Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional happens twice nightly this weekend. This submit presents dates for the present, viewing suggestions, superstar narrator data, our assessment and historical past of the occasion, which is held on the Main Street USA Train Station throughout Christmas. (Updated December 3, 2022.)
In distinction to Epcot’s Candlelight Processional performances which are 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, complete, and is an intimate affair. Also 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 tune 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 3 and 4, 2022 for invited friends, Club 33 members, and different VIP friends with exhibits every night time at 5:30 pm and seven:45 p.m. Regular park friends are additionally capable of see the present from Main Street, which we cowl in with viewing suggestions under.
The narrator of the 2022 Candlelight Processional at Disneyland has not but been introduced, regardless of the primary performances being right this moment. Usually, the narrator is unknown till proper earlier than sound examine on night time of the primary efficiency, with followers speculating about who it’ll be and rumors–often flawed–circling previous to that.
Currently, there are not any credible rumors in regards to the 2022 Candlelight Processional narrator at Disneyland. We’ll replace this part later right this moment as soon as rehearsals begin and it turns into apparent who’s narrating. (Unless Disney manages to conduct rehearsals out of visitor view, wherein case we’ll replace when the primary Candlelight efficiency begins!)
With that stated, it’s at all times enjoyable to guess, so my shot-in-the-dark prediction is Angela Bassett. She’s accomplished so much with Disney in the previous couple of years and is in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I can’t consider anybody else who checks all the similar packing containers, save for one of many Guardians of the Galaxy stars. (So maybe Chris Pratt once more?)
Often, 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 lately 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.
Last yr, the Disneyland Cast Member choir was knowledgeable that Sterling Ok. Brown would be the Candlelight Processional narrator. Sterling Ok. Brown is greatest recognized for his position 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.
Other 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 a lot of 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 Main Street Train Station whereas the Candlelight mass choir is sings stunning vacation songs. Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional has been a practice 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 friends. These “invited guests” are usually Disneyland VIPs, comparable to Club 33 members, media, and high-profile Disneyland friends. We have gotten numerous questions on the way to get seats for Candlelight Processional at Disneyland (that’s truly our motive for posting this), however the unlucky actuality is that in case you don’t already know the way to get seats…you may’t get seats.
There are not any dinner packages, no standby line for normal friends, no ticket lottery, nor any technique of changing into an invited visitor. Because of this, Disneyland doesn’t publicize the occasion. There are usually not posts on the Parks Blog, social media, or elsewhere till after the occasion. That’s why data on Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is so scarce.
Despite this, Candlelight Processional at Disneyland is held throughout park hours, and on the very entrance of Disneyland, the place it’s plainly seen to friends coming into the park. This, coupled with the small measurement of the reserved seating space, signifies that friends who camp out in Town Square can get a superb view of the present. (Additionally, if there are empty seats, Disneyland typically permits common park friends to fill them–however no guarantees there.)
However–and this can be a enormous nonetheless–it’s not merely a free for all up entrance. Because 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 observe Candlelight Processional. If you’re making an attempt to attend and watch in a thoroughfare, you can be instructed to maneuver briefly order by crowd management Cast Members.
Some friends camp on the perimeter of the reserved seating space for your entire day on Candlelight Processional days. We’ve rope-dropped Disneyland on lately, and as an alternative of racing to Peter Pan’s Flight and Space Mountain, we’ve seen friends racing to areas on the fringe of the reserved seating space.
This is extreme, even by crazed-Disneyland fan requirements. We are sharing this data so you already know what you’re doubtlessly getting your self into must you determine to camp out for Candlelight Processional. In equity, you may usually present up “only” a few hours upfront and nonetheless get an honest view of the stage, nevertheless it’s not going to be very best.
However, don’t anticipate to be strolling by Main Street 10 minutes earlier than Candlelight Processional begins and easily cease to observe. It doesn’t work like that. There’s a superb likelihood you gained’t be allowed to cease in Town Square even an hour earlier than Candlelight Processional begins.
Additionally, a few of these people who camp out early within the day will depart following the primary efficiency of Candlelight Processional, so in case you present up in the direction of the tip of this, you may have the ability to wiggle your approach into a greater place. Again, no ensures, as most friends who camp out all day will keep for each exhibits.
One phrase of warning: Candlelight Processional is held on two busy weekend nights in the course of the Christmas season, which is already a busy time of yr at Disneyland. At the entrance of the park. This signifies that the group in Town Square is mainly a stressed mob by the point Candlelight Processional rolls round, packed into the general public areas like sardines. We would solely advocate this to locals with a surplus of time.
If you’re vacationing at Disneyland, this isn’t a superb use of your time. Moreover, in case you’re vacationing at Disneyland in the course of the Christmas season and will probably be visiting the park throughout both of lately however should not fascinated about Candlelight Processional, avoid the entrance of the park earlier than, throughout, and shortly after the showtimes. Getting folks into and out of Town Square (and even the Hub) is an operational nightmare, and it’ll take a very long time to navigate to/from Main Street.
If you have an interest in Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, however not tenting out for a spot to view it, the processional does come down the parade route. Guests who line the curb on Main Street shortly earlier than the processional begins will probably be handled to one thing stunning and uniquely “Disneyland.” While we don’t advocate tenting out for the present, we do advocate this. It’s a particular little second which you could take pleasure in with out almost 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 most likely nonetheless bears so much in widespread with the 1958 version.
We far choose 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 degree of demand for the present. It’s onerous to fault both model for his or her method, however it’s too dangerous that there’s not a possible approach of getting one of the best of each worlds.
If you might be fortunate sufficient to be invited to attend Candlelight Processional at Disneyland, don’t cross up the chance. It is 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!
If you’re visiting Disneyland throughout Christmas-time, be sure that to learn our Ultimate Christmas at Disneyland Guide to get essentially the most out of the particular Christmas choices! As for determining the remainder of your Disneyland journey, together with what to pack, whether or not you need to keep off-site or on-site in a Disney resort, the place to dine, and numerous different issues, take a look at our complete Disneyland journey planning information!
Your Thoughts
Have you ever accomplished Candlelight Processional at Disneyland? Did you have got reserved seats or did you camp out? What did you consider the expertise? Was it price it? Any suggestions so as to add? Share every other questions or feedback you have got under!