****Official December 2014 Check-In! ****

[dec2009mama]

does anyone know how long it is? I know the general idea of what goes on but has anyone attended in the past and would be up for providing some details on how it went?

 

[flyingdumbo127]

From watching a YouTube video of the CP last year, I believe the ceremony is 45 minutes. I am so thankful (and can't wait) to be going this year for the first time. I have family who go in Florida and have shared how beautiful it is. ETA: Ariel vs Ursula, I feel the same way about being so excited to get to see all the Christmas decorations and lights.

I would appreciate any extra info on how the lining up works. I very much have appreciated all of your suggestions, Sherry. I would love to know if some of you are planning to view the CP this year. I would prefer the earlier performances on both nights. I think if there were a group of us waiting would be a lot more enjoyable, plus we could take turns holding down the fort. Mostly, it would mean a lot to get to view with some of you.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I would appreciate any extra info on how the lining up works. I very much have appreciated all of your suggestions, Sherry. I would love to know if some of you are planning to view the CP this year. I would prefer the earlier performances on both nights.

Idk, but check out the Holiday Superthread, they know all about the holiday events in DL!

 

[Sherry E]

does anyone know how long it is? I know the general idea of what goes on but has anyone attended in the past and would be up for providing some details on how it went?

dec2009mama --

I'd guess that the Ceremony is 45 minutes to one hour. I didn't time it, but it seemed about that long.

In this post, look under "Main Street/Candlelight" to find out more information (including my observations/recap from December 2012). We've talked about it quite a bit in the Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread, and we will see more of it coming up in the Theme Week Countdown in that thread.

The Candlelight Ceremony and Processional is not something that anyone will be able to get tickets for unless Disney suddenly arranges a way for people to get tickets. Given that the seats are reserved for VIPs, Club 33 members and other Disney family members and invited guests, the general public can only stand and view the Ceremony -- which usually requires waiting around in the spot you claim for hours and hours before the first performance.

Disney does not announce the Candlelight Processional/Ceremony as part of the regular roster of seasonal entertainment. Candlelight will be listed on the Times Guide on the dates of the event, but it's not something that Disney promotes heavily or talks in great detail about before it happens because they don't really need or want to do anything to clog up Town Square even further (much like how they won't really promote or announce the taping of the Christmas Fantasy Parade before it happens -- they don't need the extra crowd congestion). They won't announce the narrators for the 2 CP nights in advance, but the names of the narrators will probably leak out online through non-Disney sources next month.

At WDW, Candlelight is treated much more like seasonal entertainment that everyone can enjoy and get dinner packages for, etc. At DLR, Candlelight is treated more like a quiet, intimate event for invited guests...that just happens to attract a lot of people hanging around Town Square.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thanks for your post from 2012, Sherry. I was happy to read the experience was so special for you and also that you didn't have to wait in line for hours. I do have one question and forgive me if the answer is obvious. I believe you mentioned something about people who had wristbands were seated first. I am guessing after Disney family and related folks were seated, wristbands were handed out to the public until the bands ran out. Then if there were extra seats anyone could fill them? I truly am going on both weekend days this year for the main purpose of viewing the CP and so appreciate being able to find out info on here from you and others in advance.

I have never been to a CP either out here or in Florida. From the You Tube video I did watch of last year's CP with Blair Underwood, I could feel, sitting here at my computer, a small sense of just how special the choir marching in particularly and the whole ceremony was. I will be in a better position to give my opinion after viewing this year, but would think if the processional part were eliminated (choir already in place as is maybe how it works in Florida)? the beginnings at least wouldn't be quite the same. I do agree that outdoors and smaller sound good to me. I also would love if the event were expanded over a week at least so more could view and ideally that might cut down on crowds.

Anyway, thanks again Sherry for the info.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for your post from 2012, Sherry. I was happy to read the experience was so special for you and also that you didn't have to wait in line for hours. I do have one question and forgive me if the answer is obvious. I believe you mentioned something about people who had wristbands were seated first. I am guessing after Disney family and related folks were seated, wristbands were handed out to the public until the bands ran out. Then if there were extra seats anyone could fill them? I truly am going on both weekend days this year for the main purpose of viewing the CP and so appreciate being able to find out info on here from you and others in advance.

I have never been to a CP either out here or in Florida. From the You Tube video I did watch of last year's CP with Blair Underwood, I could feel, sitting here at my computer, a small sense of just how special the choir marching in particularly and the whole ceremony was. I will be in a better position to give my opinion after viewing this year, but would think if the processional part were eliminated (choir already in place as is maybe how it works in Florida)? the beginnings at least wouldn't be quite the same. I do agree that outdoors and smaller sound good to me. I also would love if the event were expanded over a week at least so more could view and ideally that might cut down on crowds.

Anyway, thanks again Sherry for the info.

In the interest of keeping this December thread a Check-In/Meet-Up thread (which is the intention of it), I would suggest posting most of your questions for me about the CP in the actual Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread, which is there for discussion. I don't have a whole lot of time to deal with a lot of threads, so the Superthread is always where I am going first (I come here if I have a spare moment).

There are no wristbands -- don't worry about the wristbands. Well, I should clarify and say that I don't know if the VIPs and invited guests wear wrist bands -- I haven't noticed it if they do -- but there is no wristband set-up for the other general public guests as there was in 2012. In 2012, there were 20 nights of the CP and many people won a lottery of sorts to get a seat and attend the CP, so things were done a bit differently.

The bottom line is that the seats are reserved and the general public (who is not invited) has to stand and wait. If there are any empty seats due to no-shows, you can't just go and sit in them. It's up to any CMs manning the event if they want to let anyone sit in the seats.

However, with only 2 nights of the CP, there won't be many empty seats, if any.

 

[krispin41]

I'm in! I had to cancel my May trip due to chemotherapy, and I was jonesing to go...so I booked a solo trip to celebrate the fact that I am cancer free!!!!!!!!!!!!

DLH 12/10-12/13. (Had to beg and plead for an extra day from my boss since I work in retail!)

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm in! I had to cancel my May trip due to chemotherapy, and I was jonesing to go...so I booked a solo trip to celebrate the fact that I am cancer free!!!!!!!!!!!! DLH 12/10-12/13. (Had to beg and plead for an extra day from my boss since I work in retail!)

YAY!!!!! And have an AMAZING time celebrating!

 

[Morgan063006]

Flights are booked, updating our dates to 12/7-12/13 at Desert Inn. Hopeful to catch CP on our first day!

 

[AmberStar]

Flights are booked, updating our dates to 12/7-12/13 at Desert Inn. Hopeful to catch CP on our first day!

We are there the exact same week and staying at the Desert Inn too! woot!
58 days until disney!!

 

[Escape2Disney]

I'm in! I had to cancel my May trip due to chemotherapy, and I was jonesing to go...so I booked a solo trip to celebrate the fact that I am cancer free!!!!!!!!!!!!

DLH 12/10-12/13. (Had to beg and plead for an extra day from my boss since I work in retail!)

YAY! You deserve to celebrate! I hope you have a magical trip!

Flights are booked, updating our dates to 12/7-12/13 at Desert Inn. Hopeful to catch CP on our first day!

We are there the exact same week and staying at the Desert Inn too! woot!
58 days until disney!!

It's amazing how quickly the time is passing now, isn't it??

 

[rentayenta]

I'm in! I had to cancel my May trip due to chemotherapy, and I was jonesing to go...so I booked a solo trip to celebrate the fact that I am cancer free!!!!!!!!!!!!

DLH 12/10-12/13. (Had to beg and plead for an extra day from my boss since I work in retail!)

Best. Reason. Ever!!! Congrats! Our dates overlap.


Have there been any December meets planned?

 

[krispin41]

Best. Reason. Ever!!! Congrats! Our dates overlap.


Have there been any December meets planned?

Awesome!! And thanks to everyone else who commeted!

I am so excited, this is my first visit during the Christmas holidays!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug and congrats Krispin!

 

[Escape2Disney]

Have there been any December meets planned?

There haven't been any meets planned yet, but I'd be happy to add one if you have one in mind!

 

[AmberStar]

In the interest of keeping this December thread a Check-In/Meet-Up thread (which is the intention of it), I would suggest posting most of your questions for me about the CP in the actual Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread, which is there for discussion. I don't have a whole lot of time to deal with a lot of threads, so the Superthread is always where I am going first (I come here if I have a spare moment).

I would love more info here too... I am avoiding the super thread like the plague because all the pictures kind of ruin the surprise for me. Our trip is the family Christmas gift and being the one to do all the planning already ruins a little magic so i really don't want to see anything before we get there. My first Christmas trip to disney in over a decade so I don't want to lose what I imagine or get my hopes up to see something that may not be there this year. I keep hoping other threads will start with details that won't contain pictures.

If anyone (not just sherry) has details of things they want to be sure and do during the Christmas season at Disney please post them here so I can share in the excitement too.

***Edit: I don't mind the idea of the super thread with pictures because for those who visit regularly it is nice to share experiences and all those fab photos. But for right now I'm looking at our trip like a wrapped gift. The anticipation of opening it is part of the fun.

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Amberstar if you stick to the first page of the super tread there is soooooooooooo much information and link but not too many photos. I keep going back and rereading yo answer questions. It contain mostly basics informations and dates and links to historical and current information. Then you could come here and ask questions. I am sure people would be happy to share non spoiler information BUT there is so much!

 

[rentayenta]

There haven't been any meets planned yet, but I'd be happy to add one if you have one in mind!

With 9 of us I'm hesitant to plan anything as I've got a big group to herd. Thank you for the offer though.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Amberstar if you stick to the first page of the super tread there is soooooooooooo much information and link but not too many photos. I keep going back and rereading yo answer questions. It contain mostly basics informations and dates and links to historical and current information. Then you could come here and ask questions. I am sure people would be happy to share non spoiler information BUT there is so much!

^^ This ^^

Everything you're looking for will be on that first page as information is released. You won't need to look through the pictures if you don't want to.

With 9 of us I'm hesitant to plan anything as I've got a big group to herd. Thank you for the offer though.

Haha I'm in the same boat! At one point there will be 12 of us! I'd usually attempt to set up a meet or two, but this time I'm already wrangling a lot of people as it is

 

[rentayenta]

Haha I'm in the same boat! At one point there will be 12 of us! I'd usually attempt to set up a meet or two, but this time I'm already wrangling a lot of people as it is

Yowza! How are you navigating that many? We once had 14 and basically planned to meet up for meals. We ended up spending most of our time together anyway but I warned them beforehand that I had a plan. Democracy wasn't an option. They ended up loving not having to think about anything.