The holiday season at The Most Magical Place on Earth is always something special, and in 2025, EPCOT is bringing classic Christmas magic to the park—without the need for extra special event tickets! If you’re visiting this year, there’s a way to enjoy all the festive cheer while sticking to your standard park ticket. Here’s how to experience the holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort without paying more than the cost of admission.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
Starting November 28, 2025, EPCOT kicks off its highly anticipated International Festival of the Holidays—one of the most beloved seasonal events at Walt Disney World Resort. What’s even better? It’s included with your regular EPCOT park admission, meaning you won’t need to buy an additional special event ticket to join the fun.
The festival features a wide variety of food booths scattered across the World Showcase and other park areas, offering delicious seasonal treats from different countries. Plus, there’s a Cookie Stroll scavenger hunt where guests can collect stamps as they sample holiday goodies. Finish the hunt and receive a special prize to commemorate your festive adventure!
Entertainment and Holiday Storytelling
No holiday celebration at EPCOT is complete without entertainment. Throughout the festival, Disney Park guests can enjoy Holiday Storytellers in the World Showcase pavilions, where performers share the Christmas and winter holiday traditions of different countries. It’s an enriching and fun way to celebrate the season while learning something new.
Don’t forget to stop by CommuniCore Hall to meet Santa Claus and share your Christmas wish list! Check the Walt Disney World Resort website or the My Disney Experience app for the latest schedules and showtimes for all festive activities.
The Candlelight Processional: A Timeless Tradition
The annual highlight of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is the Candlelight Processional, a cherished tradition where a celebrity narrator reads the Christmas story, accompanied by a live orchestra and a choir made up of Disney cast members. It’s an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss.
For the best seat in the house, consider arriving early or book a Candlelight Processional Dining Package to secure your spot. This package includes a meal at a select EPCOT dining location and guaranteed seating for the performance.
Glimmering Greenhouses at Living with the Land
Add even more holiday cheer to your EPCOT visit with the Glimmering Greenhouses overlay on the Living with the Land attraction. The boat ride through the park’s lush greenhouses is transformed into a dazzling display of lights, festive garden displays, and holiday-themed plant spotlights, making it a must-see attraction during the holiday season.
Exclusive Holiday Merchandise and Olaf’s Scavenger Hunt
No holiday celebration is complete without some exclusive merchandise, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays has some fun items just for you. The most interactive offering is Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt Kit, available for purchase at select merchandise locations. Pick up the kit and search for Olaf statues throughout the World Showcase. Once you’ve completed the hunt, you’ll get a prize to commemorate your adventure!
The International Festival of the Holidays runs from November 28 to December 30, 2025, so be sure to take advantage of all the free holiday fun EPCOT has to offer this year!
Christmas at Walt Disney World Beyond EPCOT
Walt Disney World Resort has even more seasonal fun waiting for you. If you’re looking for extra holiday cheer, here are two paid after-hours events you can check out:
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Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios returns from November 8 to December 22, 2025. It’s a dazzling celebration of old Hollywood and Christmas, featuring exclusive entertainment like Disney Holidays in Hollywood starring The Muppets, What’s This? Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, and the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! fireworks. The event also offers themed food and drinks, as well as meet-and-greets with your favorite characters. Tickets for Disney Jollywood Nights range from $159 to $199.
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Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a fan-favorite event at Magic Kingdom Park, taking place on select nights from November 7 to December 21, 2025. This ticketed event features festive entertainment, including Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. Only a few tickets remain for 2025, so act quickly if you’re interested. Tickets for the three remaining event dates are $219 for adults and $209 for children.
What’s your favorite part about the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
