MASSIVE REVIEW: We Tried Every Food Booth at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays and These 5 Blew Us Away!

Your next trip to EPCOT just got even better, because the Festival of the Holidays is here! The park is already known for its incredible food scene, but from November 28th to December 30th, 2025, you can also snack around over 25 food booths and additional locations.

Not only that, but you can check out the Candlelight Processional (narrated by a celebrity, I might add), exclusive storytellers around World Showcase, and a Santa meet and greet! Right now, though, we’re focused on food. Here is our review for every single booth at the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays!

American Holiday Table — 5/5

We started with the Slow-roasted Turkey for $6.50. It is served with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. This is a returning favorite for us, and it was also delicious this year. Our one complaint is that the turkey was a bit dry, but everything else was delicious. The stuffing had plenty of herby flavor, and the mashed potatoes were buttery. The green beans had a wonderful snap while still tender, and the cranberry sauce added a bit of sweetness and tartness to the dish. 

Next up was the Blackened Catfish with Hoppin’ John and Comeback Sauce for $6.75. This is another favorite that is still just as good this year! This catfish packs lots of flavor and is generously seasoned with Cajun seasoning. And we can’t get enough of the Comeback Sauce – and we are definitely glad it came back!

For dessert, we tried the new Chocolate Cookie featuring SNICKERS bar pieces and salted caramel for $3.75. This cookie was ooey and gooey in the center, with a stiffer exterior that helped hold all the deliciousness together. This cookie is full of rich caramel and chocolate flavor, and we are super impressed with the caramel! Plus, the Snickers bits were a bit melted, which we thought added great texture and flavor to the cookie. 

Of course, we also had to try out the drinks! At American Holiday Table, you can grab three different beers and two different wines (Regional White Wine and Regional Red Wine). The beers are available individually or in a flight. Since we are trying a lot of drinks today, we grabbed the beer flight to try all three! 

The Beer Flight costs $12.75 and features the Victory Brewing Co. Chocolate Cherry Stout, the Crooked Can Brewing Company Bah HOPbug IPA, and the 3 Daughters Brewing Eggnog White Porter. You can also get these beers individually for $6 (6 ounces) or $9.75 (12 ounces).

Starting off with our favorite, the Chocolate Cherry Stout. We were impressed by the sweet chocolate flavor, which was rounded out with a bit of tart cherry. Delicious and true to the description!

Up next, the Eggnog White Porter. This was a lighter stout, although we didn’t taste much eggnog flavor. However, we still thought it was tasty, just didn’t quite live up to its name like the Chocolate Cherry Stout.

Finally, we tried the Crooked Can Bah HOPbug IPA. This one was also good; it tasted like a run-of-the-mill IPA, so while it wasn’t necessarily a stand-out, it is a great choice for someone looking for a simple IPA. 

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen — 5/5

German classics are on the menu at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen at EPCOT’s Festival of Holidays. 

First off, the longtime favorite Cheese Fondue in a bread bowl is BACK. Served with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes, this dish is $8.50. This beautiful dish of gooey, melted cheese did not disappoint. The veggies were perfectly cooked – not too crunchy, not too mushy- while the cheeses were very creamy and heavy, giving a comforting texture. The bread is quite soft and a little bit dry, which is perfect for dipping in the cheese. However, as a standalone, it might not be everybody’s favorite. 

But the Cheese Fondue isn’t the only returning favorite. The $6.75 Pork Schnitzel – served with mushroom sauce, spätzle, and braised red cabbage – has also returned. The pork itself was delicious, and the mushroom sauce on top really adds a delicious burst of creamy, slightly earthy flavor. Meanwhile, the cabbage adds an acidity that balances out the heavier flavors.

The Hazelnut Linzer Cookie with raspberry jam is also back, this year featuring a Mickey Mouse-shaped take on the traditional hole in the middle. The cookie itself is super soft, and the raspberry jam adds a sweetness that counterbalances its gingerbread taste. The Linzer costs $3.75, and is eligible for a participation stamp in the Holiday Cookie Stroll. 

Beverage-wise, the booth offers Glühwein, or house-made hot spiced wine. Served warm in the traditional manner, it costs $9.75. As usual, it’s cozy and tasty, with the cinnamon flavor taking prominence.

The Beverage Flight is somewhat unique here in that it’s a mix of beer and hard cider: Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier and von Trapp Brewing’s Trösten Smoked Dark Lager comprise the beers, and Possmann Pure Hard Cider completes the beverage trio.

The Flight costs $12.75. But if you prefer, you can simply order any of the drinks individually at 6 ounces for $6.00 or 12 ounces for $9.75.

First up is the Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier. This beer has a light flavor to it, which will likely make it a favorite of those who enjoy light beers that aren’t overtly hoppy.

On the other hand, the von Trapp Brewing’s Trösten Smoked Dark Lager is HOPPY. Those who enjoy dark beer will likely enjoy it, while those who don’t will probably steer clear.

Finally, the Possmann Pure Hard Cider is fruity, almost to the point where it’s reminiscent of a Moscato. We found it very tasty and easy to drink. 

A Regional Riesling is also available for $9.

Chestnuts and Good Cheer — 3/5

There are three options of Cinnamon-glazed nuts here at Chestnuts and Good Cheer. You can try Almonds, Cashews, or Pecans. Each bag is $6. Cinnamon-glazed Almonds are fairly easy to find in Disney World theme parks throughout the year. These glazed nuts are fragrant and flavorful, with an irresistible candied glaze. Even with the crunchy candy coating, the nuts inside remain easy to chew and won’t hurt your teeth.

The nuts are super fresh, perfectly crisp on the outside with a delicious coating, and a soft inside. The pecans are like a pecan pie in a bag; they were our favorites. They may not be super unique, but they’re definitely delicious. We’re loving that there’s a whole booth dedicated to them.

The booth also has a festival exclusive in the Cinnamon-glazed Cashews! These are a personal favorite of ours, and we highly recommend them.

Then, there’s the classic, the Fire-roasted Chestnuts. A batch is also $6, and the Chestnuts are also plant-based, just like the variety of glazed nuts. This Holiday Kitchen even lives up to its name by roasting the Chestnuts directly beside the Food Booth…chestnuts on an open fire! Look, year after year, we try the chestnuts at the Holiday Kitchen, and we get their holiday classic, but we just can’t get on board with them.

You do get a moment to enjoy the nicely roasted and flavor from the shell of chestnut, complete with a sprinkle of cinnamon.  But the dry yet somehow also mealy texture of the nut itself just never sits right, so we honestly wouldn’t recommend these, unfortunately.

The booth has all the holiday classics, as you can also get Eggnog here! The non-alcoholic version of this drink is $4.00. But of-age guests may opt to try it spirited with your choice of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky or Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey for $12.25. 

The non-alcoholic version of the eggnog is pretty much your basic eggnog with no doctoring up. It tastes like eggnog you’d go out and buy. A sprig of cinnamon lends to the aesthetics, but does little for the flavor. Of course, if you add your choice of spirit, you’ll experience more unique flavors.

Chestnut Praline Imperial Ale by Southern Tier Brewing Co. is available as a 6-ounce pour for $6.00 or a 12-ounce pour for $9.75. This was a fun craft beer. You first get a sweeter praline taste like a dessert, but then it fizzles into a hard beer flavor. It’s very unique, so maybe get a smaller size to try it.

Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow — 4/5

First up is the Ginger-Molasses Cookie with cream cheese icing for $3.50. Oh boy, this one was tasty! It was soft and chewy and full of ginger and molasses flavor. The cream cheese icing on top was sweet, and there was plenty of it! There was almost as much icing as there was cookie. 

Next is the Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie for $5.50. This is two sugar cookies sandwiched together with a layer of rich, creamy caramel. This cookie is super adorable and perfect for pictures! The flavors are good too, especially if you love the combination of sweet vanilla cookies and gooey caramel. 

While the Prototype Cookie for $4.75 is beautiful, the flavors were not standouts. It is a sugar cookie with orange-cranberry icing and dark chocolate. The texture of the cookie was similar to a biscuit cookie, but it didn’t quite crumble or flake. The dark chocolate reminded us of a Dove dark chocolate piece, almost like bark. We loved how it looked, but we’re probably not going to go out of our way to try this again.

For drinks, you can get the Gingerbread Milk Shake for $5.25. You can also get the milk shake with whipped cream vodka for $12.50. This is a fairly simple shake, and you are mostly going to taste gingerbread flavor. It is tasty enough, but you will definitely want to like gingerbread to enjoy this shake. 

You will also find Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s for $4. You can get some whipped cream vodka in the hot cocoa for $12.25. This is classic hot cocoa, which is perfect for pairing with cookies! It isn’t going to be a life-changing sip of hot chocolate, but if you are looking for that classic milky and chocolatey taste, you won’t be disappointed. 

There are also three beers offered at this booth. You can get them individually for $6 (6 ounces) or $9.75 (12 ounces), or you can get them in a Beer Flight for $12.75. The three beers are: Crooked Can Brewing Company Gingerbread Bock, Gulf Stream Brewing Baking Spirits Bright Gingerbread Red Ale, and Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Frosted Gingerbread White Stout.

Starting with the Frosted Gingerbread White Stout. This was our favorite of the three; it was a lighter beer and had lots of gingerbread flavor towards the end. You definitely taste the beer most prominently at the beginning of your sip, and then the gingerbread flavor comes at the end of the taste. 

The Gingerbread Red Ale also had lots of gingerbread flavor to it. It tasted a bit more watered down than the first beer, but it was still very enjoyable. 

Finally, the Gingerbread Bock! This was the heaviest of the three beers, and we thought it had the least amount of gingerbread flavor of the three. You could still taste the hints of warming spices a bit, but it is not as strong as the other two beers. 

If beer isn’t your favorite, you can also find a Seasonal Wine here for $12.75.

Favorites of Festivals Past — 4/5

The Reuben Croquettes are back again for $6. The fried croquettes are made with pastrami, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese, and are served with a Thousand Island dipping sauce. The crispy brown crust looks amazing, and the crunch when you bite into them is even better. Pastrami is mixed with the cheese on the inside, whereas the sauerkraut gives the dish a little sourness. These were so good we could’ve had another helping!

The Brown Sugar and Mustard-glazed Ham Sliders are topped with cranberry and apple coleslaw and served up on a Hawaiian roll. This dish costs $6. The apple coleslaw adds a nice crunch and tanginess that helps to cut down the saltiness of the ham. It makes for a great small festive lunch, and it didn’t disappoint.

For dessert, we grabbed the unique Panettone Holiday Trifle for $5.25. Here, it’s presented with eggnog custard, then topped with cranberry-cherry compote and sugared almonds. The custard was thick and great, while the eggnog stood out, but wasn’t over the top. The cranberry-cherry sauce wasn’t too strong, too sour, or too tart, which we appreciated. Oh, and there is some FLUFFY whipped cream on this thing. We were fans of the nutiness and crunchiness provided by the sugar almonds. There are pieces of bread or cake in here that weren’t listed on the menu.

Three holiday drinks? Count us in! We had to grab the Beverage Flight for $12.75. You can try the Cigar City Brewing Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale, Keel Farms Pecan Pie Hard Cider, and Southern Tier Brewing Co. Tiramisu Imperial Stout. If you prefer, though, you can try any of the individual brews for $6 for a 6-ounce pour, or $9.75 for a 12-ounce pour.

The Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale comes to the Festival for the first time this year from Cigar City Brewing, located in Tampa, Florida. You get a bit of that oatmeal raisin cookie taste, although it is faint. This one was pretty refreshing and delicious!

Keel Farms in Plant City, Florida, supplies the returning Pecan Pie Hard Cider. Wow, you can definitely taste the pecan pie in this cider. The cider wasn’t overly carbonated, and overall just delicious!

Southern Tier Brewing Co., primarily based out of Lakewood, New York, brings the Tiramisu Imperial Stout back to the Festival of the Holidays. The flavor didn’t linger on this one, which we appreciated. You get a little bit of coffee flavor from this, but not a ton. We still really enjoyed this one!

As a reminder, wine fans may choose a Seasonal White Wine $8 or a Seasonal Red for $7.50, and also have the options of Martin Ray Chardonnay ($7) and Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon ($15).

Holiday Hearth Desserts — 3/5

The Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookie is new this year. This is a plant-based cookie for $3.50, and it’s part of the Holiday Cookie Stroll. First, you’re going to need to like granola bars to appreciate this because it’s a lot like a hard granola bar. Like really hard. The flavors are good, but if you have sensitive teeth, you might want to skip. 

The Red Velvet Cake Pop for $5.50 is also new this year. It even has festive sprinkles! You’ve got that chocolate coating on the outside and a super moist and fluffy cake on the inside with a nice chocolate flavor. What’s not to love?

The Reindeer Chow (aka Mouse Crunch, in previous years) is also returning this year for $6.75. You get a bag of M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies mixed with popcorn and chocolate-covered pretzels. We loved this last year with its sweet and salty mix. However, this isn’t really that unique, so you might want to pass on it. 

The returning Apple-Caramel Crumb Cake is basically a coffee cake with a crunchy crumble topping for $5. The cake itself is moist and spongy, but the caramel on top is pretty stiff. However, it mixes well with the icing on top. There’s a lot of nice texture with this dessert, but there isn’t any actual apple in it. 

The Chocolate-covered Toffee Brittle is returning this year, too, for $4.75. If you love toffee, this is a must, but be warned…like regular toffee, it’s going to be tough for those with sensitive teeth. 

There’s also plenty to drink at this booth. We picked up the Hard Cider Flight ($12.75), which has three ciders new to this year’s festival: BRLO Winter Hard Cider, Keel Farms Yukon Maple Bourbon Hard Cider, and 3 Daughters Brewing Peppermint Hard Cider. You can try any of the ciders individually for $6 for a 6-ounce pour or $9.75 for a 12-ounce pour.

The BRLO Winter Hard Cider hails from Berlin. It’s nice and acidic, but not super strong. It’s very smooth and easy to drink. The Yukon Maple Bourbon Hard Cider comes from Keel Farms in Florida. There’s a nice sweetness to it from the maple, but you still get the acidity from the cider. 3 Daughters Brewing, in St. Petersburg, FL, brought us the third cider, the Peppermint Hard Cider. Seriously, don’t knock it until you try it because it’s a nice peppermint flavor as a cider, and we are here for it.

There’s also a Beer Flight with Wicked Weed’s Brewing Jack Frost IPA, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co.’s Cranberry Vanilla Wheat Ale, and Brewery Ommegang Gilded Noel White Chocolate Imperial Blonde Stout. Again, you may try any of the beers individually for $6 for a 6-ounce pour or $9.75 for a 12-ounce pour.

Wicked Weed’s Brewing Jack Frost IPA is returning to the festival this year. This one is for those who love IPAs, which we find pretty strong and bitter. Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co.’s Cranberry Vanilla Wheat Ale is new to the festival this year. It’s very wheaty, earthy, and a good traditional beer, but it has a nice sweetness from the vanilla and tartness from the cranberry. The Brewery Ommegang Gilded Noel White Chocolate Imperial Blonde Stout is also new. It’s very different. It’s got a taste that is both bitter and sweet, as if cream had been added to it.

The Frozen Caramel Hot Cocoa is also back. It’s made with TWIX cookie bar pieces and whipped cream over the frozen caramel cocoa for $5.50. We’ve had this in the past, and it is VERY sweet with a prominent caramel flavor.

You can also grab the Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s for $4, or you can order it as the Cocoa Peppermint Warmer, which adds peppermint schnapps for $12.75. We’ve also had this in the past, and if you love chocolate and mint flavors, this is a real treat.

Holiday Sweets and Treats — 5/5

The Peppermint Sundae is simply a holiday classic at this point. Chocolate ice cream is topped with whipped cream and peppermint candy for $6.50. ​​We will admit, it is a basic ice cream treat, but the portion size is generous. Outside of the topping on the whipped cream, there isn’t much peppermint. Your kiddos will love it!

We were very excited to try the Festive Flight! This trio features Christmas Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa, Gingerbread Hot Cocoa, and a Cookie Butter Hot Cocoa for $6.50. 

The Christmas Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa is topped with whipped cream and sprinkles. This drink is built for a sweet tooth, and was our favorite of the three. The sugar cookie flavor was very prominent but not overly sweet, which was great! It’s hard not to love this one.

The Gingerbread Hot Cocoa is topped with whipped cream and a gingerbread garnish. If you’re a gingerbread fan, this drink is for you! The drink also comes with a cute little gingerbread man in the drink.

Finally, the Cookie Butter Hot Cocoa is topped with whipped cream and speculoos spice. The speculoos spice hit us the most on the backend with a strong kick. It’s not a hot spice, but it has a spice to it. This one is built for more adventurous tasters! 

The Chocolate-Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea returns again this year.

It’s $5.25 for the non-alcoholic version, or $12.50 to have it with whipped cream vodka. Our recommendation, based on years of trying this shake in both its non-alcoholic and boozy forms, is that the Chocolate-Peppermint Shake is really only worth grabbing if you’re going to add the vodka. The whipped cream vodka is 100% the right choice for this drink, making it smooth, a little icy, and sweet. When it all mixes with the chocolate flavor and the dash of peppermint on top, it feels like a lovely little indulgence.

Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s is available at this Holiday Kitchen, too. You can warm up with a cup on its own for $4.00, or try it with your choice of liqueur from Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream Liqueur, or Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey. Prices for the boozy versions range from $12.25 to $15.50. 

Two brews are also up for grabs for $12.50 each: Carib Brewery Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree IPA, and Stevens Point Brewery Whole Hog Hazelnut Brownie Porter. 

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen — 5/5

You know, we really understand the hype around L’Chaim because it delivers year after year. The Pastrami on Rye is back for $6, served with house-made pickles and deli mustard. This has been a favorite of ours for YEARS, and it’s still good. The mustard gives just enough additional flavor to really complement the pastrami. We also loved how the rye bread is crispy on 

The Smoked Salmon Potato Latke for $6.25 has also been a favorite of ours for a long time. We think it’s even better this year. The latke is well-cooked, and the salmon just adds the perfect flavor to the potatoes.

You can also opt for the plant-based Potato Latkes, which are returning for $4.75. You get two pretty big latkes that are perfectly fried and crisp on the outside. A dill sour cream is drizzled on top for some zest. 

The Black and White Cookie got a makeover this year, and is the Mickey-shaped Almond Black and White Cookie for $4. It’s part of the Holiday Cookie Stroll. It’s really just a simple almond cookie, but it hits just right.

The Rugelach is also back this year for $4.25. It features raspberry jam, walnuts, and cinnamon, and is also part of the Holiday Cookie Stroll. The raspberry and cinnamon flavor really comes through, and the walnuts add a nice crunch. If we had to choose between the two desserts here, this would be our pick.

The Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout has also returned this year. You can get a 6-ounce pour for $6, or a 12-ounce pour for $9.75. It’s a super chocolatey chocolate stout, so it’s a must for chocolate-lovers.

The Frozen New York Whiskey Sour is also a returning drink. It’s made with Manifest Whiskey and Manischewitz Blackberry Wine and costs $12.75. It’s got a nice tangy flavor, thanks to the blackberry wine, but you also get that classic Whiskey Sour flavor mixed in.

Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen — 4/5

We can always count on Mexico to give us a good festival booth, and Las Posadas delivers. We started with the Tostada de Carne with braised beef tips slow-cooked Mexican-style atop a fried corn tortilla for $8. This new festival item seems a little dry at first, but the toppings on the beef really take it up a notch and help all the flavors and textures blend. We also liked the crisp tostada.

The Tamal de Pollo con Mole is another new dish with shredded chicken and mole in corn masa topped with mole negro, queso fresco, crema Mexicana, and slivered almonds for $9. This didn’t impress us quite as much. The mole does offer a hint of chocolate flavor, but the chicken is dry, and the only flavor it gets comes from the crema. The flavors in this just didn’t work well together.

However, we loved the Dulce de Leche Churro for $6.75. This isn’t your typical stale Disney World churro. This is a lovely, fresh churro with a gorgeous filling that just makes the taste buds sing. See? Disney World CAN do churros, right!

To drink, we ordered the Chai-mazing Margarita for $13.50 made with Chai-infused Dulce Vida Tequila Blanco, apple-ginger juice, and chai liqueur. We loved the flavor of this because it was sweet and easy to drink. You do get a subtle hint of the spices and apple-ginger juice, too. The tequila, though, wasn’t easy to taste.

We also really liked the Horchata Margarita for $14. It’s made with cinnamon-infused Ilegal Mezcal, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, agua de horchata, and cinnamon horchata rum. It’s sweet, but it’s also smoky with a stronger alcohol flavor than the Chai-mazing Margarita. 

The Holiday Cerveza is the only returning drink this year. It’s $7 for 6 ounces and $13 for 12 ounces. It’s a Mexican Artisanal Craft Lager with black currant liqueur. We found this to be very light and refreshing last year, similar to a blonde ale.

Le Marche De Noel Holiday Kitchen — 5/5

Say hello to our Best of the Fest winner for 2025!

The Dinde Rôtie, Sauce et Garniture, servi avec Patates Douces is roasted turkey plated with mushrooms, pearl onions, bacon, turkey gravy, and roasted sweet potatoes. This new dish is $9.25. The turkey and gravy combo worked perfectly. The mushrooms weren’t very overpowering, which we appreciated. Picky eaters might shy from this, but trust us, you’ll be ok with this one! 

​​Up next, the Crème de Saumon Fumé en Brioche aux Grains de Sésames, Concombre et Radis is back. And we’re certainly glad about that, because this item landed on our Best of the Fest list last year, too! This dish presents smoked salmon spread on a sesame brioche roll with cucumber and radishes for $9.25. This was another delicious grab. The sesame was an amazing touch to it, and the vegetables were a good addition. Another year, and we love it all the same!

The new Macaron de Noël aux Épices also comes in at $9.25. It’s a large gingerbread macaron with spiced filling. How fun! The holiday treat you MUST grab. It has gingerbread and cinnamon flavors, with an icing center. The aroma is amazing, as you can smell the gingerbread as you bring it close to your mouth.

‘Tis the season for the Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini made with vodka, cocoa, and whipped cream! Another returning Festival favorite, this cocktail comes in at $14.25. This is a favorite, not just by us, but by everyone. As you walk around France, EVERYONE is holding this. We can see why!

Now, you may be familiar with the popular Glühwein served at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen year after year. But the Vin Chaud French Mulled Wine is making its Festival debut! It’s likewise served warm and is flavored with orange and cinnamon spices. It’s served hot, which just feels right from the start. Picture apple cider turned to wine, that’s what this is. Guess what, we’re here for it!

The new Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé joins the lineup this year. This sparkling sip costs $6.95.

Mele Kalikimaka — 5/5

Ready for a Hawaiian Christmas? We’re taking you to Mele Kalikimaka next for some returning favorites. Starting us off was the Kālua Pork for $6. The Kālua Pork with coconut, sweet potatoes, and mango salad has been a fan-favorite in recent years and for good reason. 

This is sweet and savory, with a delicious balance between the pork and the potatoes. It’s a great, rich, meaty break in a festival that has a TON of sugary food.

But speaking of the sweets, we also tried the Coffee Mocha Cookie for $3.25. This was one of our favorite items in 2024 with its coffee-infused buttercream, cocoa nibs, and chocolate-covered espresso beans. 

It’s nice and sweet on the front end with lots of icing, but then you get that more bitter coffee flavor on the back end. Perfect for coffee lovers!

To drink, we snagged the Maui Brewing Co. Mango Stickee Rice IPA – 6 oz $6 / 12oz $9.75. Unlike other IPAs, this was sweet on the back end and had a nice fruitiness to it. It wasn’t too bitter, which we appreciated!

Mele Kalikimaka continues to be one of our favorites at this festival…it’s a must-try!

Nochebuena Cocina — 4/5

Starting out our visit to Nochebuena Cocina this year was the plant-based Chorizo Tamal with cotija and spicy red chile sauce for $5.50. Our resident vegan, Breedlove, absolutely ADORED this dish, saying that the texture was biscuit-like.

He described the sauce as being rich and spicy, with about a medium-level heat. It was surprisingly well-rounded in flavor, heat, and texture. 

Next, we tried the new Pan de Jamón, which is $6. It’s Traditional Latin Christmas bread, rolled ham, raisins, and green olives. This was more of a unique dish to us, with a mix of flavors and surprising textures.

The jam was rich and juicy, and the bread had some nice crispy edges. The olives are strong, and the raisins add some chew. If you haven’t tried this dish before, you may be a bit surprised by the combination of ingredients. 

For dessert, we tried the Cinnamon-spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie for $3.50. This didn’t have nearly as much cinnamon flavor as we expected, but it was heavy on the chocolate. The icing glaze on top was sweet and added a fun crisp texture.

One of the real standouts here was the Ponche Navideño – a Christmas punch with apple, pears, guava, oranges, dried hibiscus, brown sugar, tamarind, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. It’s available for $4. The flavors were deliciously fruity and rich, with an underlying warmth from the spices. 

It’s served warm, and it’s delightfully Christmasy that way. We would drink this by the bucketful!

Shanghai Holiday Kitchen — 2/5

We started with the BBQ Char Siu Pork Fried Rice for $9.50. It is made with Chinese La Chang sausage, egg, yellow onion, green onion, and sesame. We have seen fried rice before at this booth, but this is a bit of a different take. We were intrigued by this dish, but ended up a bit disappointed. The rice was a bit overcooked, and the sausage was tough. However, it did have very promising flavors, and we would be willing to give this dish another try to see if the rice and sausage are cooked better!

You can also grab the Beef Noodle Soup Bowl for $9.75. It features slow-braised beef shank, green onion, and house-made chili oil. We got this dish last year, and it was loaded up with noodles and beef! We thought it was lacking a bit in flavor, but we were impressed by the portion size. 

The booth also has Vegetable Spring Rolls for $6.25. They are served with citrus sauce. These are classic spring rolls with a super crispy exterior and a vegetable-filled interior. We enjoyed how much vegetable filling was inside, and the flavor was fresh. The citrus sauce is sweet and adds a bit of brightness to the dish. 

To drink, you can grab the Tiger Milk Tea for $8.75. This drink is non-alcoholic and is made with Assam black tea, whole milk, brown sugar syrup, and tapioca boba. We thought this was good, although a bit on the expensive side. The most prominent flavor is the black tea, and you don’t taste much of the brown sugar. The boba was chewy and made for a tasty milk tea. 

We also tried the Butterfly Lantern for $14.75. It is made with Butterfly pea blossom gin, vodka, prickly pear syrup, lychee syrup, and white boba. The pear is most prominent with a hint of lychee flavor. The flavors end up coming off kind of medicinal, but it definitely looks very pretty!

At Shanghai Holiday Kitchen, you will also find the Brew Hub Year of the Dragon: Dragon Fruit Lager, which you can get for $5.75 (6 ounces) or $10 (12 ounces). The booth also has a Lychee Martini for $14.50, which is made with vodka, lychee syrup, and vermouth. As well, you can also grab the Peach of Longevity for $14.75. It is made with peach schnapps, citrus vodka, piña colada mix, and Minute Maid Orange Juice.

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen — 4.5/5

Japan’s Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen has long been one of our favorite booths at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays.

2025 sees the return of two longtime favorites, beginning with the Sushi Tree Roll. This photo-worthy sushi roll is shaped like a Christmas tree. It features crab meat and cream cheese, garnished with spicy mayo and colorful rice pearls. for $7.50. Between its fun shape and the flavor similarity to crab rangoon, the roll is appealing to those who don’t usually try sushi but want to be slightly adventurous.  

The next returning favorite is the Toshikoshi Soba, which also costs $7.50. Consisting of buckwheat soba noodles in hot dashi fish-based soup topped with shrimp tempura and chopped green onion, we’ve been fans of this dish for a while. The tempura is crunchy and adds a nice savory flavor. 

The booth’s newest addition is the $7.95 Strawberry Bun. This pillowy pink bao bun is filled with a light and airy cream that has a taste reminiscent of strawberry milk. The whole package is delicious, and adds a delectible new dessert option to the fest’s lineup. 

As far as drinks go, we tried out the new non-alcoholic $7 Yuzu Refresher. Made with Yuzu, passion fruit, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, and popping green apple boba pearls, this drink was tasty, but very SWEET.  Kids will probably love it. 

The $8.25 Japanese Punch with Shōchū, plum wine, cranberry, and lemon juice for $8.25.

The returning $14 Chocolate Nigori has the creamy texture of Nigori Sake and rich sweetness and gentle bitterness from chocolate.

Finally, Sapporo Premium Black Beer is available for $5.75 or $9.75.

Swirled Showcase — 2.5/5

The Liquid Nitrogen Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse featuring M&M’S Holiday Mint Chocolate Candies for $5.50. It’s not the most appealing treat, but you can’t judge it until you try it. The treat was very smooth and very creamy, with a firm center, making for an enjoyable eating experience. The liquid nitrogen makes it nice and cold, while giving the icing on top an interesting texture, and definitely doesn’t make it taste like normal icing. The M&M’s gave an excellent crunch to an otherwise “mushy” dish.

It is very pepperminty, so we would pass up on this if you don’t like peppermint things. Although it’s not crazy overwhelming, and it pairs nicely with the chocolate! Overall, the flavors are great, but there isn’t much going on with it. We think it could’ve been colder and more unique. There are just more fun and better treats to have here!

Swirled Showcase is also serving three ice cream flavors for the festival –  Vanilla, Apple Cinnamon, and Dark Chocolate. Each waffle cone costs $6.50 — you can get the ice cream in a cup, but the price will stay the same.

Dark Chocolate is a “deeper” chocolate than what you would expect for a chocolate ice cream, but it’s not like a dark chocolate bar, although it’s close.

The Apple Cinnamon soft serve is back this year, and like always, it is a clear winner. It’s a unique flavor, and if you’re going to try an ice cream at the festival, we think this is the way to go.

Lastly, there was your usual Vanilla. It’s a safe bet for someone looking for a nice, cold treat!

You can also order a couple of floats at Swirled Showcase that feature vanilla ice cream. You need to try the Barq’s Red Crème Soda or Barq’s Root Beer with vanilla Soft-serve. We’ve had these in the past, and they’re simple and refreshing. They’re $6.75 each. When we tried to order it this year, a Cast Member let us know there was an issue with the manufacturer, and they didn’t know when the red soda would be in. We’ll keep our eyes peeled!

In 2024, we also had the Yuletide Float, which is made with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and Barq’s Red Crème Soda with apple cinnamon soft-serve for $12.75. This one is delicious and not talked about enough. The pairing of the apple cinnamon soft serve with the Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is such a good combo and makes for a tasty holiday treat.

You can also get a Coffee Float made with dark chocolate soft-serve with iced coffee and a choice of Mozart Liqueur for $12.75 each. Another big win for the booth, and it continues to get better from previous festivals.

Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina — 5/5

Tangierine Cafe is one of our favorite festival booths for a good reason. Although the Moroccan Wrap was on the menu at this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine festival, we had to get it again. You can get it with Chermoula Chicken, Moroccan-spiced Lamb, or the plant-based Falafel for $6.25. The Moroccan Wrap with Falafel is dry on the outside and crumbly on the inside, just like a good falafel should be. It has such a full flavor when mixed with the vegetables.

 

We also got the Moroccan Wrap with Chermoula Chicken, which is nice and saucy, and has a great blend of flavors, thanks to the chermoula. These wraps are served with both ends open, so be careful of things falling out of them!

The Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with assorted dips for $5.25 is also a festival favorite. The bread seemed a little different this year. It was thicker and not as hollow. We really liked it, though. The three sauces are also great to dip that warm, fluffy bread into. However, the bread is a little oily, so you’ve been warned.

There are three hard ciders on the menu this year, including the new 3 Daughters Brewing Golden Fig Hard Cider and Keel Farms Frostbite Blueberry Ginger Hard Cider, and the returning Gulf Stream Brewing Holiday Snakebite. You can get all three in a flight for $12.75 or buy individually for $6 and 12oz for $9.75.

3 Daughters Brewing Golden Fig Hard Cider is our favorite of the three. It has a lovely golden fig taste that just makes for a really good cider. We even imagined we tasted something apple-like in it. 

The Gulf Stream Brewing Holiday Snakebite is a returning cider. This one has a strong cinnamon-like flavor, so it’s like a fireball without the harshness of a hard liquor. It still packs a punch, so it’s one you want to sip on.

The new Keel Farms Frostbite Blueberry Ginger Hard Cider is very blueberry and ginger-forward. You can even smell it when you lift it up to your nose. It’s not a holiday flavor we would have ever thought of, but it feels very holiday-like.

The Sparkling Holiday Fig Cocktail is also returning this year. It’s made with Sparkling Wine, Kleiner Feigling liqueur, and white cranberry juice for $11.75. This was our favorite thing at this booth. It’s got a nice fig taste with a spiciness like a spiced wine.

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen — 1.5/5

First up, we ordered the new Salsiccia e Peperoni, which is sweet sausage, roasted peppers, and focaccia. This is priced at $8.75 and is a snack on the Dining Plan. The bread had good flavors, but it was also very dry. The sausage had savory flavors that were quite interesting, and the cooked onions and peppers were a great addition. It wasn’t anything special, but it was good.

The Montanara returned, which is fried house-made pizza dough with pomodoro sauce, Parmesan, and fresh basil. We find the dish to be gummy, soggy balls of dough with bland sauce. However, it could’ve just been our experience. This dish is priced at $7.50 this year and is a snack on the Dining Plan.

 

And finally, we wrapped up with this year’s sweet treat — Pizza e Cioccolato, which is fried house-made pizza dough with sugar, cinnamon, and chocolate for $7. Unfortunately, these were crazy undercooked. The middle is very doughy, but not in a good way, making them very chewy. We will say, they do have the perfect amount of chocolate to make them tasty. We liked them, but they’re just undercooked.

You can raise a toast to the holidays this year with Italian Red Sangria for $12.

The Italian-inspired Blood Orange Margarita also returns this year for $13. This drink has been featured at previous festivals and is made with Tequila, triple sec, and blood orange liqueur.

New at this booth for 2025 is a Tiramisu Stout for $7.50. This was super light and easy to drink, with a sweet, foresty stout. If you’re looking for something robust and different, this isn’t that. However, if you want something light, refreshing, and enjoyable, this is it. This was our favorite thing at this booth! 

Also returning is a booth staple, the Peroni Pilsner — you can get a 6oz pour for $6.50 or a 12oz pour for $12.

Yukon Holiday Kitchen — 3/5

We started with the Seared Salmon with butternut squash purée, maple-bourbon glaze, and fennel-arugula salad for $7.50. This has consistently been a favorite of ours every year, and this year, it still delivers. The salmon is crispy on the top and flaky on the inside, but the glaze gives it a whole sweet and salty vibe. The butternut squash purée is nice and creamy, with additional sweetness.

The Beef Bourguignon is also returning this year. It’s served with crushed potatoes for $7.25. It’s so savory, and we love that it kinda’ counteracts all the sweet treats we’ve been eating at the festival. You get three good-sized chunks of meat that are super tender with a nice herby flavor.

There is a sweet treat available here, though: the new Maple Leaf Shortbread Cookie with maple buttercream for $4. This cookie is part of the Holiday Cookie Stroll. We really wanted to love this cookie, but it didn’t do it for us. The shortbread is tasty, but a little tough. The icing between the cookies was maple-flavored, but there just wasn’t enough of it. 

This year’s beer flight includes two returning beers — 81Bay Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Banana Porter and the Playalinda Brewing Co. Maple Cookie Blonde Ale, and the new Collective Arts Brewing Brown Sugar Coffee Porter. You can snag the flight for $12.75, or you can order 6-oz pours for $6, and 12-oz pours for $9.75.

We grabbed the Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee, which you can get without booze for $5.25 or with Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky for $12.75. It’s icy, like a frozen hot chocolate, but the flavor is like a creamy coffee. We also opted for whipped cream on top (you can choose), which added an additional sweetness and creaminess. This is the perfect drink for hotter weather.

Additional Locations

Funnel Cake — 4.5/5

Over at the Funnel Cake stand, you can grab the Red Velvet Cookie Funnel Cake for $12.50. It is topped with powdered sugar, vanilla ice cream, cream cheese whipped cream, red velvet cookie pieces, mini chocolate chips, and chocolate syrup. At the bottom, you will find a crispy funnel cake with a fluffy interior. It is topped with a block of creamy vanilla ice cream that is extra delicious when you let it melt slightly. Up next is some cream cheese whipped cream. It tastes like a dollop of sweet whipped cream, and we loved how fluffy and creamy the whipped cream was. 

Then the funnel cake is topped with mini chocolate chips and red velvet cookie pieces. The chocolate chips add some great crunch and chocolate flavor. The red velvet cookie pieces are the perfect finishing touch. They have that delicious red velvet flavor, and we love that they were crumbled up, so you could get a bit of red velvet flavor in each bite. All of the toppings come together to make for a very delicious funnel cake that is one of our favorite desserts at the festival! It isn’t an overpowering red velvet flavor, as the flavor just comes from the cookie pieces, so if you want that, this funnel cake probably won’t do it for you.

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company — 4.5/5

You can grab the Holiday Cookie Latte for $7.19 at all of the Joffrey’s locations across EPCOT. It’s made with espresso, caramel sauce, almond syrup, and a choice of milk, topped with whipped cream and merry sugar sprinkles. It comes hot or cold, but the Cast Member at the counter recommended it hot since it was such a blustery day, and they were right because it warmed us right up. It was super smooth with a great balance between sweet and the traditional bitterness of coffee. We loved the caramel and how you taste more of it the more you drink, and it’s great for beginner coffee drinkers who like the fun drinks as well as everyday coffee drinkers who are looking for a twist on their favorites.

Refreshment Outpost — 4/5

Last year’s plant-based option, Peanut Stew, has been replaced with the Spiced Shrimp Stew with Jollof Rice for $7. We loved the peanut stew, and Breedlove loved that it was a plant-baed option, so this made us sad. We were a little worried this would have jumbo shrimp in it, but they’re tiny and don’t make the dish taste briny or fishy. The flavors were nice, especially with the spices. 

The DOLE Whip Raspberry in a Waffle Cone for $6.50 has also returned, although the waffle cone is new. This is always a nice, refreshing snack.

Refreshment Outpost also introduced two new beers this year, including the  Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Florida Ginger Snap Lager. This lager really is the flavor of the season, and is right up there with all those other gingerbread and ginger flavors we’ve had during the festival. Even if you don’t normally drink beer, you might enjoy sipping on this as you walk around World Showcase.

If you love Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, you need to try the new Crooked Can Brewing Company Chocolate Mint Cookie Stout for $12.50. It has a nice chocolate flavor, with that mint coming in, and it’s just perfect. This is another easily sippable drink. 

The Boyd & Blair Chai Tea Mule for $12.50 has returned this year, and it’s just as good as ever. It’s basically the holidays…in a cup. Speaking of cups, you also get a cute little cup to take home as a souvenir. The drink just has those nice chai spice flavors, and the cinnamon stick is like the cherry on top. 

You can also grab the Ciderboys Caramel Apple Hard Cider for $12.50, which is returning again this year.

Refreshment Port — 4/5

At the Refreshment Port, we started with the Turkey Poutine, featuring sweet potato fries, turkey gravy, cranberry relish, and crispy onions, for $9.50. This was such a surprise to us, but in the best way. The fries were crispy, so they held up well against all the toppings without becoming mushy. We loved how the gravy soaked into the turkey, making it super juicy, and how the cranberry relish added brightness. The onions were perfectly crispy, which we needed with the softer turkey, and we only wish there were more cheese curds.

We also had the Keel Farms Cinnamon Sugar Donut Hard Cider for $12.50. Boy, was this cider sweet! It had a strong yeast flavor, with the cinnamon sugar coming in at the end as you sip. We think this will likely be too sweet for most people, but when we walked around with it at the end of the night, we really enjoyed sipping on it and combining it with a savory dish like our poutine.

Connections Cafe — 3/5

Connections Cafe is EPCOT’s Starbucks location, and you might be surprised to find that it’s a stop on the Holiday Cookie Stroll! Here, you can order the Holiday Sugar Cookie for $4.79. It’s a basic sugar cookie topped with Christmas sprinkles.

As far as flavors go, there’s not much to this treat – a lot of sugar, a hint of vanilla. The texture is soft in the middle and crispy on the edges with a little bit of crunch from the sprinkles. But overall, a little uninspired. It’s good for kids or picky eaters, but we’re not going to tell you to brave those ridiculously long Starbucks lines just to get it.

Connections Eatery — 2.5/5

Next door to Connections Cafe is Connections Eatery, a quick-service restaurant that has two specialty festival treats this year. First is the Figment Holiday Sweater Liege Waffle for $4.99. 

This waffle is super cute in style, but doesn’t have much substance. It was rather stale and didn’t have any flavor at all. Not something we would get again.

The other item here, however, was one of our FAVES. The Spiced Caramel Apple drink is made with Minute Maid Cranberry Juice, apple cider, and caramel syrup, garnished with a cinnamon stick. It’s available in a non-alcoholic version for $6.29. 

Our resident mocktail expert JP gave this one 5 stars! She said it tasted like Christmas in the best way, with strong apple cider flavors and hints of sweet caramel and tart cranberry. A delightful surprise, truly!

Block & Hans — 3/5

Block & Hans is offering Cinnamon Glazed Nuts for $5.99. This is an in-house recipe, but they taste like all the other cinnamon glazed nuts we’ve had throughout the resort. They are tasty, though, and we like the crustiness from the sugar and cinnamon. The pecans are soft and delicious.

Block & Hans is also offering an Apple Pie Slush made with Frozen Minute Maid Apple Juice with cinnamon syrup, topped with cinnamon and sugar for $6.79. You can add moonshine for $17.50. It tastes good, but it’s more like a frozen mulled cider than anything like an apple pie. The cinnamon syrup and cinnamon on top, though, give it a holiday vibe.

Sunshine Seasons — 3/5

The Peanut Butter Cookie featuring M&M’S Minis Milk Chocolate Candies Holiday Blend at Sunshine Seasons has returned for $4.79. We really liked this cookie last year, with a lot of great peanut butter flavor. It’s also HUGE.

Sunshine Seasons is offering the Cookie Milk Shake made with Spiced gelato with whipped cream, a cookie wreath, Mickey-shaped holly, and sprinkles for $9.49. We have to admit that this shake is SO pretty, but the flavors didn’t live up to its Instagram-worthiness. We were getting eggnog flavors because of the spices, but it really didn’t have that cookie flavor we were looking for. The cookie itself is gingerbread, and we liked it, though.

Sommerfest — 3/5

Sommerfest has the Warm Apfel Cider with Jägermeister liqueur garnished with an orange wedge for $15.50. It’s very drinkable, and you can barely taste the alcohol. The cider is very thin, though, and we wished it were heavier with some spices like a traditional wassail holiday cider. 

Regal Eagle Smokehouse — 5/5

The Frozen Gingerbread Eggnog with gingerbread syrup topped with nutmeg will set you back $6.49. You can add Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum for $16.50. It’s a very tasty eggnog that pairs really well with the gingerbread syrup. The gingerbread flavor isn’t powerful, either. It’s just subtle enough to make those eggnog flavors shine through.

Fire & Drum — 3/5

Fife & Drum is offering an Apple Pie Sundae made with apple pie filling, vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce, topped with streusel for $6.79. We thought it was just okay, and the apple pie part is just basically apple pie filling that we felt needed more cinnamon. It’s tasty, but we really didn’t get true apple pie vibes from it.

What are you looking forward to eating at the festival this year? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to AllEars for more from Disney World!

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