Looking for People w/ experience attending DL Candlelight Processional

[justkeepswimmin]

Just booked a trip at the new Villas at Grand Californian and am really excited but I am a little nervous about our dates. We will be going Dec 6-9th. The problem is 12/6 is the last night of Candlelight Processional and 12/7 and 12/8 will likely be cast member parties with DL closing at 6 PM. I know I should probably pick different dates but unfortunately, I have little flexibility as dh works retail and the week we have selected is the only one he can get off.

I have heard CP is crazy busy, is that everyone elses experience? Should we consider attending the event? My mom is coming with us and she will be in an Electric Cart and I worry about her being able to navigate the crowds. Would purchasing a seat package help with crowd maneuvering? She has also never been to DL at Christmas so this will be a special trip for her and given her health, every trip could be her last so I just want everything to be great. Our dates really only give us one night to be in DL park for holiday lights right? I am not sure what time it gets dark in So Cal that time of year.

I could possibly shift our dates to Dec 8-11th. I appreciate any input anyone has to offer. I know the trip will be great either way but I want to make I've done my homework.

 

[Minuet888]

I can definately speak to this as a choir director who has had the honor of having her choirs participate in the Candlelight Processional. It can be crowded. Keep in mind the kids are never in the park, they are backstage doing a rehearsal the entire day. However, some of their families show up. I think the Candlelight Processional is special and they always have a guest narrarator. Our two times we did it was Mickey Rooney and Stephen Collins (dad from 7th Heaven). Unless they have changed things the Candlelight Processional will be at the train station (they have also held it in Fantasyland Theater but as I saw there is some sort of Princess Faire there now).
I don't think it would be too too much busier than the normal holiday season but that is just my opinion.

Here is the other thing we have in common my DH works retail too!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

I can definately speak to this as a choir director who has had the honor of having her choirs participate in the Candlelight Processional. It can be crowded. Keep in mind the kids are never in the park, they are backstage doing a rehearsal the entire day. However, some of their families show up. I think the Candlelight Processional is special and they always have a guest narrarator. Our two times we did it was Mickey Rooney and Stephen Collins (dad from 7th Heaven). Unless they have changed things the Candlelight Processional will be at the train station (they have also held it in Fantasyland Theater but as I saw there is some sort of Princess Faire there now).
I don't think it would be too too much busier than the normal holiday season but that is just my opinion.

Here is the other thing we have in common my DH works retail too!

How great you got to participate! Thank you for sharing your experience! Too funny your dh works retail. It does make trip planning kinda nice sometimes though because taking time off during the week, when it is less busy is not that big of a deal so we often do Sun-Weds trips.

You know, the more I have read about the event and the pictures I have seen, the more I kinda think we should brave the crowds and attend. My mom would love something like this. The crowds will drive my dad absolutely insane but it might be worth it.

Anyone know where the handicap seating for the event is located and how easy it is to get to?

 

[disheadz]

Went 12-2 - 12-9 of 08 during the cp. DCA was empty and DL was very managable as long as you avoid the cp route. It was really not a problem, in act SM had a 5 minute wait during one evening.

 

[skoocher]

We were there during the CP a few years ago and it was very very busy both during the day and after the show. I am sure the CP is a beautiful show, but we vowed to never go to DL again on the day of the CP. I am all about going when the crowds are low, so this is all just my personal opinion. Good luck. If you have never been to DL during Christmas, it is wonderful.

 

[bumbershoot]

We have been there twice around that time, and have simply avoided the whole thing. CP is at the front of DL, so we planned to either be in the "back" of the park or in DCA. And having the park close for the parties makes it easy to be in DCA (b/c you have to be!).

So if you want to avoid the crowds, it's fairly simple if you keep track of time and where you are.

If you want to see it, well I'll leave that to others. I know that mouseplanet has had some huge CP threads in the past, if you want to go over there and search for it from last yule season.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

DCA was empty and DL was very managable as long as you avoid the cp route. It was really not a problem, in act SM had a 5 minute wait during one evening.

Yes, if we decide not to attend the event, I think we will take the monorail in and keep to the back of the park. Does the park clear out after last CP?

We were there during the CP a few years ago and it was very very busy both during the day and after the show. I am sure the CP is a beautiful show, but we vowed to never go to DL again on the day of the CP. I am all about going when the crowds are low, so this is all just my personal opinion. Good luck. If you have never been to DL during Christmas, it is wonderful.

That is what I am a little afraid of. We generally go during low crowd times too. I have been at christmas 2x before, once on thanksgiving weekend and another time the 2nd week of Dec and much preferred the 2nd week of December though I had a great time both trips.

e.

If you want to see it, well I'll leave that to others. I know that mouseplanet has had some huge CP threads in the past, if you want to go over there and search for it from last yule season.

Thanks! I think I will search for some firsthand accounts like you suggest. Do you remember if DL opened any earlier on the days it closed early for CM parties? Also, does anyone know how soon it gets dark in December in SoCal? I don't want to miss seeing DL at night for the holidays and with one of our nights being CP and the other 2 CM parties, I am worried we will not get much chance to experience Main Street all lit up for Christmas.

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I figure Anaheim won't be that much different from AZ for when it gets dark. It's darker than WA, b/c WA is up higher and we keep light longer, but I figure from around the same area it will be the same.

I love using the Old Farmer's Almanac for sun set/rise questions...can pick it up for a few bucks at most grocery store checkouts, or here. not sure how much info is free or when they ask for your subscription info, though.


FWIW, I have a pic in DCA as it's getting dark even at 4:55 pm last Dec 8th. I also have pictures from the Pixar Play Parade at 5:37 where it's very dark in the background.


And yes, I do believe they open DL an hour earlier on the cast party days, and of course DCA is open later too.

 

[disney4metoo]

What are the dates for the CP? We will be there November 30- Dec 2, and I would love to see it!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

I figure Anaheim won't be that much different from AZ for when it gets dark. It's darker than WA, b/c WA is up higher and we keep light longer, but I figure from around the same area it will be the same.

I love using the Old Farmer's Almanac for sun set/rise questions...can pick it up for a few bucks at most grocery store checkouts, or here. not sure how much info is free or when they ask for your subscription info, though.


FWIW, I have a pic in DCA as it's getting dark even at 4:55 pm last Dec 8th. I also have pictures from the Pixar Play Parade at 5:37 where it's very dark in the background.


And yes, I do believe they open DL an hour earlier on the cast party days, and of course DCA is open later too.

Thanks for the almanac link. I always get confused bc AZ does not observe daylight savings time so sometimes we are the same as Cal (like now) but in Winter we are an hour ahead I think.

Thank you also for checking your pics. Sounds like we will have about an hour of darkness in DL those 2 days.

I just talked to a friend who sang in the CP when he was a teenager and he said while it was beautiful, the crowds are crazy and with the ages of my kids (9,4,2) he thought I might want to reconsider and wait to attend when the youngest was a little older. Hmm.... My other dates are 12/8-12/11. Still one night of Cast parties but that would be on our arrival day and having a DCA that is open late after we check in at VGC might be perfect.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

What are the dates for the CP? We will be there November 30- Dec 2, and I would love to see it!

The dates have not been officially announced but they are always the weekend after Thanksgiving so it will be Dec 5 & 6th.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Swimmin',

We were there last Dec. during CP and Cast Mem. Parties and it was much busier than I expected it to be. There was a line at the ticket booths on that Sunday that was at least 45 minutes. I know the couple in line behind us (who were local) were pretty bent that it was taking so long and that they might miss the first Processional and have to wait for the later one. Bummer for them was that it was sooooo crowded when you walked in through the tunnels that there was no way they were even going to find a good place to stand and be able to see anything.

It wasn't bad toward the back of the park - but getting into DL was a total pain in the behind. The decorations were very cool and very beautiful, I love NOS especially. It wasn't a big deal for us with cast member parties because they showed the fireworks at about 5:45 pm and that is a perfect time for my little kids - who were 6 and 4 at the time - 9:45 can get very late, very fast. We also don't mind earlier entry times to the Parks, because they are up VERY early in the morning, even when they should be sleeping in!

I wouldn't choose to go again during that time because I really feel like it threw off my groove for Christmas at my own house and didn't really give me anymore Christmas spirit than I had before. But, there are extenuating circumstances that could be contributing to those feelings - so maybe I was just a scrooge!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Handicapped viewing for the processinal is right behind the dinner package seating. We did the 2nd showing of last year's Saturday CP and waited for about an hour before they took us to the seating. My father and I were seated on the ground and my mother was in the wheelchair.

Yes, Disneyland will be very, very crowded, but I would go down to see the CP again in a heartbeat. The show is beautiful and very, very powerful, especially if you're a Christian.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I cannot comment on the CP but I can on the CM parties. We were there 12/8-12/11 this past Dec. The 8th & 9th were the party nights ~ we saw the fireworks both nights, they start at 5:45pm or so and yes it is dark enough. We hopped over to CA on these 2 nights. Crowds were very manageable and we had a great time.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Swimmin',

We were there last Dec. during CP and Cast Mem. Parties and it was much busier than I expected it to be. There was a line at the ticket booths on that Sunday that was at least 45 minutes. I know the couple in line behind us (who were local) were pretty bent that it was taking so long and that they might miss the first Processional and have to wait for the later one. Bummer for them was that it was sooooo crowded when you walked in through the tunnels that there was no way they were even going to find a good place to stand and be able to see anything.

Yup, this is my biggest fear, mainly bc Sunday 12/6 is our arrival date and we are driving so we will not arrive till around noon and thus could not do my usual strategy of hitting the parks early.

Handicapped viewing for the processinal is right behind the dinner package seating. We did the 2nd showing of last year's Saturday CP and waited for about an hour before they took us to the seating. My father and I were seated on the ground and my mother was in the wheelchair.

Yes, Disneyland will be very, very crowded, but I would go down to see the CP again in a heartbeat. The show is beautiful and very, very powerful, especially if you're a Christian.

Thanks for the seating information. Did CM direct you where to wait to be seated in the handicap section? When I described the ceremony to my mom she was really excited about it but we are both concerned aboout crowds and gettting around with her scooter.

I cannot comment on the CP but I can on the CM parties. We were there 12/8-12/11 this past Dec. The 8th & 9th were the party nights ~ we saw the fireworks both nights, they start at 5:45pm or so and yes it is dark enough. We hopped over to CA on these 2 nights. Crowds were very manageable and we had a great time.

Thank you for sharing your positive experiences during CM party dates. I think those days will work well for my family as we are early risers so the early opening is ideal and early fireworks are also appealing with little ones. I think at this point it is the CP that is causing most of my apprehension.

You guys are all so great to offer so much help . Thanks!!