Candlelight processional with kids?

[jaz0308]

is this something kids enjoy? I'm considering my first Christmas trip this year and have always read how beautiful this is. I would like to experience it but I'm wondering if my kids age 6&9) will enjoy it?

 

[Magpie]

Depends on your children. Do they enjoy Christmas carols? Live performances? Music? Concerts? Can they sit and attend to a show for about forty minutes?

The Candlelight Processional is a stage performance featuring a huge massed choir, trumpeters, and a celebrity guest reading selections about Jesus's birth from the King James Bible. They also include the story about the origin of Silent Night. Some people's children love the experience. Others hate it. Same goes for adults.

You know your kids best. If you're not sure, you can always check out the show from a distance, for free. It plays right in front of the American Pavilion. If it looks like something you'd enjoy, then you can come back for a seat in the theatre, either later the same night or on a different night. (Do be sure to line up early! It's very popular and the theatre fills up fast, especially since everyone with dining packages gets in first.)

 

[Stan's MaggieMouse]

My son was 8 when we went and he was fine but he was used to sitting in church. It's a little bit like a really big, beautiful Christmas Eve service.

 

[georgina]

I agree it depends on the kids. Mine were 12, 10, and 7 when we went (2002), and while they sat through it, they did not really enjoy it. DH didn't really either, so when we went back in 2014 we just stood outside the theater along the walkway so we could leave when he had had enough. You can see and hear very well from that vantage point.

 

[cutigerlady]

My kids loved it!! My son was 4 the first year we saw it and the people around us commented on how well behaved he was! Now, we have taken him to see the symphony several times before this, so I knew he would like it. He loved to watch the trumpet players.

Last year we took my younger son who was 4 at the time and his 8 yr old brother. We had tickets for the last show and my little done fell asleep! We had dinner and it was dark, and with the music he was out! He listens to classical music at bedtime, which I'm sure was part of it.

We are planning on going this year, but to the middle show! I would also recommend the dining package so you don't have to wait so long.

 

[TwoLittlePrincesses]

My girls were 5 and 7 when we went and both of them loved it. They love music, Christmas carols and performances, though.

 

[Lynne M]

If you're concerned that they won't enjoy it or will be fidgety, won't stay in their seats, etc, I'd suggest standing at the back. It's not a very visual show, just a big choir and a narrator standing at a lectern, so it's not like it's critical to have a good view - or any view, for that matter. The plaza in front of American Adventure is right opposite the stage, and you can hear the show very clearly from there, so if they want to run around a bit, or just wander, or sit at a table and have a snack, you'll still hear the show.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I went to Disney with 5 and 7 year olds two years back. I did not take them to the Candlelight Processional bc they wouldn't have enjoyed it and our time was spent better elsewhere. However, I had seen the performance before. If it had been something I really wanted to do, then I'm sure they could have endured it, but they wouldn't have enjoyed it.

 

[phyllis1966]

My DD has always loved music and Christmas carols, but we went when she was 7 and although she was well-behaved, she was kinda bored.

 

[glk2009]

We've been twice... my ODD loved it at 6 and 8 yrs old... my YDD fell asleep both times, even during the loud trumpets. We did the dining package for both times and that was awesome to not have to worry about the line as much. The music is spectacular! If you want to go and you think your kids might like it, I would try it. It's not an every day thing that you could do anywhere else.

 

[pmaurer74]

my kids like it ok and they were a little younger than your kids. I think they will likely be fine. If they can sit through service, concert or movie they should be fine.

 

[KateP85]

You know your kids best. It's a fairly long show (if you're little) and there are readings in between the music. My DS has gone every year since he was 11 months old, and has always loved the show and sat still quite happily. But he loves music in general and has always been able to sit still for performances.

 

[gmboy95]

I am biased as it is my favorite thing to do at disney by a mile....however, if you have kids that can get into music and like christams tunes, then yes....if they are easily distractable (like one of mine when he was young), I would say you probably wouldn't be able to enjoy it

 

[seelyt2]

We've done it twice. The first time DD was 9 and she fell asleep waiting for it to start because she was exhausted from all the running around. We did it two years ago with Neil Patrick Harris (she was 13 then) and she enjoyed it. The trumpets were loud but that may have been where we were sitting (towards the front). I think it depends on your kids, really though.

 

[gmboy95]

If you're concerned that they won't enjoy it or will be fidgety, won't stay in their seats, etc, I'd suggest standing at the back. It's not a very visual show, just a big choir and a narrator standing at a lectern, so it's not like it's critical to have a good view - or any view, for that matter. The plaza in front of American Adventure is right opposite the stage, and you can hear the show very clearly from there, so if they want to run around a bit, or just wander, or sit at a table and have a snack, you'll still hear the show.

This is great advice....when i go down for the CP, we get the dining package one night, and then just stand in the back another night....its great because the kids can move around, and if there are others with you, they can take off and do other things while you watch

 

[Disney Khi]

My DD6 really liked it last year. The only problem was that she got cold. It had been warm during the day and we didn't go back to get jackets after it got dark. So, I would recommend having a blanket or jacket even if it is warm during the day. Also, we were surprised at how long we had to wait in line even with a dining package. I think DD got kind of bored waiting in line, but then we all did.

 

[jaz0308]

Thank you all for the replies! After hearing the responses I think we will skip it and possibly catch it from the back...a great recommendation which I didn't know was possible! Although my kids are well behaved and will sit through it I'm not sure they will actually enjoy it and I don't feel like i HAVE to see it so we will forget it for now. Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[MrToadfan]

I took my daughter last December at age 3. She really enjoyed it. We did the package with dining at the Garden Grill we waited in line only a short while before seating. We took some hot chocolates and a snack to enjoy while waiting in line. If it's a very popular narrator the line could make it a less pleasant experience/longer wait.