The Disneyland Candlelight Processional takes place each year over one weekend in early December and remains one of the park’s most cherished holiday traditions. The celebrity narrator is traditionally kept under tight wraps and is rarely revealed before the rehearsal.
We’ve now confirmed the 2025 Disneyland Candlelight Processional narrator and have a first look at this year’s event, plus everything you need to know about what to expect from the experience. At Mickey Visit, we report on all recent Disney news, including our experience with the EPCOT Cookie Stroll and the new ride closures announced for Disney California Adventure.
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Disneyland 2025 Candlelight Processional Narrator Revealed
Unlike Walt Disney World, Disneyland never officially announces the Candlelight Processional’s celebrity narrator in advance. Instead, their identity is usually revealed when photos surface on social media during the afternoon sound check before the first Saturday performance.
At Walt Disney World, there is a long list of narrators. There are 15 narrators at Walt Disney World for 2025, with almost all of them performing for multiple nights with three shows each night. In contrast, the Disneyland event is quite small. You can see all the Disney World Candlelight narrators here, including a recent change.
This year’s 2025 Disneyland Candlelight Celebrity Narrator was revealed during the sound check today as Benjamin Bratt. He has appeared in numerous top movies and TV shows, including Miss Congeniality, Law & Order, and Traffic. His most famous Disney role is as Ernesto de La Cruz in Pixar’s Coco. Disney is currently in the middle of construction for the first-ever Coco ride. He also appeared in the Star Wars Disney Plus series, Andor.
Earlier today, rumors were circulating that Ke Huy Quan, famous for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and now Zootopia 2, would be the narrator, but this turned out to not be true.
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Last year’s narrator was Kathryn Hahn. Brie Larson took on the role the year before. The narrator is often someone connected to a major Disney blockbuster, though it can also be a well-known or highly respected Disney Legend. Over the years, narrators have included Chris Hemsworth, Ginnifer Goodwin, Sterling K. Brown, Kurt Russell, Chris Pratt, John Stamos, Dick Van Dyke, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Here’s a look at the narrator when they came out during the rehearsal.
We will be in attendance for the Sunday night show and look forward to sharing video of the appearance. Be sure to follow @MickeyVisit on social media so you don’t miss out.
Disneyland Candlelight Processional 2025 Event
The Disneyland Candlelight Processional traditionally takes place on the first weekend of December, with performances on Saturday and Sunday and two shows each evening. The confirmed 2025 dates are December 6 and December 7.
For 2025, showtimes are set for 5:30 PM and 7:45 PM each night. With only four total performances, this Christmastime tradition remains an exclusive event primarily intended for guests with reserved seating. Reserved seats for the Disneyland Candlelight Processional are for a few hundred guests only, including VIPs like executives, community members, civic leaders, Club 33 members, and media representatives.
The Disneyland Candlelight Processional is a 45-minute musical retelling of “The First Christmas,” performed in Town Square on the steps of the Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station. The production features a blend of song and scripture, a mass choir made up of singers from local schools and community groups, the Disneyland Symphony Orchestra, fanfare trumpets, and handbell performers. The musical lineup includes classic Christmas carols such as “Deck the Halls,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” and the iconic “Hallelujah Chorus.”
How to View 2025 Disneyland Candlelight Processional
There are no additional reserved viewing options beyond those allocated to invited guests. Unlike the EPCOT Candlelight Processional, this event does not offer any seating for regular guests, either through a standby line or dining packages.
For those without an assigned spot, there are still a few ways to experience this beautiful and unique holiday tradition, but it requires a bit of patience and luck. Occasionally, guests who wait for the show may be offered open seats if VIP sections aren’t filled at showtime. You also have the option of attempting to secure a standing spot around Main Street, U.S.A., but this often takes hours of waiting and dedication, so just be prepared.
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Keep in mind that the Main Street viewing area becomes extremely crowded, and navigating the space can feel fairly claustrophobic. Read more about our viewing tips for the Disneyland Candlelight Processional based on years of experience being present at the theme park for this historic event. Another great tip for this day is avoiding the area completely. The rest of the park is always very empty and it is a great time to get on rides. Some of the lowest wait times I have ever seen for Rise of the Resistance were right during the Candlelight showing.
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