The 2020 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays has officially arrived in Disney World!

After a whopping FOUR months of the Taste of Food and Wine, it was time to switch over to the festival celebrating holidays from around the world, with the new festival starting in EPCOT today!

Today’s the first day that the Christmas food booths and entertainment have popped into EPCOT for the seasonal festival!

Here we go! Molly is headed to Epcot today to try all the things at Festival of the Holidays! pic.twitter.com/BghUfeSW9h

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

We hopped in our cars, ready to start our day with a smile, and started to make our way over to the park!

Getting closer! pic.twitter.com/alemVpmSeG

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

When we first entered EPCOT, the park was already a bit crowded as many guests were excited to get their snack on right after Thanksgiving.

Festival signs were located as you entered the property to park your car and the park entrance as well!

After we went through the temperature screenings to enter EPCOT…

…we finally arrived for our full day of fun at the Festival of the Holidays!

Who else is ready to explore with us?!

Where should we head first?! pic.twitter.com/LY64aLHbgs

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

Guests were able to pick up festival passports that stated where the food booths, entertainment, and more were located this year…

…as well as an Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Map for $7.99 so your family could explore the World Showcase and help Olaf along the way for a prize!

We’ll be bringing you along with us to check out all the details on the new scavenger hunt later!

We will definitely be doing Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition! ⛄️ pic.twitter.com/K1iUNK2ZHJ

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

The stores had the Festival of the Holidays merchandise out to play as adorable sketch renditions of Chip and Dale took over the designs!

Guests could pick up ornament-shaped plates…

…the Cookie Stroll Cookie Jars…

(Just make sure that Chip and Dale don’t catch you red-handed!)

…Christmas ornaments to hang on the tree…

…tees that make the holidays “nutty and bright…”

…and even a Festival of the Holidays Spirit Jersey that reminds everyone to be “naughty and nice” this year…

…especially when they’re visiting the festival in EPCOT!

We even found some new Festival of the Holidays Pins with a World Showcase wreath…

…and Dale eating a whole plate-full of Christmas cookies!

Plus, the new Festival of the Holidays MagicBand is a real cutie…

…with a look at the pavilions you can find around EPCOT, along with a holiday twist!

Annual Passholders even have a few special items on the shelves, like the Santa’s Little Helpers Shirt…

…and the Annual Passholder Festival of the Holidays Pin to wear during the holiday season!

Here’s all the Festival of the Holidays merchandise we found in EPCOT!

Before we made our way around to each of the food booths, we spotted that non-alcoholic and alcoholic Twinings Iced Christmas Toddies were available for guests of all ages to enjoy!

Over at Joffrey’s Coffee, we even spotted a few treats for the festival this year! Along with the Caramel Tinsel Latte (that could be spiked) at the kiosk…

…there was also the Caramel Tinsel Donut as well!

Of course, we just HAD to get them for ourselves!

The Caramel Tinsel Latte had a lovely balance of chocolate and caramel…

…while the Caramel Tinsel Donut was LOADED with Twix Candy on top!

As we were walking to our first foodie stop of the day, we spotted Character Cavalcades heading our way! The Frozen Cavalcade was elegant and regal…

 

Here comes the Frozen Cavalcade in Epcot! pic.twitter.com/SjPSX72LXH

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

…as Elsa greeted guests in her gorgeous “Show Yourself” outfit…

…while Queen Anna sat in a carriage decked out in icicles and blue, pink, and purple holiday feathers!

Mickey and his pals followed close behind for the Mickey and Friends Holiday Cavalcade…

Mickey and Friends World Tour Cavalcade in Epcot! pic.twitter.com/bTbpPBQoHi

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

…where Goofy and Pluto led the way in snowflake pants and blue earmuffs!

Minnie and Mickey waved to guests from a car decorated with garlands and ornaments as an extra special holiday gift to everyone!

But, we have to be honest that we were the most excited to see Santa Claus as he looked super jolly during his holiday promenade!

And here comes the… Santa Claus Promenade! 🎅🏼 pic.twitter.com/xmr4kZzawj

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 27, 2020

Holiday dancers twirled green and red ribbons around as they walked in front of Santa’s “sleigh”…

…where the main man himself had a few toys ready to give to girls and boys this holiday season!

Take a look at the Holiday Character Cavalcades in EPCOT here!

Along with the rest of the decorations in the park, guests can also pose in front of the 25 Days of Christmas photo spot similar to the one in Disney Springs with gifts, trees, and candy canes!

Then, we finally made our way over to the World Showplace…

…where multiple booths and entertainment are just inside for guests of all ages to explore!

Decorations like Christmas trees, Nutcrackers, and reindeer were inside…

…along with Olaf and Marshmallow as snow dusted both areas!

Although the Disney Resorts aren’t featuring Gingerbread Houses this year (but have mini versions instead), EPCOT has moved its famous Gingerbread Capitol from the American Adventure Pavilion to the World Showplace this year!

The display features the U.S. Capitol Building, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial…

…along with a few other surprises (Hidden Mickeys included!) for guests to discover as they look at the expansive Gingerbread decoration.

You can read about how many details and all the pixie dust that were put into the construction of the Gingerbread Capitol this year with the sign placed in front!

Take a full look at the Gingerbread Capitol in EPCOT here!

The World Showplace stage was also set up for JOYFUL! as the holiday gospel group sang loud and proud for everyone to hear!

And, they were absolutely incredible with their amazing harmonies and wonderful music!

Plus, there was also a pianist playing holiday tunes for everyone to enjoy.

And, now what you’ve all been waiting for… THE FOOD! The World Showplace is featuring a few booths indoors this year…

…including the Holiday Hearth!

While guests are there, they can try the Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake…

…Snowball Cookies…

…Mouse Crunch…

…Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie…

…Peppermint Bark…

…Chocolate Mickey Tart…

…and Gingerbread Milkshake!

Prost! is also across the way with more savory eats and sips…

…like the Charcuterie and Cheese Plate!

The Festival Favorites booth has a mixture of items for guests to try…

…as the Duck Confit and Dumplings with Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Fig Reduction…

…Blacked Bass with White Cheddar Grits, Okra, Tomato, and Onion Stew…

…Gingerbread Cookie…

…Coquito (AKA Tropical Eggnog)…

…and Frozen S’mores with Whipped Cream Vodka are on the menu this year!

The World Showplace is also a spot where you can score a few stamps on your Holiday Cookie Stroll…

…before you chill out at the distanced tables to eat some of the snacks available inside the building.

The English Garden in the UK Pavilion featured the Twinings Iced Chrismtas Toddies we saw earlier…

…whose alcoholic version is made with Drambule and Twinings Christmas Black Tea.

And, let us tell you that it was SO tasty with a great twist on a regular iced tea for the holidays!

While we were in the UK Pavilion, we also spotted a familiar friend hiding above one of the store displays!

Now, we just have to think of a way to help Olaf down from there to help us on the Olaf Holiday Tradition Expedition scavenger hunt!

And, so we decided to set off on our full scavenger hunt around the World Showcase with our map in hand!

Each of the showcases feature a holiday tradition from the country. And, since we already had UK’s tradition, we had 12 more to find to complete the 13-spot scavenger hunt!

Over in the France Pavilion, we found Olaf with yule logs…

…while he was nestled up to olive branches in the Morocco Pavilion!

Olaf also was carting around some poinsettias in Mexico…

…dreidels for Hanukkah at the L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen…

…candles for Kwanzaa outside of the World Showplace building…

…kagami mochi on rice cakes in the Japan Pavilion…

…goat ornaments in the Norway Pavilion…

…sheet music in the American Adventure Pavilion…

…panettone fruit cake in the Italy Pavilion…

…floating lanterns for the New Year in the China Pavilion…

…candy canes in the Germany Pavilion…

…and gingerbread men in the Canada Pavilion!

And, on that note, we finally finished our Holiday Tradition Expedition!

Once we brought our finished map back to spots like Disney Traders, Mouse Gear, or the World Traveler, we were given one of the Frozen Cups we found earlier as our prize!

Keep up with all the places we find Olaf around the World Showcase here!

Although we’ve been following Olaf all day long, we also wanted to take a minute to appreciate the Germany Pavilion’s gorgeous Christmas village and train station!

But, that wasn’t the only hunt we went on during our trip to the Festival of the Holidays! The Cookie Stroll also happened again this year with 5 different spots to visit around the World Showcase…

…before guests can pick up the Minnie Peppermint Cookie as their complimentary prize! Or, guests can also purchase the cookie as an extra treat for $3.

Follow along with us on our Cookie Stroll here!

While we’ve been making our way around the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays today, we’ve encountered some bigger crowds than we’re used to!

The lines were longer with less spots to stop and eat or drink. However, be sure to plan accordingly with your party members so you can make sure to avoid a few of these problems along the way!

Here’s how you can plan for the crowds before you go to this year’s festival in EPCOT!

Our quest for holiday snacks and drinks continued soon afterwards, though! We stopped by Le Marché de Noël for unique items at the festival…

…where guests can taste of a bit of French cuisine for Christmastime!

We sipped on the Cabernet Sauvignon…

…as well as the Boosted Mimosa that’s made with Monin Immunity Boost! (So, yes, it’s almost like you have to try the mimosa… for your immunity, of course! 😉)

We also snacked on the Dinde Forestiere Pommes Dauphines, which is turkey with bacon, mushrooms, and onions in a mustard cream sauce with puffed potatoes.

L’Artisan des Glaces also has a brand new Gingerbread Ice Cream Martini…

…as well as the Christmas Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich with its adorable red and green cookies!

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen is the spot you can take a break from Christmas and celebrate Hanukkah instead!

The menu had different savory options to snack on…

…along with the Shmaltz Brewing Company Hanukkah Beer…

…and giant Black and White Cookie!

Then, you can hop over to the Sapphire Holiday Kitchen near the Morocco Pavilion…

…for a taste of Moroccan cuisine for the holidays!

The Funnel Cake booth had one of the biggest lines we’ve seen so far at the festival today…

…before heading over to the Tuscany Holiday Kitchen, which also had a pretty long line!

The menu had multiple sips to grab to pair with your meal…

…including a flatbread, the “Sacchetti alla Boscaiola…”

…and the Cannoli Siciliani!

The American Holiday Table was more of a festive line, located right next to the tree in the American Adventure pavilion…

…with traditional Christmas favorites, like Slow-roasted Turkey…

…Holiday Pot Pie…

…Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake…

…and a Crinkle Cookie that’s a part of the Cookie Stroll!

The Shanghai Holiday Kitchen had plenty of rice bowls and wontons to satisfy your cravings at the China Pavilion…

…while the Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen in the Mexico Pavilion had sweet and savory treats instead!

Guests could choose to indulge in the Tamal de Pollo…

…Giant Tostada de Chorizo…

…Dulce de Leche Churro…

…as well as a few sips like the Pumpkin Spice Margarita…

…Tulum Mexican Craft Beer, and Horchata Margarita!

Can you tell that Molly really loved the Las Posadas booth??

The Shi Wasu brought back a few returning items along with a couple new menu items…

…as guests paused for another spot during their snack crawl around the World Showcase.

The Ichigo Mont Blanc Tart was a new dessert option this year…

…while the New Year Celebration Soba and the Chirashi Sushi Tree are items that have come back again this year.

The Bavaria Holiday Kitchen across from the Germany Pavilion didn’t have any new items this year…

…but it did have the AMAZING Cheese Fondue and Linzer Cookie that we loved from last year!

The Refreshment Outpost even joined in the holiday festivities with a Frozen Slushy in the Spike the Bee Sipper (there must have been a few leftovers!)…

…and the Warm Brown Sugar-stuffed Pretzel with Soft-serve Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce.

The Citrus Blossom also welcomed guests with treats all featuring citrus notes…

…including the Orange Cream Shake that reminds us of a creamsicle!

The Yukon Holiday Kitchen opened to guests with a bit of Canadian tradition…

…and a LOT of great returning treats (the Maple Bûche de Noël is one of our favorites)!

Nearby, Mele Kalikimaka brought a whole new wave of flavors into the Festival of the Holidays this year!

After one look at the menu, we knew we were in for a treat with SO many fantastic flavors and options…

…like the Lomi Lomi Salmon…

…Kālua Pork…

…and Haupia, which is Hawaiian Coconut Pudding with Candied Macadamia Nuts and Coconut.

Mele Kalikimaka also had unique sips at the booth, including the Sparkling Pineapple Wine…

…Big Wave Golden Ale, and Melon Breeze with Spiced Rum!

After you’ve taken a break from all that food, you can chill out at the America Gardens Theatre to listen to the Voices of Liberty and Mariachi Cobre throughout the day.

Plus, you can even pop into the Festival Markets to check out the unique merchandise for sale!

While you can spy a few decorations you might want to give your family members and friends for Christmas…

…you can also find items inspired from spots around the World Showcase (like the Mary Poppins attraction coming to the UK Pavilion)…

…fuzzy ornaments your kids will love for your tree…

…and even Precious Moments Dolls inspired by your favorite characters!

Guests can even get their own faces put on ornaments with the caricature Cartoon Christmas Ornaments that are $40 per person!

Find out all the details about the Cartoon Christmas Ornaments here!

As we wrapped up our day at the Festival of the Holidays, we got the chance to experience so much amazing entertainment this year!

From the Voices of Liberty…

…to the Mariachi Cobre…

…and even the JAMMitors, the entertainers performing brought so much magic into the parks AND our hearts!

Here’s a look at all the entertainment at the Festival of the Holidays!

We’ll continue to keep you updated on everything happening in EPCOT today as we make our way around the park for the Festival of the Holidays! Stay tuned!

Click here to check out all the menus from this year’s Festival of the Holidays!

What is your favorite EPCOT festival? Let us know in the comments below!

Post a Comment