Candlelight processional without the dining package?

[katdralion]

Are there any seats kept aside for people without the dining package or is buying a package the only way to see the show?
We are buying the dining plan so don't want to waste 2 TS entitlements on a 1 TS restaurant.
But this will be our 1st time in Disney at Christmas and we really, really want to see the show so will buy the package if we have to.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[disney queen]

after the package holders are seated, then the general public is allowed to fill in. you will need to be in line to the right, as looking at the theatre, before the performance. good luck!

 

[katdralion]

Will there always be seats left for the general public or is the theatre sometimes full with just the package holders? And if there are seats left, how early do you think we would need to get in line?

 

[disney queen]

i would say it depends on which performance you see. just guessing, i would say there may be seats toward the back. we usually get in line by 7:00 for the 8:15 performance, but we do a package. that would be a safe bet for the "stand-by" line also. no, you don't need a package to enjoy the performance. it is really a beautiful tradition; we do it every year. i would say if you are there over christmas time you might really want to consider a package as it is really busy then. why not use the 2 TS credits on a tier 3 restaurant? just a thought....good luck!

 

[katdralion]

Thanks disney queen.
I didn't realise you would have to get in line over an hour before the performance even with the package. Maybe we should start queuing after breakfast!!
We'll be there from Nov.29th to Dec.18th. Hubby's not bothered which narrator we get but I HAVE to get Andy Garcia so maybe we should just try for a package as I imagine he would be kind of popular!
Does it not take the edge off the performance a bit if you've already heard the whole thing whilst waiting in line to get in? Oh well, I suppose there's no way of avoiding it.
I'll need to make up my mind quickly as our booking window opens up on Monday.

 

[disney queen]

no, it doesn't take away from the performance. most of the time while we are in line we are chatting w/others, TM-ing, playing games on our phones, etc. sometimes i will leave my husband in line and look in the shops! hope this helps!

 

[mickaholic4077]

Since the Candlelight Processional is advertised as included with park admission,they have to leave some seats open for the general public. The amount of seats does vary,though. The year Harry Hamlin did the narration,I was the first person in the general public line,and I got a seat in the first GP row. It was 3 rows from the last!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

If you really want to see the show, buy the package.
Otherwise plan on waiting an awful long time and have a plan B for something else you really want to do also.
CP lines were abnormally long with CP meal guests. Now that many are going to forgo that and wait in line, I would be surprised if the lines just were not insanely long.
Probably those who can't get into one show will wait until the next show.
In any line for American Adventure entertainment there are line holders that wait an awfully long time. Near the end of the wait 1 -2 people will turn into a group of 4 - 8. So even the length of the line can be deceiving during the wait.
And I would be very surprised if some did not work the system and still manage to get in without waiting as long as others.
I am sure week days would not be as bad. And maybe the earliest show. However I have seen crazy NYE type crowds in that area anyway. I can only imagine what it will be like now. I hope they have additional staff for crowd control.

 

[RMulieri]

It depends on who is narrating and how close to Xmas it is. I have waited in line over an hour and 45 mins ( I was 10th in line from the front)and did not make it into the theater at all.

 

[wdwfan16]

Will there always be seats left for the general public or is the theatre sometimes full with just the package holders? And if there are seats left, how early do you think we would need to get in line?

They keep seats for the non-packager but you need to be in line for a long time. The last time were were there we attended the 8:15 show and were told that ones being let in for our show had been in line before the 5 pm show. For me that would ruin it. I would have heard it twice before I actually saw it. By that time I would have been bored and not enjoyed it.

For us the only way we would do the CP is via that package.

 

[pyrxtc]

There are some very nice benches outside of the offical seating area that you can watch from. They are not far behind the last row either. And, you can leave whenever you want wihtout disturbing people. We didn't get to leave last time and we found the show quite boring and my kids were tired and bored which leads to crankiness.

 

[webprinter]

Thanks disney queen.
I didn't realise you would have to get in line over an hour before the performance even with the package. Maybe we should start queuing after breakfast!!
We'll be there from Nov.29th to Dec.18th. Hubby's not bothered which narrator we get but I HAVE to get Andy Garcia so maybe we should just try for a package as I imagine he would be kind of popular!
Does it not take the edge off the performance a bit if you've already heard the whole thing whilst waiting in line to get in? Oh well, I suppose there's no way of avoiding it.
I'll need to make up my mind quickly as our booking window opens up on Monday.

We've done it that week other years and we haven't had the package. We usually do the 5:00pm show and most people in l the standby line get in. This year is the only year we are tempted to do the package as we are going Christmas week for the first time. Unfortunately the price is higher and we have to pay for 5 adults.

 

[Doctor P]

Since the Candlelight Processional is advertised as included with park admission,they have to leave some seats open for the general public. The amount of seats does vary,though. The year Harry Hamlin did the narration,I was the first person in the general public line,and I got a seat in the first GP row. It was 3 rows from the last!!

This is not correct in our experience. We generally go on Xmas Eve and it is very rare that people from the stand by line get in. The first year we went, they allowed TWO people in. Over the years, the most we have ever seen get in out of the standby line is about twenty. Most times it is single digits and those people have been in line anywhere from five to six hours in some cases (because they get in line for the first show and then wait it out to try to get in to a later show which can be about 3 hours just to get to the last show). At some slower times, you might get in, but it's not a good idea to plan on it IMHO.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Well,it was always correct in my experience. I guess our experiences varied.