Fall may just be beginning, but the 2023 holiday season at Walt Disney World is right around the corner! In less than one month, Magic Kingdom will be transformed over night and soon after Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will begin on select evenings until December 22! No matter where you are on property, there will be no shortage of holiday spirit, holiday offerings, and holiday merchandise at Walt Disney World Resort.
Also announced for the holiday season at Walt Disney World is the return of EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays. This can’t-miss celebration in the World Showcase encourages guests to visit each country to learn about their authentic traditions at this special time of year and experience the exceptional entertainment and sensational seasonal dishes.
One show that draws crowds each evening is the Candlelight Processional. This performance features a choir, a 50-piece orchestra, and a celebrity narrator. Together they present the Biblical representation of Christmas in a 40-minute show at the American Gardens Theater. This year, nine new stars will make their debut at the Candlelight Processional that begins on November 24 and concludes December 30, 2023 performing three times each evening at 5:15PM, 7:00PM, and 8:30PM. This year’s narrators and their appearing dates are as follows:
- Chrissy Metz (NEW): Nov. 24-25
- Luis Fonsi (NEW): Nov. 26-27
- Ann-Margret (NEW): Nov. 28-29
- Simu Liu: Nov. 30-Dec. 2
- John Stamos: Dec. 3-5
- Neil Patrick Harris: Dec. 6-8
- Marlee Matlin: Dec. 9-11
- Brendan Fraser (NEW): Dec. 12-14
- Eva Longoria (NEW): Dec. 15-16
- Joey McIntyre (NEW): Dec. 17-18
- Sterling K. Brown (NEW): Dec. 19-20
- Jordan Fisher (NEW): Dec. 21-23
- Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24-26
- Audra McDonald (NEW): Dec. 27-28
- Lisa Ling: Dec. 29-30
Since this event is so popular, guests have the option to reserve a Candlelight Processional Dining Package to ensure they have a seat during the show. Packages are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at select restaurants in EPCOT. Advanced reservations for the dining packages will be available beginning on October 17, 2023 at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Biergarten Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant Garden Grill Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Rose & Crown Dining Room, and Spice Road Table. Same day dining packages may be purchased at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue but are subject to availability. Because of the popularity of this event and the opportunity to see the big-named celebrities, some dates will likely sell out quickly.
While there are so many festive offerings at EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, for many, the Candlelight Processional is a can’t-miss event during the holiday season at Walt Disney World. With so many new and admired narrators for 2023, the Candlelight Processional will surely attract crowds again this year. Are you planning to see the Candlelight Processional in 2023? Which narrator are you looking forward to seeing? Tell us in the comments below!
Featured Photo by Disney.
Written by
Shelley Wehler
Contributing Writer
Shelley is a stay-at-home mother of two girls living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her love of all things Disney has grown even more as she sees the magic come alive through the lens of her young daughters. She spends her free time keeping up with the latest in Disney news and daydreaming of her next trip to the parks!
