The Fabulous Disney Babe
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A Heretic Goes to Candlelight
Walt's Birthday Dinner
Downtown Disney

Sunday was Ganesh's birthday, so we met him and some other loved ones at PCH Grill for brunch, which was very nice. Alice makes a killer pizza, and while the requested coffee with IV feed could not be produced, everything else was perfect.

After brunch, we went into Disneyland Park to meet everyone for the LaughingPlace.com meet at Fantasia Gardens boat dock; I got to place more faces with names, so that was nice. My phone rang: it was DJ, who had gotten tickets to Candlelight for myself and Alice. Thanks!

I experienced Candlelight once before, in 1992; we sat on the street in Town Square. I was still living in Hawaii at the time, so I was miserable: freezing, bored, stiff, and tired. I wanted to go on rides or walk around the park. During the ceremony, during which the narrator (no, I won't say whom) forgot his lines and my long-suffering nephew, who'd misbehaved himself into parochial school that year, piped up, reciting them from memory. Halfway through, someone decided to try to cut up to the front and stepped on my knee, prompting me to let loose with red-and-green phraseology that was nothing whatsoever like "Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward All Men". My knee still bugs me. I rejoiced when they moved it to the Fantasyland Theatre. I could get around Main Street during Christmas again.

I bet it's better in the theatre, I thought. And Alice should have a chance to see it. We joined DJ in line and were given our tickets: Ours had a red star on it, signifying Club 33 membership. There were also Blue and Gold stars. Gold was VIP; I'm not sure about Blue. After some time, we were led up to the entrance of the theatre, where Cynthia Harriss, President of Disneyland, waited for us. True to form, she warmly greeted everyone who came to the performance. On the way to our seats, we grabbed a program, which was blue last year, green this year.

The cover: Candlelight 2001 Disneyland Park December Ninth
Inside: Candlelight 2001 Disneyland Park
Sunday, December 9, 2001
A Celebration of Christmas in song and scripture as told by our guest narrator, David Ogden Stiers
Conductor: Nancy Sulahian
Musical Accompaniment: The Disneyland Orchestra, Fanfare Trumpets
Soloist: Ann Winkowski
Sign Language Interpreter: Rebecca Visca
Participating choral organizations and directors:
Camarillo Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Sanctuary Choir
George Swanson
Disney Employee Choir
Jim Wilber
Dos Pueblos High School
Alumni Choir
Jack Huber
Harvest Christian Fellowship Worship
Community Choir
Brent Ayotte & Tom Thomazin
John W. North High School
Chamber Singers
Yvonne Flagg
Orange Community Chorus
Orange High School Honor Choir
Michael Short
Santa Ana High School
Chamber Singers
Kathy Cobb-Woll
Serrano High School Chamber Choir
Brad Hayashi
Claremont United Church of Christ
Handbell Choir - Carilloneers
Bill & Lee Waggener

"Silent Night" (Audience Participation)
Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm, all if bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child! Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Back cover:

Our Christmas Prayer
Lord,
as we lift
our voices and
hearts in songs of
praise, we remember
that humble birth in a
manger so long ago, whose
meaning brought new hope and
life to a desperate world.
As the shepherds and wise men followed
that single star to the place of your birth,
tonight we continue to seek the meaning of that
birth and the peace of Christ for all mankind.
Over 2000 years have passed since that moment that
changed the course of human history.
As we sing and tell again the story of that first Christmas, we
pray that the hope for peace Jesus' birth proclaimed, will touch our
lives, and spread good will to others throughout the World on this
2001
Christmastide

See, it's a tree!

We sat on the left side of the first riser, on the center aisle. Cynthia Harriss and her party sat on the next bench over, in the center, so we knew we had good seats. I made a cocoa and cider run, and found the Boudin cart up by (Oh, I want to say Meeko's) well, by the snack bar. I bought a pretty sourdough wreath with a huge girly pink ribbon for $5; they also had candlestick loaves, but bread wreaths break apart better.

Just as everyone had their beverage, the usher next to us got a call on her radio: "The choirs are at Matterhorn". We got ready.

A few minutes later, singers filed down all four aisles, the head of the lines bearing stained-glass-looking "candleholders". We noticed that the singers were holding two different kinds of "candles". This wouldn't make sense till later. They filed in, singing, and I smiled to see a few familiar faces, including the friend who had given Alice her guardian angel pin.

My friend Jon the Star calls the show "way too religious and long". Alice apparently concurred; falling asleep halfway through. David Ogden Stiers knew his part backward and forward and was a class act, standing to watch the choirs perform, with the middle section, shaped like a Christmas tree, dressed in green robes and holding flickering candles as opposed to the non-flickering candles held by those in red or white. The soloist was wonderful. I hate when any singers other than Steven Tyler, Sebastian Bach, or Geoff Tate scream, and she didn't.

The story and songs carried along the Christian belief perfectly; there was a good balance of new and old and of seriousness and light. It's definitely not for little kids, as my sleeping daughter attested, but in terms of show it's quite a spectacle. After it ended, Alice said hello to Cynthia:

I think that should count as Alice's first interview. The Club 33 seating also included lunch or dinner. Candlelight is an annual event at the Club, with a plated dinner and reserved seating. It's a nice perk for members.

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