Favorite Candlelight Processional Narrator

[DisZip]

Over the years we have seen Andy Garcia, Marlee Matlin, Neil Patrick Harris, Brian Dennehy, Haley Joel Osment & Jim Caviezel. Of those I think Andy Garcia was my favorite, followed by Brian Dennehy.

Of the past narrators we did not see, I would like to have seen Gary Sinise and John O'Hurley

 

[SLK1]

Louis Gossett, Jr., John Stamos, Gary Sinise, Sandi Patty.

Those were our favorites, but we've never been disappointed with any of them!

For anyone who hasn't paid attention in the past, the woman sign language interpreter is phenomenal. I can't read sign language, but her body language and the way she gets into it brought tears to my eyes. However, I didn't see her last year or the year before (it was a man doing it instead). I hope she hasn't retired!

 

[Peggy Sue]

SLK .. I agree, the female sign language interperter is awesome! She puts so much emotion into per performance that it brings tears to your eyes!

Our favorite was our first CP back in 1997 ... Lou Gossett, JR ... we also have the CP CD with Lou Gossett and it's our favorite Christmas CD.

We also enjoyed Earta Kitt and Brian Dennehy. We thought Jodi Benson did a great job too.

We have enjoyed the CP every year since 1997...we've never had a bad speaker, but I must admit I can't recall all the speakers we have seen.

Does anyone know if there is any historical website that would list all the past CP speakers at Epcot?

We are there this year during Whoopie, a TBD, Isabelle R and Neil Patrick Harris ..I think we are going to try to secure dinner package reservations for Whoopie and NPH.

 

[mac_tlc]

I'd have to say our top three are:

Louis Gossett, Jr,
James Earl Jones
Edward James Olmos

We have the Candlelight CD that has Louis Gossett Jr as the narrator -- it's almost time to put it in the car cd power rotation!

So many others were very good also -- some not so much.

BTW -- I think the female sign language interpretor was there last year when we went -- around 12/16.

mac_tlc

 

[SLK1]

I'm so excited...I just found out that my daughter, who will be taking chorus in high school (we are locals), will get to perform in the CP. Doesn't give us a free pass to see her or anything, but after seeing this show for years and years, one of my children will actually be a part of it. Can't wait!

 

[tgropp]

Jim Caviesel was my personnal favorite. He actually had to pause while reading about the crusifixion, as it seemed that he was about to cry but was very moving.

George Kennedy was my second choice. I think that he was there in 1996 or 1998.

Edward James Olmos would be my third choice.

 

[scroot]

Brian Stokes Mitchell was great. Ran into him and his family in the elevator at BC afterward and that made it even better. He was a TBA the year we saw him.

 

[nappingbeauty]

Robert Urich.... Brian Dennehy and Gary Senise in that order....

 

[bwvBound]

Robert Urich....

Seriously, you got to hear Robert Urich? I'm so jealous.

 

[hacknsuit]

If you want to be moved and feel the spirit of Christmas...Steven Curtis Chapman is incredible. He was great and the whole CP was great!

 

[SLK1]

If you want to be moved and feel the spirit of Christmas...Steven Curtis Chapman is incredible. He was great and the whole CP was great!

Yes he was outstanding! We saw him the same year his daughter was killed (what a horrible tragedy), but you would never know it. He was so professional and gracious. Loved him!

 

[vakamalua]

The only time we've ever been there, the narrator was Neil Patrick Harris. With nothing to compare, we thought he was great.

Wow! Would have loved to have been there for James Earl Jones (Darth Vader )! We heard Jodi Benson sing on DCL last year (she was very gracious signing autographs for a long time) and would like to see her at the CLP.

 

[joliesmom]

Jim Caviezel and John O'Hurley get my vote!!

 

[kaelarad]

Another vote for Steven Curtis Chapman. Also saw him the year daughter Maria died....We had Gary Sinese in 2001...and he was awesome!

 

[RayRing]

I have seen several over the years.

What I find interesting is that each narrator's presentation was different.

One was very unprofessional, made several mistakes, and treated their mistakes as a joke.

They were my least favorite.

One was extremely professional, did an excellent job. They never went Off Script, but they also didn't put anything personal into it.

Yet another was also professional, also did an excellent job, but made me feel that narrating was more than just a job, and that it meant a lot to them.

Everyone we have seen have been different (which is why they are called Individuals), and I have enjoyed almost all of them.

I think the narrator can make it a little bit better or worse. But the entire presentation is so powerful, that it is the music and singing that is the real important part.

 

[RyMickey]

I agree with the poster who said Robert Urich was quite good. However, we saw Trace Adkins last and were expecting very little. We thought his deep voice would kinda just come off as silly.

Needless to say, we were thoroughly impressed. He seemed to really love being there and seemed to to genuinely feel what he was reading and it came across in his tone and mannerisms. Were we to go down again, I'd likely try to hear someone else just for variety (as we don't get to go down for Christmas much at all), but we'd be perfectly happy if Adkins was our narrator.

 

[kitsch4]

We have seen Phil Donahue, David Robinson (wasn't sure what to expect with him, but he was very good!), John O'Hurley (very good), and Edward James Olmos. Hands down, our favorite was Edward James Olmos. My husband and I were moved to tears by his narration.

 

[wdwfan1]

I would love to see Trace Atkins!!!