Candlelight Processional & Dinner

[czycropper]

We're going to Epcot on the Friday after Thanksgiving and I had a few questions:

1. How is the Candlelight Processional?
2. Is it worth it getting the Dinner Package?
3. How crowded is Epcot on that day? I know that MK is very crowded but how bad is Epcot.

Oh, and some news, I called WDW today and was informed that the Living Seas is set to re-open on Nov. 22nd - let's hope that's true so that my DDs can see "talk with Crush"

TIA

Two weeks and 12 hours and we'll be on our way to WDW

 

[LMC]

bumping this up
I'm interested in some of the info too.

 

[MrShiny]

We did CP in December 2001, with dinner at Teppanyaki:

1. How is the Candlelight Processional?
It is beautiful. Religious conservatives might find the narration a bot secularized, but the overall production is wonderful and very inspiring.

2. Is it worth it getting the Dinner Package?
I think so. Not only do you get a sit down dinner in Epcot (which can be tricky at the holidays). Best of all, you get in to a special section. There is still a (when we went LONG) line, but it moves fast when they open and no matter what, you get a pretty good seat (not so the non-dinner people).

3. How crowded is Epcot on that day? I know that MK is very crowded but how bad is Epcot.

I don't think Epcot is every very crowded until you try to leave! It covers so much area, it's hard to get jammed like MK.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Candlelight Processional is a must do, IMHO. One of the best (actually the best) show to be found in WDW regardless of time of year. The orchestra and choir are great, Voices of Liberty are incredible, the songs are moving, the celbrity narrators are wonderful.......just a great show.

The Dinner Package is worth doing if you would have eaten in one of the sit down restaurants anyway. I don't know that I'd drop a lot of maoney on dinner that you didn't plan on spending just for the seating. You can see the show without.

We've done the dinner package every year for the last 4, but will be skipping it this year since we have the Disney Dining Experience card and I'd rather the 20% savings on my meal than having the guaranteed seating for the show.

 

[Phrank40]

Have done the dinner and Candlelight Processional twice (as it worked out Gary Sinise both times). Both times got in line about 30-45 minutes before start of Processional. If line starts at the American Theatre or whatever the name is our place in line was near China. Theatre is so big that even though we thought we were a long way back got good seats inside. Enjoyed very much. I think having the dinner and being able to get in the priority line to get into the theatre took some pressure off, but I've enjoyed listening to the Processional from outside the theatre also.

Sort of funny last time when standing in line to this "Peace on Earth" celebration someone tried to break in line somewhere in front of us. Other people in line starting yelling at them that they were line breakers and get the he!! out of the line.

Phrank

 

[czycropper]

Thanks so much - I made the reservation for the first show so that if my DDs are tired we won't have to be there that late and they can rest at the show and at the dinner.

I can't wait since I'm such a Christmas fanatic anyway

 

[LMC]

Is this a moving (like a parade type thing) "show" that goes through the park? I have the schedule in my Mickey Monitor and it looks like it is on every night. What do they do, just narrate the Christmas story and then you're done?

The monitors' passholder tip is to get the CP dinner package available in three tiers starting at $30.99.
Is it better to get a dinner ressie on the Dining Experience card? What time does the processional start/end?

I would want the least expensive seats as we for the most part are not big food coniseurs (sp) and would basically just be getting the reservations to have a good place to sit and watch.

Can you do this without a seated reservation? And if so, what are the suggestions? I know with Illuminations it gets pretty wild and you have to stake your place out very early and that is very hard to do with little ones.

The narrators for our time frame are: Jim Caviezel, John Stamos, Steven Curtis Chapman. Any idea who they say gives the better presentation?


THANKS a bunch!

 

[HoneyMooner]

We didn't get the "package" but I do plan to watch the CP and we made dinner reservations for Le Cellier afterwards.