Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap

This week – along with our Thanksgiving holiday blog coverage – we shared an exciting update on the kick off of the 2017 Candlelight Processional during the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. As many of you know, the Candlelight Processional presents the traditional story of Christmas in truly spectacular fashion – with a celebrity narrator, a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.

Gold- and silver-medal-winning gymnast Laurie Hernandez was the first of our list of celebrity narrators. Here is the complete list of narrators (everything subject to change, of course):

• Nov. 24- 26 – Laurie Hernandez – NEW!
• Nov. 27-28 – Matt Bomer – NEW!
• Nov. 29 – 30 – Ana Gasteyer
• Dec. 1-3 – Whoopi Goldberg
• Dec. 4-5 – Pat Sajak – NEW!
• Dec. 6-8 – Jodi Benson
• Dec. 9-11 – Kurt Russell – NEW!
• Dec. 12-14 – Warwick Davis – NEW!
• Dec. 15-17 – Trace Adkins
• Dec. 18-21 – Neil Patrick Harris
• Dec. 22-24 – CCH Pounder – NEW!
• Dec. 25-27 – Jaci Velasquez
• Dec. 28-30 – Chandra Wilson

Visit our special page to join us this year at Epcot or to find out more information, call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

*Narrators and entertainment are subject to change without notice. Epcot admission is required and not included in the dining package price.

We also shared a new video showing how we transformed Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs for the holidays. It's holiday magic – in just 90 seconds.

Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week.

• Celebrating Mickey Mouse's Birthday at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts – This weekend marked the birthday of the one it all started with – Mickey Mouse! Fans turned out to join the #HappyBirthdayMickey fun with special celebrations at all of our Disney Parks around the world.
• Lunar New Year Festival Returns to Disney California Adventure Park, January 26 through February 18 – Kick off the Year of the Dog with the return of the popular Lunar New Year festival at Disney California Adventure park! From January 26 through February 18, this spectacular festival will feature live entertainment, delicious food and more.
• The Holidays Begin Here at the Disneyland Resort – Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are underway, making the Happiest Place on Earth the perfect place to kick off your own holiday season.
• Disney Parks After Dark: 'Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!' at Disney's Hollywood Studios – This week's "After Dark" image was snapped at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where the nighttime projection show, "Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!" is already delighting park guests each night.
• Timelapse Video: Watch Walt Disney World Transform for the Holidays – Throughout the month of November, our Holiday Services team worked round the clock to transform all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, plus Disney Springs, into winter wonderlands full of holiday cheer.