Epcot Christmas: Candlelight/Tree-Lighting question??

[Zoie]

Hi, I'm trying to plan out our day in Epcot to be able to take in all the Christmas activities, and it's very tricky!!!

I would like to see the tree-lighting ceremony at 6, but this will make it next to impossible to make the 6:45 Candlelight Processional, and if we attend the 8:15 Candlelight, I'm concerned that we can't stake out a good enough spot to view Illuminations at 9:30.

Therefore the only way I see to fit in all three is to go to the 5:00 Candlelight Processional then try to rush over to the Tree-Lighting Ceremony... I've read that CP is approx 40 minutes long -- my question is has anyone ever done this?? Is it reasonably possible to be able to get to the Tree-Lighting by 6 after viewing the 5:00 Candlelight Processional? One child but she'll be in a stroller, and we're going on a day that Tour Guide Mike says is optimal for Epcot so it shouldn't be a hugely crowded evening hopefully....

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I would stick with the 6pm tree lighting, the 8:15 Candelight and then illuminations. You should have time to grab a spot for illuminations since it starts at 9:30 in December. As soon as CP is over, go to the lagoon and find your spot. You should be fine.

 

[Zoie]

Thanks...

 

[bjakmom]

In 2004 we did CP dinner at Coral Reef at 4:30 - got done dinner in time to catch the tree lighting at 6:00 on our way back to the theater - problem was that by the time we got in line by about 6:15 the line was already huge and we barely got a seat way over on the right side. I don't think anyone (or very few) from the standby (non dinner pkg) line was seated that night - and that was on the first Monday night of Dec. - we were surprised that it was so crowded and decided that maybe the large crowds were due to the popularity of the narrator (actor who portrayed Jesus - sorry, brain fugue - can't remember his name) - or else just the fact that December in WDW is becoming more and more popular every year! Long story short - keep an eye on those lines - people are getting in line very early - CP is worth the wait, though, IMHO
The only concern people seem to have about the 5 PM CP show is that it isn't always dark at that time - the show is a bit more beautiful in the dark - but if you have a little one they may do better sitting through the early show rather than the later one.

 

[Zoie]

Thanks for the tips, hadn't thought about light vs. dark -- fortunately, our little one is a night owl so should be fine either way. I think we'll probably just try for the 8:15 one.