How early should we be in line for the Candlelight Processional?

[Magpie]

We have TWO Candlelight Processional Lunch Packages booked, because we couldn't decide on a narrator.

Monday, November 30th, 6:45pm, Neil Patrick Harris

Friday, December 4th, 5:00pm, Whoopi Goldberg

There's only two of us, and we're not particularly fussy about seats (although it'd be nice not to be sitting behind a tree again this year).

So, what time should we show up to get into the lunch/dinner package line?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Well, you are guaranteed a seat. So, I guess it depends on how up close you want to be, right?

 

[Magpie]

Well, you are guaranteed a seat. So, I guess it depends on how up close you want to be, right?

Like I said, I'd prefer not to be behind a tree, again. Which is what happened last year. So...? I guess anywhere under the canopy?

I'm also wondering how the popularity of those two narrators will affect the line.

 

[Nancyg56]

Like I said, I'd prefer not to be behind a tree, again. Which is what happened last year. So...? I guess anywhere under the canopy?

I'm also wondering how the popularity of those two narrators will affect the line.

Both of these speakers will impact the lines a lot. We has a 5 PM ADR for the 8:15 show with NPH. We ate, and beat feet straight to the line, which had already begun to form, maybe at least 60 minutes early.

I would plan on no less than 60 minutes early.

Also, I would ask you to decide and drop one of these ADR's. Folks are really having trouble booking CP packages this year, and so it woudl be kind to let one go as soon as possible.

 

[sharonabe]

Those are two of the most popular narrators. They will open up seating for stand-by guests 30 min before the show (if there is any room even available for stand-bys). I would be in line no later than one hour before. For the 5:00 Whoopi show, you might could wait until 45 min before. I would definitely be in the area of American Showcase a couple hours before to see what the line for pkg holders is doing. You may want to get in line even earlier.

 

[Magpie]

Both of these speakers will impact the lines a lot. We has a 5 PM ADR for the 8:15 show with NPH. We ate, and beat feet straight to the line, which had already begun to form, maybe at least 60 minutes early.

I would plan on no less than 60 minutes early.

Also, I would ask you to decide and drop one of these ADR's. Folks are really having trouble booking CP packages this year, and so it woudl be kind to let one go as soon as possible.

I do like to think of myself as a generally kind person, but I feel absolutely no obligation to surrender an activity we booked months ago to someone who happened to have showed up later (quite possibly through no fault of their own, but it is what it is). Besides, it's not like the two CP packages are identical - I really want to see both narrators. ("Hm, I already have a BOG ressie, so I should give someone else my Crystal Palace ressie... uh, no.") So, no guilt, I'm just pleased I was organized and got on it early enough.

Thank you very much for the advice on when to show up, however! I think we might skip our usual nap back at the resort on the Friday, so we can aim to be in line by 4pm. That's VERY helpful to know!

 

[Nancyg56]

I do like to think of myself as a generally kind person, but I feel absolutely no obligation to surrender an activity we booked months ago to someone who happened to have showed up later (quite possibly through no fault of their own, but it is what it is). Besides, it's not like the two CP packages are identical - I really want to see both narrators. ("Hm, I already have a BOG ressie, so I should give someone else my Crystal Palace ressie... uh, no.") So, no guilt, I'm just pleased I was organized and got on it early enough.

Thank you very much for the advice on when to show up, however! I think we might skip our usual nap back at the resort on the Friday, so we can aim to be in line by 4pm. That's VERY helpful to know!

I did not mean to insult you. I took you at your word when you said you could not decide between the two narrators.

 

[Magpie]

I did not mean to insult you. I took you at your word when you said you could not decide between the two narrators.

Exactly! I really wanted NPH, but I like Whoopi. My husband really wanted Whoopi, but likes NPH, too. We bickered briefly, couldn't decide, then went, "Let's just get both!" Now everyone's happy!

(BTW, totally not insulted. Truly!)

 

[Nancyg56]

Exactly! I really wanted NPH, but I like Whoopi. My husband really wanted Whoopi, but likes NPH, too. We bickered briefly, couldn't decide, then went, "Let's just get both!" Now everyone's happy!

I totally get that! My family had all they could do to sit through one with me, so I ended up standing at the entrance way and enjoying another show from outside the pavilion. No way that would be happening with either of the two you are choosing to see though!

I will say that NPH is really good and worth standing in live for. I have not seen Whoopi.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We'll be seeing Gary Sinise, 5pm show on the 28th. Our son is singing with his choir.

Haven't seen the show before. Line up at 4pm, then?

 

[Magpie]

I totally get that! My family had all they could do to sit through one with me, so I ended up standing at the entrance way and enjoying another show from outside the pavilion. No way that would be happening with either of the two you are choosing to see though!

I will say that NPH is really good and worth standing in live for. I have not seen Whoopi.

Whoopi's great! We saw her last year. She reads wonderfully.

Fortunately for me, my husband's an even bigger fan of the CP than I am. He loves anything musical. We like to camp out and watch the Voices of Liberty multiple times, whenever we're in Epcot.

 

[Nancyg56]

Whoopi's great! We saw her last year. She reads wonderfully.

Fortunately for me, my husband's an even bigger fan of the CP than I am. He loves anything musical. We like to camp out and watch the Voices of Liberty multiple times, whenever we're in Epcot.

My husband would sit multiple times but my dd and her family not do much. Lol! Thank goodness we are all okay with one or more of us branching out for a bit. Those heretics do not even watch illuminations more than once! I have to ditch the slackers, get myself a beverage, and enjoy the show while they trudge back yovghe resort! Lol!!

 

[sharonabe]

We'll be seeing Gary Sinise, 5pm show on the 28th. Our son is singing with his choir.

Haven't seen the show before. Line up at 4pm, then?

Do you have a dining package or are you hoping for standby?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Do you have a dining package or are you hoping for standby?

Dining package. Lunch at Coral Reef.

 

[sharonabe]

Dining package. Lunch at Coral Reef.

I would definitely be in line by 4 if you want to sit up close to see the choir well. Again, be in the area even earlier; a couple hours earlier, so you can keep an eye on what the line is doing.

 

[ttintagel]

We had the lunch dining package for Neil Patrick Harris, lined up an hour before showtime, and were happy with the seats we ended up with. We were NOT happy with crowd control and traffic direction, but Disney isn't willing to pay for adequate staffing numbers, so what can you do? We got wildly different ECV instructions from three different CM's - the last of whom told us to exit and get back in line outside the theater! Well, that wasn't going to happen, so we finally just eased our way in. All the DP people finally got seated, and some CM had the nerve to get up and tell us all to move in to make room for the standby line. We hadn't paid an exorbitant price and gone though all that mad crush to sit behind trees and posts, and lots of people told her so. She just kept saying over and over, "But what about the standby people?" A man stood up and said, "Why not let them fill in the gaps?" In what sounded like perfect unison, the crowd said, "Yeah!" It went back and forth like that for minutes before they decided to just let the standby people fill in the gaps.