Disney World vacations have gotten more expensive in plenty of ways over the years, so guests probably aren't expecting to see many prices move in the opposite direction. But that is exactly what is happening at EPCOT ahead of the 2026 holiday season.

Disney has released pricing for the returning Candlelight Processional Dining Packages, and two options are noticeably cheaper than they were in 2025. For a family of four — two adults and two children — the biggest year-over-year difference amounts to almost $100 in savings.

What Are the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages?

The Candlelight Processional Dining Packages return alongside the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. The Candlelight Processional itself is one of EPCOT's signature holiday traditions, combining a celebrity narrator telling the Christmas story with a choir, orchestra, and the Voices of Liberty.

Because the event draws large crowds, getting into a performance isn't always as simple as walking up shortly before showtime. Standby lines can become lengthy, particularly when a popular celebrity narrator is scheduled. That's where the dining packages come in.

Guests who purchase a package receive a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant — including an entrée and dessert or a buffet, plus a beverage, depending on the location — along with guaranteed seating for a Candlelight Processional performance later that day.

Disney has confirmed 16 participating restaurants for 2026, with adult prices ranging from $43 at Regal Eagle Smokehouse to $109 at Le Cellier Steakhouse. But two restaurants stand apart for another reason entirely.

Two Options Just Got Considerably Cheaper

Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya and Teppan Edo, both located in EPCOT's Japan Pavilion, will offer cheaper Candlelight Processional Dining Packages in 2026 than they did in 2025.

This year, Shiki-Sai costs $85 for adults and $40 for children. In 2025, the same package was $99 per adult and $50 per child — meaning Disney has cut the adult price by $14 and the child price by $10.

Teppan Edo has seen an even larger reduction. The 2025 package was $110 for adults and $60 for children. For 2026, those prices have dropped to $89 for adults and $40 for children.

The Percentage Tells an Even Bigger Story

At Shiki-Sai, the adult price has fallen approximately 14.1% year over year, while the children's package is down 20%. Teppan Edo's numbers are even more dramatic — the adult package dropped approximately 19.1%, and the children's price fell 33.3%.

To put that in concrete terms: a family of two adults and two children would have spent $298 at Shiki-Sai in 2025. In 2026, the same combination costs $250 — a savings of $48. At Teppan Edo, that same family would have paid $340 last year. This year, it costs $258, a decrease of $82, or roughly 24% less overall.

For Disney World, where guests have grown accustomed to annual price increases, seeing a comparable seasonal offering become that much cheaper is unusual — and it raises an obvious question: why?

The Timing Is Hard to Ignore

Disney hasn't linked the reductions to attendance, though lower crowd levels have appeared at Disney World at times this past year. Domestic Disney theme park attendance declined 1% during the company's second fiscal quarter of 2026, with Disney pointing partly to weaker international visitation. Posted wait-time data also showed June and July running around 13% below the same months in 2025.

That said, the broader picture is more complicated. Disney reported a rebound during its third fiscal quarter, with domestic park attendance increasing 3% year over year. The company specifically described Walt Disney World as having a strong quarter, helped by domestic tourists, annual passholders, promotions, and new experiences.

That makes these dining reductions particularly interesting. Lower prices could simply reflect Disney's adjustment of specific package values — or they could make premium holiday experiences more attractive to price-conscious visitors. Whether Disney adjusted because of demand, package popularity, broader attendance patterns, or another business decision entirely remains unknown.

When Can You Book?

Reservations for the 2026 Candlelight Processional Dining Packages open October 14. For guests already planning to visit EPCOT during the holidays, the lower prices at Shiki-Sai and Teppan Edo offer something increasingly rare at Walt Disney World: a year-over-year discount without eliminating the core experience.

A 14% to 20% adult price reduction is substantial on its own. For children at Teppan Edo, a one-third price cut is even harder to overlook. What guests do know is simple: when EPCOT's holiday rush arrives, two popular dining packages will cost considerably less than they did one year ago.