Walt Disney World has launched the whole narrator lineup for the 2023 Candlelight Processional and eating package deal particulars–plus EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays leisure, meals & Santa data. This publish covers particulars we all know to date in regards to the Christmas-time occasion.
For starters, this yr’s EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays will run from November 24 till December 30, 2023. In contrast to different Christmas-time choices at Walt Disney World, the vacation festivities at EPCOT all the time finish earlier than New 12 months’s Eve to clear house for NYE. It stays to be seen what Walt Disney World will do for New 12 months’s in gentle of Disney100 and the brand new Luminous: The Symphony of Us nighttime spectacular, however we’re anticipating it to be a standard NYE at EPCOT.
Walt Disney World is as soon as once more releasing data about this yr’s EPCOT Competition of the Holidays later than regular. Truthfully, we thought the holdup with the Candlelight Processional narrator lineup would possibly’ve been the actors’ strike. Given the celebrities within the lineup, that’s clearly not the case! This announcement principally fleshes out what is occurring, offering new particulars in regards to the “choirs singing, chestnuts roasting, kitchens cooking, cookies baking or presents unwrapping” at EPCOT for the 2023 vacation season…
Let’s start with some ‘addition by subtraction’ information. The absence of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vacation Rewind all however confirms that Christmas overlay of Cosmic Rewind was a one and finished. That debuted final yr, and in it, the Guardians traded of their basic hits playlist for a mash-up of seasonal jams. Company blast off to the tune of a vacation single, bringing pleasure to Xandar and Terra.
In case you missed that, you didn’t miss a lot. The one factor that modified was the music, and it didn’t match the attraction very properly in any respect. For that to be a one and finished, my guess is that visitor suggestions was resoundingly destructive. (We hated it.)
In World Nature, Dwelling with the Land: Merry and Shiny Nights will return. Throughout the Competition, experience Dwelling with the Land for a particular, glowing boat tour. Get pleasure from a peaceable cruise and examine twinkling vacation gentle shows all through the greenhouses.
We completely love Dwelling with the Land. It’s one of many Walt Disney World sights we do essentially the most. We additionally completely love Christmas lights. Put these two issues collectively, and we’re squarely the audience for Dwelling with the Land: Merry and Shiny Nights. Unsurprisingly, we completely love this overlay. I might go on and on about this, gushing in regards to the calming ambiance, thoroughness, and understated simplicity of all of it. Suffice to say, don’t miss Dwelling with the Land: Merry and Shiny Nights!!!
When it comes to leisure, Walt Disney World has teased that the Vacation Storytellers, musical acts, and different performers will deliver vacation traditions of the world to life round World Showcase. No specifics as to which of them will likely be again, however that’s often not revealed till shortly earlier than the vacation season begins.
One new addition (or change) is that Santa Claus himself will go to with company on the Odyssey pavilion from November 24 by way of December 24, 2023. Don your festive finest for the right photograph op and ensure you’ve been good!
You can too sing together with the exuberant voices of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season in World Showcase Plaza. With uplifting Gospel and R&B songs celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa, JOYFUL! returns as soon as once more for the 2023 EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays. (They’ve gotta be one of many longest-running seasonal acts at EPCOT at this level.)
Walt Disney World has additionally shared particulars in regards to the 2023 Candlelight Processional. This time-honored custom has been part of the vacation season at Walt Disney World since its opening in 1971. Expertise the celeb narrators, the Voices of Liberty acapella ensemble, a 50-piece stay orchestra and superb massed choirs as they current a heartwarming retelling of the normal Christmas story.
EPCOT will as soon as once more share this custom with the group, inviting visitor choirs from throughout Florida to participate within the present. Choirs comprised of Walt Disney World Solid Members may also return, bringing magic to their performances as they do of their roles day-after-day.
Walt Disney World has additionally launched the FULL lineup of narrators for the 2023 Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. You’ll be able to see this present nightly at 5:15 PM, 7:00 PM or 8:30 PM on the America Gardens Theatre in EPCOT’s World Showcase.
This yr, the next celeb lineup will lend their abilities to the efficiency:
- Chrissy Metz (NEW) – November 24 and 25, 2023
- Luis Fonsi (NEW) – November 26 and 27, 2023
- Ann-Margret (NEW) – November 28 and 29, 2023
- Simu Liu – November 30 and December 1-2, 2023
- John Stamos – December 3 by way of December 5, 2023
- Neil Patrick Harris – December 6 by way of December 8, 2023
- Marlee Matlin – December 9 by way of December 11, 2023
- Brendan Fraser (NEW) – December 12 by way of December 14, 2023
- Eva Longoria (NEW) – December 15 and December 16, 2023
- Joey McIntyre (NEW) – December 17 and December 18, 2023
- Sterling Ok. Brown (NEW) – December 19 and December 20, 2023
- Jordan Fisher (NEW) – December 21 by way of December 23, 2023
- Steven Curtis Chapman – December 24 by way of December 26, 2023
- Audra McDonald (NEW) – December 27 and December 28, 2023
- Lisa Ling – December 29 and December 30, 2023
Movie star narrators, dates and different leisure are topic to alter or cancellation with out discover.
I’m going to name it proper now: that is the most effective Candlelight Processional narrator lineup since we’ve been doing the occasion at EPCOT (I need to say our first time was 2008?). There’s actually somebody for everybody right here, with big-name newcomers like Brendan Fraser, Eva Longoria, and Sterling Ok. Brown having enormous fan-followings. Hopefully somebody will get Mr. Fraser his cup of espresso earlier than his efficiency, or be careful!
Severely although, there are a variety of large names that I really acknowledge. I’d like to see any of these three–Brendan Fraser, Eva Longoria, or Sterling Ok. Brown–and the opposite newcomers ought to attraction to others. (Additionally, and I’m not going to call names, nevertheless it’s good to see a number of mainstays that I believe overstayed their welcome and had been phoning it in not within the 2023 Candlelight Processional lineup.)
Then there’s Joey McIntyre and Jordan Fisher, who will attraction to totally different generations and totally different fandoms for very totally different causes. Truly…perhaps there’s extra viewers overlap than thought among the many Disney Adults of my era. Sarah loves the New Children on the Block and Fortunately Ever After, so she’s greater than just a bit dissatisfied to be lacking Candlelight Processional this yr!
Then there are returning fan favorites like John Stamos and Neil Patrick Harris, who’re arguably two of the highest Candlelight Processional narrators of all-time. Each are additionally large Walt Disney World followers themselves, and may steadily be noticed within the parks throughout their weekends, which I recognize as a fan. (Of the present ‘era’ of Candlelight Processional narrators, they’re my favorites. I do know, very ‘primary’ picks, however they’re each nice!)
The largest ‘lacking’ names are in all probability Edward James Olmos and Pat Sajak, however hopefully they’re having fun with their respective retirements. All in all, a very good lineup with a variety of vary that we’re guessing Candlelight Processional followers will recognize!
Candlelight Processional Eating Packages are additionally returning, and may be booked on-line starting October 17, 2023. Advance Eating Reservations are extremely advisable and may be made as much as 60 days previous to your go to. Which means on October 17, ADRs can be found for Candlelight Processional up till December 16, 2023. (Additionally topic to the 60+10 rule for on-site company.)
The rest of the Candlelight Processional Eating Packages will likely be launched on a rolling foundation every day after October 17. Once more, remember that that is nonetheless topic to the 60+10 rule for on-site company, so when you’re staying off-site, you very properly would possibly get shut out even on the 60 day mark for these later dates in the course of the peak weeks of Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve.
Listed here are particulars in regards to the 2023 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages at choose EPCOT eateries…
Select from 8 distinctive eateries at EPCOT providing Candlelight Processional Eating Packages. A meal at taking part eating places contains:
- At Spice Highway Desk: 2 small plates and one nonalcoholic beverage per individual, plus a tagine and dessert platter to your occasion to share
- All different taking part eating places: an appetizer, entrée and dessert, or one full buffet/family-style meal, in addition to a nonalcoholic beverage
- One assured seat per individual to the Candlelight Processional held on the identical day
Discover taking part eating places and eating package deal costs, which exclude tax and gratuity:
| Grownup (ages 10 and up) |
Youngster (ages 3 to 9) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Akershus Royal Banquet Corridor Norway Pavilion |
$71.00 – Breakfast $83.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
$45.00 – Breakfast $53.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
| Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion |
$65.00 | $37.00 |
| Coral Reef Restaurant The Dwelling Seas |
$78.00 | $32.00 |
| Backyard Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion |
$63.00 – Breakfast $78.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
$40.00 – Breakfast $50.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
| Le Cellier Steakhouse Canada Pavilion |
$104.00 | $42.00 |
| Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (same-day eating packages solely) American Journey Pavilion |
$41.00 | |
| Rose & Crown Eating Room United Kingdom Pavilion |
$66.00 | $29.00 |
| Spice Highway Desk Morocco Pavilion |
$55.00 | $24.00 |
Planning a last-minute go to? You could possibly buy a same-day eating package deal, which lets you:
- Dine with out reservations at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue that day
- Get pleasure from assured seats to a Candlelight Processional efficiency later that day
To examine availability for same-day eating packages, go to Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue in the course of the Competition. Packages are topic to availability and might not be out there on peak dates.
(Be aware that it is a change for the 2023 Candlelight Processional. Final yr, same-day availability was additionally provided at Spice Highway Desk. We suspect that’ll be true once more on an off-the-cuff foundation, because it’s attainable that last-minute ADRs will likely be out there for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages at Spice Highway Desk. We wouldn’t financial institution on that, although!)
We’re comfortable to see Biergarten Restaurant make the reduce as soon as once more. That is all the time our prime suggestion due to its jovial Christmas ambiance, music, and worth for cash. Learn Our Christmas Feast at Biergarten Restaurant for what the vacation time expertise is like there.
We’d strongly suggest those that desire a 2023 Candlelight Processional Eating Bundle be on-line vivid and early on October 17, 2023. These will promote out quick–in all probability far quicker than regular. With fewer choices (which means much less whole eating capability) plus pent-up demand (nonetheless ongoing for this because it was slower to return), we wouldn’t be in the slightest degree shocked to see these promote out for all out there dates proper on the ADR drop day.
With that in thoughts, pack your endurance when you’re planning on doing opening day ADRs for the 2023 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages. As with all ADR drop days, glitches and slow-to-load stock are distinct potentialities. We’d suggest being up sooner than regular, being on a number of units, and budgeting extra time than you would possibly anticipate. If it finally ends up being smoother crusing, contemplate it a small victory–however put together for complications. See our Information to Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World for ideas & methods to extend your possibilities of success!
When it comes to different primary data, company will obtain Candlelight Seating badges on the restaurant after their meal. The badge will specify the date and present time they’ve reserved. Eating Bundle members will enter America Gardens Theatre in a separate queue and will likely be seated on a first-come, first served foundation. Seating is assured for individuals who buy the Candlelight Processional Eating Bundle.
In case you have different questions, see our Information to Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. Whereas that hasn’t been up to date with all of this new data, it ought to principally be correct. The fundamentals of Candlelight Processional–showtimes, seatings, and extra–needs to be kind of the identical this yr. We’ll preserve you posted as we be taught extra in regards to the Eating Packages and the whole lot else coming to the 2023 EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it is advisable know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited to expertise the 2023 EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays? Excited for Candlelight Processional? What do you consider our declare that the 2023 Candlelight Processional has the most effective narrator lineup in current reminiscence? Trying ahead to the Vacation Kitchens, stay music, or the rest? Assume there will likely be any nice surprises? Any ideas you need to share to take advantage of the expertise? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!