The 2022 Epcot Festival of the Holidays kicks off November 25, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to eat, see the decorations, and learn about cultural holiday traditions around the world! Read on to learn about what can you expect to see at this year’s Festival of the Holidays at Epcot!

To see what’s going on at the rest of Walt Disney World, check out my holiday guide here!

Candlelight Processional

Candlelight Processional takes place 3 times nightly at the America Gardens Theater in World Showcase, and features a celebrity narrator retelling the biblical Christmas story! These events are incredibly popular, and are a tradition going back to Walt Disney’s days at Disneyland. Unless you do a dining package for this event, it’s completely free to view!

Tips for Candlelight Processional

Firstly, if there’s a narrator you really want to see, try to get reserved viewing by booking a dining package! If you’re unable to secure a dining package, standby seating is available on a first come, first served basis. If a show is full, you can stand outside the theater in the back to see it, but it’s not the best view and you won’t get the full effect.

Next, if you’re viewing the show from a wheelchair, there are designated seating areas both in the reserved areas and standby areas. Double check with a Cast Member for exactly where you need to go and they’ll be able to help you!

Finally, if someone in your party has sensory sensitivities, the show can be quite loud, as there is a lot of music, singing, cheering, etc. It is also pretty long (longer than the concerts that take place during other Epcot festivals), so if you have trouble sitting for long periods, this is just something to be aware of, and you may want to stand in the back instead.

Epcot Seasonal Ride Overlays

There are THREE rides at Epcot that get overlays! What? 3 rides?! That’s right!

First, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is getting a new holiday soundtrack! Remember, this ride has a height requirement of 42″. Rider Swap is available, and as of now you can either purchase an Individual Lightning Lane or join the virtual queue for this attraction. Standby is unavailable. The ride features flashing lights and some movement that may cause motion sickness.

Next, Living with the Land gets a fabulous holiday overlay – it’s even better at night! This is a fantastic ride for the whole family!

Finally, Figment gets a cute little holiday sweater over at Journey Into Imagination. Go check him out! This is also a great ride for the whole family, although there are a couple segments that may be alarming to those with sensory sensitivities.

World Showcase Storytellers

Throughout World Showcase, you can find storytellers from many different cultures sharing holiday stories! Check showtimes on the My Disney Experience app, and keep in mind that some performances only occur on select days.

What Storytellers Can I Find at Epcot?

• Los Posadas Celebration – Mexico
• Mischievous Magical Barn Santa – Norway
• La Befana – Italy
• Santa Claus – Odyssey Pavilion
• Daruma Storyteller – Japan
• Hanukkah Storyteller – between Morocco & France
• Pere Noel – France
• Father Christmas – UK
• Canadian Holiday Voyageurs – Canada

World Showcase Storyteller Tips

Some of the storytellers have long showtimes (Santa Claus is 60 minutes, for example). Feel free to float in & out as you need! Seating may be limited, so be prepared to stand. Also, it will be difficult to get to every storyteller and also experience everything else that Epcot has to offer in a single visit. Pick one or two that you really want to see, and come back another day!

Olaf’s Scavenger Hunt

Pick up a map for $9.99 at Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or World Traveler, and complete the Scavenger Hunt to win a special prize! This is great for kids and adults alike, a perfect family activity to experience while visiting Epcot!

JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season

Listen to Gospel and R&B renditions of holiday songs celebrating Christmas and Kwanzaa taking place multiple times throughout the day at World Showcase Plaza. This area will be standing room only, and is outdoors. If you or anyone in your party is sensitive to loud noise, you may want to experience this from afar!

Holiday Cookie Stroll

Fan of sweet treats? Me too! Purchase 5 cookies around the world, collect a stamp for each purchase, and bring your stamped Festival Passport to Holiday Sweets & Treats to receive a 6th bonus cookie! If you have allergies, make sure to speak to a Cast Member. This is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. If you are visiting Epcot for just one day, this is a lot of sugar – consider splitting the cookies or bringing Ziploc bags to enjoy the cookies later on throughout your vacation!

Holiday Kitchens

My favorite part of any Epcot Festival is the food, and Festival of the Holidays has a lot of great food options featuring holiday favorites. As always, if there are concerns about food allergies, speak with a Cast Member!