For as long as I can recall, Epcot and the Holidays Around the World have been a highlight of the holiday season. Well, for 2017, that all changed. Transforming what was just a holiday storyteller in each of the World Showcase Pavilions into an amalgamation of Food & Wine and Holidays Around the World comes Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Combining the marketplace booths with the best of the holidays along and more interactive elements of storytelling, this new festival is amazing!
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
From the moment you step through the gates of Epcot, you feel the holidays come to life. From festive topiaries to the new Festive Center the park will make even the biggest Scrooge smile. Speaking of the Festive Center, besides housing a ton of merchandise, it’s also home to the Cookie Nook, which is the end all be all place for those with a sweet tooth for holiday cookies.
As I mentioned, some of the Holiday Storytellers have been replaced by new interactive entertainment, but you will still find many of your favorite Storytellers along with Santa and Mrs. Claus around the World Showcase.
One of the new additions to the festival, new for this side of the U.S., is Mostly Kosher. This group made their debut last year at Disney California Adventure and were such a hit that this traveling band made its way to Epcot this year.
No Epcot festival would be complete without food and, with 15 Holiday Kitchens all around World Showcase, odds are high you may walk out feeling like you tummy is a bowl full of jelly.
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – Holiday Kitchen
Something new this year, to help you walk off all the holiday treats you will be partaking in, is the Chip & Dale Christmas Tree Spree. Just as with the Easter Egg Hunt that has been so popular over the past few years, guests of all ages may purchase a map with stickers with the goal of finding where those two pesky chipmunks are hiding in the different pavilions around the World Showcase. Once guests have found all the locations they may redeem for a set of holiday buttons.
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – Chip & Dale Christmas Tree Spree
As you can tell, I can go on and on about how much I enjoy the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and I haven’t even touched about my all time favorite Disney tradition: the Candlelight Processional. But, instead of talking, take a look at some of the highlights of a day in the park topped off with the special Holiday Tag added on to IllumiNations each night.
The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays continues until December 30th with all the sights, sounds, and tastes of the holidays available each day. For more information or to book a special dinning package with reserved seats for the Candlelight Processional visit HERE.