Epcot Candlelight Processional

Wondering if the Epcot Candlelight Processional 2025 deserves a spot in your Disney World holiday plans?

You’re not alone. With so many Christmas events at Disney, it’s easy to question if this tradition actually stands out.

Yes, the Epcot Candlelight Processional is unique compared to the other offerings, but does that make it a must-see experience during the holidays? Certainly not for everyone.

From Candlelight Processional narrators to the Epcot Candlelight Processional dining package, we have a lot to discuss!

This post is all about determining if you should make the effort to go to Epcot Candlelight Processional 2025.

Table of Contents

What is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot?

The Candlelight Processional is a live retelling of the Christmas story, featuring:

A celebrity narrator who reads the biblical story of Christmas
Voices of Liberty singers
A massive choir made up of Disney cast members and local community groups
A 50-piece live orchestra

Traditional Christmas hymns and songs

Each year, the Candlelight Processional takes place at America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.

Is Disney Candlelight Processional free?

Watching the show itself doesn’t cost a dime to watch, but you’ll need to pay for Epcot admission first (you’ll just need valid standard Disney World tickets).

So, technically, you’re not paying extra JUST for this show, but you can’t just stroll in from the parking lot and grab a seat.

The seats in the main theater fill up fast. People line up forever or grab a dinner package to snag a guaranteed spot—those do cost extra, and I’ll speak more about these later in this post.

You can see this from outside the America Gardens Theatre, in the American Adventure Pavilion – but your view could be obstructed.

Is the Candlelight Processional every night?

The Candlelight Processional is usually on three times every night for a one month period (late November – late December).

Though it is not on during the entirety of the holiday season (usually starting a few weeks after the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of the year), it is on for a significant period of time.

The first Candlelight Processional often starts the day after Thanksgiving and the first day of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

Each night could have a different celebrity speaker (as displayed below).

Disney has just confirmed the 2025 dates (Friday, November 28th 2025 – Tuesday, December 30th 2025). The celebrity speakers on each night have not yet been confirmed.

But for reference, here are the 2024 dates with the celebrity speakers:

Friday, 29th November – Josh Gad
Saturday, 30th November – Josh Gad
Sunday, 1st December – Nico Santos
Monday, 2nd December – Nico Santos
Tuesday, 3rd December – Chrissy Metz
Wednesday, 4th December – Chrissy Metz
Thursday, 5th December – Chrissy Metz
Friday, 6th December – Whoopi Goldberg
Saturday, 7th December – Whoopi Goldberg
Sunday, 8th December – Tituss Burgess
Monday, 9th December – Tituss Burgess
Tuesday, 10th December – Tituss Burgess
Wednesday, 11th December – Brendan Fraser
Thursday, 12th December – Brendan Fraser
Friday, 13th December – Ralph Macchio
Saturday, 14th December – Ralph Macchio
Sunday, 15th December – Gary Sinise
Monday, 16th December – Gary Sinise
Tuesday, 17th December – Neil Patrick Harris
Wednesday, 18th December – Neil Patrick Harris
Thursday, 19th December – Pat Sajak
Friday, 20th December – Pat Sajak
Saturday, 21st December – Pat Sajak
Sunday, 22nd December – Gloria Estefan
Monday, 23rd December – Gloria Estefan
Tuesday, 24th December – Edward James Olmos
Wednesday, 25th December – Edward James Olmos
Thursday, 26th December – Edward James Olmos
Friday, 27th December – Sterling K Brown
Saturday, 28th December – Sterling K Brown
Sunday, 29th December – Jodi Benson
Monday 30th December – Jodi Benson

What time is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot?

There are three shows each night of Epcot Candlelight Processional. Here are the start times of each show:

5:00 PM
6:45 PM
8:15 PM

How long is the Candlelight Processional?

The show clocks in at about 50 minutes, give or take a few minutes.

But remember that’s just the duration of the show. If you haven’t booked a dining package, you’ll want to get there early if you want the chance of getting a seat (the common recommendation is at least an hour early – or more if the narrator is especially popular).

Even if you book a dining package (like I have in 2023 and 2024), you’ll want to get there before showtime (I’d recommend at least 20 minutes early, ideally half an hour ish), to allow time to get seated.

How to book Candlelight Processional Dining Packages & Should You Bother?

The Logistics of Booking Epcot Candlelight Processional Dining Packages

Dining packages are not currently on sale (and the date they go on sale has not been announced for 2025).

But here are some details for 2024 (that could be very similar for 2025).

Last year, these dining packages didn’t go on sale until October 29th, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT.

You booked them like any other dining reservation, but you just had to double check that you booked the Dining Package and not a regular reservation for an Epcot restaurant.

Here were the restaurants and prices for 2024’s Candlelight Processional Dining Packages:

1) Biergarten Restaurant – Germany Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $71 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $32 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

2) Chefs de France – France Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $66 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $37 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

3) Coral Reef Restaurant – World Nature

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $78 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $32 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

4) Garden Grill Restaurant – World Nature

Breakfast:

Adult – $71 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $43 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $84 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $52 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

EPCOT CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL 2024 — Chip ‘n’ Dale Plant-based Harvest Feast at Garden Grill (Lunch/Dinner)

5) La Crêperie de Paris – France Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $53 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $27 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

EPCOT CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL 2024 dates — Ratatouille Galette (Zucchini, Eggplant & Tomato Buckwheat Crêpe) & Chèvre Galette (Goat Cheese, Wanuts, Spinach & Honey Buckwheat Crêpe)

6) La Hacienda de San Angel – Mexico Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $86 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $37 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

7) Le Cellier Steakhouse – Canada Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $104 + tax & gratuity (or two Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $42 + tax & gratuity (or two Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

8) Nine Dragons Restaurant – China Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $65 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $28 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

9) Rose & Crown Dining Room – United Kingdom Pavilion, World Showcase

Lunch & Dinner:

Adult – $66 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $29 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

10) Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya – Japan Pavilion, World Showcase

Adult – $105 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $60 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

11) Spice Road Table – Morocco Pavilion, World Showcase

Adult – $61 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $24 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

12) Teppan Edo – Japan Pavilion, World Showcase

Adult – $105 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $60 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

13) Tutto Italia Ristorante – Italy Pavilion, World Showcase

Adult – $75 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $28 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

14) Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Adult – $63 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)
Child – $27 + tax & gratuity (or one Table Service credit on the Disney Dining Plan)

Things to Consider to Determine if Epcot Candlelight Processional Dining Package is Worth It For You:

How Important Is Guaranteed Seating to You – If you really want reserved seating, the dining package is your only option (and you’ll often get a better view).
Are You Happy to Pay to Skip the Line? – Without reserved seating, you could be waiting 1–2 hours or more just to snag a decent seat. And even then, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get a seat. If you’re happy to take a chance, save the money. But if that’s not how you want to spend your Epcot evening, a dining package may be right for you. Please note that lines could be longer on weekends, or during the Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks.
Were You Already Planning to Dine at a Participating Epcot Restaurant? – If you were previously intending to book a sit-down meal at places like Le Cellier, Via Napoli, or Garden Grill for example, the package can make sense—you’re just adding the benefit of reserved show access. Inversely, if you weren’t planning on a table-service meal, this could be an unnecessary extra cost and commitment.
Does the Cost Fit in Your Disney Vacation Budget? – Dining packages are more expensive than paying for the meal alone. Whilst some are cheaper than others, no restaurant with a dining package for Candlelight Processional is going to be an AMAZING deal.
Is the Celebrity Narrator a Must-See for You? – If seeing a specific narrator is a top priority for you, the dining package is the best way to guarantee a seat. (In 2024, I really wanted to see Josh Gad, and I’m so glad I booked a Dining Package for reserved seating).

Frequently Asked Questions about Epcot Candlelight Processional

Is there a difference between the performances?

The music, story, and setting are the same for each show. Only the celebrity narrator may change depending on the date.

How can I guarantee a seat?

Book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package. It includes a meal and guaranteed seating for a specific show time. These packages sell out fast, so reserve early.

Who are the celebrity narrators?

Celebrity narrators change throughout the season and are announced in advance by Disney.

In 2025, Disney has confirmed that the returning celebrity speakers will include Jodi Benson, Josh Gad and Neil Patrick Harris (though dates have not yet been confirmed).

Please note that celebrity narrators can change at the last minute. For example, in 2023, I booked a dining package to see Simu Liu, but the narrator was changed with little notice to Bart Millard. (Side note: Bart Millard was an amazing narrator, so it wasn’t a massive deal, but just be aware that this potentially could happen, though it doesn’t tend to happen on the regular).

Can I bring children?

Yes, kids are welcome. The show is family-friendly, but may be more interesting to slightly older kids.

Are there any special accessibility options?

The America Gardens Theatre offers accessible seating. See this post from Disney for more information.

Can I record or take photos during the show?

Yes, you’re welcome to take photos and record during a Candlelight Processional show (just remember to avoid flash photography 📸).

@caffeinebythecastle
Today was the first day of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays 🎄 and Candlelight Processional 🕯️ Josh Gad was the celebrity narrator and he was amazing. Have you been to Candlelight Processional?! And are you planning to go in the future?! 💖 #epcotfestivals #disneychristmas
♬ original sound – caffeinebythecastle

Final Thoughts & Ta Ta For Now

If you’re going to Epcot during Festival of the Holidays in 2025, I highly recommend that you check out a Candlelight Processional show.

Regardless of whether you book a dining package or not, this show is amazing, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this unique Disney holiday show!

Have you ever seen an Epcot Candlelight Processional show? If you have any tips, please share them!

Are you planning to go to Epcot Candlelight Processional in 2025, or are you skipping it this year? Please share your thoughts in the comments 🙂

This post was all about determining if you should make the effort to go to Epcot Candlelight Processional 2025.

Epcot Candlelight Processional – Is it actually worth your time at Christmas?