Candlelight Processional with Kids

[mikem699]

Our family will be visiting Epcot on December 26th and was curious if the Candlelight Processional will be good for a 7 and 4 year old. We will be having Breakfast at Chef Mickey's and then EPCOT for the day and then planning on dinner at the Biergarten and then the 6:45 p.m. candlelight show.

My concern is the waiting time to get into Candlelight. I don't want to be the "bad parent" by forcing my kids to wait in line for 45 minutes to attend this. If anyone could help with tips/experiences it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Michael

 

[goofy4tink]

If you do a CP dinner package, you can cut down on the wait time. Those in the package line, usually have to wait 30 mins or less. Then, the show is about 45 mins long. There are readings, then musical selections that go with the readings. It all depends on the particular child. I have seen very young children sit there, never saying a thing, yet watched children that I would have thought would be more well behaved, acting out horribly during the presentation.
If you do not do the dinner package, then you will have to wait in the standby line, on the other side of the theater. The package people are on the left side, the standby on the right. Those in the standby line can wait for well over an hour or so to get in. The package people are allowed in first, then about 15 mins later, the standbys are allowed in.

 

[Bete]

You need to make ressies ahead for this and it will cost a little more per person, but you get reserved seating, guaranteed seating. There have been shows where the stand-bys do not get in. You have to secure your ressies with a credit card. They don't charge it; unless, you are a no show at Biergarten. I think you have up to 48 hours to cancel, if needed without being charged.

I've been to many of these CP performances and between waiting in line and the length of the show it's very hard for children in your age category to be patient enough to endure it all. Some parents do the following: one parent goes to the early show while the other entertains the children elsewhere. Then you switch parents and the other one can see the show if they want to do it. If you do this with a CP package you will have to explain the need for two different show performances. I'm not sure how that will work or not. Also, you can use this strategy for the wait time in the line by letting one parent go off with them and do other things until show time. Another tactic is being in the back of the outside theater; so, you can make an easy exit, if needed. It gets very dark at some points of the show and it's lighter in the back and easier to leave from there. Finally, it can get cold and children especially feel it. If not prepared for the cool nights, they can get very crabby and loud about it.

I don't want to make this sound terrible and some kids who have talent for singing, acting, etc. really enjoy the performance, but overall, if you ask them they would rather do other things at Disney at that age. If you have a family member in the choir, etc. sometimes that will hold their interest. If they were younger they might sleep through some of it, but your children's ages are against you for any sleep time there. If you have experience with long church services at Christmas, etc. and they do well there, it might be ok but this isn't church, either. Good Luck!

 

[pixiemagic30]

Our dc waited fairly well for the show. One of us waited in line while the other would walk the dc so they didn't have to stay still waiting in line. As for the show, they both were entranced by the music, I believe they were 3-1/2 and 2.

 

[ss0414]

Another opinion, my kids last year, 6 & 7 at the time, were tired and not very motivated to stay. We ended up leaving early. While I've seen on the boards that some kids are fine and enjoy it, mine did not.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[magicaldisney]

If you can get any CP reservations at this time (it's late in the game and all packages might be filled), keep in mind the time of show dictates the time you can eat.

 

[DRRluvsWDW]

We all enjoyed the show last year! It was really nice to focus on the real Christmas story while in Disney. DD7, DD4, DS2 (at the time) enjoyed the music and readings. The performance changes alot between instruments, choir and reading. We sat in the front row, so there wasn't much distraction and it held their attention. I does get cold. A small lite up toy or necklace is good for entertainment while waiting. Enjoy!

 

[mom2aandj]

I have a 4 and 7 year old as well and after reading various opinions here on this board I decided to wait until they were a bit older to go.

 

[goodferry]

My warning, also, would be about the weather. It gets really cold. That said, my four kids did fine when we took them (they were 2 1/2, 7, 10 and 14) We did do the dining package and have it booked again this year at Le Cellier My girls are the youngest two and they are the music lovers, so it was easy for them to sit still. The boys were well behaved, but they did not enjoy it as much as the girls did. While I waited in the line for package holders, DH took the kids through the Japan pavilion with his cell so I could let him know when it was time to come back. That helped make the waiting a little less tortuous.
I agree that it was perfect for getting us in the true holiday spirit, we did it the day before we left, they day after MVMCP, and felt it was a beautiful way to end our vacation.
My sister, on the other hand, is going earlier in the month with one four year old and she is not going to try taking him, she does not feel he can sit still for it, so every child is different.

 

[mikem699]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I went ahead and booked a 4:00 dinner at Biergarten with the 6:45 show. What we'll probably do is after dinner one of us will take the kids to the Christmas Tree Lighting while the other waits in line for the show. This should allow for our kids to be not so cranky. Thanks again.