The 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays kicks off today and we are ready to check out all the new (and returning) eats and drinks and explore all the activities and entertainment!
Last year Disney hosted a Taste of the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, but now the full festival is BACK with tons of spots to stop and grab a bite around World Showcase, new merchandise, and live festive entertainment. We can’t wait to check it all out and we’re taking you along with us — so let’s get to it!
Atmosphere
When we arrived in the park, we were delighted to find that it had been decked out for the festival with holiday cheer! We’ve got new banners…
It is the ❗️OPENING DAY❗️ of Festival of the Holidays in EPCOT and we are here and ready to show you all the treats! 😋 #EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/6EKwVrD4X6
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
…along with full-on festival displays at the park entrance and the entrance to the World Showcase. How festive!
And this year’s festival booklet is filled with all kinds of great details for those visiting the park. Inside, you’ll find menus to the food booths, entertainment schedules, and so much more.
And you’ll also find the map and details for the Holiday Cookie Stroll (which we’ll discuss more later today! 😉).
And for the ultimate display of holiday cheer, head to the American Adventure pavilion to see this year’s gingerbread displays. There are several different smaller creations, and they’re equally intricate and beautiful.
We’ve got the Lincoln Memorial…
…the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial…
…and the American Adventure itself! The amount of creativity and talent it takes to make these things is truly astonishing.
Crowds
Any time that we’ve got the opening day of a festival, we’re expecting pretty decent EPCOT crowds. And today, we can even add in the extra mania for the Thanksgiving break!
Later in the day, things were hoppin’ in the World Showcase. You’ll definitely want to visit these festival booths early if you’re visiting during a busy day.
The Bavaria booth even had a dedicated queue that stretched out into the walkway. Wow!
And for those who want to see the Candlelight Processional, you’ll need to line up early. The stand-by entrance for the first performance was incredibly long before the show!
Food Booths
This year there are 18 different food booths (and one of them is brand NEW!), so we went straight for World Showcase to get started on our holiday food tour!
American Holiday Table — American Adventure
The American Holiday Table is located over in (no surprise here!) the American Adventure Pavilion. Here you’ll find the same eats that your family is likely used to enjoying on Thanksgiving and Christmas! (That is, if you’re from the U.S.)
What kind of classics are we talking about? Well, you’ve got turkey, pot pie, cheesecake, and cookies…the works!
The premier American holiday item is the Slow-roasted Turkey made with Ben’s Original Stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce for $5.75. And for dessert, you’ll want to enjoy one of the stops on the Holiday Cookie Stroll — the Chocolate Crinkle Cookie for $2.50.
This was a yummy feast…America is coming in strong!
We picked up a savory and a sweet item from The American Holiday Table 🦃🍪
– Slow-roasted Turkey with BEN’S ORIGINAL Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Cranberry Sauce
– Chocolate Crinkle Cookie made with DOVE Dark Chocolate#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/ZAl7SmoPx1
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen — Germany Pavilion
Over in the Germany Pavilion, the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen has returned to the festival as well!
All of the food here is returning (including one of our favorites!) and you can even find TWO brand new beers on the menu!
Of course, we had to get the fan-favorite (and AllEars favorite!) Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl for $8.25.
When we say that it’s an AllEars favorite, we’re not kidding!
You ever just eat a bowl of cheese with your hands or are you normal? 🧀 pic.twitter.com/TuP85ybIvP
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
And for those working their way through the Holiday Cookie Stroll, make sure to stop here and pick up the Linzer Cookie. Like the others on the list, it’s $2.50.
Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen — Near Port of Entry
You can find the NEW Festival of the Holidays booth — Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen — near Port of Entry (which is one of the stores at the entrance to World Showcase).
And, the theme of the booth is…well…chestnuts! Bet you didn’t see that one coming. 😉
We enjoyed a variety of eats and drinks from this new spot, starting with the Cinnamon Glazed Almonds, Cinnamon Glazed Cashews, and Cinnamon Glazed Pecans for $5.25 each. They’ve also got Fire Roasted Chestnuts for the same price.
But what should you pair with chestnuts? Hot cocoa and eggnog, of course!
✨NEW BOOTH✨- Chestnuts and Good Cheer🌰
-Cinnamon-glazed Almonds, Cashews, and Pecans
-Fire-roasted Chestnuts
-AMERICAN HERITAGE Gourmet Hot Cocoa with Peanut Butter Whiskey, Whipped Cream, and Candied Nuts
-T.G. Lee Eggnog with Peanut Butter Whiskey#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/SyfnlM6KTl
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Donut Box — Near Test Track
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without some yummy dessert options, and that’s exactly what you can find at Donut Box, located near Test Track.
The menu here features (you guessed it!) a variety of donuts. This booth was around for the Food. &Wine Festival as well, but there are some new options for Festival of the Holidays.
We couldn’t resist checking out all four of the holiday options, and boy are they pretty! You can grab the Pumpkin Cake Donut, the Holiday Donut, the Chocolate Peppermint Donut, and the Eggnog and Cream Donut for $5 each.
Need something to wash all those sweets down? Try the Gingerbread Milkshake for $4.50. They’ve also got an “adult” version with Whipped Cream Vodka for $11.
And speaking of drinks for the grown-ups, try out the Guinness Gingerbread Stout. It’s $5 for 6oz or $9 for 12oz.
Holiday Hearth Desserts — Near Port of Entry
And speaking of desserts, Donut Box isn’t the only one with some sweet treats! Holiday Hearth near Port of Entry has a long list of classic holiday delicacies.
They’ve got everything from cake to cookies to peppermint bark. What to choose, what to choose?!
We got the Gingerbread Cookie for $2.50, the Spaceship Earth Cookie for $5.50, and the Cinnamon Apple Cider for $3.75. We’ve got the whole range of holiday flavors right here!
How can you not feel Christmas-y eating this feast?!
Gingerbread Cookie (part of Holiday Cookie Stroll), Cinnamon Apple Cider, and Spaceship Earth Cookie from The Holiday Hearth ✨ #EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/ax1zDdL7ZI
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Holiday Sweets & Treats — Near Port of Entry
And apparently having TWO dessert-based booths wasn’t enough, because Disney decided to give us a THIRD — Holiday Sweets & Treats!
Here, you’ll find some ice cream treats, hot cocoa, and the redemption cookie for those who complete the Holiday Cookie Stroll!
It’s a beautiful cookie, we’d even hang it on our Christmas tree!
We received this #WaltDisneyWorld ornament cookie as our completer treat for the Holiday Cookie Stroll 🤩#EPCOTholidays pic.twitter.com/mKBomrvLr2
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen — Mexico Pavilion
At Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen in the Mexico Pavilion, you’ll find everything from tostadas to tamales to churros! We got excited just looking at this menu — are your mouths watering too?
The Tamal de Barbacoa is $7.50 and comes with shredded barbacoa beef in a corn masa topped with ranchers salsa, queso cotija, and crema Mexicana. And it looks just as good as it sounds!
And it wouldn’t be a booth in Mexico without some seasonal margaritas! The Cranberry-Cinnamon Margarita is $13.50 and crams quite a few holiday flavors into one drink. You can also get the Mistletoe Cerveza or the Horchata Margarita.
YUM…that’s all we have to say!
NEW items from the Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen🌟
-Tamal de Barbacoa
-Cranberry-Cinnamon Margarita: Apple-cinnamon infused mezcal, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice with a cinnamon-sugar rim
-Mistletoe Cerveza: Lager with blackcurrant liqueur#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/pe3Fwjbpkl
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen – Between Morocco and France Pavilions
Looking to enjoy some Jewish/Hannukah fare? Well, you’re in luck! L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen in between Morocco and France serves up just that.
The menu has some delicious classics, with everything from pastrami to latkes to the Black and White Cookie. The eats here range from $2.50 to $5.50, so it’s not quite as pricey as some other booths.
If you’re participating in the Holiday Cookie Stroll, the Black and White Cookie can be picked up here for just $2.50. And the Potato Latkes are also a spectacular choice for $4.
Le Marche de Noel — France Pavilion
The France Pavilion is a popular place to visit for any festival, and that’s no different this time! Let’s stop by Le Marche de Noel. We’ve got some returning favorites and twists on classics here.
We started with the classic holiday turkey, available in the Dinde Forestiere, Patates Douces Roties for $7.25. It comes served with mushrooms, onions, a cream sauce, and roasted sweet potatoes.
And we couldn’t resist ordering the Buche de Noel for $6.25 — it’s made of chocolate!
And even though it’s late in the day, we had to grab the Cranberry Mimosa for $9.75. We give you permission to drink this one in the afternoon and evening, or anytime you want!
Mele Kalikimaka — Near Port of Entry
Hoping for a tropical Christmas holiday? Mele Kalikimaka is the Hawaii-themed booth at this festival!
The menu includes pork, salmon, and Hawaiian coconut pudding. To drink, they have wine, rum, and ale options. There’s nothing new here this year, but we’ve really enjoyed this booth in the past!
Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen — Japan Pavilion
In the Japan Pavilion, head over to Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen to try out their holiday specialties!
On the menu, there are soups, sushi, tarts, and a variety of beverages. The items on this menu start at $6 each.
And if you’re interested in those drinks, both the Chocolate Banana Boba for $5.50 and the Chocolate Tokyo Banana for $8 offer some really unique options.
Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina — Morocco Pavilion
Inside the former Tangierine Cafe restaurant in Morocco, you’ll find a special booth for the festival with plenty of new things to try.
We ordered a variety of things from the menu, picking up an entree, a drink, AND a dessert for a well-rounded holiday meal!
Sips and snacks from Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina 😋
-Grilled Chicken Kebabs and Grilled Lamb Kebabs with Carrot-Chickpea Salad and Garlic Aïoli Harissa
-Almond-spiced Cake with Ginger Mousse, Orange Ganache, and Sesame Tuile
-Cider Flight#EPCOTHoliday pic.twitter.com/TPTy1liJeC
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Tuscany Holiday Kitchen — Italy Pavilion
In the mood for some pasta? Well, the Tuscany Holiday Kitchen has you covered! Here, we picked up both the Ravioli and the Bomboloni for a carb-filled feast.
BRB, just going to take a nap now.
NEW✨ eats from The Tuscany Holiday Kitchen 🍴
-Ravioli: Shrimp ravioli in scampi sauce with white wine, garlic, lemon zest, and parsley
-Bomboloni alla Cioccolato-Nocciola: Chocolate-filled Italian doughnut with chocolate-hazelnut spread and powdered sugar#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/DL4IU9XCgm
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Yukon Holiday Kitchen — Canada Pavilion
If you want to do the holiday season the Canada way, then head on over to the Yukon Holiday Kitchen!
Many of the menu items here we’ve seen before, like the Seared Scallops, Beef Bourguignon, and Maple Buche de Noel. However, we still stopped by to check out one of the new options that we’re really excited about!
That’s right, it’s the Snickers-Doodle Cookie for $2.50. It’s part of the Holiday Cookie Stroll, but that name was so delicious-sounding that we might have bought this one on our own!
And what better to wash down a sweet cookie than the Beer Flight? It’s all about a balanced diet, you guys.
Funnel Cake
In the American Adventure Pavilion, you’ll find the Funnel Cake stand that’s here year-round. However, for the Festival of the Holidays, they have one special item!
The Mini Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake is topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbles, all for $9.50! That’s an American holiday twist on a classic dessert.
Who says that pumpkin flavors have to disappear after Thanksgiving? Certainly not us!
The fall flavors have not ended yet with this Mini Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake from The American Adventure Pavilion 🎃
Are you still craving pumpkin treats?!
#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/xxrDZdWyZn— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Joffrey’s — Located All Around EPCOT
At every Joffrey’s stand in EPCOT, you can snag the unique Festival of the Holidays beverage — the Carolers’ Cold Brew! Perfect for when you need that mid-festival caffeine boost.
Refreshment Outpost
Even though Refreshment Outpost isn’t technically a “festival booth,” they’ve got some special offerings for the Festival of the Holidays! We tried the Coconut-Pineapple Cake with Dole Whip — the perfect blend of a tropical vacation with the holiday season.
Refreshment Port
Looking for a variety of holiday treats? Refreshment Port is a great place to check out.
On this menu, you’ll find two different kinds of poutine, one of which is here just for the festival, the Turkey Poutine. It comes around annually, and this year it’s $9.00.
Looking for something refreshing with a little kick? Try the Coquito Soft-serve with Spiced Rum. It’s $12, but you can get the non-alcoholic version for $5.25.
The non-alcoholic Coquito Soft-serve comes with a cone, served upside-down in a cup to make it less messy. (Good luck with that!)
You can also grab the Coquito soft-serve in a waffle cone 🍦 #EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/KgUGRjhpza
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
They’ve also got two other adult beverage options — the Pumpkin Spice Ginger Cocktail for $11 and the Cranberry Hard Cider for $9.75.
Entertainment
There’s a ton of exciting entertainment to enjoy this year. To start, Storytellers have made a return to the Festival of the Holidays! You can find them around World Showcase in the France, Japan, Italy, Norway, and United Kingdom Pavilions and listen to them tell tales of holiday legends and lore throughout the day. The first we spotted was Père Noël in the France Pavilion!
And over by L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen, you’ll find the Hanukkah storyteller performing several times throughout the day.
✨Hanukkah Storyteller 🕎
Showtimes: 12:05pm, 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 2:45pm, 4:05pm, 5:05pm, 6:05pm, and 6:50pm#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/Nz7iHviHP8
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
The Japanese storyteller put on quite the performance, and we were lucky enough to stop by and watch for a few minutes on this very busy day!
Storyteller in the Japan Pavilion 🇯🇵 #EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/VAK6RDvBPr
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
At the front of the World Showcase, there’s an outdoor stage where the gospel/holiday group Joyful: A Celebration of the Season performs multiple times a day. We stopped by to watch them and it was a blast!
Joyful – A Celebration of the Season 🎶
Showtimes: 1:15pm, 2:20pm, 3:25pm, and 4:30pm#EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/aruxKadSkC
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
And in America, don’t forget to stop by and see Santa Claus! He’s here to greet all the good boys and girls (and adults too!).
The character encounters don’t stop in the World Showcase either! Over by the Imagination Pavilion, you can spot either Winnie the Pooh…
…or Joy from Inside Out in their holiday outfits. How sweet!
In the Canada Pavilion, don’t forget to stop by and enjoy the musical stylings of the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs!
🔈SOUND ON for the Canadian Holiday Voyagers 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/jea2OMP89t
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
And of course, we can’t miss out on mentioning the iconic Candlelight Processional! This show happens multiple times a day, but it’s incredibly popular — you’ll either want to line up well in advance or take advantage of the dining packages for reserved seating.
Listen to these beautiful voices! 🎶🥰 pic.twitter.com/0BkH5QXp0O
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Throughout the show, you’ll enjoy a stunning chorus of Cast Members while a celebrity narrates the story of Christmas. It’s a truly magical performance that you don’t want to miss!
Auli’i Cravalho, from Moana 🌊, is tonight’s Celebrity Narrator for the Candlelight Processional 🕯 pic.twitter.com/nejby9gwLv
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Merchandise
Of course, it wouldn’t be a new festival without tons of merchandise to commemorate the occasion, so we stopped by the shops in EPCOT to check out what’s new!
There’s an entire new collection in World Traveler at the International Gateway entrance. And this year’s items are Frozen-themed!
They also had a special cookie jar to commemorate the Holiday Cookie Stroll. Once you purchase all the cookies on the stroll, you can leave your leftovers in here! Well, if there ARE any leftovers…
We also spotted the new collection in Port of Entry at the front of the World Showcase. They’ve got everything from bottles and mugs to shirts and blankets.
Seriously, how cute is this mug?!
And in addition to the festival items, they’ve got other options to check out. The Sugarboo & Co. store from Disney Springs has a pop-up shop inside this merchandise stand.
You can get all kinds of boho holiday items in here — the perfect place to do some Christmas shopping!
And for you collectors out there, make sure to check out the popcorn stands around the park! We spotted this new Mickey and Minnie holiday popcorn bucket.
✨SO SHINY✨ Holiday popcorn buckets spotted in EPCOT this morning! #EPCOTHolidays pic.twitter.com/mXqAfyXFgn
— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 26, 2021
Activities
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt has also returned once again this year! For $9.99, you can purchase a map and stickers and search for all the holiday traditions Olaf has collected (and lost) around the World Showcase.
We won’t give away all of his hidden locations, but we suggest looking high…
…and low as you make your way around World Showcase!
Once completed, you can bring your map to Creations Shop, World Traveler, Port of Entry and get your prize.
Holiday Cookie Stroll
As we noted above, we’ve been searching out the cookies for the Holiday Cookie Stroll all around the park. To know which ones are on the list and participate, you’ll want to pick up your free festival guide at any park entrance or holiday kitchen.
After you buy each cookie, the Cast Member at that food booth will stamp it to signify your purchase. Collect all the stamps to get your prize.
The first cookie on the list is found at the Holiday Hearth Desserts booth, near the front of World Showcase. It’s a cute little Gingerbread Cookie!
Nearby in Canada, stop by Yukon Holiday Kitchen to get the Snickers-Doodle Cookie — it’s made with Snickers pieces!
The Black and White Cookie is found at L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen. And this year’s version is MUCH better than what we had in the past.
The Chocolate Crinkle Cookie is made with Dove Dark Chocolate and found in the American Adventure. That looks rich!
And the last one is the Linzer Cookie at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen in Germany. It’s a classic!
Once you have all of those, head to Holiday Sweets & Treats to get your Completer Cookie. It’s so beautiful and ornately decorated!
But that’s not the only prize you’ll get — you can also pick up a matching ornament and a sundae in a souvenir cup! They definitely upped the prize game this year.
Ride Overlays
And finally, throughout the holiday season at EPCOT, you’ll be able to check out two holiday ride overlays. The first is at Living with the Land, where you’ll find the greenhouses decked out in Christmas lights.
There are so many neat surprises in here!
And over at Journey Into Imagination with Figment, the beloved dragon has donned his “ugly” holiday sweater yet again. How cute!
We’ll be updating this post throughout the day with all of the latest happenings from the Festival of the Holidays so be sure to check back frequently! And, stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney news and updates!
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Are you going to the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays this year? Let us know in the comments!
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