We’ve got big news to share with you today regarding the expanded schedule for the 2012 Disneyland Candlelight Ceremony and Processional. As we first told you in August, Candlelight is being extended to a total of 20 nights at Disneyland park this year, for the first time in its history, with two performances each night. Below is the list of currently scheduled narrators for shows from December 1-20:
Dec. 1-2: Dennis Haysbert (actor)*
Dec. 3-5: Kurt Russell (actor and Disney Legend)
Dec. 6-8: Edward James Olmos (actor)
Dec. 9-11: Lou Diamond Phillips (actor)
Dec. 12-13: Dick Van Dyke (actor and Disney Legend)
Dec. 14: Dennis Haysbert (actor)
Dec. 15-16: Patricia Heaton (actress)
Dec. 17-19: Molly Ringwald (actress)
Dec. 20: John Stamos (actor)
Please note that narrators are subject to change without notice.
*December 1-2 performances are by invitation only, as they have been since 1958, when Walt Disney first held these private celebrations to thank partners in the community for their support throughout the year.
Comments
This is it! The main reason I visit the Park in December.
Listening to the Christmas Music and The Christmas Story told to so many – warms my heart & spirit. Thanks for continuing this special tradition. May it fill the hearts of all who witness it with love and joy. Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!
I’m so glad I found out about this event before the entry deadline! I’m going on 2 yrs of being an AP with my family and I love all the decorations that Disneyland puts up during the Christmas season and attending this viewing would be a great way to enjoy the holiday season at Disneyland!
How and where do I go to register for the Lottery? Also, We were planing on taking my Mother and Father InLaw to hear and see it. I was part of it for years, but most of the contacts are gone or I feel uncomfortable asking. HELP Erin ! Obi-Wan is out of town and you are my only hope (a little tongue in cheek, but serious)
You don’t have to be an AP to view the Candlelight Processional. The AP lottery is for seated viewing. Anyone can view from the standing areas around Town Square.
We’re sooooooooo bummed…..coming all the way from Texas and won’t get to see the candlelight processional because we’re not annual passholders. 🙁
Awww… Michael, are you sure? What number did you call? I would like to call them. The dining package was part of the experience. Can a spot be reserved now for, seats only, to the Candlelight Processional? I suppose I can book my own dining reservations. In the past they limited each AP holder to 4 seats per pass. My husband and I are both pass holders, but we were able to take my college aged son and his girlfriend.
OK folks – I just found out from Guest Services there apparently will not be dining packages offered this year. So I’m not sure if that means only APs will be able to get reserved seating.
Erin – can you please give us any additional information that you have at all – I have several family members traveling in from cross country just for this reason and if they are not APs and can not get reserved seating this information would be nice to know so I can tell them to cancel their plans.
Thank You Julie.
This is a 3 hr tour. It is the reg. Holiday tour + seating on Dec.1 and 2nd only for the candllight show. Comes out to about $82.00 more for reserved seating.The Phone number is 1-714-781-8687.. Nice folks to talk to..
Hello Erin,
Can you give us ANY updates on the WWW’s, of seeing this ceremony.
I SO want to attend!
Thank you.
I am beyond excited right now. I was just able to purchase the Ultimate Holiday Tour for 12/2 which includes reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional. The cast member that answered my call wasn’t even aware that was an option but thankfully, I learned of this special tour at the tour booth when I was at Disneyland for Halloween. The cast member was, of course, super helpful, spoke with her supervisor and was able to book the tour for me. The cost was $150 which may seem pricey to some but given that this will be my first Candlelight well worth it in my book. I would highly recommend trying to book this tour for 12/1 or 12/2 as it is my understanding this will be the only way to see the Candlelight Processional on those two evenings without being an “invited guest”.
ERIN – tomorrow we will be 30 days out for the performances the general public can attend and Disney Dining said they will be able to start reservations tomorrow but they do not have any details on how it is going to work yet. Can you tell us – What restaurants are going to be involved – will it be a fixed price/menu, certain price point on the check or just order entree/appetizer like in previous years? Thank You
Q–“My family is going to be vistitng DLR during this time and were wondering if Disneyland closes early due to this event. Thanks!”
A–No, in fact the park has extended its hours (usually closes at 8PM M-Th off season)
Q–“Will I be asked to leave Disneyland if I am already there, trying to go on Peter Pan or Buzz Lightyear?”
A–No, the park is open as usual during Candlelight.
Q–“Is this essentially the same as the Christmas parties at the Magic Kingdom?”
A–No, a seperate admission is NOT required to attend the park on Candlelight days.
Q–“I would like to know the TIMING of these events (time of day)”
A–It is an evening event; needs to be dark for the candles 🙂 Although not posted, yet, I expect it will be the same as in the past @ 6 & 8 PM. The show lasts about 30 minutes. Before the first show, there has been a procession from “it’s a small world” to Town Square at 5:30.
Do we know when we will be able to register for tickets? I am an AP Holder.
I would like to know the TIMING of these events (time of day)
Also, waht are the rules for non-attendees.
Will I be asked to leave Disneyland if I am already there, trying to go on Peter Pan or Buzz Lightyear?
Is this essentially the same as the Christmas parties at the Magic Kingdom?
My family is going to be vistitng DLR during this time and were wondering if Disneyland closes early due to this event. Thanks!
Hi Erin,
We’re getting all sorts of conflicting info. Can you straighten things out for me?
1) Dining packages will only be available on-line, 30 days in advance (according to 781-DINE) –OR– Dining packages will be available on-line and through Disney Dine, beginning mid-November (according to 781-SHOW and 781-INFO)
2) Holiday Tour + Candlelight show combos can be booked 30 days in advance by calling 781-TOUR. Price includes after 4 o’clock admission (like the Ultimate Halloween) per 781-INFO –OR– The price (same as Ultimate Halloween, $108) does NOT include admission, per 781-SHOW.
I’ve actually heard many more, but these seem to be the most credible (or you’ve answered them already),
Thanks, Anna
I haven’t seen this in years (since James Earl Jones narrated….AMAAAAAZING). I’m very excited to be going at EPCOT and will do everything I can to see Dick VD. Thanks for the info Erin. I’ll be waiting anxiously for more details on packages.
This will be my first (as well as my kids) Christmas season at Disneyland (but I am an APH). I was excited before and now I am Extra-excited. My visit will cover the 7th through the 11th. When will it be announced who will be the narrator for the 6-8th? I am also very interested in the annual pass holder tickets!
Hi there, this sounds like a cool event, come someone please give me more information about this? We will be down on Dec 3&4th and understand that as AP holders we might get into this event? Is this held after the park closes? Any info would be great, thanks!!
Two of our party will be using ECV’s and we are not pass holders. We would like to see the event, will there be a special section set aside or do we need a dinning package to guarentee they can see?
For the Dick Van Dyke performances, do we need to reserve tickets, or can anyone in the park that day attend Candlelight?
I SO want to attend one of these performances! I am 50+ shall we say, and lived close to the Magic Kingdom, and visited on and off (I am a official an APH now 🙂 all my life.
I am embarrassed to say that I don’t remember ever hearing about the Candlelight Ceremony.
How do I go about making sure I and my husband see it this season?
Thank you!!
How do I go about getting tickets or invite to the event, I am interested for the Dec 12 or 13. i would need 5 tickets for my family. this would be a Awesome experience for our christmas celebration. thank you for taking the time. Guillermo
My daughter will be singing in the candlelight ceremony on the 9th and 18th. As an AP holder will I be able to reserve tickets for both days?
Yes, I am most interested in learning more about these dinner packages… I will be there when Dick Van Dyke is narrating, but I have a strong feeling anticipation for those two nights is going to be HUGE… I am not a Disneyland annual passholder so will have to rely on booking a dinner package…
Are regular guests going to be able to book dinner packages at the same time annual passholders are going to be allowed to reserve their tickets??
Also have the same question as Michael…will the performances after Dec 2 be held somewhere else??
“The December 1-2 performances will take place in Town Square and the process for the evening will be the same as it has been before”.
Erin, So will the performances after Dec 2nd be held elsewhere?
All Candlelight performances will be in Town Square. Sorry for any confusion.
Do you think for next year they can extend Candlelight to December 25, or either have the dates moved out to December 5 to December 25? I usually try to go to the park on Dec. 24 and 25, and know many others who do too. Thanks!
I am not going to this event. Does not sound very inticing to me. 🙁
Erin – Does “The process for the evening will be the same as it has been before” mean that park guests who are not in the reserved seating area will still be able to view the ceremony, provided they can find a spot to watch on Main Street? And if so, will this be the case for every night that Candlelight is taking place?
My question is the same as Michael’s. Will the ceremony be able to be viewed from the distance? Is it in Town Square? Thank you!
Michael, Julie and Jeff – The December 1-2 performances will take place in Town Square and the process for the evening will be the same as it has been before.
Erin,
Talk about excited…..I’m like an 8 year old waiting for Christmas Morning……only I’m 63 and waiting for news about AP tickets and dining packages!! As I understand so far AP holders get tickets at N/C, correct? Any idea how many, as I have a large group coming Dec 6/10? I know the blog will tell us when they are available but will it just “open” or will they give us advance notice of the date and time as in the past? I know you’re as anxious as we are for news but any information you may share would be appreciated!
Arizona Mike
You’re right, Arizona Mike – I am. 🙂 I’ll get them to you as soon as I can.
I know there were dinner packages with reserved seating in the past. I assume they’ll do it again. I’ll pay to see Dick Van Dyke do this. My daughter will go nuts she LOVES Mary Poppins.
Erin – As Michael asked above, and I was wondering as well, for Dec 1-2, and guest of the park allowed to stand and watch from the sidelines? I’ve done that many times in the past, but your comment above could be interpreted that the event would take place elsewhere that weekend. Any insight?
I would sit on the curb on Main Street from today to December 12 to see and hear Dick Van Dyke do the this.
Wow, Dick Van Dyke! Mary Poppins has been one of my favorite movies since I was little. 🙂 Too bad I rarely go to DLR!
Any chance that someone like him would attend the Grand Opening of New Fantasyland? I’m going, so that would be awesome…
Erin, I do have a question. If your Annual Pass is not valid for Friday,Saturday and Sunday are you still able to attend the event?
For the performances on the 1st & 2nd – will it be like previous years where we can still sit on the peripheral benches and stand and watch?
I am so ready Erin! Sitting on my computer anticipating the news you are about to give us.
I am so excited to score a place for this event. Hope I can!!
When will the AP be allowed to register? As well as when will the AP dinner packages we released?
Yes, how do we register? And can we register for more than one night? Also, what about the dining packages?
WOW! The “Allstate Insurance” guy (Dennis Haysbert) doing the narrating? Can’t wait to hear that! I’m sure I’ll be there for the Dick Van Dyke too, since he’s a family favorite.
Yes when can I get tickets 🙂 I want to see Dick Van Dyke narrate it!
exciting stuff!! I too, am awaiting information regarding the special AP packages that will be offered. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the update! Very exciting! Can’t wait to hear about the dining packages available to non-AP holders!
Erin, have the details for how APs can register for these events been released yet?
Fabulous! So when will the annual passholder packages be announced?
Additional Candlelight information will be available in early November. Be sure to also register at Disneyland.com/ap to receive updates on Annual Passholder opportunities.
Comments are closed.