EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional dining packages went on sale Oct. 14, but only through Dec. 13 so far. Later dates open day by day, and some fans had a rough first morning.
Candlelight Processional dining packages for EPCOT went on sale Wednesday, Oct. 14. If you went looking for a Christmas week show and came up empty, there’s a reason.
Disney World dining reservations open 60 days ahead. So on launch day, packages only went as far as Dec. 13, Disney Tourist Blog’s Tom Bricker explained. Later dates open on a rolling basis.
Disney’s official line is that new booking windows open “at approximately 6:00 AM daily,” Bricker wrote. In his experience, the timing isn’t that neat. Some releases have loaded as late as 8:14 a.m., so he suggests being online by 5:45 a.m.
Gary Sinise narrates again this year, Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. Here’s his full 2025 show, from Florida With Us:
Why couldn’t I book a Candlelight Processional package?
A few reasons came up in the comments under Bricker’s guide on launch morning. Some readers couldn’t get availability to load for hours. One said it finally showed up around 6:37 a.m., even though the package page still said to check back starting Oct. 14.
A couple of workarounds came up there, too. Several readers booked the restaurant reservation first and then picked the package when choosing a time. Others searched with a different party size to find openings, planning to fix it later.
Those are reader reports, so results may differ. Disney hasn’t said anything about website trouble.
One rule Bricker flagged: a regular dining reservation can’t simply be turned into a Candlelight package later. You need to book it as a package from the start.
How much are Candlelight Processional dining packages in 2026?
From $59 to $109 for adults, plus tax and tip. Kids ages 3 to 9 run $26 to $59.
A few of the 16 restaurants, according to Disney Tourist Blog’s price list:
La Creperie de Paris: $59 adults, $31 kids (the cheapest)
Spice Road Table: $63 and $26 (Bricker’s pick for best value)
Rose & Crown Dining Room: $68 and $31
Garden Grill: $73 and $46 at breakfast, $86 and $55 later in the day
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall: $87 and $59, back after two years
Le Cellier Steakhouse: $109 and $44 (the priciest)
Each package covers a meal and one guaranteed seat at a show that same day.
The Disney Dining Plan works, too. Most spots take one table-service credit, while Le Cellier and Akershus take two. Packages dropped the appetizer last year, so it’s an entree and dessert now, or a buffet where one is offered.
Can you get a same-day Candlelight Processional package?
Yes, at Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the American Adventure. It’s same-day only, at $43 for adults and $26 for kids. Bricker recommends showing up at opening, since there was a line before opening last year.
Standby seating exists too, but it’s first come, first served. More than half the theater’s seats go to package guests, according to Disney Tourist Blog.
When is Candlelight Processional at EPCOT this year?
Nov. 27 through Dec. 30, as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Shows run three times a night, at 4:45, 6:30 and 8 p.m., at the America Gardens Theatre.
The Nov. 27 and 28 narrator is still listed as TBA after Auli’i Cravalho dropped out, which we covered Oct. 8. New names this year include Benjamin Bratt, Robin Roberts, Jason Kelce, Josh Groban and Lacey Chabert. Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, has Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
This is the show’s 55th year at Walt Disney World and its 32nd at EPCOT, Disney Tourist Blog noted.
What happens if you cancel a Candlelight package?
You can’t change it within two hours of the reservation. Most restaurants charge $10 per person to cancel inside that window or for a no-show, Bricker wrote. Some packages need a day’s notice, so check your confirmation email.
If Dec. 13 is the last date you saw this morning, that just means the calendar hasn’t caught up yet. Set an alarm for about 5:45 a.m. on the day your date opens, 60 days ahead.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Disney Tourist Blog, Tom Bricker (Oct. 13, 2026, with reader comments Oct. 14), booking rules, prices, narrators and policies
TouringPlans (Oct. 11, 2026), the launch date, show times and Regal Eagle
Pirates and Princesses (Oct. 8 and 12, 2026), the narrator change and package prices
Florida With Us on YouTube (Dec. 20, 2025), the Gary Sinise show
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.