Okay, don’t panic when you hear this, but a beloved EPCOT attraction’s “closure” just got extended into 2027. Yes, really. But before you start worrying, this is actually good news.
We’re talking about Living with the Land. Every holiday season, the classic boat ride turns into Glimmering Greenhouses, and while that’s happening, the regular version is technically closed. Well, Disney just decided to keep the holiday version around a little longer. So the sparkly lights are staying until January 6, 2027.
Wait, What’s Glimmering Greenhouses?
If you’ve never seen it, you’re missing out. Glimmering Greenhouses is the holiday version of Living with the Land, and it fills The Land Pavilion’s greenhouses with tons of sparkling lights. You float through the greenhouses on the boat ride, and everything is glowing. It’s honestly so pretty.
It first showed up at EPCOT back in November 2024, and people loved it so much that it’s become a holiday tradition.
So What Changed?
Originally, Disney had Glimmering Greenhouses running on the same dates as the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, from November 27 through December 30.
But now, the My Disney Experience app shows it sticking around for an extra week. The new last day is Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
Here’s the new schedule. On New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31, it’s open from 9:00 AM all the way until 1:00 AM. Then from Friday, January 1 through Wednesday, January 6, it’s open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
A sparkly boat ride at midnight on New Year’s Eve? Yes, please.
When Does the Regular Ride Come Back?
Since the holiday version is staying longer, the regular Living with the Land got pushed back. It was supposed to come back on December 31, but now it’s closed through January 6.
The classic version returns on Thursday, January 7, 2027, opening at 10:00 AM. So if you’re a die-hard fan of the original ride, mark your calendar for that.
It’s Sticking Around After the Festival
Here’s the fun part. The Festival of the Holidays still ends on December 30. But Glimmering Greenhouses will keep going for a whole week after that.
So if you’re visiting EPCOT in the first week of January, you still get a little holiday magic even after the festival booths are gone. Love that.
Funny enough, when this change was first spotted, Disney’s website still said the overlay ended December 30. So the app got updated first. The website will probably catch up soon.
What About the Behind the Seeds Tour?
If you were thinking about doing the Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses walking tour, that one hasn’t changed. It’s still running November 27 through December 30, with tours at 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 8:00 PM. It costs $59 per person.
Extra Time for Resort Guests
If you’re staying at a select Disney Resort hotel, you can also ride Glimmering Greenhouses during EPCOT’s Extended Evening Hours. That’s from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Mondays, November 30 and December 7, 14, 21, and 28. Those dates didn’t change.
Our Tips
Ride it at night if you can, because the lights look so much better after dark. New Year’s Eve is the latest you can go, with the ride open until 1:00 AM. And if you want the classic version, wait until January 7 or later. Oh, and always double-check the app, just in case anything changes.
More Sparkle for Everyone
So yeah, the “closure” got extended. But honestly? We’re totally fine with that. More time to see Glimmering Greenhouses means more time for holiday magic at EPCOT.
Are you riding Glimmering Greenhouses this season?
