Before you both show up and are disappointed on December 5th or 6th, I should break some news to you. Perhaps you already know this, but
Candlelight (what Disneyland and all the locals call it) at Disneyland is not run like the month-long dinner show version called
Candlelight Processional at Epcot.
Notice how it's just one word?
A bit of history here is in order...
Candlelight began in 1958 as a way for Walt to thank the local elected officials, community leaders, park sponsors and businesses that supported Disneyland throughout the year. It was Walt's personal Christmas gift to the people he did business with and who helped his team at Disneyland host a growing number of tourists each year. It continued that way for over 40 years. The WDW version had no such Walt-era history or purpose, and quickly morphed into a upcharged dinner show performed nightly for 30 days in a permanent venue at Epcot Center.
In the late 1990's Disneyland entered into a very, very bad phase of executive leadership where every old Disneyland tradition was chucked out the window and forgotten. Candlelight was one of those things, and for several years they moved the show to the Fantasyland Theatre and tried to sell dinner packages for it. The theater venue, much like the Epcot version, was horrible and the locals and long-time invited guests were horrified. The show quickly moved back to it's traditional place in front of the Main Street train station, but dinner packages kept being attempted. The dinner show concept failed, and the locals absolutely hated it.
Luckily, a new generation of executives now runs Disneyland and has made the park sparkle like its never sparkled before. One of the things they returned to was the traditional 1958 format for Candlelight. It's in front of the train station on the first weekend in December, local politicians and prominent local business leaders and their families are invited with all seats reserved. (It's a highlight of the SoCal social calendar for many bigwigs!) The stage, theater and seating are all temporary and all set up just for the weekend.
The Christmas tree choir in the center is actually the Walt Disney Disney Company Employee Choir, made up of Disney employees from Burbank, Imagineers from Glendale, and Cast Members from Anaheim who perform in many events around the year. The couple hundred extra choir members are from churches and schools from around Southern California, hence their different choir robes.
It is nearly impossible to score an actual reserved seat for Candlelight, unless you know Senator Boxer or Mayor Tait or the General Manager of the Coca-Cola Bottlers of Southern California. A giant crowd control scenario is set up in the Town Square, and they keep the area moving and clear and quiet for the performance. Even the Jungle Cruise skippers stop shooting their guns at the hippos, and they turn off Harold's roar at the Matterhorn. Much of Disneyland quiets down while Candlelight is happening.
Sorry, you can't sit there. It's only for Walt's invited guests.
However, the one part of Candlelight that all Disneyland visitors can enjoy is the actual procession. Just as Walt started in 1958, the event begins with a grand procession of the hundreds of choir members performing in the show that night. They march down the entire Disneyland parade route singing Christmas Carols while everyone watches, and it's really quite a moving sight. Walt was brilliant when it came to showmanship!
Here's the version of the procession in the late 1950's. The hairdos have changed since then, but the hymns remain the same.
And here's the procession going through Disneyland in the 21st century. As you can see, the parade route fills up with spectators on the curb like it was Paint The Night, and many people wait for a while to get a good spot. This is how most people experience Candlelight, via the actual procession through the park.
You might luck out and get a seat, or maybe you do know Senator Boxer and can get a couple of tickets. Otherwise, feel free to join everyone along the Disneyland parade route to view the spectacle and sing along with your favorite hymns.
