Disney Reveals the 2025 Candlelight Processional Lineup

A holiday tradition dating back to the 1950s will return to Disney theme parks this year. Even better, we just learned the names of all the celebrities who will attend. Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at EPCOT, as Disney has revealed the 2025 Candlelight Processional lineup of narrators. Let’s discuss the event.

A Brief History of the Candlelight Processional

In 1955, Walt Disney decided that Disneyland should celebrate the holiday season for the first time. During its first three years in operation, Disney didn’t have much of a holiday presence. So, Uncle Walt wanted to add a bit of spectacle. 

As part of that initial holiday party, The Happiest Place on Earth introduced the Candlelight Processional. According to D23’s official Disney history, “a group of 12 Dickens carolers, under the direction of Dr. Charles C. Hirt of the University of Southern California, performed throughout the park, and guest choirs were invited to perform daily in the Main Street, U.S.A. bandstand, which was re-christened the “Christmas Bowl” for the season.”

Within a few years, Disney had a choir and marching band traveling through the park to infuse it with holiday musical magic. By 1960, Disney had settled on the secret ingredient to the Candlelight Processional’s success: one voice to tie everything together. This person narrated the Nativity Story in between choir performances. 

In 1960, actor and singer Dennis Morgan became the first Celebrity Narrator at the event, which earned him a permanent spot in Disney lore. Even if you don’t know Morgan, it’s accurate to say that being a Celebrity Narrator quickly became a huge honor in Hollywood.

According to D23, other, more famous actors quickly followed Morgan. This list includes “Cary Grant, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, James Earl Jones, and Olympia Dukakis.” That’s a lot of Hollywood icons from the Golden Age who visited Disneyland to tell the Nativity Story. 

Disney Reveals the 2025 Candlelight Processional Lineup 

Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

In 1971, Walt Disney World opened, and it added its own version of the Candlelight Processional at Magic Kingdom. Then, more than 20 years later, Disney transferred the performances to the more spacious America Gardens Theaters at EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion. Since then, that’s where generations of Disney fans have watched the Voices of Liberty, a 50-piece band, and Celebrity Narrators perform the show. 

For many people, the most important part of this event is the host/hostess. The music and the vibe will be wonderful no matter what, but fans remember their celebrities the most when they look back on the event. 

Disney just announced this year’s lineup, and it’s got as many first-time Celebrity Narrators as I can ever recall. Here’s the list for 2025:

• Nov. 28-29 – Constance Wu (NEW) 
• Nov. 30-Dec. 2 – Jordan Fisher 
• Dec. 3-4 – Jennifer Garner (NEW) 
• Dec. 5-6 – Ashley Eckstein 
• Dec. 7-8 – Ralph Macchio 
• Dec. 9-10 – Leslie Uggams (NEW) 
• Dec. 11-13 – Marlee Matlin 
• Dec. 14-15 – Henry Winkler (NEW) 
• Dec. 16-17 – Lauren Daigle (NEW) 
• Dec. 18-19 – Gary Sinise 
• Dec. 20-22 – Brendan Fraser 
• Dec. 23-24 – Luis Fonsi 
• Dec. 25-26 – Joel Smallbone (NEW) 
• Dec. 27-28 – Brie Larson (NEW) 
• Dec. 29-30 – Sheryl Lee Ralph (NEW) 

The most important takeaway is the starting date. This year’s Candlelight Processional will start the day after Thanksgiving. So, those of you visiting for the holiday will have a chance to watch the show. Performances begin at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. EST. 

Also, as you probably know, all these events will sell out. So, Disney has brought back Candlelight Processional Dining Packages for 2025. According to the official site, once you eat, “you’ll receive a reserved seating badge for your reserved package showtime.” Dining Packages go on sale on October 14th, a Tuesday, about less than four weeks from today.

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