One of our favorite holiday traditions at Disney World is EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional. Running during EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, Candlelight Processional is a live performance that tells the Christmas story in a gorgeous and memorable way. Thanks to fantastic musicians and notable narrators, we at Guide2WDW highly recommend checking this show out.
In our Candlelight Processional guide, we’ll let you know the complete Candlelight Processional lineup, where to find EPCOT’s Christmas show, and tips on how to get the best seat.
Update 11-9-2023 – We’ve updated our guide to include the 2023 narrators and dining packages.
What is EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional?
Blending together a 50-piece orchestra, a mass choir, and a celebrity narrator, Candlelight Processional is a traditional telling of the Christmas story. The show creates a grand spectacle full of rich sounds and vibrant colors. The stories and the songs will be familiar to many guests who celebrate Christmas, but the spectacular presentation is the reason that this is a holiday tradition for many Walt Disney World visitors.
2023 Candlelight Processional – Celebrity Narrator Lineup
The Candlelight Processional in 2023 brings the best lineup that we can remember. There is some serious star power with the new narrators, including Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us, Black Panther), Brendan Fraser (The Whale, Killers of the Flower Moon), and Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives). However, many fan favorites are returning, like Simu Liu (Marvel’s Shang-Chi), Neil Patrick Harris, and John Stamos.
- Chrissy Metz (New) – November 24-25, 2023
- Luis Fonsi (New) – November 26-27, 2023
- Ann-Margaret (New) – November 28-29, 2023
- Simu Liu – November 30 – December 2, 2023
- John Stamos – December 3-5, 2023
- Neil Patrick Harris – December 6-8, 2023
- Marlee Matlin – December 9-11, 2023
- Brendan Fraser (New) – December 12-14, 2023
- Eva Longoria (New) – December 15-16, 2023
- Joey McIntyre (New) – December 17-18, 2023
- Sterling K. Brown (New) – December 19-20, 2023
- Jordan Fisher (New) – December 21-23, 2023
- Steven Curtis Chapman – December 24-26, 2023
- Audra McDonald (New) – December 27-28, 2023
- Lisa Ling – December 29-30, 2023
Candlelight Processional Location and Showtimes
The Candlelight Processional takes place at the America Gardens Theatre, located in the America pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.
The show takes place three times a night, at 5:15 PM, 7 PM, and 8:30 PM.
Does Candlelight Processional cost anything?
Candlelight Processional is free with EPCOT park admission, and seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
However, you can pay to get a better seat through purchasing a dining package.
EPCOT Candlelight Processional Dining Packages
Several restaurants at Epcot offer a dining package for the Candlelight Processional. These packages include a three-course meal or buffet, a non-alcoholic beverage, and guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional. However, Spice Road Table has a slightly different offering. At that restaurant, each person receives 2 small plates and one non-alcoholic beverage, plus the table will get a tagine and a dessert platter to share.
We find the dining package seats to be the best seats in the house, and usually you are paying $10-$20 more per person to add the guaranteed seating to the meal.
The following restaurants participate in the Candlelight Processional dining package. Prices will vary depending on the restaurant, but they range from $41 to $100 per adult and $24-$50 per child (ages 3-9). (Prices exclude gratuity or tax).
| Adult (ages 10 and up) |
Child (ages 3 to 9) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 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 Living Seas |
$78.00 | $32.00 |
| Garden 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 dining packages only) American Adventure Pavilion |
$41.00 | |
| Rose & Crown Dining Room United Kingdom Pavilion |
$66.00 | $29.00 |
| Spice Road Table Morocco Pavilion |
$55.00 | $24.00 |
Reservations are currently open for Candlelight Processional dining packages. Check out Disney World’s website for more information.
EPCOT Candlelight Processional Tips
- How early should you line up for Candlelight Processional? We recommend getting to the America Gardens Theater at least 30-45 minutes before the Candlelight Processional show starts. If there’s a particularly famous or popular narrator, increase that to 45 minutes to an hour. Seating is limited!
- Save money on a dining package. We really love any counter service option for a dining package for a show like Candlelight Processional. Regal Eagle Smokehouse is your only option, but it’s a great option. For $40, you get an appetizer, entree, dessert, drink, and a great seat for the show. Plus, you don’t need to make a reservation for this – just show up to the restaurant and ask. The only downside is that same day packages may not be available on peak days.
- No reservations available for Candlelight Processional dining packages? Check out Regal Eagle Smokehouse or Spice Road Table. Both restaurants only offer same day packages, and both also offer really tasty food!
- Don’t want to line up? The America Gardens Theater is an open amphitheater, so you can hear and see the show pretty much anywhere from the American Adventure Pavilion. While Cast Members will prevent people from standing in the walkway directly behind the theater’s seating, you can still enjoy the show from elsewhere in the pavilion. It won’t be the best viewing experience, but it’s a great option if you don’t want to commit to lining up and watching the whole show.
Candlelight Processional Guide Recap
Running three times nightly during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, Candlelight Processional is one of our favorite things to do at Disney World during the holidays. Included with admission, the musical presentation is stunning, and the celebrity narrators are a really fun element.
There are three ways to watch the show: Get to the America Gardens Theater early to grab a seat, get a dining package to guarantee your seat, or stand around in the America pavilion.
Do you have any questions about EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional? Let me know in the comments below!
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