Candlelight Processional at EPCOT will happen from late November to December 2024 at Walt Disney World. This covers the traditional narrator lineup, movie star look dates, whether or not the eating package deal is definitely worth the cash, and our evaluate of this Christmas-time present. (Up to date September 30, 2024.)
For these unfamiliar with it, Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World is the telling of the Christmas story by a celeb narrator with music sung by a mass choir and carried out by a 50-piece dwell orchestra. It’s one element of the EPCOT Worldwide Pageant of the Holidays, which additionally consists of the World Showcase Storytellers and Vacation Kitchen meals cubicles.
Walt Disney World has not but formally introduced 2024 Candlelight Processional dates or particulars. If you wish to be notified when official dates, movie star narrators, or eating packages for 2024 are launched, subscribe to our FREE e mail publication. The excellent news is that we are able to make some predictions with a excessive diploma of certainty…
Candlelight Processional follows a well-recognized sample yearly–it’s a extremely seemingly that Candlelight Processional will return November 29, 2024 via December 30, 2024 as a part of the EPCOT Worldwide Pageant of the Holidays. It virtually at all times runs Black Friday via the day earlier than New 12 months’s Eve. With that stated, Thanksgiving is sort of a full week “late” in 2024, so maybe Candlelight Processional will begin earlier. We extremely doubt that–it’s by no means occurred prior to now–but it surely’s attainable.
That’s not the one factor it’s attainable to foretell about this 12 months’s occasion, both! The opposite factor we are able to pretty secure forecast is that the lineup of movie star narrators and eating package deal particulars shall be one of many final issues launched for Christmas 2024. For every of the previous couple of years, Walt Disney World has revealed virtually every part for the vacation season in June and July. At the moment, they’ve additionally confirmed Candlelight Processional would return.
It hasn’t been till September or October that they’ve lastly launched Candlelight Processional eating package deal particulars and the movie star narrator schedule. It hasn’t at all times been this fashion. It was once the case that Walt Disney World would launch a partial checklist of narrators in late summer season together with eating package deal particulars, after which give one other replace round early fall. That hasn’t been the case for the previous couple of years, although.
We point out this as a result of it turns into a quite common query by late summer season, with followers worrying that Walt Disney World has “forgotten” about Candlelight Processional or one thing of that kind. Whereas it’s attainable issues may return to regular for the 2024 Candlelight Processional, we wouldn’t financial institution on it.
Simply letting you recognize that now so that you don’t begin worrying when early October 2024 rolls round and Walt Disney World nonetheless hasn’t supplied any concrete particulars. That’s regular. Or no less than, it’s not irregular.
This prediction–first made late final 12 months–has now been vindicated because it’s now late September and we’re getting questions on Candlelight Processional regardless of the above reassurances. For reference, Walt Disney World revealed the total lineup of narrators final 12 months on October 5. On that very same date, they introduced that Candlelight Processional Eating Packages would open on October 17.
The rationale for Walt Disney World shifting the Candlelight Processional bulletins later and later are seemingly three-fold. First, it permits them to disclose the total checklist of narrators suddenly. Previously, they trickled out the lineup, typically beginning in June or July. It takes longer to substantiate all the narrators, therefore the later reveal.
Second and equally, it reduces the chance of final minute cancellations by the narrator ought to a greater supply or obligation come alongside. It’s in all probability no secret that, as a lot as some celebrities take pleasure in narrating Candlelight, it’s not their #1 precedence. With the summer-time bulletins prior to now, the cancellation charges for narrators have been larger.
Disney at all times caveats the schedule as being “topic to vary,” however that doesn’t cease followers from (understandably) being disenchanted. Personally, I want the delayed launch method for these two causes–and assume it’s higher for friends to allow them to make an knowledgeable determination about which date to attend and who to see.
Lastly, there’s the sensible actuality of demand. Candlelight Processional is a time-honored custom and wealthy a part of Walt Disney World historical past, certain. However it additionally exists, maybe primarily exists, as a car for promoting the eating packages. That’s large enterprise for Walt Disney World. These have bought like hotcakes within the final a number of years, which means that Walt Disney World doesn’t want as lengthy of a runway to promote out the eating packages. Walt Disney World may announce the narrator schedule and drop the eating packages in mid-November, and nonetheless promote out.
Fortunately, that a lot of a delay in all probability gained’t occur. However with Thanksgiving virtually a full week later than final 12 months, it’s solely attainable that Walt Disney World gained’t launch Candlelight Processional information till after Columbus Day. That’s not essentially our prediction–we actually don’t know as the discharge is probably going contingent upon Disney squaring away the movie star narrator lineup. Which suggests the information may drop anytime–as quickly as inside minutes of this replace, or as late as Halloween. We’ll hold you posted!
For now, right here’s every part else it’s essential to know concerning the 2024 Candlelight Processional, primarily based totally on previous precedent…
Candlelight Processional performances are held within the America Gardens Theatre throughout from the American Journey in World Showcase. There’s a purpose one of the well-liked occasions of the Christmas season at Walt Disney World is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT: it’s a lovely present that many friends discover to be a shifting and non secular expertise.
Calling Candlelight Processional one of the well-liked occasions isn’t any exaggeration–lengthy strains plus costly dinner packages have form of contributed to us being “over” Candlelight Processional. We now have actually loved it prior to now, but it surely’s one thing that may be a enormous trouble if you happen to don’t have a eating package deal or don’t thoughts watching from outdoors the theater.
Candlelight Processional Movie star Narrator Schedule
Once more, the 2024 Candlelight Processional narrator schedule has not but been launched for any dates from late November via the top of December. Even as soon as it’s, it’ll be topic to vary resulting from scheduling conflicts (that occurs every so often with the celebrities, however is fairly uncommon).
Nevertheless, since many narrators are the identical from 12 months to 12 months (and round roughly the identical dates), right here’s final 12 months’s Candlelight Processional at EPCOT narrator schedule for reference:
- Chrissy Metz (NEW) – November 24 and 25
- Luis Fonsi (NEW) – November 26 and 27
- Ann-Margret (NEW) – November 28
- Ashley Eckstein (NEW) – November 29
- Simu Liu – November 30 and December 1-2
- Bart Millard – November 30 and December 1-2
- John Stamos – December 3 via December 5
- Neil Patrick Harris – December 6 via December 8
- Marlee Matlin – December 9 via December 11
- Brendan Fraser (NEW) – December 12 via December 14
- Eva Longoria (NEW) – December 15 and December 16
- Joey McIntyre (NEW) – December 17 and December 18
- Sterling Ok. Brown (NEW) – December 19 and December 20
- Jordan Fisher (NEW) – December 21 via December 23
- Steven Curtis Chapman – December 24 via December 26
- Audra McDonald (NEW) – December 27 and December 28
- Lisa Ling – December 29 and December 30
Movie star narrators, dates and different leisure are topic to vary or cancellation with out discover.
For what it’s value, final 12 months was the very best narrator lineup we’ve seen since we’ve been attending Candlelight Processional EPCOT, roughly 15 years in the past. There was one thing for everybody right here, with big-name newcomers like Eva Longoria, Sterling Ok. Brown, Brendan Fraser, having enormous fan-followings. Hopefully somebody will get Mr. Fraser his cup of espresso earlier than his efficiency, or be careful! (Sorry, reference to the fallacious theme park.)
This Candlelight Processional narrator lineup is stacked from prime to backside. At the least half of this checklist actually appeals to us, and even these with whom we’re unfamiliar have fan followings. Additionally, and I’m not going to call names, but it surely’s good to see a number of narrators who (I feel) overstayed their welcome and had been phoning it in not within the lineup this 12 months. Recent blood generally is a good factor.
For the Disney Adults on the market, John Stamos (our favourite narrator) and Neil Patrick Harris are the most important names. For extra mainstream millennials, there’s Joey McIntyre and Jordan Fisher. Truly…are these completely different generations? All I do know is that Sarah loves the New Children on the Block and Fortunately Ever After, so she’s greater than just a bit disenchanted to be lacking Candlelight Processional this 12 months!
Candlelight Processional Eating Packages
Candlelight Processional Eating Packages at the moment are out there. Advance Eating Reservations are extremely really helpful and could be made 60 days upfront. Needless to say that is nonetheless topic to the 60+10 rule for on-site friends, which means that each one dates at the moment are out there. Most are bought out.
With that stated, there’s a reported concern impacting Candlelight Processional ADR availability. For no matter purpose, you won’t see any instances out there by way of the net system…even when there are alternatives. 9 instances out of 10, that is simply because every part is booked up. However we have now had a number of readers report scoring ADRs when calling regardless of nothing displaying up by way of the My Disney Expertise app or web site. Don’t rely on having comparable luck, however it’s one thing to bear in mind as a final resort.
Past that, look ahead to extra availability to be launched or in any other case open up. See our Information to Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World for suggestions & methods to extend your possibilities of success in scoring a Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal, even within the days and weeks after they’re initially launched!
Select from 8 distinctive eateries at EPCOT providing Candlelight Processional Eating Packages. A meal at taking part eating places consists of:
- At Spice Highway Desk: 2 small plates and one nonalcoholic beverage per particular person, plus a tagine and dessert platter in your social gathering to share
- All different taking part eating places: an appetizer, entrée and dessert, or one full buffet/family-style meal, in addition to a nonalcoholic beverage
- One assured seat per particular person to the Candlelight Processional held on the identical day
Discover taking part eating places and eating package deal costs, which exclude tax and gratuity:
| Grownup (ages 10 and up) |
Baby (ages 3 to 9) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Akershus Royal Banquet Corridor Norway Pavilion |
$71.00 – Breakfast $83.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
$45.00 – Breakfast $53.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
| Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion |
$65.00 | $37.00 |
| Coral Reef Restaurant The Dwelling Seas |
$78.00 | $32.00 |
| Backyard Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion |
$63.00 – Breakfast $78.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
$40.00 – Breakfast $50.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
| Le Cellier Steakhouse Canada Pavilion |
$104.00 | $42.00 |
| Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (same-day eating packages solely) American Journey Pavilion |
$41.00 | |
| Rose & Crown Eating Room United Kingdom Pavilion |
$66.00 | $29.00 |
| Spice Highway Desk Morocco Pavilion |
$55.00 | $24.00 |
For those who’re not in a position to rating elusive ADRs for Candlelight Processional sit-down eating packages, worry not. You might be able to buy a same-day eating package deal, which lets you:
- Dine with out reservations at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue that day
- Take pleasure in assured seats to a Candlelight Processional efficiency later that day
To test availability for same-day eating packages, go to Regal Eagle’s Distinctly Patriotic Smokehouse: A Salute to All Meals, However Principally Barbecued Meats ~ A Sam Eagle Craft Drafts & BBQ Joint. Similar-day Candlelight Processional Eating Packages are topic to availability and will not be out there on peak dates.
Final 12 months, each Regal Eagle and Spice Highway Desk usually had same-day availability. For many dates, it was comparatively simple to attain Candlelight Processional viewing by way of these walk-up eating places than by reserving Advance Eating Reservations on the eligible desk service eating places.
The distinction is that there have been solely 5 desk service eating places final 12 months, and this 12 months there are 8. That’s nonetheless far fewer than 2019 or prior years, when there have been 16 (!!!) taking part desk service eating places in EPCOT and the Crescent Lake Resorts. Not solely that, however 3 of these 16 eating places provided breakfast eating packages along with lunch and dinner.
Don’t stress out if you happen to’re shut out of ADRs and are “compelled” to do the same-day Candlelight Processional eating packages. Whereas the uncertainty is perhaps disagreeable, the choices are good. We’re followers of Regal Eagle, but it surely’s not our ultimate method to eat round World Showcase through the holidays.
Spice Highway Desk is certainly the best way to go if you happen to’re to do a same-day Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal. Sure, it’s $12 dearer, but it surely presents no less than that rather more bang-for-buck, with a menu that’s extra approachable than you would possibly assume.
We just lately did lunch at Spice Highway Desk and had a unbelievable meal. Actually, we expect Spice Highway Desk is perhaps EPCOT’s greatest Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal spot. It’s actually one of the cost-effective!
On the desk service entrance, we extremely suggest Biergarten Restaurant. That is at all times our prime choose due to its jovial Christmas environment, music, and worth for cash. Learn Our Christmas Feast at Biergarten Restaurant for what the vacation time expertise is like there.
For those who’re questioning whether or not it is perhaps value doing plus some concepts for taking advantage of the Candlelight Processional Expertise, we have now some suggestions & methods and a evaluate on this put up…
Candlelight Processional Viewing Suggestions
Whereas the America Gardens Theater the place Candlelight Processional is held can seat over 1,000 friends per efficiency, between 50% and 75% of those seats are reserved for friends who buy dinner packages. All of those dinner package deal friends are assured seats in one of many three nightly Candlelight Processional performances.
(Observe: the proportion reserved for eating packages was far decrease final 12 months resulting from far fewer taking part eating places. Our guess is that the identical will NOT be true for the 2024 Candlelight Processional. Staffing shortages are not as a lot of a problem, and extra eating places are more likely to be added to the lineup.)
The upper the proportion allotted to eating packages, the extra “aggressive” the standby line for Candlelight Processional performances. Ridiculously lengthy.
So lengthy that if you happen to’re a vacationer or visiting on trip, it is best to get a lunch or dinner package deal for the Candlelight Processional, particularly when a preferred narrator is presenting. When Neil Patrick Harris final offered, we noticed folks lining up for the 5 p.m. efficiency of Candlelight Processional round midday!
The dinner packages embrace a meal consisting of an appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage (or full buffet “expertise,” the place relevant) and reserved seating at one efficiency of Candlelight Processional. For what you get, the eating package deal shouldn’t be that costly (or no less than the price shouldn’t be badly inflated).
Your time on trip is unquestionably definitely worth the value. I do know the three hours or so of ready in line that we’ve saved by buying the eating package deal has been effectively value it–to us no less than!
For those who elect to not do the dinner package deal and don’t wish to wait hours in line, you may have a few choices. First, present as much as the standby line ~quarter-hour earlier than the final present of the evening begins. Relying upon the recognition of the narrator and the way busy EPCOT is that night, typically this final displaying will nonetheless have seating. If not, no less than you didn’t waste a ton of time standing in line.
In lots of eventualities, that technique will work simply nice. Chances are you’ll not have the very best seats, however you’ll nonetheless be capable of see the present and have a seat. If the theatre is already full, we suggest making an attempt to look at from the walkway behind the America Gardens Theatre.
Forged Members will handle crowd move again right here within the walkway, however you may merely stand behind the theater (not within the walkway) and watch the present. That is truly a very good view for Candlelight Processional. Consider it as sitting (effectively, standing) within the balcony of the America Backyard Theatre.
Whereas we strongly suggest the eating package deal for these wanting good, assured seats, if you happen to’re on a good finances or Candlelight Processional shouldn’t be as a lot of a “must-do,” we expect these methods are good alternate options to save lots of a bit of cash, which could be spent on different vacation leisure at Walt Disney World.
Candlelight Processional Evaluation
Lots of people completely love the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World. We prefer it fairly a bit, however we aren’t completely gung-ho, name Disney Eating the very first day the packages go on sale, loopy about it like some folks. It’s very stunning, however positively not the spotlight of our journey.
Our favourite narrator for Candlelight Processional is Neil Patrick Harris. We’ve seen him a few instances, and as NPH followers, we loved this. I can not say he actually invigorated the present–it’s fairly solemn regardless of host–but it surely was cool to see him.
Just a few years in the past, we booked the package deal, but it surely was largely to see John O’Hurley, or J. Petermann, as fellow Seinfeld followers might know him. Extra just lately, we went to see Whoopi Goldberg, as a result of seating was included with our D23 Magic & Merriment occasion package deal. Whoopi Goldberg was okay, however on the “cool scale” she simply doesn’t stack as much as NPH or J. Petermann for us.
General, Candlelight Processional, on the naked minimal, has “do it no less than as soon as” standing. Some folks like it to the purpose that it’s their favourite Christmas providing at Walt Disney World. Others discover it too dry and gradual, and aren’t moved by the story. I don’t assume it’s fairly honest to match Candlelight Processional to a Christmas Eve church service, and I feel there’s a superb likelihood that even those that aren’t spiritual will take pleasure in it.
You actually don’t know till you attempt it–and with a view to attempt it, you actually ought to e-book one of many dinner packages. With that stated, in case your finances doesn’t enable for each Candlelight Processional and the Christmas Occasion, I’d suggest the latter over the Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages with out hesitation.
For complete suggestions for planning your Christmas-time journey to Walt Disney World, take a look at our Final Information to Christmas at Walt Disney World. Moreover, you may obtain our free eBook, Trip Kingdom at Christmas, which presents suggestions for visiting Walt Disney World through the vacation season. This eBook is 75+ pages, with 100+ images, and tons of nice suggestions & info! For extra particulars on find out how to get this totally-free book, click on right here.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
Are you a fan of Candlelight Processional? Which narrator have you ever seen for Candlelight Processional? Do you normally e-book the eating package deal or wait in line? Do you may have any technique for seeing Candlelight Processional with out ready in line? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!