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(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.

(c) easyWDW.com

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.

(c) easyWDW.com

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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MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO DISNEY WORLD

This page brings together to one place key links to help decide when you should go to Disney World.

It’s part of a series on navigating this site.

LINKS FOR WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this

For the next best dates, see this

For the best and worst times to visit, see this

• For 2013 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
• For the 2013 Week Picker, click here
• For 2014 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this

For the 2013 Crowd Calendar, click here

For the 2014 Crowd Calendar, click here

For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this

• For 2013 price seasons, click here
• For projected 2014 price seasons, see this

For weather at Walt Disney World, see this

• High Temperatures Year Round
• Average Rainfall by Arrival Date
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Chance of Winter High Temperature Over 75
• Pool Days November through February
• Winter Ride Closures

The Tightwad’s Guide to When to Go

The Most Comfortable Time to Go

Frequently Asked Questions

Upcoming Months

• August
• September
• October
• November
• December
• January
• February

Seasons of the Year

• Winter
• Spring Break
• Easter
• Summer
• Autumn
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• The Christmas Season
• New Year’s Eve

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MilitaryDisneyTips.com has published a series on various armed forces discount programs currently available for Orlando area attractions.

CURRENT DISCOUNTS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

For the scoop on military discounts for Sea World and Busch Gardens, click here. (Sea World has no additional discounts for Navy Seals…it really should…ditto for the Frontierland Shooting Gallery.)

For details of Universal Orlando military discounts, click here.

For the perennial question of free theme park tickets for the military, click here.  (Spoiler: there ain’t none.)

For  Disney’s 2011 Armed Forces Salute and the little info that’s out so far on its 2012 extension, click here.

LINKS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

• Military Families at Walt Disney World
• Deals and Discounts
  • Military Discounts and Deals
  • Other Walt Disney World Discounts and Deals
• Shades of Green
  • Review of Shades of Green
  • Splitting Your Stay Between Shades of Green and Another Resort
  • Overflow Rates at Shades of Green
  • Shades of Green website
• Other Resources for Military Families
  • DisneyMilitarySales.com
  • Disneyworld.com/military
  • MilitaryDisneyTips.com

THANKSGIVING AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Thanksgiving week at Walt Disney World can be quite busy–particularly Wednesday through Saturday.

While not as crowded as some other holiday weeks–Easter and Christmas, for example–it can be very challenging, and the material below gives some hints on how to deal with it.

[Read more →]

THE RETURN OF FREE DINING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

Mouseplanet.com is reporting here that Walt Disney World will be opening its Free Dining discount program to the general public.

The program will be available for stays August 28, 2011 through September 24, 2011 and must be booked by August 27, 2011.

Another free dining program covers many dates from October 2011 through March 2012. Click here for this October 2011-March 2012 free Disney dining deal.

More details on Disney’s free dining deal are available on Walt Disney World’s website here.

For other Disney World deals and discounts, click here

Dates are out for 2011’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

DATES FOR DISNEY WORLD’S Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

• September 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, and 30
• October 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31
• November 1

DATES FOR DISNEY WORLD’S Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

• November 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29, and 30
• December 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 18