Although there will always be a contingent of guests who want Disney World to bring back the Lights of Winter, EPCOT has done a great job with its new direction for celebrating Christmas and other holidays around the world. This year it even has a new name “EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays” and it will run from Nov 19 – Dec 30. That makes four festivals a year for EPCOT, but this is the only one where guests will be surrounded by the sights, sounds, and flavors of the holiday season.
Here’s a look at what’s coming to EPCOT’s winter festival:
- NEW! Holiday Kitchens – The number of holiday kitchens doubles in size this year to a total of 15, each bringing the flavors of the season to life. New this year, guests can indulge in cookies and desserts at the holiday kitchen located inside the Odyssey complex. Sweet treats include snowflake sugar cookies and a warm apple fritter with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce. Over at the Canada pavilion, dazzling delicacies like the Maple Buche de Noel (maple mousse rolled in gingerbread chiffon cake with cranberry sauce and pecan crumble) celebrate holiday traditions from the Great White North.
- NEW! Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree – Chip and Dale are collecting ornaments for their Christmas tree. Guests can purchase a map and stickers from select merchandise locations and travel around World Showcase looking for the famous chipmunks with their ornaments. Guests can return their completed maps for a festive surprise, courtesy of Chip and Dale. Maps are available for $5.99 plus tax.
- NEW! Candlelight Processional Narrators – One of the most popular Epcot traditions returns with new celebrity narrators in 2017. Pat Sajak, Matt Bomer and CCH Pounder will join the lineup of returning favorites like Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg and Jaci Velasquez. The Candlelight Processional is a retelling of the Christmas story as told by a celebrity narrator accompanied by 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir. The show takes place at the America Gardens Theatre each evening at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Nov. 24-Dec. 30.
- Holiday Entertainment – Enjoy the sights and sounds of the nations of World Showcase, as each country’s holiday heritage comes to life amid joyful music and time-honored traditions. Guests will discover an entertaining celebration of Hanukkah in a new location along World Showcase promenade, where a fun and interactive band interweaves the music of Hanukkah with jazz, Latin, rock and even hip-hop influences. Other returning holiday favorites include JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season and Canadian Holiday Voyageurs.
- Fireworks Finale – The nightly fireworks display, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, will feature a special holiday ending.
EPCOT is one of our favorite parks to visit during the winter holidays. You can roam from country to country and learn about the traditions they celebrate at Christmas time, sample tasty holiday treats, and be surrounded by Disney’s famous world class entertainment all in the holiday spirit. Is EPCOT a must-visit for you over the holidays?
Previously: Magic Kingdom 2017 Christmas Lineup, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Christmas Lineup.
Yes, we do Epcot every holiday season.
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