Candlelight Processional Dining Packages at Disney World: Prices, Restaurants & Top Picks

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are available during the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, offering a meal and peace of mind via guaranteed seating at this highly popular Christmas event at Walt Disney World. Here’s a full list of participating restaurants, pricing, our commentary on whether these dinner plans are worth it, as well as answers to common questions.

Let’s start with the basics. Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World is the telling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator with music sung by a mass choir and performed by a 50-piece live orchestra. It’s one component of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which also includes the World Showcase Storytellers and Holiday Kitchen food booths.

Candlelight Processional performances are held in the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase three times per night from November 29 through December 30, 2024. There’s a reason it’s one of the most high-demand events of the Christmas season: Candlelight Processional is a beautiful show that many guests find to be a moving and spiritual experience. Calling this one of the most popular events at Walt Disney World is no exaggeration, either–some celebrity narrators draw multi-hour standby lines, which is precisely why the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are so popular…

Walt Disney World has now published a list of participating restaurants for the 2024 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages:

• Biergarten Restaurant – Germany Pavilion
• Chefs de France – France Pavilion
• La Crêperie de Paris – France Pavilion
• Coral Reef Restaurant – The Living Seas
• Garden Grill Restaurant – The Land Pavilion
• La Hacienda de San Angel – Mexico Pavilion
• Le Cellier Steakhouse – Canada Pavilion
• Nine Dragons Restaurant – China Pavilion
• Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (same-day only) – American Adventure
• Rose & Crown Dining Room – United Kingdom Pavilion
• Spice Road Table – Morocco Pavilion
• Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya – Japan Pavilion
• Teppan Edo – Japan Pavilion
• Tutto Italia Ristorante – Italy Pavilion
• Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – Italy Pavilion

Choose from a variety of EPCOT eateries that offer Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. Here’s what’s included with your meal:

• At Spice Road Table: 2 small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter and a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Guests 21 and older)
• At Other Participating Restaurants: An entrée and dessert, or a full buffet (where applicable)—as well as a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Guests 21 and older)

Plus, you’ll get one (1) guaranteed seat per person to one Candlelight Processional performance on the same day.

What are prices for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

Walt Disney World has left off prices when releasing 2024 Candlelight Processional Dining Package details. This is not normal–we suspect the omission of pricing was purposeful. If so, it’s never a good sign when companies don’t publish prices up front. I’m guessing that it’s not because Walt Disney World is worried that they’re so low you’ll hoard ADRs.

With that in mind, below are prices and other assorted details from last year. Expect these to be the absolute minimums–Disney pricing seldom goes down, and often goes up. Given how quickly ADRs filled up last year, you can expect increases of 15-25% across the board:

Are there changes to the 2024 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

Yes. Last year, standard table service restaurants included an appetizer, entrée and dessert, as well as a nonalcoholic beverage. (Emphasis added.)

The 2024 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages include an entrée and dessert, as well as a nonalcoholic beverage or alcoholic beverage for guests ages 21 and older. So in essence, they’ve replaced the appetizer with an alcoholic beverage.

Some adults might be perfectly fine with this, as the packages offered “too much food” in the past and they’d prefer to enjoy an alcoholic drink. However, we’ve seen this “trick” in the past with the Disney Dining Plan, and it’s a clever move on Walt Disney World’s part because alcohol is lower cost and guests between the ages of 10 and 20 pay the adult price but cannot order booze. Not to mention all of those who simply choose to abstain from alcohol.

Is the Disney Dining Plan accepted?

Historically, yes. The Disney Dining Plan could be used for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages, as it was treated as a “Dining Event” or experience. Two Table-Service meal credits will be redeemed from the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) for each person dining at a dinner show experience.

This is not mentioned in the info for the 2024 Candlelight Processional or the Disney Dining Plan, but we believe that to be an oversight and expect the Disney Dining Plan to be accepted. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that all 2-credit experiences are a poor use of DDP credits and you should pay out of pocket for them instead. If you want to disregard our advice, opt for the most expensive restaurants–Le Cellier and Akershus are your best bets.

What’s the cancellation policy? 

Walt Disney World’s official policy: Restaurants offering Advance Dining Reservations do not allow modifications within 2 hours of the reservation time, and most charge a $10 per-person fee to cancel within 2 hours of the reservation time, or if you don’t show up for your reservation. Each restaurant’s policies are provided when you make your reservation. If you’ve already booked, the policies can be found in your confirmation email.

We would emphasize that last line–check your email to confirm it’s the 2-hour rule. It was last year, but some other dining packages require cancellation at least a day in advance (which really means midnight the day before, not a full 24 hours).

Is there a standby line for Candlelight Processional? 

Yes. Guests who have not reserved a Candlelight Processional Dining Package will be seated at the Candlelight Processional on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is based on availability due to limited capacity. Guests in the standby line are not guaranteed seats.

Are Candlelight Processional Dining Packages worth it? 

We hate to say it, but yes. And we usually do not recommend the dining packages for the EPCOT concerts, so we’re not exactly trying to give you FOMO or anything. Candlelight Processional is the lone exception, which we think is worth doing the dining package.

America Gardens Theater where Candlelight Processional is held can seat over 1,000 guests per performance, but over half of these seats are reserved for guests who purchase dinner packages. All of these dinner package guests are guaranteed seats in one of the three nightly Candlelight Processional performances.

The higher the percentage allocated to dining packages, the more “competitive” the standby line for Candlelight Processional performances–and this year there are nearly double the number of restaurants as last year. We’ve seen the standby line get ridiculously long. Back in 2019–when there were 16 restaurants doing dining packages–we heard reports of people in the standby line being shut out completely, even those who had waited an hour.

If you’re a tourist or visiting on vacation, you should get a lunch or dinner package for the Candlelight Processional, especially when a popular narrator is presenting. One time when Neil Patrick Harris narrated, we saw people lining up for the 5 p.m. performance of Candlelight Processional around noon!

Your time on vacation is definitely worth the price. The 90 minutes to 3 hours of waiting in line that we’ve saved by purchasing the dining package has been well worth it–to us at least. Think of it this way: the surcharge on the Candlelight Processional Dining Package works out to be about the same cost as a Lightning Lane Single Pass. This will save you more time waiting in line and offer greater certainty.

Which celebrity narrators are most popular?

The following narrators are likely to be 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 K Brown, and Jodi Benson.

Additionally and at the risk of pointing out the obvious, demand is higher when crowds are higher. It doesn’t track perfectly, but it’s generally true. Multiple weeks in November and December make both lists on our rankings of the 10 Best and 10 Worst Weeks to Visit Walt Disney World in 2024 to 2026. Expect those to be the easiest and most difficult (as the case may be) Candlelight Processionals to see as a result.

How long does the standby line get? 

Celebrity culture is crazy, so fans for particular narrators often queue up hours in advance. Seeing those lines, regular tourists also jump into line. It becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy–the standby line for performances can get longer because it’s long.

Consequently, there’s no straightforward answer to this. You’ll see a line in mid-afternoon, hours in advance of the first performance. However, getting into line then–or even a full hour ahead of time–isn’t always necessary. Unlike attractions, which you’re essentially guaranteed to ride (exceptions for breakdowns) if you get in line and wait however long the line is, there’s no such guarantee with Candlelight Processional.

This uncertainty and potential for wasted time (both by getting into line “too early” or too late) is another reason we simply recommend the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. They remove the stress and unpredictability from the equation.

Are there any other options for seeing Candlelight Processional without breaking the bank or waiting hours in line?

If you elect not to do the dinner package and don’t want to wait hours in line, you have a couple of options. First, show up to the standby line ~15 minutes before the last show of the night starts. Depending upon the popularity of the narrator and how busy EPCOT is that evening, sometimes this last showing will still have seating.

We’ve found that this strategy will usually work just fine during slower weeks (see the above list). You may not have the best seats, but you’ll still be able to see the show and have a seat. If it does not, at least you didn’t waste a ton of time standing in line!

Alternatively, you can watch from the walkway behind the America Gardens Theatre. This is an option if seating is already full or you try the above strategy and get rejected. Cast Members manage crowd flow back here in the walkway, but you can simply stand behind the theater (not in the walkway) and watch the show. This is actually a good view for Candlelight Processional, so long as you’re in the front row of the standing section.

While we highly recommend the dining package for those wanting good, guaranteed seats, if you’re on a tight budget or Candlelight Processional is not as much of a “must-do,” these strategies are good alternatives to save a bit of money. We typically watch Candlelight Processional multiple times each Christmas, but only buy the dining package once. One year, we saw it over a dozen times, all via these strategies. (We don’t mess with the standby line far in advance–not worth the stress and sunk time. To each their own on that, though.)

What date do Advance Dining Reservations open for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages? 

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages can be booked online beginning October 29, 2024. Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) are highly recommended and can be made up to 60 days prior to your visit.

Although Walt Disney World has stated as much, this should be subject to the 60+10 rule for on-site guests, which means that on-site guests will be able to book for the last few dates of Candlelight Processional and off-site guests won’t. Everyone will be able to book 60 days in advance, though. (It’s also possible that Walt Disney World will open the floodgates and everyone will be able to book through the end of the event from the jump.)

What time do ADRs open for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

Here’s the official ‘party line’ from Walt Disney World on ADR timing as of Late 2024: “At approximately 6:00 AM daily, new reservation booking windows become available for select Walt Disney World restaurants.”

Previously, it was a bit more complicated: reservations regularly went live at 5:45 a.m. (or, more accurately, between then and 6 a.m.). Additionally, there was this: “All newly introduced dining events—such as special dining experiences and dessert parties—can typically be booked beginning at 7:00 AM on the day their offers become available.” This line has been removed from the Walt Disney World website.

Why am I sharing this now (supposedly) outdated information? Because I give all of these times side-eye. At least, when it comes to newly-introduced events, like the 2024 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. The real rule for these should be: “they happen when they happen.”

While it’s possible that they might go live at 7:00:00 a.m. on the dot, you might miss out if you wait until then. If scoring an ADR is of paramount importance to you–especially if you have a larger party, want a popular restaurant or celebrity narrator–you’ll want to be online by 5:45 a.m. for new releases–and sometimes even that is too late.

Other times, it’s far too early and ADRs aren’t loaded until 8:14 a.m. or some random time. Point being: ADR release days are very hit or miss! I know this is a frustrating non-answer, but don’t shoot the messenger. I’ve been doing this for years, and have experienced many of these frustrations firsthand. The only consistent with Disney IT is inconsistency.

Will more restaurants mean less competitive ADRs?

The other change this year, as you might’ve spotted in comparing the list of restaurants for the 2024 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages to last year is that there are more restaurants: 15 vs. 8. That’s almost double the number, which should help absorb more of the demand.

With that said, do not let this lull you into a false sense of security or complacency. The last couple of years, Candlelight Processional Dining Packages have sold out fast. To the point that some guests wondered whether there was a glitch, or if all of the packages had actually gone on sale during ADR launch day.

We would hazard a guess that Walt Disney World could’ve sold double the number of Candlelight Processional Dining Packages last year–maybe even triple. There was that much unsatiated demand. Which means that ADRs still would’ve been competitive–and presumably will be in 2024–even if there were 15 restaurants.

It’s also worth pointing out that 15 restaurants is not a historically high number. That’s still fewer than 2019 or prior years, when there were 16 participating table service restaurants in EPCOT and the Crescent Lake Resorts. Even then, ADRs booked up–eventually (not on day one).

Can we just book a normal ADR now for restaurants and convert those to Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

No. If you want a Candlelight Processional Dining Packages, you need to book that specifically. You cannot simply book an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) right now for one of the participating restaurants and add the dining package upon arrival. (That might end up being possible, but it’s not typically how this works.)

You need to wait and book the dedicated dining package. You’ll know you have the right thing because it’ll be listed as “Candlelight Processional Dining Packages” in the My Disney Experience app, on disneyworld.com, and on your confirmed ADR.

Are there any tips & tricks for scoring ADRs? 

For starters, if you can’t find anything for your desired dates, try refreshing or adjusting your parameters in the My Disney Experience app. There are options, they just don’t always appear at first. If you’re not having success, try some techniques from our Top 10 Tips for Hard to Book Advance Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World (numbers 7-10, in particular).

While not relevant to booking at this point, tip #2 is also worth mentioning. We’ve seen same-day availability for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages pop-up from time to time. This is due to ADR cancellations and added capacity, so be on the lookout for reservations starting the day in advance of your EPCOT visit.

What are the best restaurants for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages? 

We highly recommend Biergarten Restaurant. This is always our top pick thanks to its jovial Christmas atmosphere, music, and value for money. Read Our Christmas Feast at Biergarten Restaurant for what the holiday time experience is like there.

Biergarten is far and away our favorite option, to the point that I don’t even have a good runner-up pick. Our most recent experiences at Le Cellier have been positive, but it’s tough to get past that triple-digit price–especially with the appetizer gone this year. We always enjoy Via Napoli, and Chefs de France has a good vibe at Christmas.

What are the cheapest options for Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

Frankly, if we can’t score a Biergarten ADR, we’ll opt for the cheaper restaurants–potentially the same-day package. While the uncertainty might be unpleasant, the options are good. We are fans of Regal Eagle, but it’s not our ideal way to eat around World Showcase during the holidays.

Spice Road Table is our sleeper pick. It offers more bang-for-buck, with a menu that’s more approachable than you might think. In fact, we think Spice Road Table might be EPCOT’s best Candlelight Processional Dining Package spot. It’s certainly one of the most cost-effective!

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

Will you be booking a Candlelight Processional Dining Packages? Is it worth the surcharge to guarantee a seat to hear the awe-inspiring retelling of the Christmas story, featuring a celebrity narrator, 50-piece orchestra and choir? Have you done any of these dining packages in the past? Was it worth the money? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!