Candlelight Processional or Osbourne Lights?

[Mykelogan]

Hi All!!

I am going to WDW in Dec for just three days so I have a limited time do as much as I can! I have purchased a park ticket for two days, no hopping and am staying at POP. I have my MVMCP ticket on the way and will be doing the MK & the party on my second day. I also have already booked a CP package with 6:45pm CP and 8pm dinner at Marrakesh.

My plan was to go to Epcot as soon as I arrive and check in (around 11am) and to the CP that night and Illuminations. Since booking I have been thinking more about seeing the Osbourne lights, having dinner at one of the MGM restaurants & doing Fantasmic (I missed Fantasmic due to rain my last trip but I have seen it before & love it.) So I was wondering what people would suggest? Which would you do?

If I had gotten an ADR at Le Cellier, I think I would not even have asked this question but I sadly could not wrangle one as I came late into the process. Just booked the trip last week! hehe

I appreciate any feedback!
Mike

 

[goofy4tink]

I would opt for Osbourne LIghts. If you have already seen Fantasmic! then you can catch it the next time. But, unless you go during the holidays again, you won't catch the Lights show. And it is pretty incredible. This is what we did last year. We were at CP, the late show. Watched that and headed back thru the Intl Gateway. We walked quite rapidly to BW, up to our room since we forgot our sweaters and it was chilly. Then really rapidly walked to MGM to see the Lights. MGM closed at 10 that night if I remember correctly, but we really wanted to get there before Fantasmic got out. And we did. As we were leaving the Os. Lights, the people from the Fantasmic! show were arriving and there were a ton of them.

I would be very tempted to get hopping abilities, forgo the CP dining pkg and do both that night. You could go to the same CP show (and maybe eat at Marrakesh if you could do so quickly), then head over to MGM for Osborne Family lights. Or just watch CP and head over to MGM right after and see if you can grab a PS(ADR) for a restauruant there., and then check out Osborne LIghts. It is doable but somewhat frenetic!!! Choices, it's all about choices....and DIsney gives us sooo many.

 

[Mykelogan]

Thanks Goofy4tink!
I am thinking about adding the Hopper Option so we will see... hmm... hehe This is why I don't like short trips!!! Part of me is of course wanting to add a whole other day! hehe! But I don't think that is feasible! hehe!

anyone else, thoughts?
Mike

 

[WDWorBUST]

Well....the Osbourne lights ARE pretty spectacular....HOWEVER I think the candlelight processional is much more "Christmasy". But on the other hand I LOVE Fantasmic.....so I would probably just add hopping. If I had to choose I would probably choose MGM over Epco for the park as a whole - if I was only going for the show I would choose CP but since it's a whole day of ticket then MGM it would be.

 

[wilderness01]

First I would add the hopper portion to the ticket. Then I would cancel my CP package and go "see/listen" to the show at the back of the theatre. I know I will get flamed but truly we did the CP package last year and we were much too close to the stage for our liking. I think we were the 3rd row up from the stage off to the right. The horns were blasting in our ears since we were sitting so close. We would have been just as happy standing at the back or taking the chance to come at the last 45 minutes to see if we could get a seat. Just my opinion. Yes I did like the Osbourne Lights but I wouldn't go to MGM just for that. They were neat but over-rated in my opinion. We were like packed sardines walking through there and it was on a weeknight the first week of December. I sound like a wet blanket and honestly I don't mean to, but it is just my opinion. We do love Fantasmic though and don't miss it so you be the judge. We also do not miss Illuminations so that now is a toss up. Good luck in your decision and I'm pretty sure after I reread this that I sound pretty wishy washy and was of no help at all!

 

[CarolMN]

I'd keep the CP plans - EPCOT has so many holiday things to do and see - much more than MGM.

In addition to the Candlelight Processional, you can see the Tree Lighting Ceremony, and the Lights of Winter (Arch between FW & WS). All of the countries have Santas and special Holiday tradition activities. But most of all, choose EPCOT because of the special IllumiNations. Last year, right at the end of IllumiNations, came a special "Holiday Tag" fireworks display. It was amazing! We could actually feel the explosions inside our BWV room. The show was the best fireworks ever! I would forego the lights in a second if they have that again.

Maybe you could wait to decide until after you know if the Holiday Tag will be back - there is a 48 hour cancellation policy for the CP dinner packages.

Best wishes-

 

[wildernessfamily]

Are others traveling with you? Think of their ages. Candlelight Procession is beautiful all it's owe, hearing the Christmas story read and the singing really get you in the spirit but for a smaller child they mind find it boring, or for a teen that is ready to go. The santa's in the different lands appear throughout the day and tell customs of the land and are dressed as legend has them. But Osbourne's lights are really great...you will be in awe. A true family event, but if you are just going to MGM for that it might not be your best use of a park day.

 

[Mykelogan]

Thanks for the continued advice all, it is actually helping a lot!
And for Wildernessfamily, I am a solo traveller so no kids to worry about! Just me! hehe

Mike