News Walt Disney World Holidays 2025

[heapster411]

Saw Brendan Fraser last year, he did an exceptional job! He's too late in the month for us this year. Jennifer Garner is going to be our narrator this year, (If we are lucky on 10/14 to get Biergarten for the 8:15 show).

 

[DisneyDreamerxyz]

Yikes…haven’t looked at those “package” prices in years…

The price of lanyards get hit by an 8000% tariff or something?

Candlelight is so popular there’s very few days when you can get a seat without the dining package. I believe when my mom went last year we eat at the Creperie de Paris and got a sticker to put on your shirt with the time you are going.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Candlelight is so popular there’s very few days when you can get a seat without the dining package. I believe when my mom went last year we eat at the Creperie de Paris and got a sticker to put on your shirt with the time you are going.

Not really correct…like at all.

The last Umpteen times I’ve been in it/past it there’s about 1/4 minimum in the back.

It’s not even that crowded in the parks.

I you talking like Y2K here?

 

[Comped]

I've updated my Candlelight narrator sheet for 2024 and now 2025 (minus whoever going to narrate for DL in 2025, as that's not been announced yet - DVD perhaps?). Some fun facts:

• As of this year, from my research, there have been about 160 narrators for Candlelight at WDW (and 61, potentially 62 if there's not a repeat, at DL).
• Marlee Matlin is now only 1 year away from tying (and 2 from beating) Edward James Olmos' record at WDW at 15 years of appearing. Both she and Gary Sinise have appeared narrating Candelight 14 times, but his includes 1 time at Disneyland.
• 94 narrators have only narrated once at WDW - 8 of them this year (11.75% of the total). Of the remaining from 2025, 4 are returning for their 2nd year and 1 for their third, plus the previously two mentioned who'd throw off any calculations for being extreme outliers. (At DL, the number of one-and-done narrators is 80.32%)
• Only 66 have narrated twice or more, 37 thrice or more, 24 four times or more, 18 five times or more, 12 six times or more, 9 seven or eight times or more, and 8 nine times or more (the lone exception between them? Blair Underwood). At DL only 12 have ever narrated more than once.
• Jodi Benson is the most recent (in 2024) to enter into double digit years appearing as a narrator at WDW, though it took her 24 years to do so. Only 7 people have ever narrated that many times in WDW (at DL? Only Dennis Morgan has more than 3, and he has 6).
• Only 27 people have ever narrated at both DL and WDW - Brie Larson adds herself to that list as of this year (having narrated at DL in 2023). Before that, Sterling K. Brown claimed a spot in 2023 in the same way- just 1 year in between him narrating at DL (2021) and WDW (2023).

I cannot find, despite research proving it happened, who narrated when Candlelight was held at Lake Eola at least once during the 90's, which may ever so slightly change these numbers.

 

[JaxFLBear]

I'm excited for Ralph Macchio and would've been happy to see Ashley Eckstein, too, but we are at the Informer meet-up her nights.

Saw Ralph Macchio last year and he was good. We've seen Ashley Eckstein on several DVC Member Cruises, but wouldn't mind seeing her narrate the CP.

It's Gary Sinise and Brendan Fraser for our dates. Gary Sinise will be our first choice when trying to book a dining package.

 

[DisneyDreamerxyz]

I saw Ashley Eckstein when she filled in last minute for Ann-Margret two years ago, she was fantastic, I was surprised they didn't give her a spot last year (apparently she has always been on the back-up list) so I'm glad she got a spot for herself this year.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I saw Ashley Eckstein when she filled in last minute for Ann-Margret two years ago, she was fantastic, I was surprised they didn't give her a spot last year (apparently she has always been on the back-up list) so I'm glad she got a spot for herself this year.

She’s a local…so fits that fill in slot well

 

[DCBaker]

Disney has shared several updates for Holiday entertainment at EPCOT:

Meet Santa Claus at CommuniCore Hall

• Location: CommuniCore Hall
• Dates: Daily from November 28 to December 24, 2025
• Times: 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

• Location: CommuniCore Plaza Stage
• Dates: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 2:00 PM, 3:05 PM, 4:05 PM and 5:10 PM

Holiday Storytellers

Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas Celebration
¡Feliz Navidad! Join the fun and pageantry of Las Posadas with dancers, piñatas and the music of Mariachi Cobre.

• Days: Sundays through Thursdays
• Times: 11:05 AM, 11:55 AM, 12:45 PM, 2:35 PM, 3:45 PM and 5:10 PM

Norway Pavilion – A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
Celebrate the season with laughter as a mischievous Barn Santa visits Sigrid, an unsuspecting Christmas storyteller.

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 11:40 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:20 PM, 4:10 PM, 4:55 PM, 5:40 PM and 6:25 PM

China Pavilion – Chinese Lion Dancer
Catch a glimpse of this colorful performance that brings good fortune and happiness in the Lunar New Year.

• Days: November 28 through November 30, December 6 and 7, December 13 and 14, and December 19 through December 25, 2025
• Times: Noon, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM

Italy Pavilion – La Befana
Come hear the tale of La Befana, the kindhearted witch who visits sleeping young children on the Eve of the Epiphany.

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 11:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:55 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:00 PM and 5:40 PM

Japan Pavilion – Daruma Storyteller
Hear the fascinating story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the new year!

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 10:45 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 1:35 PM, 2:35 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:00 PM and 5:45 PM

Between Morocco & France Pavilions – Hanukkah Storyteller
Guests will discover an entertaining celebration of Hanukkah along World Showcase promenade, where a storyteller recounts traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world.

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: Noon, 1:00 PM, 1:50 PM, 2:50 PM, 3:45 PM, 5:05 PM, 5:50 PM and 6:30 PM

France Pavilion – Pere Noel
Visit with Père Noël and rediscover the magic of Christmas through the letter of a delightful child.

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 10:00 AM, 11:05 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:50 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:25 PM, 4:30 PM and 5:15 PM

United Kingdom Pavilion – Father Christmas
Join Father Christmas as he rings in the season, sharing the traditions of the United Kingdom and good cheer.

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 11:45 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:20 PM, 2:05 PM, 3:50 PM, 4:45 PM, 5:35 PM and 6:30 PM

Canada Pavilion – Canadian Holiday Voyageurs
Explore holiday customs from the various regions of Canada on a musical tour of the Great White North with the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs.

• Days: Daily from November 28 to December 30, 2025
• Times: 3:25 PM, 4:35 PM, 5:35 PM, 6:40 PM, 7:40 PM and 8:40 PM

 

[Touchdown]

Yikes…haven’t looked at those “package” prices in years…

The price of lanyards get hit by an 8000% tariff or something?

You get one entree, one soft drink, one dessert and a saved seat at a show. They are about $10-20 of a markup from normal prices. Do you think 10-20 to have a great seat that doesn’t require a long wait in a line worth it? Because I do, but I’m eating at those restaurants for dinner anyways (and probably getting a dessert.)

 

[Comped]

I saw Ashley Eckstein when she filled in last minute for Ann-Margret two years ago, she was fantastic, I was surprised they didn't give her a spot last year (apparently she has always been on the back-up list) so I'm glad she got a spot for herself this year.

There's a number of celebrities who are on the backup list, which has meaningfully changed over the years. It used to be filled with higher profile wrestlers at one point.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You get one entree, one soft drink, one dessert and a saved seat at a show. They are about $10-20 of a markup from normal prices. Do you think 10-20 to have a great seat that doesn’t require a long wait in a line worth it? Because I do, but I’m eating at those restaurants for dinner anyways (and probably getting a dessert.)

No…in a word

But I pretty much loathe Disney prix fixe

 

[Touchdown]

No…in a word

But I pretty much loathe Disney prix fixe

I loathe 3 course Disney prix fixe (because I don’t eat that much) but 2 course? That’s fine and more in line with my eating habits.