Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional happens twice nightly in early December. This submit gives 2024 dates & occasions for the present, viewing ideas, superstar narrator data, our evaluate and historical past of the occasion, which is held on the Principal Road USA Prepare Station throughout Christmas. (Up to date December 7, 2024.)
In distinction to Epcot’s Candlelight Processional performances which can be held dozens of occasions over the course of the Christmas season in an outside theater, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is held 4 occasions, whole, and is an intimate affair. Additionally not like Epcot’s model, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is a mostly-private (we’ll get to what which means beneath) occasion.
The 45-minute present is a musical retelling of “The First Christmas” story via music and scripture, that includes a mass choir because the centerpiece of the present. The Disneyland Symphony Orchestra, fanfare trumpets, hand bell ringers, and a star narrator be a part of the choir on this joyous vacation custom.
Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional might be held on December 7 and eight, 2024 for invited visitors, Membership 33 members, and different VIP visitors with reveals every evening at 5:30 pm and seven:45 p.m. Common park visitors are additionally capable of see the present from Principal Road, which we cowl in with viewing suggestions beneath.
The narrator of the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland shouldn’t be introduced prematurely. Often, the narrator is unknown till proper earlier than sound test on evening of the primary efficiency, with followers speculating about who it’ll be and rumors–often unsuitable–circling previous to that.
UPDATE: We now know who the narrator might be. It was Agatha, all alongside…
The 2024 superstar narrator of Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is Kathryn Hahn. She’s at the moment considered one of Disney’s high-profile celebrities after this Halloween’s hit Disney+ Marvel unique sequence, “Agatha All Alongside.” The sequence was a derivative from “WandaVision,” the place Kathryn Hahn first appeared as Agatha Harkness. She (Agatha, not Hahn) additionally appeared at this 12 months’s Oogie Boogie Bash, subsequent door at Disney California Journey (pictured above).
Disneyland did not announce that Kathryn Hahn is the narrator of Candlelight Processional–she merely materialized for rehearsals after which the primary presentation of Candlelight. It’s all the time attainable that there’s a special narrator on Sunday evening, however that’s extremely unlikely. The precedent is for a similar narrator each nights. So anticipate to see Kathryn Hahn reprise her position as host tomorrow.
Previous to this, we (incorrectly) guessed that the 2024 Candlelight Processional narrator can be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Alan Tudyk, or Auli’i Cravalho. In case you’ll be able to’t spot the commonality–they’re all from the forged of Moana 2. (Disney typically pulls somebody from their largest film at the moment in theaters.) I suppose Ryan Reynolds is a chance, as Deadpool & Wolverine was one other enormous “Disney” film this 12 months!
Final 12 months, Brie Larson was the narrator of Candlelight Processional. That was solely discovered after stories of her being in Disneyland on the day of the primary Candlelight Processional. It wasn’t confirmed till a few hours earlier than the primary exhibiting started, when she appeared on stage for a walk-through.
As intimated above, the narrator of Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is commonly a star showing in a Christmas season Disney, Marvel, Pixar, or Star Wars film. Or somebody who just lately appeared in such a movie. These are the “contract obligation” narrators. The previous couple of years have a number of examples of this, together with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pratt.
Different occasions, the Candlelight Processional narrator is solely a well-known or well-respected Disney Legend who has nothing to advertise and is on no account a synergistic choose. There are many examples of each all through the historical past of Candlelight Processional (extra on this beneath).
We visited Disneyland final 12 months throughout Candlelight Processional weekend however didn’t attend the performances.
As shared in Our Favourite Week of the 12 months at Disneyland, that is quick changing into our favourite time to go to. It’s counter-intuitive since Candlelight Processional does enhance congestion in elements of the park (extra on that beneath), however Candlelight Processional can truly be an asset if you recognize what you’re doing and plan accordingly. Simply one thing to remember for Christmas 2025 or 2026 once you’re enthusiastic about dates to go to–learn that submit for extra recommendation!
Now, let’s transfer on and canopy what happens throughout Candlelight Processional at Disneyland…
These celebrities narrate the Christmas story on the Principal Road Prepare Station whereas the Candlelight mass choir is sings stunning vacation songs. Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional has been a convention since 1958. Celebrities like Cary Grant, John Wayne, Dick Van Dyke, Gary Sinise, Kurt Russell, Jon Voight, Geena Davis, Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Sterling Okay. Brown, and James Earl Jones being previous narrators.
Disneyland units up seats for Candlelight Processional, that are reserved for invited visitors. These “invited visitors” are usually Disneyland VIPs, corresponding to Membership 33 members, media, and high-profile Disneyland visitors. We’ve got gotten a whole lot of questions on the best way to get seats for Candlelight Processional at Disneyland (that’s truly our purpose for posting this), however the unlucky actuality is that when you don’t already know the best way to get seats…you’ll be able to’t get seats.
There are not any dinner packages, no standby line for normal visitors, no ticket lottery, nor any technique of changing into an invited visitor. Due to this, Disneyland doesn’t publicize the occasion. There are usually not posts on the Parks Weblog, social media, or elsewhere till after the occasion. That’s why data on Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is so scarce.
Regardless of this, Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is held throughout park hours, and on the very entrance of Disneyland, the place it’s plainly seen to visitors coming into the park. This, coupled with the small dimension of the reserved seating space, signifies that visitors who camp out in City Sq. can get an excellent view of the present. (Moreover, if there are empty seats, Disneyland typically permits common park visitors to fill them–however no guarantees there.)
Nevertheless–and it is a enormous nevertheless–it’s not merely a free for all up entrance. As a result of Disneyland is so busy these nights and seating/standing areas are in excessive demand, there are strictly-enforced limitations on the place you can not stand or sit to observe Candlelight Processional. In the event you’re trying to attend and watch in a thoroughfare, you’ll be instructed to maneuver briefly order by crowd management Forged Members.
Some visitors camp on the perimeter of the reserved seating space for the whole day on Candlelight Processional days. We’ve rope-dropped Disneyland on lately, and as a substitute of racing to Peter Pan’s Flight and Area Mountain, we’ve seen visitors racing to areas on the fringe of the reserved seating space.
That is extreme, even by crazed-Disneyland fan requirements. We’re sharing this data so you recognize what you’re probably getting your self into must you resolve to camp out for Candlelight Processional. In equity, you’ll be able to usually present up “solely” a few hours prematurely and nonetheless get an honest view of the stage, but it surely’s not going to be very best.
Nevertheless, don’t anticipate to be strolling via Principal Road 10 minutes earlier than Candlelight Processional begins and easily cease to observe. It doesn’t work like that. There’s an excellent likelihood you gained’t be allowed to cease in City Sq. even an hour earlier than Candlelight Processional begins.
Moreover, a few of these people who camp out early within the day will go away following the primary efficiency of Candlelight Processional, so when you present up in direction of the tip of this, you may be capable to wiggle your manner into a greater place. Once more, no ensures, as most visitors who camp out all day will keep for each reveals.
One phrase of warning: Candlelight Processional is held on two busy weekend nights through the Christmas season, which is already a busy time of 12 months at Disneyland. On the entrance of the park. Which means that the group in City Sq. is mainly a stressed mob by the point Candlelight Processional rolls round, packed into the general public areas like sardines. We’d solely advocate this to locals with a surplus of time.
In the event you’re vacationing at Disneyland, this isn’t an excellent use of your time. Furthermore, when you’re vacationing at Disneyland through the Christmas season and might be visiting the park throughout both of lately however are usually not enthusiastic about Candlelight Processional, avoid the entrance of the park earlier than, throughout, and shortly after the showtimes. Getting folks into and out of City Sq. (and even the Hub) is an operational nightmare, and it’ll take a very long time to navigate to/from Principal Road.
If you’re enthusiastic about Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, however not tenting out for a spot to view it, the processional does come down the parade route. Visitors who line the curb on Principal Road shortly earlier than the processional begins might be handled to one thing stunning and uniquely “Disneyland.” Whereas we don’t advocate tenting out for the present, we do advocate this. It’s a particular little second you could take pleasure in with out practically the time dedication.
We did Candlelight Processional a few years in the past at Disneyland with Kurt Russell because the narrator, and we have been blown away. It’s a lavish manufacturing that’s splendidly introduced, and it felt like an intimate expertise that in all probability nonetheless bears loads in widespread with the 1958 version.
We far desire the Disneyland model to the way in which it’s carried out at Epcot, however the distinction is that one has stayed true to its roots whereas the opposite has opted for a extra guest-friendly providing that tries to accommodate the excessive degree of demand for the present. It’s arduous to fault both model for his or her strategy, however it’s too dangerous that there’s not a possible manner of getting the very best of each worlds.
If you’re fortunate sufficient to be invited to attend Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, don’t go up the chance. It’s an extremely memorable expertise. Our solely suggestion can be to deal with it just like the lavish occasion that it’s: dress up, have a pleasant meal at Napa Rose or Carthay Circle Restaurant, after which take pleasure in Candlelight Processional at Disneyland. It’s good for a Date Nite at Disneyland!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Resort Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
Have you ever ever achieved Candlelight Processional at Disneyland? Did you’ve gotten reserved seats or did you camp out? What did you consider the expertise? Was it price it? Any ideas so as to add? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation of Candlelight Processional at Disneyland? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
