Celebration Recreates Candlelight Processional To Aid Furloughed Cast Members
Though Disney has expertly incorporated many beloved Walt Disney World traditions into their holiday celebration for 2020 one favorite is sadly on hold for the year.
Disney made the decision to cancel EPCOT’s Holiday Processional performances this year due to new health & safety policies and social distancing requirements.
For those unfamiliar, Candlelight Processional is EPCOT’s yearly retelling of the Christmas Story complete with celebrity narrators, a full orchestra and incredible choirs. It is nothing short of inspiring and magical and this year Kim Hawk had an idea to recreate the processional to help raise money for thousands of Disney cast members who lost their jobs in 2020.
“When I found out that it was canceled, I started calling some of my Disney executive friends and said, ‘I know this is a crazy idea, but can we use your music?,” Haw said. “These Disney cast members created magic for so many of us for so many years, that we have these wonderful stories that we can talk about and now they need our help.”
During the 12 Days of Christmas Celebration at the Community Presbyterian Church in Celebration, more than $5000 has been raised. Twenty-two cast members have volunteered to sing at the vent. Disney even donated lights from Hollywood Studios to help decorate the space.
The event also boasts a Christmas market where 45 furloughed cast members can sell some of their awesome arts, crafts and more.
“These cast members just need another venue to make that magic in a different way,” said Dena Wenrich, who worked at Disney for 14 years but was furloughed in March. She organized the Cast Member Christmas Fair, which welcomed 3,000 visitors last weekend.
“I think we all want to create magic for each other. And it’s cool that we’re all coming together,” she said.
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Source: WFTV9