Candlelight processional, best options?

[Raya]

Just found out one of my favorite actors will be narrating the Candlelight processional while I'm there. I know there is a dinner package, is it really much better than just getting in line early? Are there better days or other options?

 

[TwinkleKS]

You know if you have a dining package that you will get some sort of seat at that given show - the location of the seat will depend on when you get in the dining package line. Depending on the actor and which week they are there (Christmas week versus a couple of weeks earlier) the time that you have to stand in line in order to get in "standby" could be quite lengthy ... people stand in line for hours for NPH every year. I personally wouldn't want to "risk it" or stand in line for hours.

 

[sharonabe]

Just found out one of my favorite actors will be narrating the Candlelight processional while I'm there. I know there is a dinner package, is it really much better than just getting in line early? Are there better days or other options?

Always depends on the narrator and the dates. Without the dining package, there is no guarantee you'll get in unless you want to dedicate a good part of your day to standing in line.

The only other option is to stand in the walkway at the back of the theater or grab a seat at Liberty Inn across the walkway. You can't see from Liberty, but you can hear pretty well.

 

[llpieper80]

People start standing in line HOURS before if it's a good narrator... I did the Dining Package - and was perfect - got a seat - only got in line about an hour early...

 

[bellsforstacy]

Last year we stood in line for 3 hours to get in to see John Stamos (stand by line). We were the last people in our seats for 5pm show and we were like, 8 people back. This year, we're buying a dining package.

 

[purple figment]

Just found out one of my favorite actors will be narrating the Candlelight processional while I'm there. I know there is a dinner package, is it really much better than just getting in line early? Are there better days or other options?

It depends on the narrator. For some the stand by line can start very early. We were there one day when Neil Patrick Harris was the narrator and the stand by line started at 11 AM when WS opened.

For some, you can get in the line fairly late and still get into the theater.

 

[jimandami]

It depends on the narrator. For some the stand by line can start very early. We were there one day when Neil Patrick Harris was the narrator and the stand by line started at 11 AM when WS opened.

For some, you can get in the line fairly late and still get into the theater.

This is exactly what I was about to post. The line for NPH is insane!

 

[tinkgrumpy]

We have package tickets this year for one of the NPH shows, this will be the first time we have him as a narrator, is he really THAT good? Kind of extra excited now....

 

[FayeW]

I haven't been to Epcot since 2008. Just booked CP dining at Ale and Compass for Dec 3rd! Very happy to be seeing the show, and so excited that NPH is the narrator!

 

[Babsy]

Is NPH really from DEC 2 - 5? That is longer than the other narrators.

 

[jillt2ph]

Is NPH really from DEC 2 - 5? That is longer than the other narrators.

He is REALLY popular!!!

 

[mikeyg1479]

All I can say, is the line for dinner package holders in of itself is HUGE and forms early. And all the seating is first come first serve in terms of where your place is in line. You are guaranteed to "get a seat" with the package but that it. The earlier you get in line the better seats you will get. We got in line an hour early thinking "this is overkill". Nope. We were behind tons of people and were sitting far off to the side and towards the back by the time we got in. Granted, this was for NPH.

And the stand-by line folks are only allowed entry once all dining package holders are in. At my show it sure looked like only a real lucky few stand-by line people, would have made it in, they would have been stuck with really fringe seats/split up/filling in little gaps, etc and they must have been in their line for hours to be at the front of this queue and actually have a chance to get in. (this is where the cast members start doing their "can everyone please shift to the right, filling in all available space spiel", and all the people who spent hundreds on dinner packages, AND waited in line for a few hours to get prime front and center seating are like "heck no!" and don't budge).

All I know, is I wouldn't want to be one of those stand by line people, having to wait for hours and no guarantee of a seat, let alone a decent one. Its a nice little holiday show featuring a celebrity, but IMO not worth HOURS of your time, IMO, when there is plenty of other things to enjoy in the park.

 

[JessicaW1234]

Has anyone seen or heard about Steven Curtis Chapman as a narrator?

 

[Disnsyncey]

I saw Steven Curtis Chapman YEARS ago in college, I made a special trip, he was great. I doubt the standby line would be anything huge, but I did a package, just for the peace of mind.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Two years back, Chita Rivera, was the narrator so I booked the CP for TD. After the limited menu choices (that was disappointing), we went immediately to the venue and saw the ticketholders' line to get in and grabbed a seat by the American/US Pavilion instead. Too lazy to stand behind a non-moving line for 2 hours. It all sounded good but can't recall if there was a screen over the stage.