We’ve got exciting news for anyone planning to visit Epcot during the Holiday Season this year! We’ve got information on more celebrity narrators for the Candlelight Processional, some scoop on new items coming to the Holiday Kitchens (aka Food Booths!), and more festive fun… and it’s all part of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays!
Epcot Christmas Tree
The event runs this year from November 18th – December 30th, with the Candlelight Processional kicking off on November 22nd — Thanksgiving Day! So, why don’t we start there?
Candlelight Processional Narrators
Dates have been filled in with more celebrity narrators for the nightly Candlelight Processional! The Candlelight Processional presents a retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator. The reading is accompanied by a robed choir and a full orchestra performing Christmas carols.
Epcot’s Candlelight Processional
Joining the Celebrity Narrator lineup this year are Helen Hunt, Alfonso Ribeiro, Bart Millard, and Auli’l Cravalho!
Helen Hunt and Alfonso Ribeiro ©Disney
Bart Millard and Auli’I Cravalho ©Disney
Below are the dates — with just a few more narrators “To Be Determined” — at this time.
• Chita Rivera, Nov. 22 – 23
• Helen Hunt, Nov. 24-25 – NEW
• Alfonso Ribeiro, Nov. 26-27 – NEW
• Neil Patrick Harris, Dec. 3 – 6
• Whoopi Goldberg, Dec. 7 – 9
• Bart Millard, Dec. 10-12 – NEW
• Blair Underwood, Dec. 13 – 14
• Gary Sinise, Dec. 15 – 17
• Pat Sajak, Dec. 18 – 20
• Auli’I Cravalho, Dec. 21-23 – NEW
• Edward James Olmos, Dec. 24 – 25
• Jodi Benson, Dec. 26 – 27
• Cal Ripken Jr., Dec. 28-30
Visit our Candlelight Processional Page for full information on the Candlelight Processional and Dining Packages with reserved seating!
Holiday Kitchens and More Food Booth Fun
Holiday Kitchens (also known as Food Booths)
will once again bring enhanced food offerings around Epcot representing festive global cuisine. The returning Feast of the Three Kings marketplace will feature an all-new menu including sofrito-marinated beef with sweet plantains and olives, queso fresco-stuffed arepa topped with shrimp, crushed avocado aji and tomato sauce, as well as arepas topped with melted queso fresco.
Feast of the Three Kings Booth
Additional new items this year are to include a Black Forest Roulade with cherry whipped cream at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen in Germany and a Hand-carved Smoked Ham with green beans and sweet potato casserole at the American Holiday Table. Taste Track will also continue in its new role as a Marketplace in continuation from the currently running Epcot Food and Wine Festival with three variations of croissant doughnuts.
Taste Track
New this year, guests can track their purchases of five select holiday cookies in their Festival Passport by collecting a unique stamp for each cookie. After all the sweet stops are complete, there’s one more to make… head to Holiday Sweets and Treats for a complimentary “completer” cookie with milk!
Disney has also confirmed that a brand new marketplace will be joining the scene this year.
Visit our Festival of the Holidays Food Booths Page for more information on the Holiday Kitchens!
Festival Merchandise and More
Chip & Dale will be featured on some of the Festival of the Holidays merchandise this year, including shirts and a throw blanket. These will nicely complement your participation in the returning Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree Scavenger Hunt.
Festival of the Holidays Merchandise
And, of course, you can’t miss the day’s end showing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth with its holiday finale, which will run for its final holiday season before the evening spectacular ends in 2019.
IllumiNations, Reflections of Earth
Find out about all the Epcot Festival of the Holidays happenings HERE!
Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season!
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- A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2018 Holiday Season
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- How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!)
- ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM.
- And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D
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Are you visiting Epcot during the Holiday season this year? Please let us know with a comment below!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Yes! My husband, our granddaughter 9 yrs. old has never been to WDW and myself will be there not at Christmas, but before. She’s not into roller coasters, and we have our fast passes, character meals set up, and bibbidi Boddibi boo appt. too. We are beyond excited. It’ll be her first plane ride as well. We did the dining plan mainly for convenience. We were able to get a Cinderella Castle reservation for lunch, and Be our guest for lunch, (tried for dinner, but wasn’t able to.) Going for 8 days.It’s our 4th time, so we’re still new, as we’re in our 60’s.
Judy, have the best trip ever!