Hello Disney Tricksters,
This Trick is all about Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional which is held two nights out of the year and is invite only. (Don’t worry, my tricks will help you see it even without the coveted invite)
Details:
Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional occurred twice in 2018 on December 1st and December 2nd. This musical retelling of “The First Christmas” is extraordinary and unique to Disneyland. It is an intimate setting and an invite-only event. While it is invite-only, it occurs just outside of the train station at Disneyland Park and able to be experienced from just about anywhere on Main Street USA. Typically the narrator is kept tightly under wraps by Disney. This year the rumor was that Mark Hamill would be the narrator but in reality it was CHRIS PRATT! You read that right Guardians of the Galaxy fans…. CHRIS PRATT.
Tricks:
If you want a pretty good view of the narrator be sure to get there right at park opening and sit all day until the first showing, typically the guest will walk out at 4:45 PM for the first show rehearsal. My ultimate trick is to go to DCA while everyone else is waiting all day for the first showing. Then, once the crowd from the first showing has cleared out and you know who the star narrator is, wait for the second showing around 7:30. The Choir walks from It’s a Small World to the front of the park wearing robes and carrying lit candles. It is definitely a goose-bump inducing experience. We waited in the stores until 7:30 and a cast member let us under a rope to watch the Candlelight Processional as many people cleared out and room was made. We had a great view of Chris Pratt and were glad we took the time to watch the 45-minute Processional. The invited guests are seated in rows directly in front of the train station with their backs to the castle which allows standing guests to have a great view of the entire Processional!
Thoughts:
In 2017 the narrator was Chris Hemsworth, then Chris Pratt, so Chris Evans seems to be the only logical choice for 2019! With all of the speculating aside, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional was an experience not to be missed. It is a new tradition for my Mom and I. Many people are torn about this experience as the invite only, “exclusive” access is off putting to say the least. My personal opinion is that if Disney wanted this event to truly be private, they would hold it after park hours, close the park early or just host it somewhere other than the very front of (arguably) their most famous park. Originally we wanted to avoid it, knowing the crowds would be at an all time high. But, after experiencing the fun and seeing how incredibly magical the Processional truly was, this will be an experience we will return to year after year.
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