2023 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages Guide

The holiday season is a very exciting (and beautiful!) time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort.

In addition to all of the decorations at both the parks and resorts, there are also several special events occurring at Disney World during this time of the year.

One of the most popular of these events is the Candlelight Processional at Epcot.

So what exactly is the Candlelight Processional and do you need to book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package to see it?

In this article

Important

The following is from 2022. We are still waiting for 2023 Candlelight Processional details. Until then, this information is a good indicator of what to expect for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot in 2023.

What is the Candlelight Processional?

The Candlelight Processional (which takes place during Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays) is a presentation of the Christmas Story that is read by various celebrity narrators.

Accompanying the narrators are a 50-piece orchestra and a huge choir which, as you can imagine, creates a truly lovely experience.

The show lasts 40 minutes and takes place 3 times a day (5:15 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.) at Epcot in the outdoor America Gardens Theatre, which is located in the American Adventure Pavilion of the World Showcase.

america gardens theatre map location epcot

What makes getting a seat for the Candlelight Processional so difficult?

There is no cost to attend the Candlelight Processional.

That’s right – it is free.

candlelight processional dining package entrance

But, the popularity of the show and the small size of the theater means securing a seat can be a challenge since a large number (well over half) of seats available for the performances are reserved for guests that have booked the dining package.

So, while booking a Candlelight Processional Dining Package is not required, it is the best way to guarantee your seat.

What do you get with the package?

Each Candlelight Processional Dining Package includes:

Meal with appetizer, entree, dessert, non-alcoholic beverage (or, if the meal is a buffet, you get 1 buffet meal)
Reserved section to sit in during Candlelight Processional

2023 Candlelight Processional Dining Package restaurants and prices

We don’t yet have 2023 dining package information but in 2022 there were 5 options that you could book ahead for dining packages, but keep in mind that you could book Dining Packages for either lunch or dinner.

Which performance your guaranteed seating will be for is determined by the time of day of your reservation, and you aren’t able to use your guaranteed seating privileged at any show other than the one assigned to you.

Standard Candlelight Processional Dining Packages

The following prices exclude tax and gratuity.

RESTAURANT	ADULT (AGES 10 & UP)	CHILD (Ages 3 TO 9)
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Norway Pavilion	$79.00	$51.00
Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion	$65.00	$37.00
Coral Reef Restaurant The Living Seas	$74.00	$30.00
Garden Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion	$71.00	$46.00
Le Cellier Steakhouse Canada Pavilion	$100.00	$39.00
Rose & Crown Dining Room United Kingdom Pavilion	$64.00	$28.00

You’ll know which performance you are assigned when you make the reservation, which makes it easier for you to plan out the rest of your day.

Same-Day Candlelight Processional Dining Packages Only

In addition to the packages that you can book ahead, there are a limited number of dining packages that can be booked same day. The following prices exclude tax and gratuity.

RESTAURANT	ADULT (AGES 10 & UP)	CHILD (Ages 3 TO 9)
Regal Eagle Smokehouse American Adventure Pavilion	$40.00	N/A
Spice Road Table Morocco Pavilion	$52.00	$23.00

If you are interested in one of the same-day dining packages for the Candlelight Processional, we recommend you visit the participating restaurant of your choice as soon as possible, as the number of these packages are very limited.

How to book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package

The best way to book your Candlelight Processional Dining Package is online. Here’s how that works:

Navigate to the Candlelight Processional Dining Package page.
Select the blue “Check Availability” button.
You’ll then be able to select the restaurant and time of your choice:

2023 Candlelight Processional Narrators

We have not received the list of narrators for 2023, but below is a list of the narrators for the 2022 Candlelight Processional:

Simu Liu (NEW) — November 25 and 26, 2022
Chita Rivera — November 27 through 29, 2022
Raul Esparza (NEW) — November 30 and December 1, 2022
Whoopi Goldberg — December 2 and December 3, 2022
Isabella Rossellini — December 4 through December 6, 2022
Daymond John (NEW) — December 7 and December 9, 2022
Josh Gad (NEW) — December 10 through December 12, 2022
Gloria Estefan (NEW) — December 13 and December 14, 2022
Neil Patrick Harris — December 15 through December 18, 2022
Mariska Hargitay (NEW) — December 19 and December 20, 2022
Cal Ripken Jr. — December 21 through December 23, 2022
Marie Osmond — December 24 through December 26, 2022
Courtney Vance — December 27 and December 28, 2022
Angela Bassett — December 29 and December 30, 2022

candlelight processional epcot festival of the holidays

How to get the best seats for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot

Even though guests with the dining package have guaranteed seating, your exact seat isn’t assigned.

Everybody (both those with the dining package and those doing standby) will need to line up in order to enter the theater.

The closer to the front of the line the better your chances are of securing the best seats, but since there is such a large chunk of the theater reserved for guests with Candlelight Processional Dining Packages you don’t have to line up nearly as early as those doing standby.

Getting in line about 45 minutes early is generally good, although, for the most popular narrators (like Neil Patrick Harris) you might want to consider lining up even earlier if you are picky about your seats.

Neil Patrick Harris Candlelight Processional

When do Candlelight Processional Dining Packages open up for booking?

The release date for the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages varies from year to year, although they are have generally been released in mid-summer (late June, early July).

Typically, most narrators will be known at this time, but it isn’t uncommon for the narrators for some dates to not be released until later in the year.

For 2022, dining package reservations opened on October 6. Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to 60 days prior to your visit.

Historical release dates for the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages

2022 – October 6, 2022
2021 – October 26, 2021
2020 – N/A
2019 – Wednesday, July 3, 2019
2018 – Wednesday, July 11, 2018
2017 – Saturday, June 30, 2017
2016 – Thursday, June 30, 2016
2015 – Tuesday, July 7, 2015 (although some people were able to book some dates earlier)

What should I do if I don’t book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package?

If you don’t have a dining package you’ll need to use the standby line – so be prepared to wait.

Plan to arrive to the America Gardens Theatre early with the aim of being close to the front of the line. How early you will need to arrive will depend on the popularity of the narrator for that evening.

Candlelight Processional standby tips

One tip is to check-out how the standby line looks for the first show. If you see a long line forming 2 hours early, you’ll know what you’ll need to do at the later shows in order to get a seat.

Also, the Cast Members working that area often have a good feel for the popularity of the narrator and politely asking one of them how early they’d recommend lining up can help, too.

If seeing the Candlelight Processional would be “nice” but you wouldn’t be sad if you didn’t see it, you can also try showing up 15 or so minutes before the show starts to see if there is any seating available.

Or, if you’re more interested in hearing the music or if you’d just like some festive background ambiance while you relax and eat a snack, since the sound of the theater carries there are several nearby places to sit where you can hear everything (even if you can’t see it).

Is a Candlelight Processional Dining Package necessary to see the show?

More and more, we have found that while the dining package is not required to attend the Candlelight Processional, it is definitely encouraged to guarantee your spot at the performance.

If seeing the Candlelight Processional is a “must do”, book a dining package.

When you factor in the cost of the time you’d spend in the standby line (instead of using your park ticket doing something fun) with no guarantee you’ll get a seat, the value of the dining package is clear.