Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional happens twice nightly this weekend. This put up affords dates for the present, viewing ideas, 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 might be held dozens of occasions over the course of the Christmas season in an outside theater, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is held 4 occasions, complete, and is an intimate affair. Also in contrast to Epcot’s model, Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is a mostly-private (we’ll get to what which means beneath) occasion.
The 45-minute present is a musical retelling of “The First Christmas” story by way of 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 star narrator be part of the choir on this joyous vacation custom.
Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional will likely be held on December 3 and 4, 2022 for invited visitors, Club 33 members, and different VIP visitors with reveals every night time at 5:30 pm and seven:45 p.m. Regular park visitors are additionally in a position to see the present from Main Street, which we cowl in with viewing suggestions beneath.
The narrator of the 2022 Candlelight Processional at Disneyland has not but been introduced, regardless of the primary performances being in the present day. Usually, the narrator is unknown till proper earlier than sound test on night time of the primary efficiency, with followers speculating about who it’ll be and rumors–normally incorrect–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 in the present day 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 mentioned, it’s at all times enjoyable to guess, so my shot-in-the-dark prediction is Angela Bassett. She’s performed quite a bit with Disney in the previous couple of years and is in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I can’t consider anybody else who checks the entire 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 star 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 couple of 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 Okay. Brown would be the Candlelight Processional narrator. Sterling Okay. Brown is finest identified 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 solely a well-known or well-respected Disney Legend who has nothing to advertise and is on no account a synergistic decide. There are a number of examples of each all through the historical past of Candlelight Processional (extra on this beneath).
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 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, and James Earl Jones being previous narrators.
Disneyland units up seats for Candlelight Processional, that are reserved for invited visitors. These “invited guests” are sometimes Disneyland VIPs, akin to Club 33 members, media, and high-profile Disneyland visitors. We have gotten quite a lot of questions on the right way to get seats for Candlelight Processional at Disneyland (that’s truly our cause for posting this), however the unlucky actuality is that if you happen to don’t already know the right way 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 turning into an invited visitor. Because of this, Disneyland doesn’t publicize the occasion. There are sometimes 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 visitors coming into the park. This, coupled with the small measurement of the reserved seating space, implies that visitors who camp out in Town Square can get view of the present. (Additionally, if there are empty seats, Disneyland generally permits common park visitors to fill them–however no guarantees there.)
However–and it is a big nevertheless–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 not stand or sit to look at Candlelight Processional. If you’re making an attempt to attend and watch in a thoroughfare, you’ll be advised to maneuver in brief order by crowd management Cast Members.
Some visitors camp on the perimeter of the reserved seating space for the complete day on Candlelight Processional days. We’ve rope-dropped Disneyland on as of late, and as an alternative of racing to Peter Pan’s Flight and Space Mountain, we’ve seen visitors 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 realize what you’re probably getting your self into do you have to determine to camp out for Candlelight Processional. In equity, you possibly can sometimes present up “only” a few hours upfront and nonetheless get an honest view of the stage, but it surely’s not going to be perfect.
However, don’t count on to be strolling by way of Main Street 10 minutes earlier than Candlelight Processional begins and easily cease to look at. It doesn’t work like that. There’s probability 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 if you happen to present up in the direction of the top of this, you would possibly be capable of wiggle your means into a greater place. Again, no ensures, as most visitors who camp out all day will keep for each reveals.
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. At the entrance of the park. This implies that the gang in Town Square is principally a stressed mob by the point Candlelight Processional rolls round, packed into the general public areas like sardines. We would solely suggest this to locals with a surplus of time.
If you’re vacationing at Disneyland, this isn’t use of your time. Moreover, if you happen to’re vacationing at Disneyland throughout the Christmas season and will likely be visiting the park throughout both of as of late however will not be desirous about Candlelight Processional, keep away from the entrance of the park earlier than, throughout, and shortly after the showtimes. Getting individuals 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 likely be handled to one thing lovely and uniquely “Disneyland.” While we don’t suggest tenting out for the present, we do suggest this. It’s a particular little second you can 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 most likely nonetheless bears quite a bit in frequent with the 1958 version.
We far favor the Disneyland model to the best way 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 strategy, however it’s too dangerous that there’s not a possible means 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 suggestion 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 get pleasure from Candlelight Processional at Disneyland. It’s good for a Date Nite at Disneyland!
If you’re visiting Disneyland throughout Christmas-time, make certain to learn our Ultimate Christmas at Disneyland Guide to get probably 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 it is best to keep off-site or on-site in a Disney resort, the place to dine, and a variety of different issues, take a look at our complete Disneyland journey planning information!
Your Thoughts
Have you ever performed Candlelight Processional at Disneyland? Did you’ve got reserved seats or did you camp out? What did you consider the expertise? Was it price it? Any ideas so as to add? Share another questions or feedback you’ve got beneath!