Candlelight Processional - early show or late

[Northwoods]

We are trying to decide which Candlelight Processional show we should try to get Dinner Package PS for Christmas Eve.

We will have a 20 month old and and 6, 9, and 13 year olds in our group.

Is it best to see this show when it is dark? Is it dark by 5 then end of Dec.?

What show time do you prefer and why?

Is it better to eat before or after?

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I have not been yet, but I have read several times that it is not dark at 5.

I think what time depends on the kids. Are the young ones taking an afternoon nap or rest time? Will the baby sleep in the stroller? It may be hard for the baby and 6 yo to go to the late show at 8:15.

We are planning on the 6:45 show, then eat. After that we will decide if we are staying for Illuminations.

 

[paladin]

We prefer to go to the show first and then eat, which means going to either the 5 or 6:45. We don't feel that it makes a difference to the show as far as whether it is dark out or not - the stage lighting is great and the show is wonderful no matter when you see it. Either way, enjoy the show!

 

[dgaston]

I agree with paladin -- it doesn't really matter if it's dark outside, the words and the music are the important part of CP. Last Christmas we did the 5pm show, and then LeCellier, and finally ended our evening with IllumiNations. It was perfect!

 

[Northwoods]

Thanks for the replies.

dgaston - we are planning to do LeCellier also. How late should you make your after show dinner PS?

 

[Terk-1]

I would say see the 2nd showing of the CP. The first one is early and it is still too light out to really enjoy the lights & candles.

I would make your PS for after the show and try for the Rose & Crown. If you get a PS around 7:30-8pm, request a patio table. Tell them you don't mind waiting for one. Illuminations is shown at 9:30pm nightly during the month of December.

 

[sue1013]

I prefer one of the later shows. It's so much nicer when its dark.

 

[zulaya]

The sun sets around 5pm in December. Closer to Xmas it's setting at 4:30 or earlier.

We much prefer the earlier one so we can eat after.

That being said, I would describe the sunlight at 5pm to be not dark, but more like twilight. Light enough to see, but definitely darker than daylight.

 

[Sunkissed]

Hey! Great minds think alike !

We are planning on seeing the 5pm CP and making a PS for Le Cellier afterward. My question for those above is: What time should I make the PS? I was thinking 7pm. Thanks!

 

[Northwoods]

I checked the sunset times for Dec 24th - and it is 5:36 in Orlando.

I'm so torn on what to do. My kids are 9 & 13 so late shows or late dinners aren't a problem. I'm just concerned what will be best for my nieces.

It seems like eating first would be better - or they will be complaining they are hungry.

 

[donmil723]

If you went to the 5 pm CP, would you be able to see the Tree Lighting at Epcot at 6 pm?

Or would it be better to watch the tree lighting at 6 pm and then hurry over to the 6:45 pm CP?

We plan on attending on Monday, December 13th and will do the CP dinner package. We are all adults.

Thanks!

Donna

 

[patriciah2]

I was thinking about seeing the CP , but I have some questions. If you don't do the dinner package can you still see the CP? Is there an extra charge for it? If we do the CP dinner will probably combine it with dinner at Le Cellier. If we go the 6:45 show and eat first, what time should we make ps for? If we eat afterwards what is a good time?

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

watch the tree lighting at 6 pm and then hurry over to the 6:45 pm CP?

I have read on these boards that that is a hard thing to do. The area you watch the tree lighting is a long way from the very back of Epcot for CP. By the time the tree lighting is over, you just don't have enough time to get a good seat.

If you don't do the dinner package can you still see the CP? Is there an extra charge for it?

Yes, you can, and no, there is no charge for it. I understand there are 2 lines: one for the package folks and one for the stands by. After the package folks are let in, the others can come it. Without the package, the problem can be finding a seat on the more popular dates on weekends and close to Christmas.

 

[aurora19]

Actually when I was there in 2002 - only the front center section was reserved for dinner package folks but the rest of the ampitheater was open for everyone else. We went mid-week and did not do the dinner package. We did not have any difficulty getting good seats for the CP - we probably waited 40 minutes in line (for the 8pm show) and it was completely full by performance time.


I agree that you can't do the tree lighting @6 and the CP @ 6:45 - you would have to run to make it - and you probably wouldn't get a seat.

 

[Serenity]

I am hoping to do the dinner package on Monday 12/20. I have a 3 yr old and an 8 yr old and was planning on the 8:15 show (hoping my 3 yr old will fall asleep if we do the late show). My plan is: Tree Lighting Ceremony (which I have read sometimes starts at 5:45 with the actual lighting at 6 p.m. - let me know if this is incorrect) then 6:15 PS for The Land (my kids love eating with Mickey and Chip & Dale), then the 8:15 show. Is this doable?????? Any suggestions would be very helpful.

 

[Cobra B.]

My feeling is it is nicer in darkness. Nothing better than the twinkle of the lights in the trees overhead and the glimmer of the candles marching in one by one. I think it also best to have the dinner package because I don't want to stand in line early enough to guarantee a seat for the 2nd show and have to listen to half of the 1st show while waiting. Takes away from some of the joy.
Have dinner. Relax and enjoy your meal. Get out in time for the show. Sit back, listen to the joyful music and the beautiful narration (and signing). And have one of the best nights possible. It is not the holidays until you've seen the processional.

 

[Northwoods]

Thanks. I think we will do the 8:15 show with dinner at LeCelliur.

Now I just need to decide what time to eat. I would love to see the tree lighting also but don't know that we can fit that in without rushing. Since this is Christmas Eve we may not get in to eat right away at our PS time.

Unfortunately this would be our only night to see the Tree lighting. Has anyone tried to do all three - tree lighting, eat, and then CP?

 

[elemusing]

We saw the CP last year on Christmas Eve. We saw the early show and it was just getting dark when it started (dusk). Anyway, I was really bummed because we had the dinner package and that put us eating REALLY late by the time we had to wait for our PS. It was scheduled for right after the CP at Le Cellier, but we had to wait like 25 minutes for them to seat us (even with the PS). We got back to the hotel like around 11pm. OUr poor DS5 was out even before supper was over.

I would eat first for sure if you can!!!

Angie

 

[fantasmicwdw]

Last year we had the CP package Christmas Eve at 5 and esp. with a toddler I'd do the later show. We had a 2 year old and by the time we were seated for dinner he was unfit to eat with. It just got too late. And, having seen the CP another year when its totally dark, it definitely was more magical at night. With a little one it might work to eat first, then see the tree lighting, followed by the Candlelight Processional. The tree lighting is wonderful too, so if possible, see it. I wish we had eaten earlier than our 7:20 ps at Chefs de France last year.

 

[nisiemouse]

We have done both the 5:00 and 6:45 show and preferred the earlier show with dinner after. We barely made it to the 6:45 show when we had dinner first. If you do this make sure you allow plenty of time. We had a 4:30 priority seating at Garden Grill which is the farthest away and that was part of the problem.