Candlelight Processional?

[Minnie368]

We've been going to WDW for years in November to enjoy the ending of food&wine and the beginning of Christmas. We love this time of year, but we're always gone before the Candlelight Processional starts. Late Nov and Dec isn't really the best time for us to go, but I'm wondering if we're missing out on a great experience. We love Christmas and the Christmas story. Is it worth changing things around this year to get a chance to see it?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

We enjoyed it, it was a very pretty, and the singers were lovely. Levar Burton did a wonderful job when we went. However, it isn't really any different than anything you'do see at a large church around Christmas time.

 

[BK2014]

As someone who has both sung and played trumpet in Christmas concerts, I have to say the music at the Candlelight Processional consists of the best arrangements of traditional Christmas music I have heard. I have been to the CP several times, though it has been a few years. The narrators are great, the music is both well written and amazingly performed. And the entire show in my opinion is neither too short nor too long. My wife and I usually vacation in October as we have no kids and it is usually cheaper. However, we moved our vacation to the first week of December this year so we can go to WDW to experience it at Christmas and to see the CP together. Whether or not it is worth it, OP, is up to you. For us, it is.

 

[gatorlisa]

I've seen the Candlelight Processional once and thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely think it is worth scheduling a trip to see it once. I'm not sure when they publish the list of narrators, but take a look and see who you are most interested in seeing as the narrator and try and schedule your trip for then. I love Steven Curtis Chapman's music, so I went when he was scheduled to be the narrator. It was a great experience and a great way to kick off the holiday season.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

In my opinion this is one of the best Christmas things at the world. After many years of trying we got my mom to take her very first flight this past December. She (and the rest of us) were so moved after the spectacular performance. It is truly wonderful. Do the dining package so you don't have to wait for hours to hope for a seat.

 

[2009CAN]

It's so beautiful! We are planning on taking our children this year and I'm so excited. The last time DH and I saw the candlelight processional was 8 years and three kids ago.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that if you can fit this lovely musical performance into your schedule, it is well worth the time.

 

[glassslippergirl]

It's probably my favorite event at WDW all year. It really is beautifully done in terms of musical arrangements, lighting effects, narration-- well worth it. If you're arranging your whole trip to see it and have the time, I'd try to make it twice for different narrators so you can see how each makes the words his own. My favorite narrator is Edward James Olmos. Be sure to do the dining package which guarantees your seat, and it's a great excuse to try a new Epcot restaurant. But as its two dining credits for one-credit food, I'd pay OOP.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Yes, it is worth it to catch the CP. Not only will you be getting this but you will also be getting the Holiday Storytellers in each country in Epcot and hopefully they will still be adding the extra enhancement to IllumiNations. This has all started in the past right after Thanksgiving so hopefully this year will be no different. We are planning on going in May and again in October so we will be purchasing AP's this year. We have not done any Christmas things in Epcot in over 6 or 7 years. Your post has made me want to see if we can add a December trip in too this year to make our AP's worth it.

 

[luvallprincesses]

It is one of my favorite reasons to go the week after Thanksgiving. The music is phenomenal. We've seen Steven Curtis Chapman and Neil Patrick Harris, both which were wonderful narrators. I agree on booking the dining package to get a guaranteed seat and paying OOP not using 2 credits. And I prefer seeing the show after sunset.

 

[cruisin5]

Yes, oh, yes. Like bucket list yes.

We had James Denton and he was amazing. There is so much more to the show than the narrator.

 

[CynBeth]

You have got to go once during the holiday season. The resort decorations are amazing and we love MVMCP, Holidays Around the World and CP. We will miss Osbourne Lights. We have been to the with the dining package 3 times and had a different narrator. We have gotten Mira Sorvino, Dennis Haysbert, and Gary Sinise.

 

[Yummy]

Like the others, I think it must be done at least once. We did it in 2009 (w/o dining package, crowds were so low in 2009) and 2011 (with package), and enjoyed it a lot. We're going back to WDW fin December 2016 (yay!!!!), and will book a package again. One thing though: know that the narrators can change at the very last minute, just so you're not dissapointed.

 

[cassie58]

Yes, it is wonderful and you should see it! We had Michael W. Smith, who was great(although I was hoping he would jump in and sing at some pt. because I love his voice, but he did not). It is very uplifting, and love the telling of the story interspersed with the music, along with the lighting effects. As PP mentioned, get the dining package for a guaranteed seat in the theater, and do the package that coordinates with the 2nd or 3rd show , since it may not be dark for the first show, which you need to get the full effect. Also, the earliest dinner time works best, so you have time to eat and get in line as early as possible to get the best seat. We had dinner at 4 at Coral Reef, and reported to the line at the right time, but it was already very long. We did not know people would line up so early, so did not rush over. I really wanted to do it again this past Dec., but with only a quick trip to make sure we saw Osbourne Lts. one more time, we did not even spend a full day in Epcot. If you love Christmas, you would also enjoy seeing all the decor up, like the giant gingerbread house at GF being finished, which is cool to see and taste! I do not think you would regret moving your dates!