Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional happens twice nightly in early December. This submit provides 2023 dates & instances for the present, viewing ideas, celeb narrator data, our evaluation and historical past of the occasion, which is held on the Principal Avenue USA Prepare Station throughout Christmas. (Up to date October 4, 2023.)
In distinction to Epcot’s Candlelight Processional performances which are held dozens of instances over the course of the Christmas season in an outside theater, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is held 4 instances, whole, and is an intimate affair. Additionally in contrast to Epcot’s model, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is a mostly-private (we’ll get to what which means under) occasion.
The 45-minute present is a musical retelling of “The First Christmas” story via track and scripture, that includes a mass choir because the centerpiece of the present. The Disneyland Symphony Orchestra, fanfare trumpets, hand bell ringers, and a celeb narrator be part of the choir on this joyous vacation custom.
Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional can be held on December 2 and three, 2023 for invited company, Membership 33 members, and different VIP company with exhibits every night time at 5:30 pm and seven:45 p.m. Common park company are additionally capable of see the present from Principal Avenue, which we cowl in with viewing suggestions under.
The narrator of the 2023 Candlelight Processional at Disneyland has not but been introduced, regardless of the primary performances being at this time. Often, the narrator is unknown till proper earlier than sound verify on night time of the primary efficiency, with followers speculating about who it’ll be and rumors–often incorrect–circling previous to that.
At present, there aren’t any credible rumors concerning the 2023 Candlelight Processional narrator at Disneyland. We’ll replace this part later at this time as soon as rehearsals begin and it turns into apparent who’s narrating. (Except Disney manages to conduct rehearsals out of visitor view, wherein case we’ll replace when the primary Candlelight efficiency begins!)
With that mentioned, it’s at all times enjoyable to guess, so my shot-in-the-dark prediction is Angela Bassett. She’s achieved loads with Disney in the previous few years and is in Black Panther: Wakanda Eternally. I can’t consider anybody else who checks all the identical bins, save for one of many Guardians of the Galaxy stars. (So maybe Chris Pratt once more?)
Usually, the narrator of Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is a celeb showing in a Christmas season Disney, Marvel, Pixar, or Star Wars film. Or somebody who not too long ago appeared in such a movie. These are the “contract obligation” narrators. The previous few years have a number of examples of this, together with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pratt.
Final 12 months, the Disneyland Forged Member choir was knowledgeable that Sterling Ok. Brown would be the Candlelight Processional narrator. Sterling Ok. Brown is greatest identified for his function within the NBC tv collection, “This Is Us.” For Disney, Brown performed N’Jobu in Marvel’s Black Panther and voiced Lieutenant Mattias in Frozen II.
Different instances, the Candlelight Processional narrator is solely a well-known or well-respected Disney Legend who has nothing to advertise and is by no means a synergistic decide. There are many examples of each all through the historical past of Candlelight Processional (extra on this under).
Now, let’s transfer on and canopy what happens throughout Candlelight Processional at Disneyland…
These celebrities narrate the Christmas story on the Principal Avenue Prepare Station whereas the Candlelight mass choir is sings stunning vacation songs. Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional has been a convention since 1958. Celebrities like Cary Grant, John Wayne, Dick Van Dyke, Gary Sinise, Kurt Russell, Jon Voight, Geena Davis, Chris Hemsworth, and James Earl Jones being previous narrators.
Disneyland units up seats for Candlelight Processional, that are reserved for invited company. These “invited company” are usually Disneyland VIPs, akin to Membership 33 members, media, and high-profile Disneyland company. We’ve got gotten lots of questions on the best way to get seats for Candlelight Processional at Disneyland (that’s really our cause for posting this), however the unlucky actuality is that in the event you don’t already know the best way to get seats…you possibly can’t get seats.
There aren’t any dinner packages, no standby line for normal company, no ticket lottery, nor any technique of changing into an invited visitor. Due to this, Disneyland doesn’t publicize the occasion. There are usually not posts on the Parks Weblog, social media, or elsewhere till after the occasion. That’s why data on Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is so scarce.
Regardless of this, Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is held throughout park hours, and on the very entrance of Disneyland, the place it’s plainly seen to company coming into the park. This, coupled with the small dimension of the reserved seating space, implies that company who camp out in City Sq. can get an excellent view of the present. (Moreover, if there are empty seats, Disneyland typically permits common park company to fill them–however no guarantees there.)
Nevertheless–and this can be a enormous nonetheless–it’s not merely a free for all up entrance. As a result of Disneyland is so busy these nights and seating/standing areas are in excessive demand, there are strictly-enforced limitations on the place you can not stand or sit to look at Candlelight Processional. When you’re making an attempt to attend and watch in a thoroughfare, you’ll be advised to maneuver briefly order by crowd management Forged Members.
Some company camp on the perimeter of the reserved seating space for your entire day on Candlelight Processional days. We’ve rope-dropped Disneyland on today, and as an alternative of racing to Peter Pan’s Flight and Area Mountain, we’ve seen company racing to areas on the fringe of the reserved seating space.
That is extreme, even by crazed-Disneyland fan requirements. We’re sharing this data so you realize what you’re doubtlessly getting your self into do you have to determine to camp out for Candlelight Processional. In equity, you possibly can usually present up “solely” a few hours prematurely and nonetheless get an honest view of the stage, but it surely’s not going to be very best.
Nevertheless, don’t anticipate to be strolling via Principal Avenue 10 minutes earlier than Candlelight Processional begins and easily cease to look at. It doesn’t work like that. There’s an excellent probability you gained’t be allowed to cease in City Sq. even an hour earlier than Candlelight Processional begins.
Moreover, a few of these people who camp out early within the day will go away following the primary efficiency of Candlelight Processional, so in the event you present up in the direction of the top of this, you may have the ability to wiggle your manner into a greater place. Once more, no ensures, as most company who camp out all day will keep for each exhibits.
One phrase of warning: Candlelight Processional is held on two busy weekend nights throughout the Christmas season, which is already a busy time of 12 months at Disneyland. On the entrance of the park. Because of this the group in City Sq. is principally a stressed mob by the point Candlelight Processional rolls round, packed into the general public areas like sardines. We’d solely suggest this to locals with a surplus of time.
When you’re vacationing at Disneyland, this isn’t an excellent use of your time. Furthermore, in the event you’re vacationing at Disneyland throughout the Christmas season and can be visiting the park throughout both of today however should not focused on Candlelight Processional, keep away from the entrance of the park earlier than, throughout, and shortly after the showtimes. Getting folks into and out of City Sq. (and even the Hub) is an operational nightmare, and it’ll take a very long time to navigate to/from Principal Avenue.
If you’re focused on Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, however not tenting out for a spot to view it, the processional does come down the parade route. Company who line the curb on Principal Avenue shortly earlier than the processional begins can be handled to one thing stunning and uniquely “Disneyland.” Whereas we don’t suggest tenting out for the present, we do suggest this. It’s a particular little second you could get pleasure from with out practically the time dedication.
We did Candlelight Processional a few years in the past at Disneyland with Kurt Russell because the narrator, and we have been blown away. It’s a lavish manufacturing that’s splendidly introduced, and it felt like an intimate expertise that in all probability nonetheless bears loads in widespread with the 1958 version.
We far favor the Disneyland model to the way in which it’s carried out at Epcot, however the distinction is that one has stayed true to its roots whereas the opposite has opted for a extra guest-friendly providing that tries to accommodate the excessive stage of demand for the present. It’s laborious to fault both model for his or her method, however it’s too dangerous that there’s not a possible manner of getting one of the best of each worlds.
If you’re fortunate sufficient to be invited to attend Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, don’t cross up the chance. It’s an extremely memorable expertise. Our solely advice could be to deal with it just like the lavish occasion that it’s: dress up, have a pleasant meal at Napa Rose or Carthay Circle Restaurant, after which get pleasure from Candlelight Processional at Disneyland. It’s excellent for a Date Nite at Disneyland!
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Your Ideas
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