Candlelight Processional Eating Packages can be found in the course of the 2024 EPCOT Competition of the Holidays, providing a meal and peace of thoughts by way of assured seating at this extremely widespread Christmas occasion at Walt Disney World. Right here’s a full record of collaborating eating places, pricing, our commentary on whether or not these dinner plans are price it, in addition to solutions to frequent questions.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World is the telling of the Christmas story by a star narrator with music sung by a mass choir and carried out by a 50-piece dwell orchestra. It’s one part of the EPCOT Worldwide Competition of the Holidays, which additionally contains the World Showcase Storytellers and Vacation Kitchen meals cubicles.
Candlelight Processional performances are held within the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase thrice per evening from November 29 by way of December 30, 2024. There’s a purpose it’s one of the high-demand occasions of the Christmas season: Candlelight Processional is a fantastic present that many visitors discover to be a transferring and non secular expertise. Calling this one of the widespread occasions at Walt Disney World is not any exaggeration, both–some superstar narrators draw multi-hour standby traces, which is exactly why the Candlelight Processional Eating Packages are so widespread…
Walt Disney World has now revealed a listing of collaborating eating places for the 2024 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages:
- Biergarten Restaurant – Germany Pavilion
- Cooks de France – France Pavilion
- La Crêperie de Paris – France Pavilion
- Coral Reef Restaurant – The Dwelling Seas
- Backyard Grill Restaurant – The Land Pavilion
- La Hacienda de San Angel – Mexico Pavilion
- Le Cellier Steakhouse – Canada Pavilion
- 9 Dragons Restaurant – China Pavilion
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (same-day solely) – American Journey
- Rose & Crown Eating Room – United Kingdom Pavilion
- Spice Street Desk – Morocco Pavilion
- Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya – Japan Pavilion
- Teppan Edo – Japan Pavilion
- Tutto Italia Ristorante – Italy Pavilion
- By way of Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – Italy Pavilion
Select from a wide range of EPCOT eateries that provide Candlelight Processional Eating Packages. Right here’s what’s included along with your meal:
- At Spice Street Desk: 2 small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter and a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Visitors 21 and older)
- At Different Taking part Eating places: An entrée and dessert, or a full buffet (the place relevant)—in addition to a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Visitors 21 and older)
Plus, you’ll get one (1) assured seat per particular person to 1 Candlelight Processional efficiency on the identical day.
What are costs for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
Walt Disney World has left off costs when releasing 2024 Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal particulars. This isn’t regular–we suspect the omission of pricing was purposeful. If that’s the case, it’s by no means a very good signal when corporations don’t publish costs up entrance. I’m guessing that it’s not as a result of Walt Disney World is fearful that they’re so low you’ll hoard ADRs.
With that in thoughts, beneath are costs and different assorted particulars from final 12 months. Anticipate these to be absolutely the minimums–Disney pricing seldom goes down, and infrequently goes up. Given how shortly ADRs stuffed up final 12 months, you’ll be able to count on will increase of 15-25% throughout the board:
| Grownup (ages 10 and up) |
Youngster (ages 3 to 9) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Akershus Royal Banquet Corridor Norway Pavilion |
$71.00 – Breakfast $83.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
$45.00 – Breakfast $53.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
| Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion |
$65.00 | $37.00 |
| Coral Reef Restaurant The Dwelling Seas |
$78.00 | $32.00 |
| Backyard Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion |
$63.00 – Breakfast $78.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
$40.00 – Breakfast $50.00 – Lunch/Dinner |
| Le Cellier Steakhouse Canada Pavilion |
$104.00 | $42.00 |
| Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (same-day eating packages solely) American Journey Pavilion |
$41.00 | |
| Rose & Crown Eating Room United Kingdom Pavilion |
$66.00 | $29.00 |
| Spice Street Desk Morocco Pavilion |
$55.00 | $24.00 |
Are there modifications to the 2024 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
Sure. Final 12 months, commonplace desk service eating places included an appetizer, entrée and dessert, in addition to a nonalcoholic beverage. (Emphasis added.)
The 2024 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages embody an entrée and dessert, in addition to a nonalcoholic beverage or alcoholic beverage for visitors ages 21 and older. So in essence, they’ve changed the appetizer with an alcoholic beverage.
Some adults may be completely high quality with this, because the packages provided “an excessive amount of meals” up to now they usually’d favor to take pleasure in an alcoholic drink. Nevertheless, we’ve seen this “trick” up to now with the Disney Eating Plan, and it’s a intelligent transfer on Walt Disney World’s half as a result of alcohol is decrease price and visitors between the ages of 10 and 20 pay the grownup worth however can’t order booze. To not point out all of those that merely select to abstain from alcohol.
Is the Disney Eating Plan accepted?
Traditionally, sure. The Disney Eating Plan could possibly be used for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages, because it was handled as a “Eating Occasion” or expertise. Two Desk-Service meal credit can be redeemed from the Disney Eating Plan (DDP) for every particular person eating at a dinner present expertise.
This isn’t talked about within the information for the 2024 Candlelight Processional or the Disney Eating Plan, however we imagine that to be an oversight and count on the Disney Eating Plan to be accepted. One factor to remember, although, is that every one 2-credit experiences are a poor use of DDP credit and you must pay out of pocket for them as an alternative. If you wish to disregard our recommendation, go for the most costly eating places–Le Cellier and Akershus are your finest bets.
What’s the cancellation coverage?
Walt Disney World’s official coverage: Eating places providing Advance Eating Reservations don’t enable modifications inside 2 hours of the reservation time, and most cost a $10 per-person charge to cancel inside 2 hours of the reservation time, or in the event you don’t present up to your reservation. Every restaurant’s insurance policies are supplied once you make your reservation. If you happen to’ve already booked, the insurance policies may be present in your affirmation e-mail.
We’d emphasize that final line–test your e-mail to verify it’s the 2-hour rule. It was final 12 months, however another eating packages require cancellation no less than a day upfront (which actually means midnight the day earlier than, not a full 24 hours).
Is there a standby line for Candlelight Processional?
Sure. Visitors who haven’t reserved a Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal can be seated on the Candlelight Processional on a first-come, first-served foundation. Seating is predicated on availability as a result of restricted capability. Visitors within the standby line are usually not assured seats.
Are Candlelight Processional Eating Packages price it?
We hate to say it, however sure. And we often don’t suggest the eating packages for the EPCOT live shows, so we’re not precisely making an attempt to present you FOMO or something. Candlelight Processional is the lone exception, which we predict is price doing the eating package deal.
America Gardens Theater the place Candlelight Processional is held can seat over 1,000 visitors per efficiency, however over half of those seats are reserved for visitors who buy dinner packages. All of those dinner package deal visitors are assured seats in one of many three nightly Candlelight Processional performances.
The upper the proportion allotted to eating packages, the extra “aggressive” the standby line for Candlelight Processional performances–and this 12 months there are practically double the variety of eating places as final 12 months. We’ve seen the standby line get ridiculously lengthy. Again in 2019–when there have been 16 eating places doing eating packages–we heard stories of individuals within the standby line being shut out utterly, even those that had waited an hour.
If you happen to’re a vacationer or visiting on trip, you must get a lunch or dinner package deal for the Candlelight Processional, particularly when a well-liked narrator is presenting. One time when Neil Patrick Harris narrated, we noticed folks lining up for the 5 p.m. efficiency of Candlelight Processional round midday!
Your time on trip is certainly definitely worth the worth. The 90 minutes to three hours of ready in line that we’ve saved by buying the eating package deal has been nicely price it–to us no less than. Consider it this manner: the surcharge on the Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal works out to be about the identical price as a Lightning Lane Single Go. It will prevent extra time ready in line and supply higher certainty.
Which superstar narrators are hottest?
The next narrators are more likely to be probably the most in-demand for the 2024 Candlelight Processional: Josh Gad, Brendan Fraser, Gary Sinise, Neil Patrick Harris, Pat Sajak, Gloria Estefan, Edward James Olmos, Sterling Okay Brown, and Jodi Benson.
Moreover and on the threat of stating the plain, demand is larger when crowds are larger. It doesn’t monitor completely, however it’s typically true. A number of weeks in November and December make each lists on our rankings of the 10 Greatest and 10 Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2024 to 2026. Anticipate these to be the simplest and most troublesome (because the case could also be) Candlelight Processionals to see in consequence.
How lengthy does the standby line get?
Celeb tradition is loopy, so followers for specific narrators usually queue up hours upfront. Seeing these traces, common vacationers additionally leap into line. It turns into one thing of a self-fulfilling prophecy–the standby line for performances can get longer as a result of it’s lengthy.
Consequently, there’s no simple reply to this. You’ll see a line in mid-afternoon, hours upfront of the primary efficiency. Nevertheless, entering into line then–or perhaps a full hour forward of time–isn’t at all times mandatory. In contrast to points of interest, which you’re basically assured to trip (exceptions for breakdowns) in the event you get in line and wait nevertheless lengthy the road is, there’s no such assure with Candlelight Processional.
This uncertainty and potential for wasted time (each by entering into line “too early” or too late) is another excuse we merely suggest the Candlelight Processional Eating Packages. They take away the stress and unpredictability from the equation.
Are there every other choices for seeing Candlelight Processional with out breaking the financial institution or ready hours in line?
If you happen to elect to not do the dinner package deal and don’t wish to wait hours in line, you could have a few choices. First, present as much as the standby line ~quarter-hour earlier than the final present of the evening begins. Relying upon the recognition of the narrator and the way busy EPCOT is that night, generally this final exhibiting will nonetheless have seating.
We’ve discovered that this technique will often work simply high quality throughout slower weeks (see the above record). You might not have the very best seats, however you’ll nonetheless have the ability to see the present and have a seat. If it doesn’t, no less than you didn’t waste a ton of time standing in line!
Alternatively, you’ll be able to watch from the walkway behind the America Gardens Theatre. That is an choice if seating is already full otherwise you strive the above technique and get rejected. Forged Members handle crowd movement again right here within the walkway, however you’ll be able to merely stand behind the theater (not within the walkway) and watch the present. That is truly a very good view for Candlelight Processional, as long as you’re within the entrance row of the standing part.
Whereas we extremely suggest the eating package deal for these wanting good, assured seats, in the event you’re on a decent price range or Candlelight Processional just isn’t as a lot of a “must-do,” these methods are good options to save lots of a bit of cash. We usually watch Candlelight Processional a number of occasions every Christmas, however solely purchase the eating package deal as soon as. One 12 months, we noticed it over a dozen occasions, all by way of these methods. (We don’t mess with the standby line far upfront–not definitely worth the stress and sunk time. To every their very own on that, although.)
What date do Advance Eating Reservations open for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
Candlelight Processional Eating Packages may be booked on-line starting October 29, 2024. Advance Eating Reservations (ADRs) are extremely beneficial and may be made as much as 60 days previous to your go to.
Though Walt Disney World has acknowledged as a lot, this needs to be topic to the 60+10 rule for on-site visitors, which implies that on-site visitors will have the ability to guide for the previous couple of dates of Candlelight Processional and off-site visitors gained’t. Everybody will have the ability to guide 60 days upfront, although. (It’s additionally potential that Walt Disney World will open the floodgates and everybody will have the ability to guide by way of the tip of the occasion from the leap.)
What time do ADRs open for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
Right here’s the official ‘occasion line’ from Walt Disney World on ADR timing as of Late 2024: “At roughly 6:00 AM each day, new reservation reserving home windows develop into obtainable for choose Walt Disney World eating places.”
Beforehand, it was a bit extra difficult: reservations recurrently went dwell at 5:45 a.m. (or, extra precisely, between then and 6 a.m.). Moreover, there was this: “All newly launched eating occasions—equivalent to particular eating experiences and dessert events—can usually be booked starting at 7:00 AM on the day their presents develop into obtainable.” This line has been faraway from the Walt Disney World web site.
Why am I sharing this now (supposedly) outdated data? As a result of I give all of those occasions side-eye. At the very least, relating to newly-introduced occasions, just like the 2024 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages. The actual rule for these needs to be: “they occur after they occur.”
Whereas it’s potential that they could go dwell at 7:00:00 a.m. on the dot, you would possibly miss out in the event you wait till then. If scoring an ADR is of paramount significance to you–particularly in case you have a bigger occasion, desire a widespread restaurant or superstar narrator–you’ll wish to be on-line by 5:45 a.m. for brand new releases–and generally even that’s too late.
Different occasions, it’s far too early and ADRs aren’t loaded till 8:14 a.m. or some random time. Level being: ADR launch days are very hit and miss! I do know it is a irritating non-answer, however don’t shoot the messenger. I’ve been doing this for years, and have skilled many of those frustrations firsthand. The one per Disney IT is inconsistency.
Will extra eating places imply much less aggressive ADRs?
The opposite change this 12 months, as you would possibly’ve noticed in evaluating the record of eating places for the 2024 Candlelight Processional Eating Packages to final 12 months is that there are extra eating places: 15 vs. 8. That’s nearly double the quantity, which ought to assist soak up extra of the demand.
With that stated, don’t let this lull you right into a false sense of safety or complacency. The final couple of years, Candlelight Processional Eating Packages have offered out quick. To the purpose that some visitors questioned whether or not there was a glitch, or if all the packages had truly gone on sale throughout ADR launch day.
We’d hazard a guess that Walt Disney World might’ve offered double the variety of Candlelight Processional Eating Packages final 12 months–possibly even triple. There was that a lot unsatiated demand. Which implies that ADRs nonetheless would’ve been aggressive–and presumably can be in 2024–even when there have been 15 eating places.
It’s additionally price stating that 15 eating places is not a traditionally excessive quantity. That’s nonetheless fewer than 2019 or prior years, when there have been 16 collaborating desk service eating places in EPCOT and the Crescent Lake Resorts. Even then, ADRs booked up–ultimately (not on day one).
Can we simply guide a standard ADR now for eating places and convert these to Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
No. In order for you a Candlelight Processional Eating Packages, you’ll want to guide that particularly. You can’t merely guide an Advance Eating Reservation (ADR) proper now for one of many collaborating eating places and add the eating package deal upon arrival. (That would possibly find yourself being potential, however it’s not usually how this works.)
It’s essential to wait and guide the devoted eating package deal. You’ll know you could have the proper factor as a result of it’ll be listed as “Candlelight Processional Eating Packages” within the My Disney Expertise app, on disneyworld.com, and in your confirmed ADR.
Are there any suggestions & methods for scoring ADRs?
For starters, in the event you can’t discover something to your desired dates, strive refreshing or adjusting your parameters within the My Disney Expertise app. There are alternatives, they simply don’t at all times seem at first. If you happen to’re not having success, strive some strategies from our Prime 10 Suggestions for Onerous to E-book Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World (numbers 7-10, particularly).
Whereas not related to reserving at this level, tip #2 can also be price mentioning. We’ve seen same-day availability for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages pop-up every now and then. This is because of ADR cancellations and added capability, so be looking out for reservations beginning the day upfront of your EPCOT go to.
What are the finest eating places for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
We extremely suggest Biergarten Restaurant. That is at all times our prime decide because of its jovial Christmas ambiance, music, and worth for cash. Learn Our Christmas Feast at Biergarten Restaurant for what the vacation time expertise is like there.
Biergarten is much and away our favourite choice, to the purpose that I don’t actually have a good runner-up decide. Our most up-to-date experiences at Le Cellier have been constructive, however it’s robust to get previous that triple-digit worth–particularly with the appetizer gone this 12 months. We at all times take pleasure in By way of Napoli, and Cooks de France has a very good vibe at Christmas.
What are the most cost-effective choices for Candlelight Processional Eating Packages?
Frankly, if we will’t rating a Biergarten ADR, we’ll go for the cheaper eating places–doubtlessly the same-day package deal. Whereas the uncertainty may be disagreeable, the choices are good. We’re followers of Regal Eagle, however it’s not our splendid solution to eat round World Showcase in the course of the holidays.
Spice Street Desk is our sleeper decide. It presents extra bang-for-buck, with a menu that’s extra approachable than you would possibly suppose. In actual fact, we predict Spice Street Desk may be EPCOT’s finest Candlelight Processional Eating Package deal spot. It’s actually one of the cost-effective!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Lodges Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you’ll want to know!
Your Ideas
Will you be reserving a Candlelight Processional Eating Packages? Is it definitely worth the surcharge to ensure a seat to listen to the awe-inspiring retelling of the Christmas story, that includes a star narrator, 50-piece orchestra and choir? Have you ever completed any of those eating packages up to now? Was it definitely worth the cash? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
