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Disney World Epcot Festivals Guide

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Now that we have started a new year, I thought I would make a guide to the various Epcot festivals that happen during the year!

Epcot Festivals

Epcot Festivals

Are you planning or considering a trip to Walt Disney World this year? If so, you may be wondering if there is a seasonal event taking place at Epcot. Unless you are travelling during the summer or other lulls at the park, then chances are you will be able to experience a special event at Epcot! I’m going to look at each of the festivals that take place over the course of a year at Epcot, beginning in January and ending in December.

Festival of the Arts

The first seasonal event at Epcot typically begins in mid-January and ends sometime around mid/late February. It’s called Festival of the Arts. It’s the newest festival at Epcot and I have a whole Epcot Festival of the Arts review from a few years ago that goes more in-depth with the various activities and some of the food you can find. In 2025, the festival will take place from January 17th to February 24th. I recommend participating in the paint by numbers mural at the front of the park and the Japan booth is always good to me. Also, I know lots of people enjoy the Disney on Broadway Concert Series that takes place at night.

Flower and Garden Festival

Around springtime, there’s a beautiful Flower and Garden Festival. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like I’ve had good luck with timing this festival right. It’s always too hot or I’m too busy with other things during a trip to really get into this festival. While I love the topiaries around the park, the weather or timing always messes with me trying the food. Sadly, I’ve also never experienced the Garden Rocks Concert Series either. Disney recently announced the dates for this festival for 2025: March 5th to June 2nd.

Food and Wine Festival

The fall time at Epcot is all about the International Food and Wine Festival. Once again, the weather and timing often interrupt my plans for enjoying this festival. It’s typically held late August/early September (begins around Labor Day) and lasts until mid/late November (ends prior to Thanksgiving). So, that’s prime hurricane season, which means that it can be hot or stormy. The one time I really got to enjoy this festival, it was late October. So, my advice for enjoy this one is to aim for later in the season for it.

Festival of the Holidays

Lastly, there’s the Festival of the Holidays. I wrote a Festival of the Holidays guide last year, which takes a closer look at the various things to do here. Additionally, I posted a Candlelight Processional dinner package review for this festival. Again, since this one is held during a cooler time of the year, I find it much easier to enjoy this one. Plus, I love Christmas! The Storytellers around the park make it fun to learn different countries holiday traditions. It’s typically held from the Friday after Thanksgiving until near the end of the year.

Things to Know About Epcot Festivals

  • Food – Look out for the food booths located around the park for limited food offerings to match each festival. They typically release the menus a few weeks in advance of the festival. I suggest looking it over and getting an idea of things you may want to sample before you arrive.
  • Night time concerts – Each of the festivals will have some sort of night time concert/entertainment with special guest (sometimes celebrity) appearances. There’s also typically some sort of dining package that includes guaranteed (not reserved) seating at the show. Again, keep an eye out for the schedule of appearances a few months to weeks in advance.
  • Scavenger hunts – Each festival has its own scavenger hunt that you can purchase for around $10 to complete and turn in for a special prize.
  • Special entertainment – Each festival will also have its own decor and feature some fun day time activities to enjoy.
  • Unique merchandise – It wouldn’t be a theme park event without specialty merch. Sometimes, the festival merch is really cute though.

Which Epcot festival is the best?

I’ve probably attended the Festival of the Arts the most, so it probably is the best to me. However, that’s because it’s held in January/February when it’s actually cool enough to enjoy walking and eating around the world. I love the topiaries of the Flower and Garden Festival. The Food & Wine is an institution in its own right. Who doesn’t love a good holiday themed festival? I don’t think there’s a bad one. It really just depends on what fits your schedule, in my opinion. So, which festival is your favorite?

Epcot Festival of the Holidays Guide

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The Epcot Festival of the Holidays begins on Friday! So, here’s a little guide to help anyone planning a trip there!

Epcot Festival of the Holidays

Epcot Festival of the Holidays

This limited time event held at Walt Disney World usually begins on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and lasts until near the end of the year. In 2024, that’s November 29th to December 30th. During this time, you can expect to encounter special holiday entertainment and food booths scattered around World Showcase. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect.

Holiday Kitchens

Personally, one of the biggest draws of any festival held at Epcot is the addition of the food booths. This festival refers to them as Holiday Kitchens. The kitchens are mostly themed after specific countries and reflect their holiday food traditions. Last year, I enjoyed the Japan booth with the sushi tree and the potato latkes at the L’Chaim booth.

Additionally, there’s always a Cookie Stroll you can participate in. There are several cookies available for purchase at the booths. If you purchase select ones, you can complete the challenge and earn a free reward! The prize is typically a special cookie and maybe some milk!

Entertainment

During this festival, there’s lots of special entertainment to enjoy. Several of the countries have their own Holiday Storytellers or cast members from their respective countries telling the stories and traditions of the holidays in their home countries. It’s so neat to walk around the park and hear festive stories from different countries!

There’s also JOYFUL!, a show that celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa. You can also meet and get your picture taken with Santa at the Odyssey Pavilion this year.

Lastly, there’s also the holiday scavenger hunt around the park. This year’s Olaf Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt involves purchasing a hunt map for $9.99, going around the park to identify the holiday traditions and placing the sticker in the corresponding spot on your map. Then, you return the completed map for a prize!

Candlelight Processional

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Candlelight Processional offering. It’s one of the most popular seasonal entertainment offerings at Epcot. I wrote a whole post last year on the Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Epcot Review. While it was an expensive evening, it was delightful to have a good meal at a restaurant at Epcot and guaranteed seating for the show with a celebrity narrator. My mom and I were lucky enough to see John Stamos on the night we went.

Festival of the Holidays Tips

  • Plan for at least one full day – We spent an entire day in Epcot last year and still didn’t see everything at the festival. I could see popping over to Epcot if you have a Park Hopper ticket to enjoy some evening entertainment or to grab some food.
  • Space out the meals – We ate breakfast for the dining package, skipped lunch, and ate dinner from the booths. That worked well for us.
  • Get a gift card – Personally, I always purchase a Disney gift card to use at the festivals so I don’t have to keep track of receipts after visiting the booths. Also, those gift cards are a good way to earn fuel points at Kroger. Alternatively, Epcot usually has a special themed gift card on a bracelet for each festival that’s especially handy.
  • Check the schedule – It’s good to go in with a rough idea of things you like to see and their times. However, I also recommend just leisurely strolling World Showcase for the holiday vibes.

So, have you ever visited the Epcot Festival of the Holidays? What are your tips?

Holidays at Walt Disney World Guide

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I know it seems early, but the holidays at Walt Disney World start early! In fact, the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is on Friday! So, I thought I would do a little guide to the Christmas season at the resort!

Holidays at Walt Disney World

Holidays at Walt Disney World

I’ve been lucky enough to visit the resort during the Christmas season multiple times. There’s so much to do here that I never feel like I have enough time to see everything. That being said, I will try to highlight what you can expect to see at each of the four theme parks, Disney Springs, and the resorts! Disney has said that the holiday season officially kicks-off on November 12th in 2024. So, you can expect to see special decor and entertainment after that date.

Christmas in the Magic Kingdom

I figure I’ll start with the one that kicks off the holiday season the earliest: Magic Kingdom. The park begins changing out the decor as soon as the Halloween party is over! You can enjoy the decor from early November until early/mid-January with a regular park ticket. However, if you want the full experience prior to December 21st, you will need to purchase a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! I linked to my review of the party above. It’s a good time with a festive parade and fireworks! In fact, I even did the Mickey’s Very Merry Dessert Party last year.

If you are visiting after the 21st, you should be able to see the parade and fireworks during the regular park hours. However, you won’t get free cookies or see the special characters. Plus, the park will be even more crowded.

Christmas at Animal Kingdom

Next up is the other kingdom, Animal Kingdom! I got to experience some of this for the first time last year and loved it! The Merry Menagerie is awesome! My mom really enjoyed interacting with the animal puppets! They are gorgeous and fun to watch. The Tree of Life gets a special holiday light show, which I’ve never seen but it sounds cool. Also, you can meet Mickey and Minnie in some special holiday clothing at Adventures Outpost.

Christmas at Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has some fantastic retro decor for the holidays that’s fun to look at. There’s also the great Sunset Seasons Greetings nighttime projection show at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Toy Story Land gets a few additional decor pieces as do the characters. You can also eat at the only seasonal character dining experience on property at Hollywood & Vine here. I haven’t done it since before the pandemic, but it was a fun time.

Additionally, there’s also Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. I attended the first year of it last year and enjoyed myself. I think they are even adding an ice skating show in 2024, so that should be fun!

Epcot Festival of the Holidays

Christmastime brings another fun festival to Epcot, the Festival of the Holidays. For whatever reason though, it doesn’t begin until after Thanksgiving. Beginning November 29th in 2024, it’s a fun festival filled with holiday traditions from the represented countries with Holiday Storytellers. There’s also the festival food booths! You also can’t forget the fan favorite Candlelight Processional show with celebrity narrators. I was lucky enough to do the Candlelight Processional Dining Package last year with John Stamos.

Disney Springs Christmas

Disney Springs is the separate shopping and dining destination at Disney World. It, of course, gets its own decor for the holidays. However, there’s also the Christmas Tree Stroll! They used to have the themed trees all in one spot but it was really crowded. So, now they are spread out across Disney Springs.

Christmas at the Resorts

As you would expect, each of the resorts gets specially themed decor matching each resorts theme. However, some of the resorts have gingerbread displays too! The Grand Floridian gets a huge gingerbread house that’s worth the trip over to see. Plus, it smells amazing and you can purchase little goodies. The Contemporary usually gets a gingerbread display as well. The Beach Club typically has a gingerbread carousel with a new theme each year. The Yacht Club has gotten a gingerbread lighthouse in recent years as well. Last year, Animal Kingdom Lodge even got some huge gingerbread animals!

Holidays at Walt Disney World: So much to see!

Shew! That’s a lot! Now, you understand why I have taken multiple trips and still haven’t seen everything. So, have you ever visited Disney World during the holidays? If so, what is your favorite thing to experience?

Epcot Biergarten Restaurant Review

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October is quickly approaching and that means many people will celebrate Oktoberfest soon! Did you know that there is a buffet in Epcot where you can celebrate it all year long? I’m talking about Biergarten Restaurant! If you like lively entertainment and unique food, then keep reading for my review of this experience!

Biergarten Restaurant

Biergarten Restaurant

For a long time, my husband and I talked about trying this place out. However, it never worked out. Last October, we finally decided to make it happen! Biergarten Restaurant is the table service restaurant in the Germany pavilion at Epcot at Walt Disney World. It would be one table service credit to eat here. It’s currently $49/adult and $27/child to eat here. However, that price includes an all you care to enjoy buffet and some entertainment!

The Food

This was a completely new experience for us both since neither of us had tried German cuisine. So, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. The buffet featured a selection of sausages and other meats, making it a great option for meat lovers. There was also sauerkraut, as is mandatory for a German place. There was also a tasty beer cheese soup that paired well with pretzel rolls. I really liked the Nudel Gratin or macaroni and cheese! I also enjoyed the apple strudel! I tried the Black Forest Cake and discovered it wasn’t for me. My husband was thrilled to discover the fresh pineapple!

We aren’t big drinkers, but there appeared to be a good selection of alcoholic beverages to choose from. I thought it was a nice touch that our water was served in glass steins too.

The Entertainment

As I mentioned above, this place is always celebrating Oktoberfest! I really enjoyed the theme since it’s meant to look like you are eating in the middle of a Bavarian village! It was like being outside while enjoying the cool air conditioning (something that is vital in Orlando).

The tables surround a stage where a group of men come out periodically to perform! It was nice to have some live entertainment during our meal. We enjoyed seeing other people get up to dance. This is truly a lively meal. It’s not a quiet experience.

Is Biergarten Restaurant worth it?

Personally, this may have been a one and done for me. It wasn’t bad by any means. However, if I’m trying to get the most bang for my buck on the dining plan, I’m probably going to Garden Grill. Also, seeing as how we aren’t big drinkers, I think a quieter sit down meal would be more appropriate for me and my husband going forward. However, I think this place is perfect for lots of other folks.

Have you eaten here? Do you like it?

Magic Kingdom Resorts Guide

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Today I want to give everyone a look at the Magic Kingdom Resorts or places to stay on property that are located close to this park.

Magic Kingdom Resorts

Magic Kingdom Resorts

Previously, I looked at each value resort and moderate resort option at Walt Disney World. However, now it’s time for the deluxe/DVC resorts. Unfortunately, I haven’t stayed at all of those resorts. Plus, the ones I have stayed at have been refurbished since my visit. It didn’t feel fair to write a review of a resort that may be different now.

I decided to cover the deluxe resorts by writing about the various options near the different parks. First up, is the most popular one: Magic Kingdom resorts!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the two original resorts at Walt Disney World, meaning it opened in 1971 along with the Magic Kingdom! It’s the iconic A-frame building that allows the monorail to travel through the building! There’s an additional garden wing and the DVC tower as well.

It has a plethora of dining options! My mom loves the Chef Mickey’s Character Dinner here. I enjoyed California Grill on my honeymoon and it was very nice! The views were spectacular! In fact, the picture for this post was taken from this restaurant. I’ve also heard great things about Steakhouse 71, but haven’t had a chance to visit it yet.

I stayed here once, back in 2016. I got a good deal by attending a blogging conference here. My husband and I loved our stay here. It was so nice to just walk over to the park! Plus, the views of the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant were amazing! I would love to stay here again someday, but it’s often too pricey! If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend it. Plus, they have recently refurbished the rooms to have an Incredibles theme!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is the other original resort at WDW. Featuring a laid back South Pacific theme, it’s a wonderful place to stay or visit! I love visiting this resort for the vibes alone! It smells amazing and everything is gorgeous! You can even watch the park fireworks from the beach here! This resort is a mix of deluxe and DVC rooms with a new DVC tower currently under construction.

The food here is amazing as well! Captain Cook’s is one of the best quick service resort options, in my opinion. I really liked the Tonga Toast here. There’s also Kona Cafe, which I sadly haven’t tried yet. There’s also the very popular Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, which is a highly themed tiki bar! Lastly, there’s ‘Ohana! There’s a Lilo and Stitch character breakfast and a very unique all you care to enjoy dinner here! I have done the breakfast twice and the dinner several times. Unfortunately, all of those experiences were pre-pandemic. So, I haven’t posted a review of them. Whenever I return, I will be sure to post about it.

I have been fortunate enough to stay here once. My husband and I did a resort only stay here for two nights back in 2018 when we rented DVC. I loved it! I wish it was more affordable to stay here and I loved everything about it. It’s probably my favorite resort with the laid back vibe, beautiful theme, and delicious food! It’s just so expensive!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Opened in 1988, Disney’s Grand Floridian is a very luxurious resort and spa! It has a Victorian theme with little touches of elegance around every corner! It is also a mixture of deluxe hotel and DVC rooms. You can see the park fireworks from the beach here too. It also gives me nostalgia as I recall seeing this resort on “Full House” back in the 90’s!

If you are looking to stay somewhere with very nice dining options, this is the place for you. There’s the newly re-imagined character dining at 1900 Park Fare. I dined there pre-pandemic and enjoyed the strawberry soup! There’s also more adult dining at Narcoosse’s and Citrico’s. Let’s not forget the award winning Victoria and Albert’s is here as well! The quick service restaurant here is Grand Floridian Cafe. Having not eaten at any of those locations makes me think I need to eat here more often.

I was able to stay here for my honeymoon for a few nights back in 2016 using the blogging conference discount. I hope to someday stay here again, but it’s just too expensive. Just entering the lobby of this resort makes me feel fancy!

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Lastly, there’s Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, which opened in 1994. While it’s not on the monorail (unlike the others listed above) nor is it walking distance to the park, it’s technically considered a Magic Kingdom resort by Disney since it is located in the same area. It’s a beautiful, rustic American Northwest themed resort! Fort Wilderness is also located nearby, but is a bit far removed from everything.

Wilderness Lodge has several good dining options. There’s the uber popular Story Book Dining at Artist Point, which I was able to enjoy a few times pre-pandemic. There’s also Whispering Canyon Cafe with its fun antics that I ate at once in the before times. Quick service options here include Geyser Point and Roaring Fork.

Fort Wilderness has Trail’s End and the last remaining dinner show on property, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue!

Unfortunately, I’ve never stayed at either of these lodging options. I think the cabins are more affordable than the other things listed in this post though. I enjoy visiting these resorts with their natural theme and peaceful vibes.

Magic Kingdom Area Resorts

If you plan on spending lots of time at the Magic Kingdom or if MK is your favorite park, then staying at a nearby resort is a wonderful idea. My one and only complaint about all of these options is the price. Every one of these is so expensive! Have you ever stayed at one of these resorts?