Hiya Melissa,
Welcome to planDisney! The
Candlelight Processional is one of my favorite parts of celebrating the holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort. Every aspect, from the incredible music to the celebrity narrator, is impeccable. I always leave with a smile (and, most of the time, tears in my eyes)!
Can I tell you a secret, Melissa? I’ve never used a
dining package for the Candlelight Processional. For some reason, I am always way too far behind to get my advanced dining reservations made for this special event. I exclusively wait in the standby line, and honestly, I kind of prefer it. My family tradition is to have one of us wait in the standby line while the other procures a surprise snack from one of the holiday kitchens at
EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays to share. It is always yummy, and it certainly makes the wait more fun. In my experience, Melissa, as long as you are in line 45-60 minutes before showtime, you should be able to get a seat. If where you sit is important to you, I would recommend getting in line closer to an hour prior. Now, this is also dependent upon the celebrity narrator; the more popular the narrator (such as Neil Patrick Harris), the earlier you will want to get a place in line. For popular and repeating narrators, I recommend adding 30 minutes to your wait time. This will give you the best chance of getting a great seat.
I hope this was helpful, Melissa! One last thing: if waiting in line for 90 minutes doesn’t fit into your itinerary, did you know that you could potentially get a same-day dining package at
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts and Barbeque? Just stop by the location when you get to EPCOT and see if they are available for your visit. There is no guarantee that they will have packages, especially during peak dates, but it never hurts to ask.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.