The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays has started, and it’s one of those events we look forward to every year.
Candlelight Processional
Not only do we get SUPER excited about all the food (and you can read our reviews here), but we also love the Storytellers in each country’s pavilion.
However, the BEST part of the festival could be the Candlelight Processional, which brings in celebrity narrators and a LIVE choir to tell the story of Christmas. And while it’s very rare for narrators to drop out of the event, that’s exactly what happened this week. The Candlelight Processional recently had some celebrities cancel their appearances, but now we know why one of those narrators couldn’t make it.
One of the celebrity narrators who recently dropped out was Ann Margret, who was scheduled to narrate the event on November 28th and 29th. She was replaced by Ashley Eckstein. However, Simi Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Barbie) also had to drop out on November 30th.
©Marvel | Simu Liu
Simi Liu took to social media to explain why he couldn’t narrate at this year’s event. “I’m so absolutely gutted to have to drop out of this year’s Candlelight Processional at Disney World,” he wrote on his Instagram story as he cited a “health scare” as his reason. He continued:
“For those who were looking forward to seeing me, know that I was equally looking forward to being a part of your holidays. The health of myself and my family are of paramount importance to me. After all, that’s the spirit of this season! And so, after some health scares I’ve made the difficult decision to stay at home. Something tells me this isn’t the last you’ve seen of me at Candlelight though… let’s all keep fingers crossed for 2024!”
©Marvel
The actor narrated the Candlelight Processional in 2022, so it’s likely we will get to see him return in 2024. In the meantime, MercyMe’s Bart Millard filled in.
These scheduling changes do occasionally happen, although it’s rare. We’ll keep you updated on ALL Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Wishing Simi Liu the best!
But before you leave old up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.
FULL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED for Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrators at the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
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Have you ever seen the Candlelight Processional? Let us know in the comments!
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I was in the Candlelight processional in 2007 until an emergency illness took me out and ended my working career.
My husband and I go to the processional every year it is magical and the highlight of the Christmas season at the parks.
BUT!!!! Whomever had the stupid idea to change the glorious HALLELUJAH CHORUS is insane!
This gorgeous song ended the program each and every night with people standing and tears and chills because of this beautiful song announcing the birth of the MESSIAH THE KING OF KINGS it is absolutely the most beautiful Christmas song ever. To put Joy to the World lead in to this Chorus and dominate the ORIGINAL HALLELUJAH CHORUS is INSANE AND DISGUSTING.
you do not the the closing impact of the processional due to this Ludacris change instead of the HEART WRENCHING Announcement OF THE Birth of Jesus as the HALLELUJAH CHORUS did at the end of every show for years!!!! Why in the world did you do this injustice to this Masterpiece?????
Many people are not at all happy with this change and I hope they voice their disgust as I have. I am a Roman Catholic and I love this time of year. The processional being it was one of the best things I have ever done in my working career.
I beg you for myself and many others to please change this beautiful song to be sung the one and only way it was meant to be sung.