(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)
THE CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL AT EPCOT
The Candlelight Processional is a well-loved part of Disney World’s Christmas season celebrations.
It’s performed in the American Gardens Theater in the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, in 2019 from the Friday after Thanksgiving (11/29/2019) until December 30, as part of Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays celebration.
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The show happens three times each evening–5p, 6.45p, and 8.15p. (Note that typically when the Processional begins, the fireworks showtime and park closing time shifts to 9.30, allowing time between the last Candlelight show and the fireworks.)
It includes an orchestra and mass choir performing traditional and contemporary Christmas carols, and a guest celebrity narrator who presents a gospel-based version of the Christmas story.
A Disney tradition since it debuted at Disneyland in the late 50s, the Candlelight Processional can be a hard show to get in to.
Each show has two lines. One is reserved for those who bought Candlelight Dinner Packages, and the other for walk-ups.
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Those who bought the packages are guaranteed a seat, and seated first.
Walk ups will then be admitted to any available remaining seats–and sometimes there aren’t nearly enough for all those standing in line.
THE CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL DINNER PACKAGE
Despite the name, packages are available for both lunch and dinner–the lunch package is required for those intending to see the 5p show.
Purchase of the Candlelight Dinner package grants guaranteed seating at the Candlelight Processional–plus a meal!
Prices vary by whether dinner or lunch, by the restaurant reserved, and by age (younger vs. older than 10–kids younger than 3 are free).
2019 prices range for those older than 9 from $50 to over $90.
Users of the Disney Dining Plan can also book this package, at the price of two table service meal credits.
This is a very special show for those for whom it might interest, and hence I recommend the Candlelight Dinner Package as a way to be sure you get a seat!
Those not sure of the appeal of the show should know it isn’t the singing of a bunch of songs like “I’ll be Home for Christmas”–it’s much more like the nativity gospels brought to life through narration and song. That is, this isn’t a “holiday” show–it’s a Christmas show.
Disney World did a live stream of the processional in 2018–to get a better sense of whether it’s the right call for your family, give it a watch
For more, see Disney’s web page on the Candlelight Processional and the Candlelight Dinner Package here.
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Thanks for the info. Kudos on your blog. Wealth of information here.
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Been reading all the events at Disney and also here and I noticed that Disney seems to have resisted, at least partially, the “happy holiday” PC syndrome. They still have specific Christian things going on in the park. Is this purely due to weight of tradition?
(for context, I am not an American but an Australian. So this maybe obvious to natives apologies if it is!)
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Hey, Solomani, it’s not PC in two ways: in general, it’s about the Christmas season, and not about “the holidays,” and the Processional specifically includes gospel readings and the nativity and such.
I can only speculate about why and I think the only obvious answer is that it works commercially for them!
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Dave, we will be arriving at Disney World on Dec. 1, 2012. is it to late to reserve The Candlelight Dinner Package?
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Hi Teresa–I don’t know which–if any–are sold out. Check through the phone number or links here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/candlelight-dinners/
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