EPCOT Christmas Holiday Guide 2024

The Walt Disney World Resort is truly an incredible location to celebrate the Christmas Holiday season. One of the coolest things to do when celebrating is to visit EPCOT for the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. This unique festival celebrates other countries and their holiday traditions, in addition to highlighting American traditions, as well.

Here’s what Guests can expect to experience this year during the 2024 EPCOT Christmas holiday season.

Candlelight Processional

Perhaps the event that EPCOT is most known for during the Christmas season is the Candlelight Processional. This is a nightly performance that is a breathtaking retelling of the Christmas story in words and music complete with a 50 piece orchestra, choir and celebrity guest narrator. You can find the full list of celebrity narrators, as well details about the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages here.

Holiday Kitchens

During the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays there are delicious Holiday Kitchens that offer yummy food and beverages that are themed to holiday treats from around the world.

Holiday Cookie Stroll

Enjoy an array of sweet treats during the Holiday Cookie Stroll. Purchase 5 cookies from any of the official cookie stroll locations featured in your Festival Passport. Be sure to collect a matching stamp for each cookie purchased. Once you’ve collected 5 stamps, bring the stamped Passport to Holiday Sweets & Treats to receive a specialty treat! Collect all the stamps anytime throughout the festival.

Holiday Storytellers

As part of the EPCOT Christmas holiday season, Guests can enjoy international storytellers such as Pere Noel in France, La Befana in Italy, and others, who share the traditions of the season. Storytellers appear in each country’s pavilion throughout the day. Check the My Disney Experience app for a daily schedule.

• Canada: The Canadian Holiday Voyageurs will take guests on a musical journey exploring unique holiday traditions from the various regions of Canada.
• United Kingdom: Father Christmas tells tales of Christmas past dating back to 15th century England
• France: Pere Noel awaits your visit as he unfolds magic of Christmas with a letter from a child.
• Hanukkah: Located between Morocco and France,  Guests will discover an entertaining celebration of Hanukkah, where a storyteller recounts traveling abroad to explore the diverse music and traditions of Hanukkah around the world.
• Japan: Daruma vendor tells the story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year.
• Italy: La Befana is Italy’s good Christmas witch. She comes down the chimney of the little children and leaves them treats. La Befana remembers the Epiphany and her first Christmas 2,000 years ago.
• China: Enjoy the Chinese Lion Dance, which brings good fortune during the celebrations of Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival.
• Norway: Sigrid, a beautiful farm girl, will give you all details of celebrating Christmas in Norway, and tell you of the mischievous Julenissen, or Christmas Gnome. Be forewarned though, Julenissen has been known to play a little trick or two on the storyteller herself.
• Mexico: Celebrate with mariachis and dances with a holiday fiesta. Share in the music, dance and traditions of the season.

Santa Meet and Greet

Get ready for Christmas with Santa Claus through December 24. Guests will find Santa in the Odyssey Pavilion this year.

Spaceship Earth Holiday Light Show

A festive light show takes place at Spaceship Earth for the EPCOT Christmas holiday season. The light display invokes some of the sights of winter, including snowflakes, northern lights and warm candles.

Living With the Land Holiday Overlay

To celebrate the season, a fun holiday overlay occurs at Living with the Land in The Land pavilion. It’s called Glistening Greenhouses and happens each night once the sun sets.

Live Entertainment

Experience the joy of Christmas in the uplifting Gospel, R&B, and holiday songs of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season. Join the choir as they harmonize for the holidays in their new location at CommuniCore Plaza. This unique celebration happens only four times a day, so don’t miss your chance to catch a glimpse of the holiday cheer they bring. 

Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition

Guests will be able to search around World Showcase hunting for holiday traditions that Olaf has gathered for Anna and Elsa—and lost—along the way! To help him Guests can purchase a Scavenger Hunt map and stickers at participating locations. Guests can search for Olaf in each pavilion, then match the tradition to the location on your sticker map. Once you have found all of the traditions, you can redeem your map for a gift.

Follow A Disney World After All for all the latest Disney Holiday news and tips.

But now, I want to know your thoughts. What’s your favorite part about the holidays at Walt Disney World? You can share with me in the comments or on social! Find me on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.

Book Your Next Trip!

Want to book a Walt Disney World vacation to experience the holiday season? Jocelyn Martins at The Magic For Less Travel specializes in the art of personalized vacation planning. She provides a guest-driven, concierge level planning service. Best of all, Jocelyn’s service is provided free of charge. Click here to get your free, no-obligation quote today!