Your Key to EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

The holiday season is rapidly approaching and soon the Disney Parks will be transformed for the start of the season. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is a magical tradition where guests can celebrate holidays around the world with music, food, and fun for the whole family!

What is the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays?

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is one of the four festivals that takes place at the park throughout the year. This year, the festival starts on November 24 and goes through December 30, 2023. Come and celebrate holidays around the world with delicious food, incredible entertainment, and opportunities to learn about holiday traditions from different cultures.

This festival brings to life the magic of the holiday season with Holiday Kitchens, beautiful decor, and the beloved Candlelight Processional performances.

Holiday Kitchens

Every holiday season, the World Showcase is transformed with delicious opportunities to taste the holidays around the world. The holiday kitchens feature a variety of tasty dishes and beverages designed to celebrate the season.

The full menus have not yet been announced so stay tuned! However, the list of Holiday Kitchens and the locations are as follows:

• American Holiday Table (American Adventure Pavilion)
• Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany Pavilion)
• Bubbles & Brine (near Port of Entry)
• Char & Chop (near Disney Traders)
• Holiday Hearth Desserts (The Odyssey Pavilion)
• Holiday Sweets & Treats (near Port of Entry)
• L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (Between Morocco and France Pavilions)
• Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico Pavilion)
• Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France Pavilion)
• Nochebuena Cucina (near Test Track presented by Chevrolet)
• Shanghai Holiday Kitchen (China Pavilion)
• Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan Pavilion)
• Swirled Showcase (near Port of Entry)
• Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco Pavilion)
• Tuscany Holiday Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)
• Wine & Wedge (near Disney Traders)
• Yukon Holiday Kitchen (Canada Pavilion)

When you arrive at EPCOT, be sure to grab your Festival Passport to see the menus at each location. Then, stroll around the World Showcase and grab bites inspired by holiday dishes all over the world.

Holiday Cookie Stroll

The Holiday Cookie Stroll is a fun activity for all guests to enjoy as you explore EPCOT. Don’t forget to collect 5 stamps in your Festival Passport! When you purchase 5 cookies from the participating locations, you get a specialty cookie from Holiday Sweets & Treats. You can complete this activity at your leisure throughout the Festival of the Holidays.

Entertainment

Throughout the year, EPCOT offers many options for incredible entertainment as you explore the park. During the holiday season, make sure you stop by to see the Voices of Liberty sing some festive favorites! In addition, during the Festival of the Holidays be on the lookout for music and storytellers throughout the World Showcase.

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

Nothing helps you get ready for the holiday season like beautiful music!

This performance by the JOYFUL! ensemble features a mix of Gospel, R&B, and holiday songs designed to inspire guests and celebrate the joys of Christmas and Kwanzaa. Find this show several times daily in the World Showcase Plaza

Holiday Storytellers

One of the highlights of this festival is the Holiday Storytellers throughout the World Showcase. These storytellers give guests the opportunity to learn about holiday traditions around the world as they share stories from their culture and home.

For example, in the France Pavilion, Père Noël is waiting to meet you. He is there to help you rediscover the magic of Christmas as he reads the letter of a child.

The Hanukkah Storyteller is waiting to share experiences of traveling far and wide. Watch and listen to stories about the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world. Find him waiting between the Morocco and France pavilions.

Check the My Disney Experience app for details and be on the lookout for each one.

Family Fun

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays has so much for the whole family to enjoy!

Meet Santa Claus

A timeless tradition for many families is grabbing that family photo with Santa Claus! Get your loved ones together and head to EPCOT to share your Christmas list with Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

Santa Claus will be meeting guests daily at the Odyssey Pavilion starting on November 24 through December 24, 2023. The showtimes are at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm, and 6:30 pm. Don’t miss your opportunity to get your photo and build the excitement for the holiday season!

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt

Go on a journey through the World Showcase to find all of the holiday traditions that Olaf has gathered!

First, purchase your scavenger hunt and stickers from select locations including World Traveler and Creations Shop. The price of this map is $9.99 plus tax. Then, search for the traditions throughout the World Showcase. As you find them, use the stickers included to mark them off on the map. When you find them all, or even if you don’t, stop at Disney Traders, Creations Shop, or World Traveler with your map and redeem it for a prize!

Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses

Enjoy a twinkling twist on a beloved EPCOT attraction. Living with the Land is home to the EPCOT greenhouses. This holiday season, it has been transformed in a magical way! Go on a gentle boat ride, complete with beautiful lights and holiday decor.

Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional is one of the highlights of the festival! Each evening at the American Gardens Theatre, the sounds of the season fill the air as the story of Christmas is brought to life by a different celebrity narrator with a 50-piece orchestra, a full choir, and the Voices of Liberty. From November 24 through December 30, there are three opportunities to see the show each evening at 5:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m., or 8:30 p.m. This year, there are also new narrators joining. The current list of narrators includes:

• Chrissy Metz
• Luis Fonsi
• Ann-Margret
• Simu Liu
• John Stamos
• Neil Patrick Harris
• Marlee Martin
• Brendan Fraser
• Eva Longoria
• Joey McIntyre
• Sterling K. Brown
• Jordan Fisher
• Steven Curtis Chapman
• Audra McDonald
• Lisa Ling

Dining Packages

Are you planning to enjoy the Candlelight Processional during your visit? Consider adding a dining package to ensure that you have a seat waiting for you. There are 8 different restaurants to choose from and this dining package is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a great meal before heading to the show.

The participating restaurants include:

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
• Biergarten Restaurant
• Coral Reef Restaurant
• Garden Grill Restaurant
• Le Cellier Steakhouse
• Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (same-day only)
• Rose & Crown Dining Room
• Spice Road Table

At Spice Road Table, the dining package includes 2 small plates and one nonalcoholic beverage per person, plus a tagine and dessert platter for the party to share. All other participating restaurants include an appetizer, entree, and dessert, or one full buffet/family-style meal, and a nonalcoholic beverage.

Most of these dining packages are available for booking starting on October 17, 2023, and can be booked up to 60 days prior to arrival. Reservations are not required at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue. These packages can be purchased on the day of your visit and are subject to availability.

This experience is very popular and reservations are highly recommended! Talk with your Key to the World Travel advisor today!

Let’s Get Started! 

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is a great reason to plan your next visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. It’s not too late to plan a trip for 2023 and it’s never too early to think ahead to 2024!

Are you ready to get started? Contact your Key to the World Travel® advisor for your next trip, or send us a quote request to get started.