FULL GUIDE to EVERYTHING at the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

Stay calm, it’s happening! The 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays has officially begun!

As usual for any EPCOT fest, we’re here to do it ALL. With new food and drinks on the menus, the incredible storytellers around World Showcase, the Cookie Stroll, and the iconic Candlelight Processional, there’s a lot to do. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

We’re bringing you LIVE updates! We’ll continue to update this post throughout the day so keep checking back throughout the day.

Entering EPCOT

The park opened at 9AM but we were so excited that we lined up before…and we weren’t the only ones!

Once we got into the park, we picked up the iconic EPCOT festival passport.

This is your guide to the ENTIRE event and features everything from menus…

…to details on the Holiday Cookie Stroll…

…to entertainment, merchandise and more.

Take a look at EVERYTHING inside the Festival Passport!

We also took in all of the fun decor around the park.

Of course, we also stopped by the giant Christmas tree!

We are so excited to dive into all the festivities at the Festival of the Holidays!

🎄✨ The 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays is here, and we’re diving into all the festive food, fun, and traditions! Follow along as we eat, explore, and soak it all up!🎁 pic.twitter.com/z3F18tUVW8

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 29, 2024

Crowds

As we mentioned above, there were a solid amount of people waiting to get into EPCOT. However, inside the park people have room to disperse so it wasn’t too crowded. We expect it to get more crowded as the day goes on!

Stay tuned for more updates on crowds!

Merchandise

Each EPCOT festival has its own exclusive merchandise collection, and this festival is no exception! We got a sneak peek at some of the souvenirs earlier this year but now you can shop them.

You can find the collections at Creations Shop, World Traveler at International Gateway, and various shopping locations around World Showcase.

You can find a variety of items including kitchen items, cups, shirts, spirit jerseys, and more.

You can also grab some exclusive Festival of the Holidays ears.

And even a festive Festival of the Holidays Lug bag,

Take a look at ALL the merchandise you can get at the Festival of the Holidays!

However, we also spotted the best piece of merchandise we have seen in a while! You can get a Figment Christmas Sweater!

You can now match Figment in his adorable Christmas sweater, and we are SO excited!

Check out our FAVORITE piece of merchandise available at the festival!

Stay tuned for more merchandise updates!

Ride Overlays

Living With the Land may not be the most popular ride in EPCOT, but it sure is iconic. That’s why it’s a highlight for many parkgoers to see the Glimmering Greenhouses overlay!

This overlay was ready a bit early, and it will be available throughout the festival. Look out for fun Easter eggs hidden around the ride and enjoy the festive light displays!

Want to get an even closer look? Disney added a special Glimmering Greenhouses Behind-the-Seeds tour! Learn all about that here.

Our Favorite EPCOT Ride Overlay Is BACK!

Food Booths

Alright, we think it’s time to talk about a huge highlight of the festival — the FOOD. There are 18 booths this year as well as some additional locations…and you know we’re trying them all!

Check out our reviews of EVERYTHING we ate at the Festival of the Holidays!

We started off at L’Chaim where we got the Pastrami on Rye, the Smoked Salmon Potato Latke, a Black and White Cookie, and the Frozen New York Whiskey Sour.

🍴✨ Digging into the festive eats—cheers! 🎄🥂 First stop: L’Chaim! 🕎🍷
  •    Pastrami on Rye
    •    Smoked Salmon Potato Latke
    •    Black and White Cookie
    •    Frozen New York Whiskey Sour pic.twitter.com/fWEbJgQnv1

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 29, 2024

We stopped by the Funnel Cake Stand to get the Gingerbread Funnel Cake.

Up next, we headed to Holiday Hearth Desserts to grab the Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie and the Apple Caramel Crumb Cake.

Over at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen we grabbed the Cheese Fondue in a bread bowl, Pork Schnitzel, Hazelnut Linzer Cookie, and Glühwein.

At the American Holiday Table, we tried the Slow-roasted, Blackened Catfish with Hoppin’ John and Comeback Sauce, and the SNICKERS-Doodle Cookie.

We stopped by Mele Kalikimaka to grab the Kālua Pork with Okinawa sweet potatoes and mango salad, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Coffee Mocha Cookie, and the Melon Breeze.

After that, we headed over to Swirled Showcase to try the Holiday Mickey-shaped Liquid Nitrogen Pop.

Then we made our way over to Connections Cafe and Eatery, where we tried the Holiday Sugar Cookie and the Holiday Sweater Liege Waffle.

We also stopped by Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow to try out the Spaceship Earth Tile Gingerbread Triangle and the Gingerbread Milk Shake.

Eating the Spaceship Earth Tile Gingerbread Triangle in front of the Spaceship Earth gingerbread display—talk about gingerbread inception! 🍪✨🔄 pic.twitter.com/75OzYpDDw4

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 29, 2024

After some gingerbread inception, we headed over to Favorites of Festivals Past to try the Reuben Croquettes, Brown Sugar and Mustard-glazed Ham Sliders, Bauducco Panettone Holiday Trifle, and the Beer Flight.

We stopped by Le Marche de Noel Holiday to grab Crème De Saumon Fumé en Brioche aux Grains de Sesames, Concombre Et Radis, Rôti de Jambon Sauce Moutarde à l’Ancienne, Pommes Darphin, Bûche de Noël au Chocolat et Caramel, Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini, and the Spiced Cranberry Punch.

Then we headed over to Shi Wasu to try the Sushi Tree Roll, Toshikoshi Soba, Mochi Donut Wrap, and Ichigo Boba.

Over at Las Posadas, we got the Empanada de Pollo, Tamal de Puerco con Mole, Holiday Margarita, and Coconut Guavarita.

Stay tuned for more food updates from the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays!

Check out what food and drinks made our list of best of the fest!

Holiday Cookie Stroll

While you are eating and drinking your way around the World Showcase, you can also take part in the Holiday Cookie Stroll. In the Holiday Cookie Stroll, you will receive stamps for purchasing select cookies at different Holiday Kitchens. Once you have collected five stamps, make your way over to Holiday Sweets & Treats to receive a special treat! This year’s completer prize is a cookie mix that you can bring home with you and bake.

Take a closer look at the completer prize!

Gingerbread Display

We also stopped by CommuniCore to check out the brand-new Spaceship Earth Gingerbread Display! It was gorgeous and you can see a show every 15 minutes.

You can find a countdown timer on the display to see when the next show is. It is the same show every 15 minutes so once you see it once, it will be the same each time!

The Gingerbread Spaceship Earth in all its glory! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yN40gktUrG

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 29, 2024

Entertainment

Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional is a must do at the festival and will happen three times each night at 5PM, 6:45PM, and 8:15PM. The show is a retelling of the story of Christmas featuring an incredible orchestra, choir, and celebrity narrator!

Josh Gad is the first narrator of this year’s show performing on November 29th and 30th.

Stay tuned and we’ll update when we see this year’s Candlelight Processional!

14 Celebrity Narrators ANNOUNCED for 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Candlelight Processional

Storytellers

If the food booths weren’t enough reason to make your way around World Showcase, check out the Holiday Storytellers! Performers share holiday legends and lore from around the world and you can catch them throughout the day.

Here is a full list of the storytellers available in 2024:

• Las Posadas Celebration in the Mexico Pavilion
• A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa in the Norway Pavilion
• Si-Zhu Trio in the China Pavilion
• Chinese Lion Dancer in the China Pavilion
• La Befana in the Italy Pavilion
• Daruma Storyteller in the Japan Pavilion
• Hanukkah Storyteller Between the Morocco and France Pavilions
• Père Noël in the France Pavilion
• Father Christmas in the United Kingdom Pavilion
• Canadian Holiday Voyageurs in the Canada Pavilion

Spaceship Earth

When the sun goes down, all eyes go to Spaceship Earth! A few years ago, Disney added lights to “EPCOT ball” and now a quick light and music show plays on repeat after dark.

Meet Santa

Over in the Odyssey Pavilion, you can meet St. Nick himself!

JOYFUL!

Now that CommuniCore Plaza is open, the popular JOYFUL! show has moved to the plaza’s stage for the 2024 festival! The show celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa through gospel, R&B, and holiday songs.

Activities

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt

Sorry Frosty, but we’re talking about everyone’s favorite snowman — Olaf! Through Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt, you can look for the lovable Frozen character around World Showcase and then earn a prize.

First, you’ll purchase a $9.99 from select merchandise locations including Creations Shop and World Traveler. You’ll put stickers on the map as you find Olafs around the park. Then, return to Disney Traders, Creations Shop or World Traveler to redeem your prize!

Stay tuned to see this year’s prize!

Keep following AllEars for more Disney World updates!

This New EPCOT Restaurant Is WAY Cheaper Than You Think

Are you visiting EPCOT during this festival? Let us know in the comments!

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