Disney Cast Members are the Magic on Stage at the Candlelight Processional during Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays. Festival of the Holidays has officially started and with all the talk about Figment Sweaters, and the 8-foot tall Spaceship Earth Gingerbread geodesic sphere, there is one important thing to remember and that is being all of these magical moments we get to experience, Cast Member made them happen.
One of the most magical moments that happens during the Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional, which plays three times nightly and features Cast Members from around the world joining celebrity narrators. The conductor raises his baton. The trumpets sound. And with that, the music of the Christmas story rings out.
And then, there’s a hush about the theater as a sea of golden robes flows down the aisles, filling the cavernous stage with hundreds of voices harmonizing into one powerful, yet gentle chorus. These sopranos, altos, tenors, baritones, and basses represent the cast members of Walt Disney World Resort in one of our most cherished traditions – the annual Candlelight Processional at EPCOT.
Over the years, Disney has invited hundreds of thousands of cast members to the selection sessions for the role of a lifetime – being part of the volunteer choir. Each year, approximately 1,500 make the cut and join a 50-piece orchestra, the Voices of Libert,y and celebrity narrators as they all retell the story of Christmas to millions of guests from around the world.
“I’ve been so humbled to be part of this magical tradition for the past 15 years,” said bass Michael Wallace who is a systems analyst for Walt Disney World. He, his wife Sandi, and now his son Parker are all part of this year’s cast choir. “I just cross my fingers because it’s truly so special and surreal to share the stage with my wife and now my son.”
Like thousands of other cast members who attend the selection sessions, the Wallaces start warming up their vocal cords in late summer. Everyone receives music from the same section of a holiday classic and sings their vocal part accompanied by a pianist. Those selected for the choir then join rehearsals that are conducted September through November.
“We don’t take our spots in the choir for granted,” said Michael’s son Parker who is also an analyst at Disney World. “It’s an honor to carry on our family’s unique holiday tradition – it’s become a core memory for all of us.”
And if you’re wondering how many times the Wallace family has sung the “Hallelujah Chorus” over the past 15 years in the cast choir, Sandi thinks it’s easily 250 times! Now that’s something to sing about.
As one of the oldest traditions at Disney theme parks, the Candlelight Processional started at Disneyland Resort in 1958 with guest choirs and carolers and later expanded to Walt Disney World in 1971.
Be sure to check out the vocal talents of the Wallace family, and hundreds of other cast members, singing during this year’s Candlelight Processional – part of the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth. Performances continue through Dec. 30, with three shows nightly at America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT.
To learn more about Disney holiday offerings, visit DisneyWorld.com/Holidays.
Disney Cast Members are the Magic on Stage at the Candlelight Processional during Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays
