Walt Disney World Resort has issued a last-minute update affecting one of its most cherished holiday traditions. Just days before the start of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, a scheduled celebrity narrator for the Candlelight Processional has been replaced. The change affects early December performances of the beloved Christmas offering, which retells the religious holiday story alongside a choir of Disney cast members.
The Candlelight Processional is one of the most anticipated elements of EPCOT’s holiday season, drawing massive crowds each year to the America Gardens Theatre. In September, Disney Parks Blog revealed a star-packed narrator lineup featuring returning fan favorites and multiple newcomers. The schedule includes 15 celebrity guests who will appear in the show’s three nightly performances from November 28 to December 30, 2025.
Now, a last-minute update means that guests visiting in early December will see a new face on the stage. The Walt Disney World Resort website confirms that Disney Legend Susan Egan has replaced Jennifer Garner, who was originally scheduled to narrate the December 3 and 4 performances. The newly updated narrator lineup now lists the following schedule:
November 28-29 – Constance Wu (NEW)
November 30-December 2 – Jordan Fisher
December 3-4 – Susan Egan (NEW)
December 5-6 – Ashley Eckstein
December 7-8 – Ralph Macchio
December 9-10 – Leslie Uggams (NEW)
December 11-13 – Marlee Matlin
December 14-15 – Henry Winkler (NEW)
December 16-17 – Lauren Daigle (NEW)
December 18-19 – Gary Sinise
December 20-22 – Brendan Fraser
December 23-24 – Luis Fonsi
December 25-26 – Joel David Smallbone (NEW)
December 27-28 – Brie Larson (NEW)
December 29-30 – Sheryl Lee Ralph (NEW)
Susan Egan is best known for voicing Megara in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Hercules (1997) and originating the role of Belle in Disney on Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, which earned her a Tony Award nomination. Over the decades, she has appeared at countless Disney events and was recently named the official Godparent of the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Destiny.
To see Susan Egan—or any of the narrators featured throughout the season—guests should plan to arrive early. Standby lines often fill hours in advance, especially for high-demand performers. Walt Disney World Resort also offers Candlelight Processional dining packages, which include guaranteed seating to one performance of the show.
The Candlelight Processional runs nightly at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. beginning November 28 as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. This treasured Christmas tradition pairs celebrity narration with a full orchestra and choir, creating one of the most memorable holiday experiences at Walt Disney World Resort.
Who should Walt Disney World Resort invite to narrate the Candlelight Processional in 2026? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
