Living the Disney Life: Candle on the Water (11/28/2006)
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Living the Disney Life
Candle on the Water
November 28, 2006
The Candlelight Processional is a tradition almost as old as Disneyland itself. During my Disneyland-centered life I saw it quite a few times at the Main Street Train Station, the Fantasyland Theater, then back at the Train Station. I've waited all day on a blanket to catch a glimpse on Main Street, and I've walked up at the last second to a comfy seat in Fantasyland. These were the days before dining packages and seeing it was kind of a crap shot. But one way or another, if I wanted to see, I usually found a way and it was always special.
Life's a little easier at Walt Disney World where Candlelight runs three times per night from the day after Thanksgiving to December 30th. We chose to go early in the season this year and saw actor John O'Hurley (Seinfeld, Dancing with the Stars, Family Feud) narrate. He did a fantastic job - maybe the best I've personally seen. I don't think he misspoke or stammered once and his voice is perfect for the job. It rained - hard at times - throughout the performance which drove away many (we were lucky enough to be in the covered section), but the scene with those who stayed, watching as the rain fell on them, was moving. The narrator line up this year is very appealing to me. I wanted to see David Robinson but didn't get a chance to. Coming up that I'd like to see are Kirk Cameron, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Gary Sinise (who I've seen before). But if I end up only having seen John O'Hurley, I'll be quite satisfied.
I had hoped to see the Epcot tree lighting ceremony yesterday as well. Unfortunately, the rain cancelled that. After Candlelight we were hungry (of course) and set out to find a place we could walk up to in the World Showcase. We first tried Italy, but when people are eating outside in the rain, chances are good they're pretty booked. So we headed over to Nine Dragons in China, one of the few WDW places neither Rebekah nor I had ever eaten. Sometimes a place gets a bad reputation. I can remember reading years ago in the Unofficial Guide to WDW that Nine Dragons wasn't very good. I'd since heard that it had undergone major changes and was much better, but that initial review just kept me away. But last night we finally made it and I'm glad we did. I had the Ma Po Tofu (done vegetarian and mild - I'm a wimp) and a side of Egg Friend Rice. The Tofu was really, really good. The fried rice was just ok. But overall I was very pleased and definitely will get back there again - especially since it often can be visited on the spur of the moment.
Then it was the long, cold, wet walk through an empty Epcot to the parking lot. A moving, yummy and soggy Disney day!
Discuss It
-- Doobie Moseley
-- Posted November 29, 2006