Candlelight Processional Hosts

[davidpw97]

I have seen in other threads people mention the processional and how they felt about the host they saw but I couldn't find any threads devoted to the hosts and peoples preferences for host. I first have a few questions about the hosts. Anyone know how they are chosen? Some years some of them seem quite random while others seem to make good sense. Why is it some people do it every year but some do it once and then you never see them on the list again?
Anyway, I've seen Phylicia Rashad, Buzz Aldrin, Maureen McGovern, Deidre Hall and a few others I think. Out of that list Phylicia is the best but the others were all pretty good as well. Who have been some of the best? Who haven't been all that great?
:xmas:

 

[Plutoboy]

I've really enjoyed David Ogden Stiers and Gary Sinese......they both brought something to the story that I haven't seen or heard before with the exception of Ms. Rashad.

While I hate to even say this because it will come across as mean but I did not enjoy Marlee Matlin at all!!!!! It's a shame too because I really enjoy her in the acting roles that she has had.

In regard to how they pick who will do it...I may be taking a stab in the dark here but I believe that they have to have some kind of affiliation with Disney or have done work with Disney before. David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth, Jambaa and other character voices) and Gary Sinese (Mission Space pre-show). Ms. Rashad is in the Dinosaur attraction preshow.

The one person that was supposed to do it, while I was a cast member with Disney, and had to back out due to medical reasons was Roy Disney....that I would love to have seen:xmas:

 

[surfsupdon]

Gary Sinese was very very good, while LeVar Burton was excellent. As usual, the signer (I forget her name) always stealls the show. Her passion is incredible, she is excellent.

I always wanted to see Rashad, but she does early Dec and late December ALWAYS seems to be Sinese.

 

[jodiey]

I saw Marie Osmond this year and I thought she was pretty good. It was my first time seeing the show so I really don't have anyone else to compare her to.

 

[disneyman15]

I saw it for the first time this year and we saw Rita Moreno and Mario Lopez. Rita Moreno was excellent and really brought passion to the story and she was really into the whole program. Mario Lopez sounded sick and wasn't as good as Rita but she was incredible so it was hard to compare the two. She was the better out of the two.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I don't think anyone will ever top Rashad, but thats just my opinion. Having said that, I enjoyed Maureen McGovern very much.

 

[metscool]

I met these girls the other day at Everest one of the times that I was in the singles line and then I went to MK and saw them again. They were in last nights show and talked me into seeing the show. Kirk Cameron last night was good and can not wait to see Gary Sinise on Christmas Eve.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Since i've been in the shows for about 4 years now, i've seen a lot of narrators. With that I must say my all time favorites are Levar Burton, and Jim Caviziel (Jesus in Passion of the Christ) He's amazing, and I wish Disney would have him come back again!

And I must say that I did not care for Mario Lopez as he felt stand-offish, and he was too good for everyone. Because most of the narrators come back and talk to the people doing the 5 o'clock show, but he did not. Nor when the chaperones were backstage, behind the American Gardens theatre, he did not wave to them, or say hello..

I was hoping be part of the show with Cuba Gooding Jr. but that fell through.

 

[sarajo]

I've seen Sandi Patti and Steven Curtis Chapman, and both of them were EXCELLENT! My only wish is that each one of them would have been allowed to do some kind of solo (especially Sandi Patti's "O Holy Night"), but then that would have changed the usual format of the program. But... both of them were very good, and made me want to see the processional again. I've always wanted to see Gary Sinise, but we usually arrive on his last performance date and don't make it to EPCOT on that evening. Oh well!

 

[Dwarful]

We too see Gary Sinese on Christmas Eve..so excited! He is excellent as a presenter.

 

[Mystic]

I would love to be able to see Gary but unfortunately we're never there when he's doing it. We saw it for the first time this year and had the pleasure of seeing Marie Osmond. She was absolutely fantastic! You could tell she was having a hard time stopping herself from joining in on the songs. She was amazing. I would love to see her again.

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

I also saw Marie Osmond this year. Yes, she did have a hard time not signing along. She was excillent. I also so part of the show when Brian Dennehy was there. He was ok. It was so cold that I really didn't pay attention to him. I would have loved seeing Kirk Cameron since I loved Growing Pains when I was young. Gary Sinise would be another that I would love to see. Maybe some day!

 

[ryguy]

I have seen the Candelight numerous times and really love the show. When I worked the candlelight the most requested presenter was Rashaad. However, my favorite was the dad from the Fresh Prince of Bell Aire. I can't remember his name. He had real passion for what he was saying. You could tell he really loved the lord. He spoke with conviction, which for me is the primary duty of the narrator. I just saw Mario Lopez and he was out of his league. No passion for the subject and you could tell he was nervous. Hopefully he wont be asked back next year.

 

[swimmom]

We saw Steve Curtis Chapman and he was great. When the choir sang, he would often step back from the microphone and sing along too.

 

[Gorjus]

Mario Lopez was checking his text messages while the choir was singing behind him. And I also got reports of him not going back to meet the choirs (a tradition) until he was told it was part of his contract.

Brian Dennehy was only ok. Steven Curtis Chapman was fabulous.

 

[CatLady]

We too see Gary Sinese on Christmas Eve..so excited! He is excellent as a presenter.

We saw Gary Sinese his first Candlelight Processional performance ever. I was really excited about it! He said afterward that the experience was overwhelming and emotional for him, but at the time, it sounded from the audience like he had never bothered to read the text before he stepped out onto the stage! I'm hoping to get by and see him this year.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Gary Sinese is the best that we have seen. He really connected with the audience.
I have often wondered, does Disney let them bring their families along and where do they put them up. What kind of 'package' do they get for doing the show, particularly considering that it's during Christmas time and they may not want to be away from home.
:xmas: