Candlelight Processional

[Goofnut1980]

Has anyone heard anything about the Candlelight Processional for the '08 holiday season... We are going to WDW on Dec 6th - 12th... with the whole family of 16... I wanted to book our Mickeys Christmas Party tickets at MK but want to make sure we pick a good night for the CP at EPCOT...

 

[goodolgm]

There's no such thing as a bad night for Candlelight Processional in my opinion.

This past winter, I had the honor of seeing it four times while on my college program, and never left the amphitheater without goosebumps or tears in my eyes.

Of the narrators I saw, I did like John O'Hurley the best.

My two cents.

 

[alilance]

I too was lucky enough to see the candelight processional this past December at Epcot! It was beautiful! I saw it twice. Once with Dennis Franz and the other with Neil Patrick Harris (he was my favorite - and I got to meet him later on at Animal Kingdom - he walked right in front of me on the Safari!) Anyway, I also got VERY teary eyed and emotional! It's NOT to be missed! I also bought the CD after for a Christmas gift! LOVELY!!:sohappy:

 

[swimmom]

If I remember correctly they don't release the "tentative" list of narrators until about June or July. One year we were all set to see Jim Caviezel only to have him replace Gary Sinise later in the month. So planning to see a particular narrator doesn't always work as planned.

No matter who the narrator is it's an awesome experience.

 

[Goofnut1980]

Thanks everyone... I have never seen it before... So really excited!!! :sohappy:

 

[Captain Hank]

Just chiming in that it's a somewhat rare thing to have a bad narrator for Candlelight. I had the privilege of being in the Cast Choir for the 2006 season, and the only truly bad narrator we had was Mario Lopez, and there's very little chance he'll be back, for various reasons. The rest really put their hearts into it and gave a fantastic performance. Especially notable were Rita Moreno, Kirk Cameron, Neil Patrick Harris and, especially, Gary Sinese.

Be sure to see Candlelight, and be sure to get there very early (unless you have the dinner package...and even then).

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We're going to be watching it for the first time this year as well. If I remember correctly 2007 tickets went on sale during July. So there's a few more months to wait yet :snore:

 

[MacDuffieMuppet]

. The rest really put their hearts into it and gave a fantastic performance. Especially notable were Rita Moreno, Kirk Cameron, Neil Patrick Harris and, especially, Gary Sinese.

Be sure to see Candlelight, and be sure to get there very early (unless you have the dinner package...and even then).

I have seen the foremention narrators on various xmas trips. My favorite by far was Kirk Cameron. He is serious in the reading and enjoyed singing with the singers and moving to the beat.

Def YOU HAVE TO get there early!!! My gram wanted to see it and we got in line at like 4 for the 5.30 show. Its worth it, but if you want dinner and still want to see it go with the dining package. The dining package you go either to lunch and the 1st show or dinner and a later show.

 

[fizzle75]

The first time we experienced The Candlelight Processional was Christmas of '06, the narrator was Brian Dennehy. I thought Brian actually did a very good job, wish I could say the same for my videotaping skills.

We experienced it again last Christmas, our narrator was Andie McDowell a good 'ol southern gal born in South Carolina and raised right here in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Alas, I wasn't very moved by her recitation, it just didn't have the emotion or power of Brian Dennehy's narration. We own the Candlelight Processional CD with Phylicia Rashad narrating and while her narration is good, it's just not as awesome as everyone says it is IMHO.

We will be going again this December and I'm really hoping to attend on one of the nights that Steven Curtis Chapman narrates(assuming he does it again this year), I'm a huge fan and I think he will do a great job. I personally am drawn more to narrators who share my emotional attachment to the story.

When will they officially announce the scheduled narrators?

 

[SweetMagic]

We will be going again this December and I'm really hoping to attend on one of the nights that Steven Curtis Chapman narrates(assuming he does it again this year), I'm a huge fan and I think he will do a great job. I personally am drawn more to narrators who share my emotional attachment to the story.

This is who I saw this past December, and he was very, very good.

 

[LeeLee D]

Does the CP happen every night during the holidays?

I wanted to go on a weekend when the held MVMCP. I don't want to get my tickets for that until I know if the CP is going on as well.

 

[sillyspook13]

Just chiming in that it's a somewhat rare thing to have a bad narrator for Candlelight. I had the privilege of being in the Cast Choir for the 2006 season, and the only truly bad narrator we had was Mario Lopez, and there's very little chance he'll be back, for various reasons.

I have to second that. I never had the severe joy of performing with Mr. Lopez, but the year before I performed with John Stamos for two shows and it was one of the most offensive experiences of my entire life.:hurl:

 

[Captain Hank]

Does the CP happen every night during the holidays?

I wanted to go on a weekend when the held MVMCP. I don't want to get my tickets for that until I know if the CP is going on as well.

The Candlelight Processional is performed three times a night, every night. It opens the day after Thanksgiving and closes the night of December 30.

Please note that even when the narrator schedule is posted, which usually happens in late summer/early fall, it is subject to change (and usually does, several times).

 

[LeeLee D]

The Candlelight Processional is performed three times a night, every night. It opens the day after Thanksgiving and closes the night of December 30.

Please note that even when the narrator schedule is posted, which usually happens in late summer/early fall, it is subject to change (and usually does, several times).

Thanks!

This being my first viewing, I'm not so fussed about who is the narrator.

 

[MinnieLee]

We saw the Candlelight Processional when Eartha Kitt was the guest narrator. She was excellent but I think no matter who you see it is fantastic. Only thing I would definitely recommend is to get the dinner package. What a great show!

 

[minniemouseuk]

Tier system

Can anyone help me regarding the meal 'tier' system?

Last year (and previous years), you had the option of selecting your chosen restaurant from 3 tiers.

We mistakenly thought that, if you choose the highest priced tier, you would get a better seat at the CP. However, this turned out not to be the case.

Everyone from all tiers queued in the same place, it was a case of first-come first-seated.

 

[DisneyPirate85]

I have seen the foremention narrators on various xmas trips. My favorite by far was Kirk Cameron. He is serious in the reading and enjoyed singing with the singers and moving to the beat.

I agree! We seen Kirk do it in Dec/07 as well, He was very very excited and serious, sang with the choir and smiled the whole time. He just seemed to really enjoy it.
In 1997 I was lucky enough to Pat Morita and Robert Urich who was battling his cancer at the time and sadly lost the fight. Very emotional.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Can anyone help me regarding the meal 'tier' system?

Last year (and previous years), you had the option of selecting your chosen restaurant from 3 tiers.

We mistakenly thought that, if you choose the highest priced tier, you would get a better seat at the CP. However, this turned out not to be the case.

Everyone from all tiers queued in the same place, it was a case of first-come first-seated.

Now I'm confused - I was under that impression (higher price meal = better view). I will await updates before booking for this Christmas.

 

[Disneykidder]

What exactly is the candlelight precessional?

 

[pinkrose]

What exactly is the candlelight precessional?

It's held nightly at the American Gardens Theater. It's the retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir. It's beautiful!

The different package tiers are based on how expensive the restaurant is. You will still want to get in line early for the best seats. Do make sure that you are in the correct line though! There will be one line for people with the dining package and another for stand-by. You will recceive your pass at your meal.