Time to get in line for Candlelight Processional?

[8lovesmickey]

I'm hoping to see the CP on Saturday, December 12. It will be just me this time; how far in advance should I get in line? Also which show is the least crowded? -- I'm flexible. Last time we did a dinner package, but this time I will just wait it out. Thanks!

 

[Robo]

I'm hoping to see the CP on Saturday, December 12. It will be just me this time; how far in advance should I get in line? Also which show is the least crowded? -- I'm flexible. Last time we did a dinner package, but this time I will just wait it out. Thanks!

Depending on the popularity of the narrator, some will line up at 1PM, or thereabouts.

It will be a weekend night and the narrator will be Meredith Vieira,
so, you MIGHT have a "situation" to deal with.

You can certainly attempt arriving much later if you'd like.
You might get lucky.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have normally gone to the last show, with the pkg. we try to get into the regular pkg line about 35 mins prior to the start....usually end up joining the line at about Japan. Well, yesterday we had the 6:15 show pkg booked. So, had lunch. I got to the end of the pkg line about 5:30. It was back to Morocco!! Within 5 mins it had looped back in itself! It was nuts! Now...NPH was the narrator, and the lunch pkg seems to be very popular, so more in line than usual. But....the standby line was crazy!! There were about 5-6 rows of seats, way off to the right, that had been saved for standby guests....so, not a lot of seats for standby. And I saw people lining up by 2pm!! The line was hugely long for the 6:15 show.
Long story short? Depends on who the narrator is. If it were me? I wouldn't bother with the standby line. I would just stand on the walkway, behind the theater area, and watch from there. No way would I waste hours standing in a line, hoping to get a seat.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We were there for Gary Sinese at the 6:45 show. We showed up with dinner pkg passes 45 min early and the line was crazy! A lady told me people were waiting since 11 in standby. I cannot imagine waiting that long. The show was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever seen

 

[Squirlz]

Last December we were walking by the theater just before it started. We got to the corner of the alley just east of the American Pavillion when the gate opened and the entire cast of the show came by in a procession. THAT was cool! The show is not my kind of thing but it would be easy to watch from the sidewalk without tying up half a day.

 

[HannaBelle]

Do you get better seats with the dinner package versus the lunch package?

 

[Otter49]

On the other hand, we got in standby for the 6:45 Gary Sinise show just before 6:00 and had great seats.

 

[Robo]

Do you get better seats with the dinner package versus the lunch package?

No.

 

[sprousehouse]

So we have lunch reservations tomorrow (Sunday 12/6) to see Joe Morton at the 8:15 pm show - do you think 45 minutes is enough time? At what point do they open the line to standby - what is the latest we could arrive? (the in-laws are now less than thrilled about the late showtime despite their insistence that anything was fine back when I booked it!) Thanks!

 

[8lovesmickey]

When I'm there it will be Meredith Vieira -- no idea about her popularity relative to everyone else. Honestly I just love the music and the atmosphere (last time I saw it was 2006 with Mario Lopez). But... this is a quick trip and there's no way I'm spending several precious hours in line. I will go for the sidewalk view if that works... Thanks everyone for the great info.

 

[Nancyg56]

We have normally gone to the last show, with the pkg. we try to get into the regular pkg line about 35 mins prior to the start....usually end up joining the line at about Japan. Well, yesterday we had the 6:15 show pkg booked. So, had lunch. I got to the end of the pkg line about 5:30. It was back to Morocco!! Within 5 mins it had looped back in itself! It was nuts! Now...NPH was the narrator, and the lunch pkg seems to be very popular, so more in line than usual. But....the standby line was crazy!! There were about 5-6 rows of seats, way off to the right, that had been saved for standby guests....so, not a lot of seats for standby. And I saw people lining up by 2pm!! The line was hugely long for the 6:15 show.
Long story short? Depends on who the narrator is. If it were me? I wouldn't bother with the standby line. I would just stand on the walkway, behind the theater area, and watch from there. No way would I waste hours standing in a line, hoping to get a seat.

That's what I do. My family does not really enjoy the show, and while they will agree to one time, I would never get them to go twice. (The Heretics do not even enjoy the Holiday layover for Illuminations!!!!! I go the second time by myself too!) I simply fnd a spot with my coffee and enjoy the show. One evening I was listening and seemed to be surounded lby song, just like stereo. I looked around and was circled by members of the previous show's chorus who had come to watch the next one. So magical!

 

[warrior64]

There is a white bench right across from America...by where they sell gingerbread cookies. Get there right before the previous show
ends and snag that bench when whoever is sitting there gets up We did this for Gary S and Neil Patrick Harris...perfect view of the podium

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Last year we had reservations but the little one got restless so I took her out. We played by the fountain in front of the American pavillion and it was a fun time. You can hear perfectly, and watch if you'd like. We had NPH but it was the 2nd time. We loved it!

 

[PetePanMan]

Just back....we went to NPH CP (as part of dining package) and it did not disappoint. The stand by lines started over 4 hours before the 5 pm show and even the lines for those with CP dining reservations started 3 hours early from what we were told (A bit silly IMO). We got to theater about 45 mins before show and still got excellent seats.

 

[Turts8]

This past Tuesday people were lining up for the 5:15(?) show. I was amazed. We walked back by and listened later. It was nice but not nice enough for me to waste 4 hours waiting in line.

 

[PhoenixWright]

For standby, wouldn't it just be better to wait for the 2nd and 3rd shows? or do they have separate lines earlier in the day for those?

 

[Nancyg56]

For standby, wouldn't it just be better to wait for the 2nd and 3rd shows? or do they have separate lines earlier in the day for those?

Those lines form as well

 

[PhoenixWright]

Those lines form as well

So they have 3 lines all day for the 3 shows? or do they not start the other two until later? We're trying to figure out if we want to see one of the shows while we're there.

 

[Nancyg56]

So they have 3 lines all day for the 3 shows? or do they not start the other two until later? We're trying to figure out if we want to see one of the shows while we're there.

I'm not sure. I have never stood in a sb line. The show is really nice and I see it every time I am there, but I won't stand for hours. I have stood right at the entrance and watched from there.

 

[Robo]

For standby, wouldn't it just be better to wait for the 2nd and 3rd shows?

or do they have separate lines earlier in the day for those?

Nope.
And, nope.