Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional happens twice nightly in early December. This submit presents 2024 dates & occasions for the present, viewing suggestions, movie star narrator data, our overview and historical past of the occasion, which is held on the Major Road USA Practice Station throughout Christmas. (Up to date December 6, 2024.)
In distinction to Epcot’s Candlelight Processional performances which might be held dozens of occasions over the course of the Christmas season in an out of doors theater, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is held 4 occasions, whole, and is an intimate affair. Additionally not like Epcot’s model, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is a mostly-private (we’ll get to what meaning under) occasion.
The 45-minute present is a musical retelling of “The First Christmas” story by music 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 a part of the choir on this joyous vacation custom.
Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional will probably be held on December 7 and eight, 2024 for invited visitors, Membership 33 members, and different VIP visitors with exhibits every evening at 5:30 pm and seven:45 p.m. Common park visitors are additionally capable of see the present from Major Road, which we cowl in with viewing suggestions under.
The narrator of the 2024 Candlelight Processional at Disneyland has not but been introduced, and gained’t be prematurely. Normally, the narrator is unknown till proper earlier than sound verify on evening of the primary efficiency, with followers speculating about who it’ll be and rumors–normally flawed–circling previous to that.
That is being up to date on Friday, Dec. 6, earlier than the Saturday and Sunday performances of Candlelight Processional. As of this afternoon, there are zero credible rumors about who the narrator will probably be.
The perfect we can provide you might be guesses, and we’ll go along with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Alan Tudyk, and Auli’i Cravalho. In case you possibly can’t spot the commonality–they’re all from the forged of Moana 2. (Disney usually pulls somebody from their largest film presently in theaters.) I suppose Ryan Reynolds is a chance, as Deadpool & Wolverine was one other large “Disney” film this yr!
If we hear something credible between now and tomorrow evening about who the narrator will probably be, we’ll replace this accordingly. So hold an eye fixed posted right here or subscribe to our FREE e-mail e-newsletter for quick alerts and different Disney information.
Final yr, Brie Larson was the narrator of Candlelight Processional. That was solely realized after experiences of her being in Disneyland on the day of the primary Candlelight Processional. It wasn’t confirmed till a few hours earlier than the primary displaying started, when she appeared on stage for a walk-through.
As intimated above, the narrator of Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is commonly a celeb showing in a Christmas season Disney, Marvel, Pixar, or Star Wars film. Or somebody who just lately appeared in such a movie. These are the “contract obligation” narrators. The previous couple of years have a number of examples of this, together with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pratt.
Different occasions, the Candlelight Processional narrator is just a well-known or well-respected Disney Legend who has nothing to advertise and is under no circumstances a synergistic decide. There are many examples of each all through the historical past of Candlelight Processional (extra on this under).
We visited Disneyland final yr throughout Candlelight Processional weekend however didn’t attend the performances.
As shared in Our Favourite Week of the 12 months at Disneyland, that is quick changing into our favourite time to go to. It’s counter-intuitive since Candlelight Processional does enhance congestion in elements of the park (extra on that under), however Candlelight Processional can truly be an asset if you understand what you’re doing and plan accordingly. Simply one thing to remember for Christmas 2025 or 2026 if you’re excited about dates to go to–learn that submit for extra recommendation!
Now, let’s transfer on and canopy what happens throughout Candlelight Processional at Disneyland…
These celebrities narrate the Christmas story on the Major Road Practice Station whereas the Candlelight mass choir is sings lovely 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, Viola Davis, Sterling Okay. Brown, and James Earl Jones being previous narrators.
Disneyland units up seats for Candlelight Processional, that are reserved for invited visitors. These “invited visitors” are usually Disneyland VIPs, akin to Membership 33 members, media, and high-profile Disneyland visitors. We’ve gotten a number of questions on easy methods to get seats for Candlelight Processional at Disneyland (that’s truly our purpose for posting this), however the unlucky actuality is that in case you don’t already know easy methods to get seats…you possibly can’t get seats.
There are not any dinner packages, no standby line for normal visitors, 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 visitors getting into the park. This, coupled with the small measurement of the reserved seating space, signifies that visitors who camp out in City Sq. can get a superb view of the present. (Moreover, if there are empty seats, Disneyland generally permits common park visitors to fill them–however no guarantees there.)
Nevertheless–and it is a large nevertheless–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’t stand or sit to look at Candlelight Processional. Should you’re trying to attend and watch in a thoroughfare, you’ll be informed to maneuver briefly order by crowd management Forged Members.
Some visitors camp on the perimeter of the reserved seating space for the whole day on Candlelight Processional days. We’ve rope-dropped Disneyland on lately, and as an alternative of racing to Peter Pan’s Flight and Area Mountain, we’ve seen visitors 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 understand what you’re probably 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 best.
Nevertheless, don’t count on to be strolling by Major Road 10 minutes earlier than Candlelight Processional begins and easily cease to look at. It doesn’t work like that. There’s a superb 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 case you present up in direction of the tip of this, you may be capable to wiggle your means into a greater place. Once more, no ensures, as most visitors 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 yr at Disneyland. On the entrance of the park. Which means 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 might solely suggest this to locals with a surplus of time.
Should you’re vacationing at Disneyland, this isn’t a superb use of your time. Furthermore, in case you’re vacationing at Disneyland throughout the Christmas season and will probably be visiting the park throughout both of lately however aren’t fascinated by Candlelight Processional, steer clear of the entrance of the park earlier than, throughout, and shortly after the showtimes. Getting individuals 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 Major Road.
In case you are fascinated by 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 Major Road shortly earlier than the processional begins will probably be handled to one thing lovely and uniquely “Disneyland.” Whereas we don’t suggest tenting out for the present, we do suggest this. It’s a particular little second that you could take pleasure in 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 had been blown away. It’s a lavish manufacturing that’s splendidly offered, and it felt like an intimate expertise that in all probability nonetheless bears rather a lot in widespread with the 1958 version.
We far desire 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 onerous to fault both model for his or her strategy, however it’s too unhealthy that there’s not a possible means of getting the most effective of each worlds.
In case you are fortunate sufficient to be invited to attend Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, don’t go up the chance. It’s an extremely memorable expertise. Our solely advice can 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 take pleasure in Candlelight Processional at Disneyland. It’s excellent for a Date Nite at Disneyland!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Resort Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
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