The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays will return to the park Nov. 18 - Dec. 30, 2018, starting one day earlier than last year. The Candlelight Processional also returns this year and, for the first time, the popular holiday tradition will open for Thanksgiving on Nov. 22 - Dec. 30, 2018. Narrators and dining packages for the Candlelight Processional are still forthcoming.
Here's Disney's description of the two events:
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays invites Guests to discover holiday cheer throughout the park and across all 11 World Showcase pavilions. Special entertainment, storytellers, seasonal favorites at Holiday Kitchens, and eye-catching holiday decor are all part of the fun. Evenings during this time are topped off with a special holiday presentation of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.”
The Candlelight Processional, a holiday must-do for many Epcot Guests, is a retelling of the traditional Christmas story read by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a massed choir and live orchestra.
The Candlelight Processional is extremely popular and should be on your Disney Bucket List if you have not done it yet. Neil Patrick Harris, Whoppi Goldberg, Kurt Russell, and Steven Curtis Chapman are just a few of the narrators who have returned year after year and remain quite popular among attendees. Disney offers three shows nightly with guests lining up hours in advance to gain seating in the American Gardens theater. If you are willing to pay a premium, you can book a Candlelight Processional dining package which includes either a breakfast, lunch, or dinner at an Epcot or Epcot resort area restaurant and guaranteed seating for one of the shows.
Now is the time to start planning your holiday trip to Walt Disney World! With just a $200 deposit, you can secure your reservation and have our Dream Makers start planning your magical vacation. And, if you book soon, you may be able to take advantage of Disney's Free Dining promotion! Request a quote today!