Candlelight processional vs Fireworks

[susanh]

Following tips on this board, it was suggested to book a Candlelight processional package for the later show times, since it's better to view in the dark. If I do 2 TS meals in Epcot that day they would have to be spread out so we would still be hungry. Also, I couldn't do Garden Grill lunch package since I couldn't make both 6:45/8:15 CLP show time and the Rose & Crown 7:30 ADR to view fireworks.

So, traveling with a 7 and 9 year old end of November, would you prioritize the later CLP show or Illuminations?

1. Keep 8:20 am Garden Grill CLP package with a 5:00p show followed by 7:30pm Rose & Crown ADR to view fireworks.
2. Garden Grill CLP package for lunch/dinner with 6:45/8:15 CLP show time, then find our own seats for Illuminations.

TIA

 

[Hopefully]

Illuminations is way more than a fireworks show. It is music, fire, lasers, water and fireworks. It is a wonderful nighttime spectacular. There are no seats. You find a standing spot around World Showcase Lagoon to view it. Personally, even after all these years, we never miss it.
I would choose # 1.
Also there is no guarantee that you will be seated on the patio at Rose & Crown to view Illuminations. It is a request that everyone makes and not everyone can be accommodated. We have had this request met about 30% of the time and I think that is great. There is a standing room, private patio that you can view from if you are seated inside.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think with a 5 and 7 year old, going straight through from 8AM to Illuminations sounds rough, personally, and my kids are near those ages.

 

[susanh]

I think with a 5 and 7 year old, going straight through from 8AM to Illuminations sounds rough, personally, and my kids are near those ages.

My youngest will be 7 1/2 and we have an Epcot hotel so we can take a break midday. Do you think your oldest would enjoy the Candlelight processional?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I should avoid reading before coffee.

My elder would, but he loves everything. My younger, who is 7, would haaaaaaate it. Too long! Too boring! Why are we even in Epcot anyway?!?

I do agree with @Hopefully that you'll be happier finding your own "seats" for Illuminations. It's about a 30% chance you get a seat at R&C that has a view, otherwise you're going on the standing room patio, possibly mid-dinner depending on if you're seated anywhere close to on-time. I think the only people getting seats these days are the Frozen Dessert Party. Even the FP+ viewing area is standing room.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I would do 1, if I HAD to do any......but really, you don't need an ADR at R&C to see Illuminations......I also like doing the latest CP show for the darkness aspect, but we always get out of CP, slowly make our way around the WS, and usually end up in Canada, Germany, or Mexico to see Illuminations.....yes, the reserved viewing area of R&C is handy, but you don't need to stake out spots like other shows, as there is SO MUCH space.....

 

[Moliphino]

Is Illuminations at 9 or 9:30 while you're there? If it's 9:30 that's an awful long R&C dinner.

 

[sharonabe]

So, traveling with a 7 and 9 year old end of November, would you prioritize the later CLP show or Illuminations?

1. Keep 8:20 am Garden Grill CLP package with a 5:00p show followed by 7:30pm Rose & Crown ADR to view fireworks.
2. Garden Grill CLP package for lunch/dinner with 6:45/8:15 CLP show time, then find our own seats for Illuminations.

I don't know about you, but all the PPs are confusing me: they say find your own spot for Illuminations, in the dark CLP is better, but then they say do number 1!???

I say do number 2 with a 6:45 CLP. You'll have time to grab a QS before or after the show or for lunch, depending on the time of your GG lunch/dinner.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I don't know about you, but all the PPs are confusing me: they say find your own spot for Illuminations, in the dark CLP is better, but then they say do number 1!???

I say do number 2 with a 6:45 CLP. You'll have time to grab a QS before or after the show or for lunch, depending on the time of your GG lunch/dinner.

I think I'm going crazy......I might have not read that right.....this is what I would do not choosing anything that you wrote....

do whatever you want for restaurant or times, but get the 8:15 one cuz I like it in the dark too.....and then don't worry about getting a res for dinner because you can find your own spot....

 

[susanh]

Thanks all! You've helped me decide to cancel R&C. I'll probably try to find a late afternoon ADR with nightime CP. My DH & DS are doing aqua tour that day too. So excited!!!

 

[Lisa F]

My youngest will be 7 1/2 and we have an Epcot hotel so we can take a break midday. Do you think your oldest would enjoy the Candlelight processional?

I did a day like that, I think RD to closing at Epcot with CP. It was a long day. We did not take any breaks at the hotel. I traveled with my then 8 year old son (9 now). I think we did RD at 9am then did an 11:30 lunch at Coral Reef with the package, and we did biergarten dinner at 6:30 and did some other WS stuff and then staked out a spot for illuminations.

he enjoyed the CP. It is probably not his favorite thing ever but he enjoyed it well enough to sit snuggled up against me and watch it without complaint. I really wanted to see it so this is a win for me

I did the 5pm show and around that time of year the sun sets around 5:30 and the show is actually quite beautiful during dusk/sunset as well as the lighting changes outside. I would disagree that the late show is the best to see, I have seen this show many times over the years and always go for the 5. I don't like rushing my evening from highlight to highlight. Here is an image I took with my phone of the lighting inside the theater but you can see it is still daylight outside:

I will say that by 6:30pm we were VERY ready to sit and enjoy dinner and relax a while. You might want to plan a lunch midday because the 7 hours between lunch and dinner were stretching how far we could go (we did do some serious damage at biergarten due to being ravenous though!)

it was a long but very very enjoyable day and we were tired puppies at the end of it but my 9 year old handled it just fine. We definitely slowed down toward the end.