Hello, Haley! Welcome to planDisney. We're so glad you found us!
The Candlelight Processional pulls at my heartstrings, and I get emotional whenever I see it. This beloved Christmas tradition started at Disneyland Park in 1958 and debuted at Walt Disney World in 1971 at Magic Kingdom Park. In 1994, the Candlelight Processional was moved to EPCOT as part of the
EPCOT International Festival of Holidays celebration. Now, it is accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra, choir, a guest conductor, and a celebrity narrator in a joyful retelling of the Christmas Story.
Certain celebrity narrators demand large crowds, and booking a
Dining Package for lunch or dinner is the best way to guarantee a seat. Guests receive a seating badge after their meal, specifying the date and showtime, which are 5:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. nightly. Depending on availability, you may only see one option for showtimes when reserving your package. That would mean that the other showings have been fully booked for that restaurant. I recommend calling the Dining Team at (407) 824-1391 to check availability for the 5:15 p.m. showing. I'm sending a little pixie dust all the way to Ohio, so it all works out!
I suggest (from experience) getting to the showing a decent amount of time before it starts so you can get a good seat! Even though you'll be seated before the Standby line, it's a good idea to get in line at The American Gardens Theatre at least 30 minutes early- ask a Cast Member where the queue for the Dining Packages start. Before lining up, I like to stop at
Karamell-Küche in the Germany Pavilion for a snack. They have a Salted Caramel Gingerbread Cookie Sandwich that is heavenly!
Have a wonderful vacation, Haley! If there's anything else we can help you with, don't hesitate to ask!
Eean