Epcot Festival of the Holidays Guide & Tips

Celebrate Christmas and other Winter holidays at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays at Walt Disney World.

Held each year from late November through December, the Epcot Festival of the Holidays brings together holiday customs, like storytelling and music, festive food, and holiday beverages for a lovely celebration.

So come ring in the holiday season and prepare for the new year with my guide to the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

2024 Epcot Festival of the Holidays dates

This year the Epcot Festival of the Holidays will run from November 29 through December 30, 2024.

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is the shortest festival at Epcot, running just a few days shorter than the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, which starts shortly after.

For more tips planning your trip during November and December, check out these posts:

1. WDW in November
2. WDW in December

Before you book, check the Candlelight Processional schedule

One of big draws for the Epcot Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional show at the America Gardens Theatre.

The Candlelight Processional features a celebrity narrator who tells the story of Christmas, backed up by an orchestra and choir. It runs several times per night at 5:00 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:15 PM.

I saw the Candlelight Processional narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, who is a regular narrator, a few years back and highly enjoyed it! I can’t wait to see it again this year.

Special dining packages are also available, which include a reserved seat at the Candlelight Processional show.

If you sign up for the package, you’ll receive a ticket that designates which showtime your seat is for.

Dining packages must be reserved in advanced, with the exception of Regal Eagle Smokehouse.

Reservations for this package can be booked 60 days ahead of your visit or later.

Stay at a Walt Disney World resort near Epcot

Now that you know when you’re going, you need to figure out which Walt Disney World resort you’re going to stay at.

Riding the Skyliner into Epcot would be extra magical, don’t you think?

If that sounds up your alley, I recommend booking Disney’s Riviera Resort or Caribbean Beach Resort. Both of these resorts are on a direct Skyliner route to Epcot.

If you’d rather be within walking distance, spring for Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Beach Club Resort, or Boardwalk Inn and Villas.

Lastly, if you want to snag some late-year Marriott Bonvoy points, book your stay at Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin resorts. Or perhaps treat yourself at the all-new Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.

All three of these Marriot-affiliated resorts are within walking distance to Epcot’s International Gateway entrance, which will put you right into the World Showcase.

Load up a gift card – and stick to it

I usually recommend getting the Disney Dining Plan at Disney World. It’s convenient and helps you stay on budget. Unfortunately it’s on hold until January 2024.

Until it returns, I recommend loading up a Disney gift card with your chosen amount. Then, use the gift card for all your food and souvenirs.

We all know the costs at Disney can easily and quickly creep up! Using a gift card to limit your spending will help you not go overboard.

Get a FREE Epcot International Festival of the Holidays Passport

When you arrive at Epcot, pick up your Festival of the Holidays passport. It’s free!

The passport includes a guide to the event, such as menus for all of the holiday kitchens and performance schedules.

Where to meet Santa Claus

Yes, friends, you can meet Father Christmas at Epcot!

Guests can meet with Santa Claus from November 29 through December 24 at The Odyssey pavilion to relay their Christmas wish and take a photo.

Times can always change, so be sure to double check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit.

Enjoy JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

This year, Joyful moves to a new stage, over by CommuniCore Hall & Plaza. In addition, guests will be able to decorate snowflakes while they take in the concert. This new activity is FREE!

Marvel at the giant gingerbread Spaceship Earth

NEW in 2024 is a giant gingerbread replica of Spaceship Earth inside CommuniCore Hall. I cannot wait to see this! I just know it will be impressive.

Enjoy the Glittering Grove at CommuniCore Hall

Also new in 2024 inside CommuniCore Hall is Glittering Grove, which is just a display of realistic-looking faux Christmas trees from Balsam Hill.

I was hoping this might be an extension of the Disney Springs tree stroll of sorts, but it’s really just a display with simple Christmas lights.

Check out Living with the Land: Glimmering Greenhouse

Living with the Land gets a nighttime makeover with holiday decor and twinkling lights throughout most of the slow boat ride. You can find this ride on the opposite side of the Land pavilion from Soarin’.

Last year, Epcot also had holiday music and decor for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, but it fell flat with guests and won’t be back this year.

New in 2024 is the Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses tour which gives a behind-the-scenes nighttime tour of this popular holiday attraction.

The tour will run at 6 and 7 PM daily from November 29 through December 30. In addition, it costs $45 (on top of park admission) per person.

Enjoy Festive Fragrances by Scentsy

Stroll through the Scentsy-sponsored garden on the bridge between the Imagination! pavilion and the World Showcase.

Guests will be able to purchase their favorite fragrances, in addition to enjoying the delightfully scented garden.

This new experience is much like the one sponsored by Scentsy during the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival.

Pick up some holiday gifts

The world showcase is a unique spot to shop for holiday gifts.

How about some origami paper from the Japan pavilion? Maybe some beautiful jewelry from the Mexico pavilion? Or perhaps some trinkets from the Morocco pavilion?

The possibilities are nearly endless and you’re bound to find something for everyone – even that person who is notoriously hard to shop for!

Complete Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt

A fun way to experience the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays with kids is via Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt.

Join everyone’s favorite goofy snowman to learn about holiday traditions around the world.

The game costs $9.99 (plus tax) for the map, which you can trade in at Port of Entry or World Traveler for a Frozen souvenir. The map can be purchased at Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or World Traveler.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to finish the game to get your souvenir!

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt replaces previous years’ Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree as the holiday scavenger hunt at Epcot.

Watch the World Showcase holiday performers & storytellers

Explore holiday customs throughout the World Showcase, where holiday storytellers, musicians, and performers will put on special shows about their winter holiday traditions.

Check out these can’t-miss performances and holiday storytellers:

1. Canada: Listen to the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs and learn about holiday traditions from around Canada
2. China: Watch the lion dancer performance in honor of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday
3. France: Meet Perè Noël and listen to a story about Christmas as told by a young girl in a letter to him
4. Italy: Hear the story of La Befana, a witch who visits children on the night before Epiphany
5. Japan: Learn about the Daruma doll and New Year’s traditions from Japan
6. Mexico: Las Posadas celebration with music, piñatas, and dancing
7. Norway: Learn about Barn Santa from Sigrid
8. United Kingdom: Meet Father Christmas and learn about Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom

In addition, between the Morocco and France pavilions, you can hear the incredible and inspiring story of Hannukah, as well as learn about different Hannukah traditions around the world.

Eat your way around the holiday kitchens

During the festival, festive dishes are featured at the world showcase pavilions and extra food booths around the park.

Taste testing your way around all the holiday kitchens is one of the best parts of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, in my opinion!

Ok, moving on – Are you ready to try some delicious holiday food from around the world? Here are my top 10 picks for the 2024 festival.

1. Canada Pavilion – Popcorn Cart: The Canadian Hot Toddy is a go-to for grabbing right before you settle in for Luminous – the Symphony of Us.
2. Chestnuts & Good Cheer: Any of the nuts are guaranteed to be yummy! I’m partial to the pecans.
3. CommuniCore Hall – Favorites of Festivals Past: The brown sugar and mustard-glazed ham sliders are so yummy! It comes with cranberry and apple slaw for the perfect amount of crunch, too.
4. France Pavilion – Le Marché de Nöel: The Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini is perfect when you want something seasonal but it’s still warm out, while you wait in line for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
5. Germany Pavilion – Bavaria Holiday Kitchen: Cheese fondue in a bread bowl with veggies to dip. This is worth the wait, plus the line moves fairly quick.
6. Japan Pavilion – Shi Wasu: Toshikoshi Soba with thick soba noodles, shrimp tempura, green onion, and dashi broth. It is so yum and a perfect late night snack, especially if it’s chilly out.
7. Joffrey’s (all locations in Epcot): The Merry Mint Cookie Latte is the perfect blend of chocolate and peppermint, combined with some caffeine for an afternoon boost!
8. Mele Kalikimaka: Coffee Mocha Cookie, which sounds weird for a Hawaiian-based food booth, but the Big Island of Hawaii produces some of the best coffee in the world, aka Kona coffee.
9. Mexico Pavilion – Las Posadas: The coconut guavarita cocktail and dulce de leche churro have my name on it.
10. Mexico Pavilion – Nochebuena Cocina: The coquito milkshake is so yummy! Plus it’s not the holidays unless you have a little bit of coquito, right? I also love this snack because you can get it with or without rum.

Complete the Holiday Cookie Stroll

In addition to meals, appetizers, and drinks, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays features a Holiday Cookie Stroll.

Christmas cookies are one of my favorite traditions, so I love that they feature this!

Try at least 5 of the designated cookies and get a stamp for your Epcot Festival of the Holidays passport for each one. Then trade it in for a special treat (spoiler: it’s another cookie!).

Download the WDW Food & Wine app

Before you head over to Epcot, be sure to download the WDW Food & Wine app to get a glance at the menu, make a wish list, rate your faves, and upload photos.

This brilliant app is a must-have when visiting Epcot during any festival, not just Food & Wine!

The best part? It’s free!

Download the WDW Food & Wine app: iOS / Android

Don’t forget your Epcot Festival of the Holidays merchandise

Snag some fun souvenirs before you go so you can always remember your time at the Epcot Festival of the Holidays.

Look out for a new spirit jersey, Dooney & Bourke tote, MagicBands, pins, Christmas decorations, and other holiday merchandise.

Have you been to the Epcot Festival of the Holidays yet?

Let us know what your favorite part of the festival is in the comments below.

For more Disney vacation tips, check out these posts next:

• Epcot Festival of the Arts Guide & Tips
• Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide & Tips
• Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Guide & Tips
• The Absolute Best Epcot Rides & Attractions
• The Ultimate Guide to Disney World for Adults

This post was originally published January 6, 2023. It was last updated December 16, 2024.