Question about candlelight processional?

[disneynerd420]

Through sheer coincidence, I have planned a trip the weekend of the CP. This was not on purpose, but not unwelcomed. I just have a few questions.


1. Are the parks really that busy those days. (I will be there on Sunday)

2. What time does it usually start?

3. Do they still have the parade and fireworks? (This will be my first time at DLR in Dec)

4. Are the rides less busy during the CP?



Thank you for anyone that can help!

 

[bumbershoot]

We found that if you avoided the front of DL, where they hold it, starting from about 5 on, it was just fine.

I've read (mouseplanet) that this year pretty much the only way to have seats for it is to pay some huge sum b/c they aren't having the dinner/CP package, so I would expect even more people to be lining the streets to watch it for free. So you'd really really want to avoid the front of DL for it (it's held, at least last year, in the City Hall/bank area). Take the monorail out of the park if you have to leave; that sort of thing.

 

[vettegirl]

It sounds like we will be heading to DCA that evening, I am not going to waste precious time to stake out a seat.

 

[goldies 5]

we will be there too. In our past experience the park really empties out after. We were able to ride many rides with little to no wait in the evening time.

 

[disneynerd420]

Thank you guys for the info. Can anyone enlighten me about the fireworks?

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

We're going to be there that Saturday, but leaving for home in the afternoon. How early do people start staking out a seat on Main Street?

 

[lotsofboys]

Not sure about the fireworks, but we "accidentally" went to Disneyland the weekend of CP three or four years ago and will never go that weekend again. DL was so crowded they stopped letting people in unless you had a handstamp from earlier. We were not there to see CP and the rest of the park was incredibly crowded.

We have APs but were not prepared for the crowds that weekend! If you know ahead of time and plan accordingly that is half the battle.

 

[disneynerd420]

Can anyone else help?

 

[DangerMouse]

In the past when we have been there on CP nights, the fireworks went off at their regularly scheduled time.

 

[KCmike]

Have they announced the narrator?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Based on my own experience from last year:

Disneyland was very, very crowded. The parade ran twice at 1:30 and 3:30 (instead of 3:30 and 6:30) and the fireworks went off 20 minutes later than usual or something like that to help thin the crowds out some. The CP has two showings. I can't remember the exact times, but the second one starts around 8:00pm.

For me, it was well worth dealing with the crowds. The Candlelight Processional was absolutely beautiful and has taken it's place in the upper echelon of special Disneyland experiences. The choir starts at Small World and proceeds down Main Street holding candles before arriving at the stage in front of the Train Station facing the castle. While they go down Main Street, the lights are dimmed and the choir sings Christmas hymns.

Once they arrive at the stage, the narrator takes his or her place and tells the Christmas story with the choir performing Christmas hymns throughout the telling of the birth of Jesus Christ. There are trumpeters atop the train station who perform periodically throughout the performance. I was in tears at the end and had a very difficult time trying to thank my parents for teaching me about Jesus because of the emotions of gratitude this experience swelled in me.

A couple of notes about the CP. I think we lined up around an hour and a half before the second show(which is usually easier to see). One of our party was in a wheelchair though so I'm not sure of how early you need to line up if you don't have a wheelchair. Once Disney fills in the wheelchair viewing area, they will allow people to line up behind them.

The only way I would not recommend the CP is if you have young kids. They may have a hard time waiting for hours to see a show that's roughly 50 minutes long. But it is beautiful experience. I'll deal with the insane crowds again because I believe it's that good.

 

[lcasa]

RE the narrator - unlike WDW, I've never seen the narrator announced in advance. I've even tried calling. So it's always been a surprise in the morning when we go.

I go every year. It's beautiful. As a prior poster suggested, lining up for the 2nd show is probably the easiest way to see it.

Ride lines naturally are shorter during the show. I don't recall whether fireworks are on or not really.

 

[disneynerd420]

Based on my own experience from last year:

Disneyland was very, very crowded. The parade ran twice at 1:30 and 3:30 (instead of 3:30 and 6:30) and the fireworks went off 20 minutes later than usual or something like that to help thin the crowds out some. The CP has two showings. I can't remember the exact times, but the second one starts around 8:00pm.

For me, it was well worth dealing with the crowds. The Candlelight Processional was absolutely beautiful and has taken it's place in the upper echelon of special Disneyland experiences. The choir starts at Small World and proceeds down Main Street holding candles before arriving at the stage in front of the Train Station facing the castle. While they go down Main Street, the lights are dimmed and the choir sings Christmas hymns.

Once they arrive at the stage, the narrator takes his or her place and tells the Christmas story with the choir performing Christmas hymns throughout the telling of the birth of Jesus Christ. There are trumpeters atop the train station who perform periodically throughout the performance. I was in tears at the end and had a very difficult time trying to thank my parents for teaching me about Jesus because of the emotions of gratitude this experience swelled in me.

A couple of notes about the CP. I think we lined up around an hour and a half before the second show(which is usually easier to see). One of our party was in a wheelchair though so I'm not sure of how early you need to line up if you don't have a wheelchair. Once Disney fills in the wheelchair viewing area, they will allow people to line up behind them.

The only way I would not recommend the CP is if you have young kids. They may have a hard time waiting for hours to see a show that's roughly 50 minutes long. But it is beautiful experience. I'll deal with the insane crowds again because I believe it's that good.

Thank you so much Sleepless Knight... that was the answer I was looking for. I'm glad to hear that there is a wheelchair viewing section as my mother will be in a wheelchair.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Glad to be of help. Make sure that you ask a CM where the line starts for handicapped viewing. Last year we lined up on the left hand side of Main Street (facing the train station). Wheelchair seating has a different line than regular standby seating, and they may change it, so ask a CM before the first show where you need to go.