Candlelight Processional Wait Times 2017

[jaysmom4285]

We saw Jodi Benson on the 6th (Wednesday). Went over to the theater a little after 4 PM, and the standby line was past the wall and had filled maybe two of the back and forth rows beyond that - not many people at all, and I knew we'd get in at that point. We were let in a little after 4:30 and had decent seats a little to the left of center, more than halfway back. We were in the "tree" section, but they're so small they don't block much of anything. All the people in the standby line got in, and people were trickling in right up until the show started.

 

[only hope]

Any recent wait times to post?

 

[goofy4tink]

On the 24th, with Laurie Hernandez, we had the 8:15 show. We got in line around 7:30ish, the line was back to the middle of Japan. Within about 10 mins, it was down to Morocco. We got very good seats.....center of the area, about 2 rows back from the first walkway.
On Dec 1, Friday, it was a Whoopi night. My dd had a friend who was waiting to hear if he was singing in the 6:45 and 8:15 shows. At 5:45 he got the word he was singing. We got in the standby line for the 6:45 show at about 6ish. Figured we had nothing to lose and they thought we might just make it. Well...it was close. There were 5 people in front of us when the line for entrance stopped!!!! So, we decided to stay and wait for the 8:15 show. So, stood around and chatted. When we were let in, it was about 7:55ish. We were taken to some center of the theater rows, about 2/3 of the way back...really good seats. They were about 4 rows behind the seats we had chosen on the 24th!!! I was surprised we were allowed in so early.
I've never stood in that standby line before...I've seen guests getting in line at 3:00!! They bring a book and a fold up seat thingie!!! Not me....I have to eat anyway. I may as well spend a bit more and know I have a seat with just a 45 min wait!!!

 

[WDWLODGE]

On the 10th we had seating for the 6:45 show with Kurt Russell. We intended to get in line around 6:00 but at 5:30 the line was already to the pagoda in Japan, so we went ahead and got in line.

 

[gasman61]

Our group of 9 saw NPH on the 18th. We wanted the 645 or 815 show because my son was in the cast member choir for those performances. We showed up around 430, and the very kind CM let us know that we needed to be back in line by about 450 to ensure seats for the 645 show! (That might have been because there were so many of us that she recommended that we get in line then.) I am not sure everyone knows that the CM attending the line actually counts people, and once you are counted, you are free to come/go to grab food, go to the bathroom, etc. Our group was probably about 15 people away from being able to get into the 1st show with our 450 arrival time. There were quite a few people from the dining package who attended the 2nd show, so even though we were among the 1st in lime for that show our seats were pretty far back. I bet there were only about 4-5 row of seats (not counting the benches in the way back) set aside for the standby line for that performance. It was a beautiful show, though, and worth the wait even if you don't have a child in the show! My friends left after the 2nd show, and I stayed to sit and rest (we'd done EMH rope drop at AK that morning). I decided at about 20 minutes before the final show to go and stand in the back to watch the show again. I got a spot in the center right at a garbage can (no one in front of me!) and was able to see/hear everything very well back there. So if you don't want to invest a ton of time in line for an actual seat, the standing area does provide a pretty good view with very little time needed to be invested.

 

[Raeven]

We did the Kurt Russell show at 5 on the 10th with the dining package. Got there 4:15 pm (meant to get there a little earlier but thought most people didn’t get there till 45-60 mins ahead). The line seemed crazy long, and we were let in 15 mins later. We actually found pretty good seats (not in the very front area but on the right with a pretty good view). Although a lot of seats closer up were obstructed views (tree in front), and if we had been a bigger party I’m not sure we would’ve found good seats.

We also would’ve been able to sit in the center but people were saving seats for entire rows of people. (Seriously we were told “no we’re saving these seats for 28 family members”). I don’t think that should be allowed but we still got good seats. However I’d get in line earlier than we did if you want to be in the front or center.

 

[gometros]

Deb Wills reported yesterday that people with the dining package were lining up at 3pm for NPH!

 

[mshanson3121]

So crazy. But grateful for this thread. I've definitely scratched this from our to-do list. Sadly.

 

[sharonabe]

We also would’ve been able to sit in the center but people were saving seats for entire rows of people. (Seriously we were told “no we’re saving these seats for 28 family members”). I don’t think that should be allowed but we still got good seats. However I’d get in line earlier than we did if you want to be in the front or center.

I'm a meanie, but I would've found a CM and asked about saving seats. I don't think they can do that either; you're supposed to be in line. If I were a CM, I would assume there were still empty seats and let more people into the theater. How long before their 28 people showed up?

 

[KStash]

I got in line at 5:15 for the 6:45 show (had dining package). There were at least 75 people ahead of me. Got awesome seats though, in the 4th row or so from front, center. The show was amazing, well worth the package and wait.

 

[Raeven]

I'm a meanie, but I would've found a CM and asked about saving seats. I don't think they can do that either; you're supposed to be in line. If I were a CM, I would assume there were still empty seats and let more people into the theater. How long before their 28 people showed up?

That’s what I thought! CM’s seemed to be watching it happen and not doing anything (they weren’t the only row doing this just the only one we tried to sit in). I had a feeling they were aware, and didn’t want to say anything to confront the people but maybe I should’ve pointed it out to them. I ended up tweeting the WDW twitter but all they said was “they’ll talk to leadership” it didn’t seem promising but maybe they’ll make new rules.

It was ridiculous! They had their kids spread out and they yelled if people tried to sit and it did take awhile for the people to come back (they came in right before the show). They kept yelling “these seats are for 28 people!” So we went further down the row and I saw a girl with her headphones on so I tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she was saving seats for “28 people”. (I thought she’d laugh because that sounded ridiculous to me when the other people said it). And she said “yes we’re saving this whole row for our 28 family members!” I was pretty annoyed so I did say I don’t think you can do that, but they had more people in their group and I figured if we sat we’d start some kind of fight with them so we just found other seats.

We did end up with some extra room next to our seats which we offered to a lady that had the same problem with them

 

[only hope]

So crazy. But grateful for this thread. I've definitely scratched this from our to-do list. Sadly.

Not every show requires lining up early. It depends on whether its the weekend and who the narrator is. You can try standing at the back if you don’t want to wait. It’s a wonderful show.

 

[mshanson3121]

Not every show requires lining up early. It depends on whether its the weekend and who the narrator is. You can try standing at the back if you don’t want to wait. It’s a wonderful show.

How well can you see if you're standing at the back, especially with kids?

 

[sharonabe]

It was ridiculous! They had their kids spread out and they yelled if people tried to sit and it did take awhile for the people to come back (they came in right before the show)

How did they even get in at that point? That's just crazy.

You're definitely nicer than I am; I would have sat down and told them their family members could find their seats when they got there. At that point the CMs would have had to do something.

 

[Raeven]

How did they even get in at that point? That's just crazy.

You're definitely nicer than I am; I would have sat down and told them their family members could find their seats when they got there. At that point the CMs would have had to do something.

They probably still had package stickers is my guess. But it seemed like they sent in a handful of people to save the row while the rest used bathrooms/got food/hung around in the park. I honestly wish I just sat there, but with the kids yelling at us and the other family members that were there glaring at us I figured it wouldn't be pleasant to sit in that row.

 

[AnneK]

Unfortunately we sat next to a set of four rude adults for Kurt Russel's night. Two of them talked to each other the entire time and the woman felt like she needed to sing along loudly with every single carol. The fourth just browsed their phone at full brightness for the whole show. Ugh.

 

[GPC0321]

We got in the dining package line at about 7:30-7:45ish (can't remember) for the show on the 19th (NPH narrating). It was already stretched back almost to Morocco by the time we got to the end of the line. A ton more people got in line behind us, and they actually made the line double back on itself with a cast member at the end to mark the end of the line.

The stand-by line on the other side was outrageous as well.

Our seats were good though. We were in the first row beyond the roofed portion of the theater, in the center. Could see and hear everything perfectly.

Neil Patrick Harris is wonderful. I can see why he's so popular as a narrator. He said something about how glad he was that people took time from their "Back-sweaty, Fast-passy day" to watch the show, LOL. Too cute.

 

[ellynsoh]

Had the dining package for 8:15, Jodi Benson. The 6:45 line was so absurdly long, I got in line with them and stopped at the entrance. Two people were ahead of me, and we chatted, traded bathroom breaks and waited to be the first ones admitted to 8:15 (well, after the multitude of wheelchairs and scooters with their escorts). It was pleasant; we heard the first show from our waiting spot and got great seats for the second. I thought it was reasonable to devote that time because I had four days at Epcot.

 

[only hope]

How well can you see if you're standing at the back, especially with kids?

I’ve never watched a show from there. I have observed the theater from that point and everyone will be able to see fine if no one is standing in front of you.