Candlelight Processional - OK for small kids?

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

Considering PS for the Candlelight Processional for Dec06 trip with DH & DDs 2 & 4. Is it entertaining enough for very young kids? I am afraid they will not sit through a long dinner and the show.

Laurel

 

[paladin]

We don't have kids, so I can only speak of what I have noticed at the Candlelight Processional. Last time we had a boy of about 3 or 4 behind us. When it started, he was quite excited, but about 15 minutes into it, we heard him say "I want to go home now" (he eventually fell asleep). Other young kids we have noticed get quite restless.

I love the CP (we go twice every trip), but I would think it would not be the type of thing that kids of 2 & 4 would find entertaining, but maybe others have different experiences with their own kids.

 

[zurgswife]

When my youngest was 6 we took her she enjoyed it for a short time then fell asleep.

With kids that young I might skip it. While it is fantastic, it is sort of long for that age.

 

[kldmom2000]

DH and I used to go to the Candlelight Processional every time we were in Disney during the holidays..... PRE-kid When we took our girls down for the first time in 12/04, I never would have even considered taking them to it-the show itself is very moving and beautiful, but geared more toward the adults-there are no costumed characters and no dancing of any sort-there is just a large stage w/ a very large chorus and orchestra and the guest narrator. The holiday music is not "kid-geared" (ie. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, etc.. ) It's songs such as "Oh holy night", etc.... I absolutely LOVED this show, but I know I never could have enjoyed it trying to keep my then 2 and 4 yr olds entertained so as to not disrupt everyone around me that paid good $$$ to do the meal/show pkg.... just my 2 cents...

If you wanted to hear the music, you could always grab a spot near the America pavilion to listen (you wouldn't see much due to the crowds of onlookers) but the music is beautiful in itself

 

[4forWDW]

I took my DS 5yrs and DD 7 1/2 yrs to the CP last December. They did get bored after a while. You received good advice - to listen up by the American Pavillion. That way you do get a sample of what it is like.

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

Thank you very much for the advice. We have never been to the CP and just recently heard of it. Dosen't sound like a good choice for this trip.
Thanks,
Laurel

 

[beattyfamily]

We did it in 2001 when my girls were 2 and 5 and again this past December at age 6 and 9.

My girls behaved at both ages as they are used to going to Church every Sunday, which is an hour, and IMHO, a bit more boring to a child then this show. The show is about 40 minutes.

I must say, though, that the enjoyment and boredem level really depends on the child. At both performances, my younger DD got bored pretty fast, but was still well behaved. At both performances, my older DD LOVED the show and enjoyed it the whole time.

 

[goodferry]

We took our four kids in December. We had dinner at Alfredo's (which they all loved) and then went to the CP. Our four kids are 14, 10, 7, and 2 and they all did fine.

We were able to do this on the dining plan, one credit each, and it was wonderful. The baby fell asleep in my lap, but really enjoyed the music up until then. The older three ranged from really enjoying it (7 year old girl) thinking it was OK (14 year old boy) to being bored (10 year old boy).

They are all used to church also, so it wasn't a stretch for them to sit still. I think it really depends on the child. I didn't hesitate to take the two year old because she LOVES music of any kind, and I was kind of dissappointed when she fell asleep because I think she would have enjoyed it.

One thing I was glad I did was schedule this at the end of our vacation, we had already done MVMCP and just about all we wanted to in the parks, so it wasn't like it was our first night there and I was keeping them out of the MK, that probably would not have gone over well. I guess what I am saying in a round about way is that there is really no right or wrong answer, it depends on your children.

Have fun!

 

[Karnak]

I would not recommend the Processional for children aged 2 and 4.

However, if you do decide to take them, you might want to attend the earliest performance before the kids get too restless and have dinner after the performance.