As we’re in the thick of the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, we have another new(ish) Epcot Festival to prepare for. The newly-named Epcot International Festival of Holidays will run from November 19 – December 30, 2017!
The Epcot Christmas Tree
Holidays Around the World at Epcot has been a beloved seasonal tradition for many years. Holiday Storytellers, the Candlelight Processional, an extra-festive Peace on Earth Holiday version of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and enhanced food offerings have all been part of the celebration year after year.
In 2016, however, the addition of Holiday Kitchens changed the landscape of the event. While Holidays Around the World had always featured snacks representing traditional holiday foods from around the globe, the new Holiday Kitchens brought entire food booths and — much like the Marketplace Booths for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival — they offered their own complete menus. So, for 2017 — with the promise that the Holiday Kitchens will return — Disney has rebranded the event as the new Epcot International Festival of the Holidays!
American Holiday Table Holiday Kitchen
In fact, the Holiday Kitchens will be bigger and better than last year! According to wdwmagic.com, the count for Holidays Kitchens will be fifteen (as opposed to last year’s seven!). So far, Disney has confirmed the return of the following: American Holiday Table, Feast of the Three Kings, Holiday Sweets and Treats, and Mexico.
Feast of the Three Kings Booth area
And remember, unlike any other Epcot Festivals (which also include the Festival of the Arts and the Flower and Garden Festival), many of the Holiday Kitchens featured full-sized entrees in addition to small plates! Case in point: the Slow-Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table:
Slow-Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table
As you’re getting ready to plan your Epcot Holiday Eats, be sure to check out all the offerings from last year — along with our review of the event — to get an idea of what the Holiday Kitchens may have to offer for 2017!
One more new addition to the Festival will be Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree — an add-on ($6.99) Scavenger Hunt experience similar to Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt for the Food and Wine Festival.
A note: while the Holiday Kitchens will make their debut on November 19th as part of the start of the Festival, it is anticipated that the Candlelight Processional and the holiday version of IllumiNations will maintain their previously scheduled start dates of November 24th.
Candlelight Processional
So get ready for a new way to celebrate the Holiday Season at Epcot!
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The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2017 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World.
We’ll guide you through all the special events, activities, and dining so that you can get the biggest bang for your buck! Yep — Our Holiday Guide covers everything Disney holiday-related — not just the food!
And if you pre-order the 2017 Guide now, we will send you an instant download of the 2016 Guide so that you can start your planning right away! Then, you will automatically receive the 2017 Guide as soon as it’s published the Fall!
As a special thank you to our readers for pre-ordering the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2017, we are also offering a discount. Enter discount code PreHoliday at check out, and receive 20% off the list price of $14.95! That’s both the 2016 Guide and the 2017 Guide for $11.95! Two for the price of one!
What do you think of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays? Please let us know with a comment!
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I think it sounds wonderful! Since when isn’t the addition of food a good thing?
do you think they will have more items as part of the Disney Dining Plan? Last year, it looked like just a cookie was a snack. I was wondering if they would put meals as even a counter service item? We are considering adding on the Dining Plan (staying on DVC Points) so the addition would be great.