The featured show during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional. This amazing show features the story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator, which is set to holiday music from a 50-piece orchestra as well as a full choir that is typically comprised of performers from local area schools.
The Processional is held at the America Gardens Theatre just across from the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.
The Candlelight Processional shows are one of the most popular features of the holiday season at Walt Disney World.
Celebrity narrators for 2023 include:
- Chrissy Metz: November 24th and 25th (New for 2023)
- Luis Fonsi: November 26th and 27th (New for 2023)
- Ann-Margret: November 28th and 29th (New for 2023)
- Simu Liu: November 30th through the December 2nd
- John Stamos: December 3rd through the 5th
- Neil Patrick Harris: December 6th through the 8th
- Marlee Matlin: December 9th through the 11th
- Brendan Fraser: December 12th through the 14th (New for 2023)
- Eva Longoria: December 15th and 16th (New for 2023)
- Joey McIntyre: December 17th and 18th (New for 2023)
- Sterling K. Brown: December 19th and 20th (New for 2023)
- Jordan Fisher: December 21st through the 23rd
- Stephen Curtis Chapman: December 24th through the 26th
- Audra McDonald: December 27th and 28th (New for 2023)
- Lisa Ling: December 29th and 30th
Epcot’s Candlelight Processional is approximately 45 to 55 minutes in length and there are three shows per night which are typically held at 5:15 PM, 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM.
Candlelight Processional Dining Package
Disney offers a special Candlelight Processional Dining Package including includes a quality meal along with guaranteed seating for the Candlelight Processional. Guests with the dining package will receive Candlelight Seating badges at the restaurant after their meal and will enter through the America Gardens Theatre via a separate queue. Seating is guaranteed but on a first-come, first serve basis.
There are a number of different restaurants offered in this package. Prices and restaurants for 2023 are as follows:
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall: Located in the Norway Pavilion, guests ages 10 and up cost $83.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $53.00 per person. Breakfast is offered for $71.00 (adults) and $45.00 (children).
- Biergarten Restaurant: Located in the Germany Pavilion, guests ages 10 and up cost $65.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $37.00 per person.
- Coral Reef Restaurant: Located in The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion, guests ages 10 and up cost $78.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $32.00 per person.
- Garden Grill Restaurant: Located in The Land, guests ages 10 and up cost $78.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $50.00 per person. Breakfast is offered for $63.00 (adults) and $40.00 (children).
- Le Cellier Steakhouse: Located in the Canada Pavilion, guests ages 10 and up cost $104.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $42.00 per person.
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Located in the American Adventure Pavilion, this package is for same-day dining only and priced at $41.00.
- Rose & Crown Dining Room: Located in the United Kingdom Pavilion, guests ages 10 and up cost $66.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $29.00 per person.
- Spice Road Table: Located in the Morocco Pavilion, guests ages 10 and up cost $55.00 per person and children ages 3 to 9 cost $43.00 per person.
Our most recent Candlelight Processional Dining Package experience was the same-day dining at the Regal Eagle Smokehouse in late November 2022. Since it was a Monday, the park was not extraordinarily and we were easily able to purchase in the early afternoon.
While the “quick-service” dining food quality at the Regal Eagle is not of the quality as some of the other table service restaurants, the cost for our meal plus the reserved seating was completely worth the $40 price.
Click here to make reservations for the Candlelight Processional Dining Package.
Best hotels to stay when visiting EPCOT for the holidays?
Local area hotels book up quickly so it is our recommendation that you get your reservations as early as possible. Crowd levels are typically higher than usual due not only to this special event, but for summer vacations and fall holidays. Typically in the fall, there are always large conventions coming to Orlando where many hotels block off rooms for the convention attendees.
If you are planning on consuming a number of adult beverages during your visit, we would highly recommend you stay a hotel within walking distance or with a transportation service.
The Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resort Hotels
The Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resorts comprise the following resort hotels and vacation club properties:
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (vacation club)
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas (vacation club)
All three are within walking distance to Epcot’s International Gateway (the entrance in the World Showcase area of the park) and there is also a water taxi service that runs all day long.
These resort hotel are very popular (especially during the Food & Wine Festival) and rates are typically not cheap. Prices range from less than $500 per night to more than $1,000 per night depending on the room type and the date of the stay. There are no resort fees but there is a daily parking charge of $25.00 to go along with resort and sales taxes.
Click here to learn more about Disney’s BoardWalk Resort Hotels
The Walt Disney World Dolphin
The Walt Disney World Dolphin is one of our favorite hotels in Orlando and it is our “go to” when we are planning on visiting Epcot. The Dolphin is immediately adjacent to the Walt Disney World Boardwalk and within easy walking distance of both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Water taxi transportation is also available.
The Dolphin is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program so guests can earn or use points for their stay at one of the 1,514 rooms or suites. There are extensive amenities and dining options at this massive resort.
Hotel rates range around $250.00 per night to more than $500.00 per night depending on the time a year and room type. There is a $35 per day resort fee plus a 6% resort tax on top of a 6.5% sales tax. Self parking costs $30 per night.
Click here to learn more about the Walt Disney World Dolphin
If any of these hotel recommendations don’t work for you, CLICK HERE to see a list of other on site hotels as well as local area hotels near the Walt Disney World Resort.
