October 18 Update: Chita Rivera added to December 16 – 18.
October 8 Update: Geena Davis replaces Whoopie Goldberg on December 2nd and 3rd.
September 27 Update – Whoopi Goldberg no longer appearing. No replacement has been named.
July 1, 2011 Update: Restaurant pricing and information added. Reservations open up July 26th 2011.
June 22, 2011 Update: Some 2011 Narrators Added (the blue highlighted links underneath the following paragraph). Note that this article is mostly the same from last year until more details about pricing and times are available. However, the core information will stay very similar or exactly the same. I will continue to make updates as information is announced.
Where and What is the Candelight Processional?
The Candlelight Processional is a seasonal show that takes place in Epcot at the outdoor American Gardens Theater in front of the United States Pavilion. It is performed each night at 5:00pm, 6:45pm, and 8:15pm and each show lasts about 45 minutes. This year, the Processional runs from November 25, 2011 through December 30, 2011. The show tells the story of Christmas from a Christian Biblical perspective and is very much religious in tone. A celebrity narrates the story while a 50-person orchestra plays music and a mass choir sings popular Christmas songs. The full narrator list has not yet been announced, but they are expected to include the following:
- Mira Sorvino – Nov. 25-27
- Michael W. Smith - Nov. 28-Dec. 1
- Geena Davis – Dec. 2-3
- Edward James Olmos – Dec. 4-6
- Isabella Rossellini – Dec. 7-9
- Neil Patrick Harris – Dec. 10-12
- Lorraine Bracco – Dec. 13-15
- Chita Rivera – Dec. 16 – 18
- Trace Adkins – Dec. 19-21
- Susan Lucci – Dec. 22-24
- Blair Underwood – Dec. 25-27
- Marlee Matlin – Dec. 28-30
You may click any of the names above and it will open up their Wikipedia page in a new window if you are unfamiliar with any of the celebrities. It’s important to note that it’s quite likely some of the narrators will change before the list is finalized. Last year, the list was change five or six times before it was finalized and some dates did not have a name attached until just a few days before the Processional began. In other words, while it is fun to look forward to or plan to see a specific narrator, things can and do change as schedules conflict.
Will My Kids Enjoy the Candlelight Processional?
It depends on the child. Sorry there are so few definitive answers when it comes to these sorts of things, but there truly is no “one size fits all” when it comes to what people will enjoy, especially when those people are children. If your kids are capable of waiting an hour or more for a 45 minute narrated show with a choir and orchestra then they should enjoy it. On the other hand, if they have trouble sitting through even the most exciting cartoon or movie then they will most likely have problems making it through the Processional without disrupting you and others. If they enjoy school band concerts or they have enjoyed similar choir or orchestra performances in the past then they should thoroughly enjoy the show. From what I’ve seen, about 75% of kids are enthralled, 15% look bored, and 10% are constantly squirming and begging to leave. Generally speaking, older children enjoy the show much more than kids under the age of nine.
What Does The Candlelight Processional Cost?
The show is free, provided you have some way of getting into Epcot to see it (whether it be an Annual Pass, Magic Your Way Ticket, or a hole in the fence). However, the popularity of the show has spurred Disney to offer a Candlelight Processional Dining Package similar to the one offered for Fantasmic. For a set per-person price or two credits on the Disney Dining Plan, the Candlelight Processional Dining Package includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage at one of a variety of restaurants. In addition, you will get to enter the theater for the Candlelight Processional for a specific show before those who don’t purchase the Package and you will also be admitted to the private viewing area for Illuminations which starts at 9:30pm (one area for all Package users).
2011 Candlelight Processional Dining Package Pricing:
Show 1 includes lunch and a seat at the 5:00pm show. Show 2 includes dinner and a seat at the 6:45pm show and Show 3 includes dinner and a seat at the 8:15pm show. Tax and tip are not included in any of the prices. The format is
Restaurant Name
Lunch: Adult Price / Child Price
Dinner: Adult Price / Child Price
Biergarten
Lunch $ 32.99 / $ 17.99
Dinner $ 50.99 / $ 25.99
Rose & Crown Dining Room
Lunch $ 38.99 / $ 12.99
Dinner $ 49.99 / $ 15.99
Nine Dragons
Lunch $ 38.99 adult / $ 12.99 child
Dinner $ 49.99 / $ 15.99
Restaurant Marrakesh
Lunch $ 38.99 / $ 12.99
Dinner $ 49.99 / $ 15.99
San Angel Inn
Lunch $ 38.99 / $ 12.99
Dinner $ 49.99 / $ 15.99
Via Napoli
Lunch $ 38.99 / $ 12.99
Dinner $ 49.99 / $ 15.99
Garden Grill
Dinner $ 52.99 / $ 26.99
Les Chefs de France
Lunch $ 51.99 / $ 13.99
Dinner $ 64.99 / $ 17.99
Tokyo Dining
Lunch $ 51.99 / $ 13.99
Dinner $ 64.99 / $ 17.99
Teppan Edo
Lunch $ 51.99 / $ 13.99
Dinner $ 64.99 / $ 17.99
Tutto Italia
Lunch $ 51.99 / $ 13.99
Dinner $ 64.99 / $ 17.99
Coral Reef
Lunch $ 51.99 / $ 13.99
Dinner $ 64.99 / $ 17.99
La Hacienda de San Angel
Dinner $ 64.99 / $ 17.99
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Lunch $ 53.99 / $ 14.99
What Time Should I Make My Dining Reservation with the Candlelight Processional Package?
You will be given a block of time in which you can book your reservation. It is generally about three hours before the show is scheduled.
Show 1 (5:00pm): Dining reservation between 1:45pm-2:45pm
Show 2 (6:45pm): Dining reservation between 3:30pm-4:30pm
Show 3 (8:15pm): Dining reservation between 5:00pm-6:00pm
I would recommend scheduling the meal towards the beginning of the window, so you have plenty of time to eat and get in line for the show.
What Proof Do I Need to Get into the Reserved Seating Section?
When you arrive at the restaurant to pay for your meal, you will receive a badge for each person on the reservation. The badges do not have names on them and there is no way to prove that the person with the badge is actually the person who was on the reservation. You will definitely want to keep your badges safe. While I’m sure it’s frowned upon, you can technically give the badge to whoever you want. For example, if you’re traveling with your extended family, you could give your kids’ badges to someone else in the family and let Grandma watch the kids while the adults enjoy the show.
Which Candlelight Processional Package Restaurant Should I Pick?
Make sure you read over my Best Epcot Restaurants review, which ranks all of the Epcot restaurants in a variety of categories including best food, best atmosphere, best value, and best overall restaurant. If you’re paying out of pocket, I would go with Biergarten for lunch if you’re on a budget. It’s a fun restaurant and you’ll have plenty to eat. The regular price for adults at Biergarten is $19.99 for lunch, so you’re paying a $13 premium per person for the seat at the Processional and the private viewing area for Illuminations. On the Disney Dining Plan, I would go with whichever restaurant appeals to you from the $64.99 Dinners for the 6:45pm show. Since you’re using two credits regardless of restaurant, you might as well go with the most expensive (which luckily includes the best restaurants). I don’t recommend the Coral Reef, but any of the others are fine. Tutto Italia and Le Cellier are the most expensive out of pocket and serve some of the best food, so you may want to look in that direction. I do Like Rose and Crown, but more for lunch or to take advantage of the location for IllumiNations. It’s not such a great idea with an earlier reservation and fixed priced meal. Please note that having a reservation at a restaurant will not help you get a reservation with the Candlelight Processional Package. For example, if you have a reservation for Tutto Italia at 5:30pm and call back to book the Package and they are sold out at Tutto Italia, you can’t “convert” your normal reservation to a Candlelight Processional Reservation.
Is The Candlelight Processional Package Worth the Cost?
It depends (I know you hate that). I like the Candlelight Processional Package and generally recommend it, although it may not be necessary depending on when you choose to see the show. All of the restaurants available in the Package normally cost one credit on the Disney Dining Plan. This means you’re basically using an extra credit for the appetizer, reserved seat at the Processional, and private viewing area for Illuminations. Out of pocket, the value depends on which restaurant you choose. From The Best Epcot Sit Down Restaurants we can see which restaurants potentially cost the most out of pocket. The bolded prices don’t include the appetizer, which will increase the price of the meal by $5-$10 or so. The value depends on which restaurant you select, what you order, and how much you plan to eat. If an appetizer is enough to fill you up, the Candlelight Processional might not be a good deal because you’ll be paying an exorbitant amount of money for food you won’t be eating. If you’re already concerned that you aren’t going to have enough Dining Plan credits then it might not be the best idea either as it does cost two credits for restaurants that would ordinarily cost one. On the other hand, if you have leftover credits anyway or plan to eat at least one gigantic meal during your trip, the Candlelight Processional makes a lot more sense.
When you purchase the Package, you’re paying not only for the meal, but also peace of mind and convenience. The Package guarantees you a prime, comfortable seat at the Candlelight Processional and an excellent vantage point to see Illuminations – two of Epcot’s best shows. It also cuts down on the time necessary to wait in line for the show to begin. Without the Package, you won’t know where you’ll sit. Just because you’re in front of someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a better seat than they will due to the way the “cast member” will lead the line into the theater. It isn’t a “free for all” where you choose where you sit. Instead, you sit in the seat as assigned by your place in line. This means you might be on the far edge of a row while the people in back of you get a much better seat in the middle of the theater. Purchasing the Package also means you won’t have to stake out a viewing spot for Illuminations an hour or more before the show begins. To a point, you will need to decide how much your time is worth and whether or not you would prefer to spend extra money or credits to not wait in line. That’s basically what it comes down to. You can certainly “get your money’s worth” if you eat at Tutto Italia or Le Cellier and order the most expensive items. It’s unlikely you’ll feel like the Package is a waste of money unless you visit on a day with extremely low crowds or don’t enjoy your meal.
How Long is the Wait for the Candlelight Processional? When is the Best Time to See the Show?
The 5pm show is almost always the least crowded and your best chance to get a seat without purchasing the Candlelight Dining Package. The only downside is that it may not be completely dark at that time. While it won’t hamper the show in any physical way, a lot of people prefer to watch the Procession in darkness, because it adds a bit of ambiance to the story. Here are some general guidelines about the best way to see the Processional:
- As far as crowds are concerned, weekdays are always better than weekends. Friday and Saturday will be the two busiest days, along with any day with Extra Magic Hours.
- The 5pm show is almost always the least crowded and the 8pm show is the most popular.
- Even if you purchase the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, you will still want to be in line 30 minutes or more prior to the start of the show. People who purchase the Package really, really want to see it and they will be in line for it early, even though they are guaranteed a seat somewhere in the theater.
- Popular narrators will bring larger crowds with them and the wait time necessary to get a seat will dramatically increase. At the moment, I expect Whoopi Goldberg, Michael W. Smith, and Trace Adkins to be the most popular.
- November 25th-27th and December 20th-30th will be extremely busy due to the higher overall crowd level. If the Candlelight Processional is important to you, consider the Dining Package to guarantee a seat. Otherwise, be prepared to wait 90 or more minutes with no guarantee of being able to sit.
- My favorite tactic is similar to what I do at other shows. Plan to be in the United States Pavilion around 4:15pm and check the line. Be sure to ask the attendant at the back of the line whether or not he/she thinks you’ll be able to get a seat. They count the number of people as they enter the line and they have a good idea about whether or not there will be a seat for you. If you get the green light then you can either get in line or if the line is really short, grab a snack/drink and get in line. If it already looks like it’s close to “selling out” then you know you’ll need to return even earlier for the next show or you can enter the line now in anticipation of the next show. On the evenings right before Christmas, you may need to get in line more than two hours ahead of the scheduled start time.
- It is possible to hear the show from the World Showcase promenade without being seated in the theater, but it is usually difficult to see. If you have seen the show in the past, listening may be enough, especially if it saves you two hours in line.
What is the Private Illuminations Viewing Area Like with the Candlelight Processional Package?
The private viewing area is located at the base of the World Showcase near Future World. In other words, it’s near the entrance to the World Showcase from Future World. There are no seats, so you will either be standing for the duration of your wait or you may be able to sit on the ground. It’s quite a hike from the United States Pavilion to the front of the World Showcase and it will probably take you at least 20 minutes to get from the theater to the Illuminations viewing area. It will take longer depending on the crowd level and how many people you have to dodge and push through. The good news is that you’ll be among the first to exit Epcot after Illuminations if you’re getting on a bus, going to the monorail, or returning to your car in the parking lot. If you’re headed to the International Gateway to exit to your Epcot-area resort then you’ll probably want to find somewhere out of the way to stand for a while as the masses exit. It will be extremely difficult to move against the waves exiting Epcot in the opposite direction. If your plan is to exit through the International Gateway and you can find a good spot along the rail near the theater, you may want to forego the private viewing area and grab the spot. I recommend visiting the 6:45pm show because it will give you plenty of time to move to the private viewing area. You will be much more rushed if you visit the 8:15pm show.
This Is Much More Complicated Than I Was Expecting. Is It Worth It?
Yes, the Candlelight Processional is one of Disney’s best and longest running shows. At potentially no additional cost, you will get to enjoy a celebrity narrating the story of Christmas in front of a 50-person orchestra and mass choir. On the other hand, if you aren’t interested in a religious show or singing and music then you probably want to skip it. The question about whether or not it’s worth waiting an hour plus is a more difficult question to answer. Considering the standby line at Soarin’ is at least 60 minutes in the afternoon for a five minute ride, waiting 60-90 minutes for a 45 minute live show with hundreds of performers doesn’t seem like that bad of a tradeoff. If you’ve completed most of what you want to do at Epcot and Disney World in general then you’re not losing out on much by waiting in line for the show. If there’s plenty more on your itinerary, and you’re chomping at the bit for the show to be over so you can run to Test Track, you’re probably better off enjoying the rides and other attractions, rather than spending potentially three or more hours on the Candlelight Processional. I have never heard anyone talk poorly about the Processional, other than to say it was more religious in tone than they were expecting. Other than that, it is a professional show of the highest caliber and anyone who enjoys Christmas, signing, and music will love it.
Let’s Book!
The Dining Package is available by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).
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