Help a Jewish Girl out!!!!!

[lildeb724]

Planning my first X-mas time disney trip. Can someone explain what the candelight processional is in detail. What does the dinner package include...I am going with my brother and his family who are raising their 6 and 3 year old Catholic. I love christmas and the whole christmas spirit thing. Should we go. Should I just send my brother and his family or are his kids to young to appreciate it. If they go, would my jewish tween/teens appreciate it.
TIA

 

[Indio]

The Candlelight Processional is a program telling the Christmas story from the Bible. It has a narrator that reads the story and has Christmas (Christian religious) songs between the readings. It is a pretty presentation as all the singers in the choir are holding candles and come in from the back of the stadium and hold the candles while they sing. We are a Christian family so I don't know how your children will enjoy it, but mine got bored with it after a few minutes. We just stood outside and watched as much as we wanted, then walked on to the next thing to see!

 

[Alesia]

Looking up a video on youtube would probably be the best way to see if it's something that would appeal to your family.

 

[gules]

At 6 and 3 the kids might find it pretty boring. If you like the way Christians put on Christmas, you as an adult will probably find it interesting. As a not very religious Catholic and an adult, I thought it was very charming. The biggest highlight for me was the music, which is really great if you like symphonies.

Probably the best thing to see is when the choir actually enters and they start the program, as it is quite impressive to see how they thought of the lighting and costuming and how it would come together.

All said, the dinner can be anywhere you want and you pay regularly. Your server should give you a paper pass to take to a specific showing of the Candlelight Processional (the time will be on your pass) and they will let you line up and sit down before anyone in the standby line. The processional itself has a large choir and professional symphony, along with a celebrity narrator who tells the Nativity story interspersed with traditional Christmas songs, usually remixed cleverly into medleys and the like.

IMO it's definitely more of an adult thing. As someone else said, perhaps lurk nearby when it starts to see a bit of it, then move on. The kids might like hearing holiday traditions around the world and meeting Father Christmas (etc) around the Epcot Pavilions better.

 

[Julylady]

We just did the Candlelight Processional package last December. We had lunch at Via Napoli. It was a fixed price (and was less expensive for lunch than dinner). Our lunch was at 2pm, and we were given tickets for the 5:30pm show. We are Christians and really enjoyed it. That being said, I remember taking my three "tween" nephews several years ago and they were bored out of their minds. It reminded them too much of "church." One promptly fell asleep and we had to separate the other two. No wonder I waited 14 years to go back!

 

[ktlm]

I think you should probably watch a bit on YouTube and make your decision. When DD was young that was how I decided that even though she loved shows, she probably would not have the patience for it. We have watched a bit of it from outside the viewing area as we went by as well as having watched the video, It is very church like, and a lot of children might be bored with it. A lot of people absolutely love it. We live in an area that has some very large churches and there are some that put on a very similar program every year, minus the big name celebrity. As such, we do not find it a must see. As for you personally, you might just enjoy the beauty of it if you have never seen anything like it and if you like choirs. I am Christian, but I have visited a Jewish synagogue here and enjoyed it.

 

[bumbershoot]

If they go, would my jewish tween/teens appreciate it.
TIA

I have no religion whatsoever, and cannot imagine going to religious program while at a themepark. Can't imagine how it would be if I already had a religion that was not exactly in line with said program. Then again, I'm pretty sure most of my Catholic friends would skip it, too. They go to church, they're good with that. Make sure your brother's family would enjoy it before planning on it.

 

[siskaren]

This post from easywdw gives a good overview of the Candlelight Processional, including whether children might enjoy it:

http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/candlelight/

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this is a gentle reminder to remember the boards rules regarding not discussing religion.
Thus far the conversation has been respectful in answering the OP's question regarding Candlelight Processional, so the thread will be allowed to stayed

 

[patty57]

I'm sure there are kids who might enjoy it, but I have to guess that most wouldn't. Then again...I'm not a huge fan of choral music.

 

[larryz]

I have no religion whatsoever, and cannot imagine going to religious program while at a themepark. Can't imagine how it would be if I already had a religion that was not exactly in line with said program. Then again, I'm pretty sure most of my Catholic friends would skip it, too. They go to church, they're good with that. Make sure your brother's family would enjoy it before planning on it.

I think that whether or not people are religious, there's a certain spectacle aspect of multiple conjoined choirs and a good-sized orchestra singing anything... much less Christmas carols.

They don't stick to secular music -- there are some favorites from the popular music side of the aisle, too.

And, of course, there's the "celebrity narrator" aspect to provide a crowd-pleasing aspect as well...

 

[hiroMYhero]

I think that whether or not people are religious, there's a certain spectacle aspect of multiple conjoined choirs and a good-sized orchestra singing anything... much less Christmas carols.

They don't stick to secular music -- there are some favorites from the popular music side of the aisle, too.

And, of course, there's the "celebrity narrator" aspect to provide a crowd-pleasing aspect as well...

The secular music during CP is the non-religious music - and only a minimal amount as I recall.

 

[Dawnlight]

Jewish mama here, and we were at WDW at Christmas (only 1 in our party of 9 is a non-practicing Christian).

We did not attend, but we did see/hear the chorus singers from a short distance. I think that if one is strongly faithful and wants something religious to recognize the holiday at the parks, this is a nice attraction, but otherwise not something that I would recommend during peak time, especially for those not of the Christian faith.

We did enjoy all the beautiful decorations and the secular aspects. If you get a chance, the gingerbread house at GF is amazing!!!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If they go, would my jewish tween/teens appreciate it.
TIA

Well, in the overture at the beginning, the orchestra does play a few bars of 'The Dreidel Song', but that's pretty much the only reference to any aspect of Judiasm.

As others have said, it is a wonderful spectacle to see, but some children would find it boring.

Myself, as a non-religious Jew, when I've gone to the Candlelight Processional in the past, I think I spent most of my time paying attention to the sign language interpreters, who are amazing, even though I don't sign.

 

[Mkrop]

I have no religion whatsoever, and cannot imagine going to religious program while at a themepark. Can't imagine how it would be if I already had a religion that was not exactly in line with said program. Then again, I'm pretty sure most of my Catholic friends would skip it, too. They go to church, they're good with that. Make sure your brother's family would enjoy it before planning on it.

I am Catholic and I go to Mass all the time, yet I absolutely LOVE the CP. It is done beautifully. For me as a Catholic, I feel it reminds me (emphasis on the me) the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus, amongst all the secular holiday stuff. And I LOVE all the secular stuff as well. For me it is the perfect blend...others may feel differently, just one Catholic's viewpoint.

I have seen it 3 times and each time I enjoyed it. We first saw it in 2010 and my boys were 13 and 8 the first time and they loved it...and it was FREEZING that night. At 17 and 12, we just saw it again over Christmas week a couple of weeks ago. We had considered skipping it and afterwards both my boys and my DH said they were glad we didnt.

Now I dont know what to say about a Jewish person seeing it. For me I would not skip something just because it wasnt my faith. I like learning about other faiths. I agree with others, I would youtube it and see what you think.

 

[Mkrop]

Well, in the overture at the beginning, the orchestra does play a few bars of 'The Dreidel Song', but that's pretty much the only reference to any aspect of Judiasm.

As others have said, it is a wonderful spectacle to see, but some children would find it boring.

Myself, as a non-religious Jew, when I've gone to the Candlelight Processional in the past, I think I spent most of my time paying attention to the sign language interpreters, who are amazing, even though I don't sign.

We have seen the same lady all 3 times and she is fabulous and I dont sign either but she is so passionate and so into the music and the songs. She is mesmerizing

 

[pmaurer74]

We have been twice. Ours kids are 5 and 8. The 5 year old was a little squirmy but we really enjoy it and it is the highlight of our trip.