2024 Candlelight Processional at EPCOT: Dates, Information & Suggestions

Candlelight Processional at EPCOT will happen from late November to December 2024 at Walt Disney World. This covers the conventional narrator lineup, superstar look dates, whether or not the eating package deal is definitely worth the cash, and our assessment 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 star narrator with music sung by a mass choir and carried out by a 50-piece dwell orchestra. It’s one part 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, superstar 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-known 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 all the time runs Black Friday via the day earlier than New 12 months’s Eve. With that mentioned, 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 up to now–but it surely’s potential.

That’s not the one factor it’s potential to foretell about this 12 months’s occasion, both! The opposite factor we are able to pretty secure forecast is that the lineup of superstar narrators and eating package deal particulars might be one of many final issues launched for Christmas 2024. For every of the previous few 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 superstar narrator schedule. It hasn’t all the time been this manner. It was the case that Walt Disney World would launch a partial record 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 few 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 potential issues might return to regular for the 2024 Candlelight Processional, we wouldn’t financial institution on it.

Simply letting you understand 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 complete 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 explanation for Walt Disney World shifting the Candlelight Processional bulletins later and later are seemingly three-fold. First, it permits them to disclose the complete record of narrators abruptly. Up to now, they trickled out the lineup, typically beginning in June or July. It takes longer to substantiate the entire narrators, therefore the later reveal.

Second and equally, it reduces the probability of final minute cancellations by the narrator ought to a greater supply or obligation come alongside. It’s most likely 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 up to now, the cancellation charges for narrators had been increased.

Disney all the time caveats the schedule as being “topic to vary,” however that doesn’t cease followers from (understandably) being upset. Personally, I favor the delayed launch strategy for these two causes–and suppose 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 huge enterprise for Walt Disney World. These have bought like hotcakes within the final a number of years, that means that Walt Disney World doesn’t want as lengthy of a runway to promote out the eating packages. Walt Disney World might announce the narrator schedule and drop the eating packages in mid-November, and nonetheless promote out.

Fortunately, that a lot of a delay most likely received’t occur. However with Thanksgiving virtually a full week later than final 12 months, it’s fully potential that Walt Disney World received’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 superstar narrator lineup. Which implies the information might drop anytime–as quickly as inside minutes of this replace, or as late as Halloween. We’ll maintain you posted!

For now, right here’s every part else you have 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 motive probably the most standard occasions of the Christmas season at Walt Disney World is the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT: it’s a wonderful present that many friends discover to be a shifting and religious expertise.

Calling Candlelight Processional probably the most standard occasions is not any exaggeration–lengthy traces plus costly dinner packages have kind of contributed to us being “over” Candlelight Processional. We now have actually loved it up to now, but it surely’s one thing that may be a big trouble when you don’t have a eating package deal or don’t thoughts watching from outdoors the theater.

Candlelight Processional Superstar 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 sometimes with the celebrities, however is fairly uncommon).

Nonetheless, 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

Superstar 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 big fan-followings. Hopefully somebody will get Mr. Fraser his cup of espresso earlier than his efficiency, or be careful! (Sorry, reference to the improper theme park.)

This Candlelight Processional narrator lineup is stacked from high to backside. A minimum of half of this record 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 believe) 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 largest names. For extra mainstream millennials, there’s Joey McIntyre and Jordan Fisher. Really…are these totally 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 upset to be lacking Candlelight Processional this 12 months!

Candlelight Processional Eating Packages

Candlelight Processional Eating Packages are actually out there. Advance Eating Reservations are extremely really helpful and could be made 60 days prematurely. Take into account that that is nonetheless topic to the 60+10 rule for on-site friends, that means that each one dates are actually out there. Most are bought out.

With that mentioned, there’s a reported challenge impacting Candlelight Processional ADR availability. For no matter motive, you may not see any instances out there through the web system…even when there are alternatives. 9 instances out of 10, that is simply because every part is booked up. However we’ve had a number of readers report scoring ADRs when calling regardless of nothing displaying up through the My Disney Expertise app or web site. Don’t rely on having related 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 & tips to extend your possibilities of success in scoring a Candlelight Processional Eating Bundle, 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 Street Desk: 2 small plates and one nonalcoholic beverage per particular person, plus a tagine and dessert platter in your get together 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:

Should you’re not in a position to rating elusive ADRs for Candlelight Processional sit-down eating packages, concern not. You could possibly 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 might not be out there on peak dates.

Final 12 months, each Regal Eagle and Spice Street Desk usually had same-day availability. For many dates, it was comparatively simple to attain Candlelight Processional viewing through 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 supplied breakfast eating packages along with lunch and dinner.

Don’t stress out when you’re shut out of ADRs and are “compelled” to do the same-day Candlelight Processional eating packages. Whereas the uncertainty could be disagreeable, the choices are good. We’re followers of Regal Eagle, but it surely’s not our perfect option to eat round World Showcase throughout the holidays.

Spice Street Desk is definitely the best way to go when you’re to do a same-day Candlelight Processional Eating Bundle. Sure, it’s $12 dearer, but it surely affords no less than that rather more bang-for-buck, with a menu that’s extra approachable than you may suppose.

We lately did lunch at Spice Street Desk and had a unbelievable meal. In actual fact, we expect Spice Street Desk could be EPCOT’s greatest Candlelight Processional Eating Bundle spot. It’s definitely probably the most cost-effective!

On the desk service entrance, we extremely advocate Biergarten Restaurant. That is all the time our high decide due to its jovial Christmas ambiance, music, and worth for cash. Learn Our Christmas Feast at Biergarten Restaurant for what the vacation time expertise is like there.

Should you’re questioning whether or not it could be value doing plus some concepts for profiting from the Candlelight Processional Expertise, we’ve some suggestions & tips and a assessment on this publish…

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 now 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 when you’re a vacationer or visiting on trip, you need to get a lunch or dinner package deal for the Candlelight Processional, particularly when a well-liked 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 will not be that costly (or no less than the fee will not be badly inflated).

Your time on trip is certainly 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 nicely value it–to us no less than!

Should you elect to not do the dinner package deal and don’t need to wait hours in line, you might 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 situations, that technique will work simply high-quality. You could not have the very best seats, however you’ll nonetheless have the ability to see the present and have a seat. If the theatre is already full, we advocate making an attempt to look at from the walkway behind the America Gardens Theatre.

Solid Members will handle crowd move again right here within the walkway, however you possibly can merely stand behind the theater (not within the walkway) and watch the present. That is really a very good view for Candlelight Processional. Consider it as sitting (nicely, standing) within the balcony of the America Backyard Theatre.

Whereas we strongly advocate the eating package deal for these wanting good, assured seats, when you’re on a good price range or Candlelight Processional will not be as a lot of a “must-do,” we expect these methods are good alternate options to avoid wasting a bit of cash, which could be spent on different vacation leisure at Walt Disney World.

Candlelight Processional Overview

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 no matter host–but it surely was cool to see him.

A number of 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 could know him. Extra 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 sluggish, and aren’t moved by the story. I don’t suppose it’s fairly honest to match Candlelight Processional to a Christmas Eve church service, and I believe there’s a superb likelihood that even those that aren’t non secular will take pleasure in it.

You actually don’t know till you strive it–and in an effort to strive it, you actually ought to guide one of many dinner packages. With that mentioned, in case your price range doesn’t enable for each Candlelight Processional and the Christmas Get together, I’d advocate 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 possibly can obtain our free eBook, Trip Kingdom at Christmas, which affords suggestions for visiting Walt Disney World throughout the vacation season. This eBook is 75+ pages, with 100+ pictures, and tons of nice suggestions & info! For extra particulars on tips on how to get this totally-free e book, click on right here.

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take 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 start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you have to know!

Your Ideas

Are you a fan of Candlelight Processional? Which narrator have you ever seen for Candlelight Processional? Do you normally guide the eating package deal or wait in line? Do you might have any technique for seeing Candlelight Processional with out ready in line? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!