Theater (please correct me, Tink33, where needed).

Also, I went to it last year, and we had David Ogden Stiers as our narrator - it was very beautiful.

If you'd like, you can see the pics I took of it last year at the link below:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136211

 

[Bbgrizzle]

Thanks everyone, for your your replies. The CP sounds like the one at WDW, which I hear is nice. Does anyone know if you need tickets for this, or if there is a special dinner package you can get so you won't have to wait in line?

 

[Sonya in Boise]

I have heard there is a line, VERY early 4 am, for this at Guest Relations the day of the CP for tickets. I haven't yet heard where this years line will be. Anyone else know a different way to get tickets?

 

[tink2dw]

Hi, I missed which week in Dec that CP will be?? Anyone know whose narrating[sp?] this year??

 

[Sonya in Boise]

I know it's Dec 7th and 8th, but don't know who is narrating.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Well, if the DL version is anything at all like the one at Epcot, it will be FABULOUS! We were fortunate enough to hear James Avery narrate.....what an awesome experience that was!

 

[dletz]

This year's narrator is Stephen Collins from 7th heaven. My understanding is tickets for this are hard to get. I haven't seen it since they moved it to Fantaysland. I've only seen it when in front of the train station, and I used to love watching them make that christmas tree. I was dissappointed when it was moved to the theater. Unfortunately the long standing tradition of this was for cast memebers, and my understanding is that most of the tickets are given away internally than to guests (meaning that they're given to CMs and other important people). I know there is a way to get tickets, I've just never done it.

 

[Marilyn]

Hey everyone...ok I am clueless about this candlelight processional event. Why do you need tickets if its like a parade through the park? What time is it on Dec. 7th & 8th. Can't you just watch it like any other parade? I will be at DL on those nights is that why this particular weekend is booked at all DL hotels? Answers please! Marilyn

 

[Sonya in Boise]

There is a parade that everyone can see, but then there is a "show" of some sort that is held in the Fantasy Land theatre that you need a ticket to get in to.

The schedule is at disneyland.com