Why EPCOT's Candlelight Processional is Our Ultimate Disney Christmas Tradition

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not quite that time, but it’s time to book your Candlelight Processional dining package reservation! I first learned about the Candlelight Processional when I lived in California. It was basically an invite-only event that took place on one single night, where chorus members walked up Main Street holding their candles while the audience heard the story of Christmas read by a celebrity.

Living in California at the time, I was completely under a Florida rock, so I had no idea that the Candlelight Processional was actually a month-long event at EPCOT where anyone could enjoy this very special experience.

Celebrities are chosen to read the story of Christmas, and our very first year, our narrator was Daymond John. While you don’t have to book a dining package, I highly recommend it. Our first year, our dining package was at Coral Reef Restaurant, a spot that, to this day, my mom calls one of her best meals ever at WDW. Between the live orchestra, the choir, and the Christmas magic, I was in tears, and I have been every year since. The Candlelight Processional has officially become our ultimate Christmas tradition.

Our second year, our narrator was Jordan Fisher. Again, perhaps I live under a geriatric millennial rock because I had no idea who Jordan Fisher was. Holy moly was I blown away! His charisma. His charm. His ability to story tell. It was arguably the best reading of the story of Christmas I’ve heard at any Candlelight Processional. And if you don’t know who he is, he sings “Happily Ever After,” a song I know you know if you’re a WDW fan at all. I’ll admit it: that song makes me cry, too. I’m a blubbering loon when it comes to Disney music.

We’ve also had the opportunity to hear Gary Sinise, who is a huge crowd favorite (he also runs Snowball Express during the holidays), and Ralph Macchio, the Karate Kid.

Being locals and having a kiddo in school, we generally always look at the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday readers when we choose our dates. WDW is good about posting the exact date that dining reservations will be available, and you better mark your calendar accordingly! That said, if at first you don’t succeed, start checking in the days leading up to the date you want. First thing in the morning, you will always find random reservations for even the most impossible-to-reserve dining locations (this is a WDW tip in general, not specific just to Candlelight).

So go book your dining reservation and bask in the holiday magic. Trust me, there is no other Disney experience like it—not even Happily Ever After on Main Street with fireworks.