The opening day of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays brought Black Friday crowds to a level even seasoned Walt Disney World Resort fans were not prepared for. As families streamed into Central Florida for Thanksgiving week, the Disney park saw one of its most congested days of the entire year, with long lines forming before the gates even opened and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds filling walkways within minutes.
Opening-Day Crowds Bring EPCOT to a Standstill
Early on the morning of November 28, guests arriving for the Festival of the Holidays encountered massive lines stretching throughout the EPCOT entrance plaza. According to photos shared by @WDWNT on X (formerly Twitter), the wait to get through security and entry tapstiles was already overwhelming before rope drop.
LOOOOOOOOOOOONG lines to enter EPCOT right now…
LOOOOOOOOOOOONG lines to enter EPCOT right now… pic.twitter.com/pAm8bPrgzS
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) November 28, 2025
Disney Food Blog, reporting live from inside the park, admitted they “were not expecting” the size and density of the Black Friday crowd. AllEars echoed this reaction, saying their team was “SHOCKED” at the wave of visitors pouring into the World Showcase and beyond. Guests described the experience as “wall-to-wall,” with walkways packed tight and little room to maneuver.
Watch a live replay of the morning at EPCOT via this livestream from the Ear To Ear Magic channel on YouTube:
Wait Times Skyrocket Across EPCOT
The My Disney Experience app provides the clearest glimpse into just how busy the park has become. At the time this article was finalized, attraction wait times included:
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: 85 minutes
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: 80 minutes
• Frozen Ever After: 65 minutes
• Soarin’ Around the World: 50 minutes
Test Track had temporarily closed due to an unspecified issue, further increasing congestion throughout EPCOT.
International Festival of the Holidays Opens With Record Demand
The International Festival of the Holidays, EPCOT’s final seasonal event of the year, always debuts to enormous demand. Guests flood the global marketplace booths around World Showcase, sampling holiday dishes and beginning the Holiday Cookie Stroll by collecting stamps from featured sweet-treat locations.
Live entertainment adds to the traffic, with Holiday Storytellers performing in several pavilions, Santa Claus meeting guests at CommuniCore Hall, and Santa Goofy greeting visitors at The Odyssey. The Candlelight Processional is expected to draw thousands to the America Gardens Theatre for three nightly performances led by rotating celebrity narrators, including Constance Wu, Jordan Fisher, and Brie Larson.
What is your favorite part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
