Candlelight Processional seating

[FortWildernessLoopy]

Can anyone here tell me or direct me where to find out about the WC accessible seating in America Gardens Theater? I know there are the metal benches, but is there a bench or a chair for the companion seat? Also, where can I find a map of where the seats are located in the theater? I am not headed to the park for another month and I can't find my Epcot map around the house. Thank you in advance for your help

 

[RaySharpton]

Can anyone here tell me or direct me where to find out about the WC accessible seating in America Gardens Theater? I know there are the metal benches, but is there a bench or a chair for the companion seat? Also, where can I find a map of where the seats are located in the theater? I am not headed to the park for another month and I can't find my Epcot map around the house. Thank you in advance for your help

There are spaces for two wheelchairs and benches for family members located near the front of the theater. The photo shows those spaces in front of and to the left of the person in the red shirt. The blue tags on the benches show the accessible symbol. The wheelchair spaces and benches alternate like that from one end to the other end for one row. It is also under a covered roof. But just barely. If there is a large event, sometimes theses seat/spaces fill up quickly.

This must have been a slow day. Best space for one scooter and her guest sitting to her left. If this were a large event with cast members ushering, this is usually the first space seated. There is a similar spot on the other side to her left.

Accessible sign on the benches. There are also spaces near the rear of the theater.

This is a full theater and on the left shows four people sitting on the bench, then a WDW scooter, then a wheelchair. This continues all of the way across the theater alternating a bench and then two wheelchair spaces. After these spaces are filled, you could be offered spaces in the rear area. You can also park your wheelchair/scooter and sit anywhere.

Here are spaces between benches in the rear for wheelchairs/scooters. The cast members won't let you park or stand in the walkways between the benches because of emergency exits. And the photo is taken outside the theater which may be another option if you have no one in front of you.

Google view looking down on American Pavilion. On the far left and far right of the main bench seats, there are areas park your wheelchair/scooter if you are mobile and then you can find your seats. Just below the roof cover, there is a wide sidewalk area giving you plenty of room to roll your wheelchair/scooter into place. Same for the rear of the theater.
Outside the theater, there are spots to place your wheelchair/scooter next to the fence for a decent view if no one is standing in front of you. There are no accessible areas located at these spots. You just have to get there early and find a good spot. I have done this one time for a December Candlelight Processional when the theater was full and the standby line was so long that they had to wait for the next show because they all couldn't get in for that particular show. That standby line can go all of the way past the Italy Pavillion even though they try and use up all of the spaces and let the line curve back and forth along the lake.

I have been in a Candlelight Processional Dinner Package line on the left side of the American Theater where the line past China Pavillion, Moroccan Pavillion, and entered the France Pavillion. I did get in, but they had run out of the accessible seats up front. I had to go to the rear of the theater. After Candlelight Processional Dinner Package line had entered, they let the standby line enter to find the regular seats.

Google view looking down and to the side of the American Pavilion and surrounding area.

More spaces in the rear next to a bench.

Enjoy your show, I know I will this December for the Candlelight Processional above.


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[FortWildernessLoopy]

I cannot WAIT! I have a rollator and because of my height, it's fairly tall. I don't think it sits any higher than a scooter, though, so I don't think it will block anyone (geez I hope not). On an unrelated note, who was the brainiac that thought putting a bunch of trees in sight lines in a theater was a good idea?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Shade. Trees are less expensive, and [much] better for the environment, than a roof over the entire venue.

 

[cmwade77]

Shade. Trees are less expensive, and [much] better for the environment, than a roof over the entire venue.

While trees are nice and at the time the theater was built were indeed probably the best option, there are now much better choices, for example make a roof out of bifacial solar panels with a battery backup system and they could power the entire theater with nothing but solar power.

They look nice and the structures could be built to withstand hurricanes without much difficulty.

In the long run this is actually more affordable than trees, as trees require water and maintenance such as trimming and making sure they don't become diseased, etc. The solar panels have minimal maintenance costs associated with them.

And that doesn't even factor in the energy savings, they can also be configured in a way that still allows for breeze so you wouldn't need additional air conditioning.

 

[CJN]

Thank you for those pictures. Super helpful!

 

[FortWildernessLoopy]

I have the dining package, how far in advance do people with reserved seats start lining up before the show? I can be seated, but DH will have to stand in the line. I am HOPING that if I get in line by 6:00 for the 6:45 show, that will be enough for decent seats?

 

[RaySharpton]

That is a good question. But I can't think of a really good answer.

It sometimes depends on if there are any rare special events for that time where they will be allowed in first. It doesn't happen often, but I recall a news event one night, maybe a cast member event another night, maybe another company special event on another night. I usually am down at WDW for two weeks in December.

During those times, I have seen rows blocked off that would normally have been used for Candlelight Processional Package guests.

I usually visit EPCOT several nights during my December vacation, and I notice how long the Candlelight Processional Package lines are on the left side of the America Gardens Theater.

And I notice how long the standby lines are on the right side of the America Gardens Theater.

I even look to see if there is a crowd outside the America Gardens Theater gate where I would sometime watch if the standby line is too long. But only if I can view from the fence. Anyone in front of me would be blocking my view.

Speaking just for myself only and not for anyone else, I would get there about one hour and a half before the show. I know that sounds early, but one time I was even earlier and I was the third person in line for the second show after the first show guests had just entered. But it also depends on how many wheelchairs and scooters are in line, too.

You say that you are using a walker, so they will probably guide you to a regular Candlelight Processional Package seat in arow so that more spaces can be available for wheelchairs and scooters. They will probably ask you to fold your walker and they may even help store it for you until the show is over. Or you could just lean on the folded walker at your seat. This is just a guess on my part.

The first row seats behind the accessible area are also a great viewing spot, too, because of the large space between that row and the accessible row. Cast members don't allow anyone to stand in these areas during the show even for photo taking.

As you enter the America Gardens Theater for the Candlelight Processional Package, they will ask you if you can transfer to your seat. If you say yes, they show you where to park your wheelchair/scooter and escort you to your seats. If you say no, that you can't transfer, they will escort you to the accessible area to park your wheelchair/scooter and allow your husband to sit next to you.

They usually start at the center of the row and work there way to the outside of the row. If sitting in a non-accessible row, they eventually will ask everyone to close as much space as possible between individuals to allow more space for others.

So to make a long story short, I guess it is up to you.

Maybe a night before your Candlelight Processional Package you could visit EPCOT and just look and see for yourself and see what I am talking about.

Regardless of how long the Candlelight Processional Package line gets, you will get in and get a seat. If you are in a wheelchair/scooter, and the accessible front row is filled, they may try and fill in a few spots in the row behind this where there is one indented space for a wheelchair/scooter. Then when those are filled, they will direct you to the rear accessible areas. It is the standby line that comes in after the Candlelight Processional Package line that may see this more where accessible seats aren't as available.

But I have been in a standby line and I was placed in a front accessible row.

I was just lucky.

That is why they're not really a good answer. Who knows what is going on for each evening or for each show. Is it a very busy night or is there a special event?

If you really...really want a good seat, then the earlier the better to get a seat that you might be satisfied with.

But when I stand in the standby line or outside at the gate, I just enjoy the experience and I enjoy the music and I enjoy the choir singing and I enjoy the trumpets blowing and I enjoy the atmosphere and spirit of the season.

I really...really...really miss this. I don't see why they can't set it up using LED lights. I would always linger around watching the lights dance to the wonderful Christmas music at the end of the day after Illuminations. Oh well.


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[AnneK]

We went and saw Kurt Russell with the dining package on December 10th of last year, we got in line about an hour and a half before the show. We got seats about halfway up in the middle.