Walt Disney World has announced the celebrity narrator lineup for their annual Candlelight Processional! The tradition takes place during Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, beginning on November 27th and lasting until December 30th. In this post, we’ll share the narrator news, details on the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, and add in our commentary.

The Candlelight Processional has long established itself as a beloved tradition of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. In its 55th year at the Walt Disney World Resort, and 32nd year at EPCOT, this performance delights guests with magnificent music and a moving retelling of the Christmas story.

Each year, the America Gardens Theatre ushers in the spirit of the holidays with a 51-piece orchestra, the renowned Voices of Liberty, a celebrity narrator, and a choir of more than 150 Disney cast members and community singers.

This has been one of our favorite holiday offerings at Walt Disney World since the first time we saw it. The production value is exceptional and there’s a nice blend of classic Christmas tradition along with personality. We can’t recommend it highly enough!

Each celebrity narrator brings their unique touch to the story, some playing it very straight and sincere while others add a sense of humor to their comments. Both are great options. There’s a number of returners in this narrator lineup as well as a couple of new celebrities.

Update (10/6): A few names have changed around since the initial announcement. Sadly, Auli’i Cravalho will no longer be narrating the first two nights of the Candlelight Processional. We don’t always know why these cancellations happen but they do a few times a year and I’m glad to find this one out before any Dining Packages go on sale. For now, the fill in has yet to be announced. We will update this post once that name is filled in.

On a brighter note, two other TBA spots on the Celebrity Narrators lineup have been filled. December 2nd and 3rd will see Benjamin Bratt front and center while Josh Groban will narrate on December 13th and 14th. There is no word yet on if Groban will steal the show by singing along!

Benjamin Bratt is a fun addition. He came out on stage during D23 when Disney announced Coco 2. He is the voice of Ernesto de la Cruz in that franchise and has many other acting credits to his name. The lineup is diverse and interesting all the way through. Below is our reaction to the original lineup as well as a few other details on Epcot’s Candlelight Processional!

Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrators

• Nov. 27 & 28 – Auli‘i Cravalho  To Be Announced
• Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 – Gary Sinise 
• Dec. 2 & 3 – To Be Announced Benjamin Bratt
• Dec. 4 & 5 – Whoopi Goldberg 
• Dec. 6 & 7 – Robin Roberts (NEW) 
• Dec. 8 & 9 – Jason Kelce (NEW) 
• Dec. 10 – 12 – Neil Patrick Harris 
• Dec. 13 & 14 – To Be Announced Josh Groban
• Dec. 15 & 16 – Lauren Daigle 
• Dec. 17 – 19 – Ralph Macchio 
• Dec. 20 & 21 – Henry Winkler 
• Dec. 22 & 23 – Lacey Chabert (NEW) 
• Dec. 24 & 25 – Jodi Benson 
• Dec. 26 & 27 – Simu Liu 
• Dec. 28 – 30 – Eva Longoria 

As far as the celebrity narrator lineup this year, I think it’s a very strong list of returners. Fan favorites like Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, and Gary Sinise are all back. There’s some Disney Princess representation from Jodi Benson taking the actual Christmas date.

The newbies include a few big names. Melissa informed me that Lacey Chabert is the star of the new Disney World Hallmark movie. This isn’t up my alley but I know others are absolutely thrilled about the new movie, so it seems like a no-brainer to have the actress be a narrator.

Jason Kelce has transformed into a household name these days and is another smart addition. I put the over/under on Taylor Swift mentions for those nights at 2.5.

Not to be left out, Robin Roberts will take her first crack at being a narrator. I just saw her moderate a panel at D23 and was very impressed by her professionalism – extremely prepared and engaging while also listening to the answers from others on stage. She’ll nail this!

Performances are held nightly at 4:45 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. at the America Gardens Theatre, giving you plenty of opportunities to experience this inspiring classic. Seating is first-come, first-served and often fills up fast, so we suggest planning ahead if you want to experience this stunning show. For standby viewing, the latest show is the easiest option to get into.

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages

To guarantee a seat at one of the three nightly performances and enjoy a delicious meal, you can book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package.

With options ranging from breakfast to dinner at select EPCOT restaurants, there are plenty of meals to add to your holiday festivities.

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages

• Choose from breakfast, lunch or dinner (selections will vary depending on the restaurant you choose) 
• Entree and Dessert or buffet 
• Non-Alcoholic Beverage or Alcoholic Beverage (for guests 21 and older) 

After enjoying your festive feast, you’ll receive a reserved seating badge for your reserved showtime. While your seat is guaranteed, we recommend arriving early for the best possible view within the reserved section.

You can book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package beginning October 14, which includes reserved seating and a meal at select EPCOT restaurants.

We’re typically against the additional costs of Dining Packages like this one, as the add-on cost just isn’t a great value. Candlelight Processional is an exception to that, as the standby lines can be a little hard or nerve-racking (we’ve been in the last few rows of the theatre several times, while others behind us were turned away) to navigate. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan then getting a Candlelight Processional Dining Package is a great value. If paying out of pocket, I’d still look into the offerings and see if there’s any meal calling to you.

With a musical lineup including classic Christmas carols and beloved holiday favorites brought to life by a full orchestra and the harmonies of hundreds of voices singing into the night, the Candlelight Processional is the perfect way to celebrate the season alongside global traditions and festive spirit throughout the park. If you are at Walt Disney World in December then this is a must-do!

Are you excited for Epcot’s International Festival of Holidays? Let us know, along with any questions you might have in the comments below. If you are planning a trip to Disney World, then check out our planning guide. Looking for discount Walt Disney World tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. You can do all of that on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!