Candlelight Processional 2015

[mre200200]

Love the map but have few questions. the red is general seating? How do you get that? Can ppl still sit on the curb and hear any part of the music? We would like to see them come down main street and maybe hear some songs. I keep thinking we would be ok for a curb spot a few hours ahead?

The red area is general seating/standing. And honestly, you'll end up standing about anywhere between 30-60 minutes before the show so they can squeeze more people in. You'll also have to stand to have any chance at seeing the stage.
You don't have to do anything special to get there. Just show up early. I people get there at park opening to get into that pink "Bench seating" area on the map.

I'm sure you could get a spot on a curb on Main Street an hour or two before the processional and watch them walking in. And yes, if you're can't see the stage, you can still hear everything through the speakers in the general area.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Thank you we have talked about it as a family with the young one and say a curb seat will have to be what we get. Question. Where do they start walking down main street from?

 

[mre200200]

Thank you we have talked about it as a family with the young one and say a curb seat will have to be what we get. Question. Where do they start walking down main street from?

The little red wagon where they sell corn dogs, at the end of Main Street.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Thank you

 

[SMD]

I have a thought maybe I could park my husband there at 4 with a coffee/snack and do something with the kids for a bit and see what happens. I really do have low expectations, I have 3 kids and it's our arrival day. And honestly just hearing the choir for a couple of songs would be really cool!

Another strategy could be that you hang out for a few hours, send your husband off with the kids to do something, and then have them claim the BB reservation, and you get there as soon as you can, but at least 4 out of 5 in your party will be there.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Alright so we keep talking about it and the more we do the more I think I want to see more of it.
So here are a few questions and then ideas
What time do they start lining up for the second showing? Is there a separate line for the second show benches or is that first come first serve?
Is it likely to be able to sit on a curb or in line for the second show at about 4? And be close enough in the second show to see anything with possible seat? If were in line for the second show. Can we see them walking up main street at what 530?

What are the times 6 and what time was the second show?

 

[Sherry E]

The CP times that I have been familiar with were 5:30 and 8 p.m.-ish, give or take 10 minutes.

I've mentioned this before (earlier in this thread), but when I stood for the second CP I had to line up on Main Street while the first CP was going on, and I think the first CP ran a little late that night. I was in line somewhere in the 6 o'clock hour. The bench people get there first thing in the morning and just stay all day long. I didn't see a new line for benches for the second show -- just people waiting to be escorted into the viewing area. There were already quite a few people ahead of me in line.

 

[mre200200]

The CP times that I have been familiar with were 5:30 and 8 p.m.-ish, give or take 10 minutes.

I've mentioned this before (earlier in this thread), but when I stood for the second CP I had to line up on Main Street while the first CP was going on, and I think the first CP ran a little late that night. I was in line somewhere in the 6 o'clock hour. The bench people get there first thing in the morning and just stay all day long. I didn't see a new line for benches for the second show -- just people waiting to be escorted into the viewing area. There were already quite a few people ahead of me in line.

+1 for Sherry E. My experience has been the same.
The line for the second show starts before the first processional goes by. For the second show, there is no designated line for the benches. If you're at the very front of the line, you have the first shot at them when they lead you in.
There are actually lines that form on both sides of Main Street. I can't remember if the line on the left only goes to the left side of the stage and the right line goes to the right side.

I really wish Disney would do a little bit of pruning of their trees before Candlelight. Unless you're in the paid seating section, sight-lines are always an issue. When you find your spot, first make sure you can see the narrator platform. Next look for where the conductor will be standing. After that, I'd try to get a view of the cast member tree and hopefully the rooftop where the trumpeters will be. If you can see all that, you've got an excellent spot.

One time I got really lucky and was able to sit front and center, in the normally paid seating section. That's when I was able to get this photo.

 

[Sherry E]

My goodness -- that is an amazing camera you are using, Joe! The clarity of that photo ^^^ is astounding!

I really wish that Disney would figure out something -- some way -- to once again expand the CP nights to allow more people to see it. The 20-night extravaganza in 2012 was both a blessing and a curse -- a blessing to those of us who finally got to see Candlelight for the first time (and from actual seats, no less!), and a curse because it apparently caused a lot of havoc on Main Street as far as loss of business. It's really such a beautiful event -- especially for anyone who loves Christmas music and choirs, and doesn't mind the non-secular aspect of it -- that it deserves to be seen and enjoyed for at least a few extra nights. The setting in Town Square is just lovely too.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I feel so blessed that I got to see the CP for the 1st and only time in 2012, while sitting in the 2nd row, thanks to my Club 33 Fairy Godfather. I had no idea it was such a huge production and I was shocked to tears when I saw everyone finally make their way up on stage. Words cannot even describe what a beautiful, touching show it is. I wish they would do more than 2 nights again also, Sherry. I'll probably never get to see it like that again, front and center, so I'll always cherish that Disney memory. Thanks for the great pics, Joe!!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

^I am glad you had that experience Disneyluvr2. Candlelight is beautiful and as I have said before for me being part of Jesus being celebrated at Disneyland (one of my very favorite places) and in the lovely setting CP is as Sherry said, is a blessing for sure.

One more reminder to please PM me (don't post in here as I don't want to clutter up this thread with meet stuff. See my Candlelight meet thread instead)if any of you are planning to view Candlelight on Saturday at the earlier time and would like to meet. I probably will try this year to sit on Main Street early-ish anyway and would love and appreciate company both for that and of course viewing.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/candlelight-companion-s-wanted-saturday-12-5.3451843/

 

[motor58]

MommyJKM

Just FYI - if you try to have your husband wait, then you 4 arrive later, you are going to have a hard time. It's not like the parade where people wait with a spread out blanket and their family joins later...there are seriously hard core locals who are going to not be very "magical" about 4 people showing up to watch after only one has saved their spot. People don't save spots for this. You are either there or your not. It's so hard to explain, but basically Disney puts this on for a select few group of people (in the invited seating) and absolutely doesn't care if the crowd around those can see/view. So that's why I suggested you decide how much time you want to invest.

I HATE waiting for shows, I don't wait for WOC/Fantasmic - I'd rather pay for the premium dinner seating. But if we didn't get an invite to Candelight, I would probably put a good 3 hours into it...it's that gorgeous.

Not 4 hours earlier, I thought you suggested just going at 4pm and seeing what happens? After reading and reading about this I am not sure that even trying for the Emporium is good. I am very worried about getting back to BB for our reservation. I think as awesome as this is, for us we need to aim low and just try to hear it as it walks by from the beginning by hot dog cart/plaza inn. If we weren't with the kids, if it wasn't our arrival day, I would love to stake it out and see the whole thing! But I don't think it will work for us, but all of your help is great and appreciated. I will see what we all can do together at the beginning, maybe grab a snack and hang out for a bit....

 

[motor58]

oh! and Joe thank you for the awesome diagram! and congrats!!!!

 

[mre200200]

My goodness -- that is an amazing camera you are using, Joe! The clarity of that photo ^^^ is astounding!

I really wish that Disney would figure out something -- some way -- to once again expand the CP nights to allow more people to see it. The 20-night extravaganza in 2012 was both a blessing and a curse -- a blessing to those of us who finally got to see Candlelight for the first time (and from actual seats, no less!), and a curse because it apparently caused a lot of havoc on Main Street as far as loss of business. It's really such a beautiful event -- especially for anyone who loves Christmas music and choirs, and doesn't mind the non-secular aspect of it -- that it deserves to be seen and enjoyed for at least a few extra nights. The setting in Town Square is just lovely too.

At the time I was using my old Canon Rebel XTi and I had to prep a bit for that shot. Most of the time, the stage is barely lit (so you can see the candles but not too much of the people). The trumpeters also only stand up and have a spotlight on them a few times during the show. From watching the 1st showing, I knew about when everything would happen where everyone would be lit and the trumpeters would be out. I played with my camera settings leading up to it to make sure it wasn't too blurry and wasn't too dark, and when the moment happened I snapped as many photos as I could in the couple seconds where everyone was lit up. In the end, I came away with a shot I am very proud of.

I would love to have more than just the 2 nights of Candlelight. Twenty nights was probably a bit excessive. I know it placed quite a burden on the everyone, including the cast members who perform in the show (but don't get paid anything extra). Imagine working at the Disney Studios in Burbank during the morning, and having to drive through Los Angeles rush hour traffic to make it to the park in time to sing in two showings each night. The cast members who did it must surely have a love for performing and making others happy.

oh! and Joe thank you for the awesome diagram! and congrats!!!!

You're certainly welcome. Glad to help out.

 

[MommyJKM]

MommyJKM

Not 4 hours earlier, I thought you suggested just going at 4pm and seeing what happens? If we weren't with the kids, if it wasn't our arrival day, I would love to stake it out and see the whole thing! But I don't think it will work for us, but all of your help is great and appreciated. I will see what we all can do together at the beginning, maybe grab a snack and hang out for a bit....

Sorry, I mean 4 PEOPLE trying to join

I think it's worth a try - we don't have any extras this year or I would offer some seating help for you. Either way - you seem like you will HAVE FUN!!!

 

[motor58]

Sorry, I mean 4 PEOPLE trying to join

I think it's worth a try - we don't have any extras this year or I would offer some seating help for you. Either way - you seem like you will HAVE FUN!!!

I totally agree, I thought about that too-trying to all squeeze in. It's all too much. I will save this for when the kids are bigger, or on a grown up trip. Thanks, I think we will have fun. So excited to finally eat at BB and see Fantasmic!

 

[Sherry E]

I think that Disney went from one extreme to the other with Candlelight in 2012. Two nights = too few. Twenty nights = too many. I'm thrilled that they did the 20 nights because it enabled me to see the show twice from seats (both nights with Lou Diamond Phillips narrating), which then prompted me to go back the next year and stand to watch it because I wanted to see a Disney legend (Kurt Russell, who I missed in 2012) narrate. But 20 nights were probably more than what DL could handle. There should have been a happy medium. Maybe 5 nights. Maybe 10 nights. Something more than 2 and less than 20!

The problem is, as I have said previously, now that a lot of people were exposed to Candlelight in 2012 (never having seen or even known about it prior to that year), many of those people want to come back and see it again every year. They don't understand why it's not advertised every year. They don't understand why Disney doesn't tell us the names of the narrators. They think that Disney treats it as a regular part of the holiday season as WDW does -- and DLR does treat it as such, but only for the VIPs and special invited guests, for the most part!

I don't want Candlelight to ever move to an indoor venue -- I think the tone of the show works brilliantly in the haunting, intimate Town Square setting -- but I keep thinking that the dinner packages will make a comeback at some point. If there were going to be a year for them to return, I would think it would be this year -- when premium dining events seem to be all the rage. Disney has, thus far, not told us of any specific holiday season premium dining events, but it could still happen.

 

[mgd]

I agree about the nice main street setting, but they could easily pull something off really nice like it in the theater arena where mickey and the magical map is if they cared that more could be able to enjoy it. Seats a ton of people.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I think they should do it in the Aladdin theater and yes seats many many ppl and they should do it on all weekend night just like other shows. during Christmas time fri sat sun mid nov till Christmas.

 

[Malcon10t]

I agree about the nice main street setting, but they could easily pull something off really nice like it in the theater arena where mickey and the magical map is if they cared that more could be able to enjoy it. Seats a ton of people.

They had it there for a couple of years, and it did not go over well.

I think they should do it in the Aladdin theater and yes seats many many ppl and they should do it on all weekend night just like other shows. during Christmas time fri sat sun mid nov till Christmas.

You need to remember, the choirs come from all over California to participate. It would be very difficult to find volunteers to do it for that length. This is NOT a paid performance for most.