Guide to Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is a Walt Disney World food event featuring Christmas and seasonal snacks and drinks around World Showcase. For 2018, there will be 12 Holiday Kitchens along with other locations around the park offering special menu items. In this post, we’ll take a look at Epcot International Festival of the Holidays snacks at Walt Disney World, which runs November 18 through December 30, 2018.

For us, it has always been fun to go around and try these holiday snacks in between watching the Holiday Storytellers (for our tips on watching these performers, click here). This is primarily the case because we love any excuse to sample desserts, and there are a disproportionate number of delicious desserts every year. (Savory snacks can be great, but on vacation, we would consider doing ice cream for every meal…)

With the name change to Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, it’s easy to see how this event is basically an extension of the popular fall Food & Wine event at Epcot. Basically, you can think of this as the Epcot Food & Wine Festival Lite (as that event, in various forms, is becoming year-round). Also, if you’re visiting Walt Disney World before Festival of the Holidays starts, the full Food & Wine Festival runs until November 12, 2018, so you can catch the tail end of it if you’re visiting in the next week or so.

In actuality, these marketplaces will be more akin to the ones at Flower & Garden Festival, both in number and concept. For that event, booths have been added to enhance the festival, but unlike Food & Wine Festival, aren’t the main event. Same idea here, as the Holiday Storytellers and decorations will remain the main offerings, with the ability to add some festive snacks to the mix as a good way to stay immersed in the holidays.

In addition to the Holiday Kitchens, you can expect several other additions to flesh out Festival of the Holidays. Naturally, there’s a paid scavenger hunt: Chip and Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree, which is akin to the Figment and Ratatouille ones during other festivals at Epcot. Chip and Dale are collecting ornaments for their Christmas tree, and you go around looking for them as they gather ornaments from holiday decorations in each World Showcase pavilion. Once finished, you receive a festive ‘reward.’

In terms of the Marketplaces, here’s what you can expect to find on the menus at each of the 12 Holiday Kitchens in World Showcase…

BAVARIA HOLIDAY KITCHEN (GERMANY)
Food:

• Potato Dumpling with Mushroom Sauce
• Sauerbraten, Red Cabbage and Spätzle
• Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl with Fresh Steamed Baby Vegetables and Marble Potatoes featuring Melissa’s Produce (Vegetarian) (Kid-Approved)
• Black Forest Roulade with Cherry Whipped Cream
• Peppermint Sugar Cookie (Vegetarian)

Drinks:

• Possmann Pure Hard Apple Cider, Frankfurt, Germany
• Possmann Pure Hard Black Currant Apple Cider, Frankfurt, Germany
• Schöfferhofer Pomegranate Hefeweizen, Frankfurt, Germany
• Cider Flight
• Regional Riesling
• Glühwein: House-made Hot Spiced Wine

AMERICAN HOLIDAY TABLE (THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE)
Food:

• Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Cranberry Sauce
• Hand-carved Smoked Ham with Green Beans and Sweet Potato Casserole (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Chocolate Pecan Tart with Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce (Vegetarian)
• Red and Green Chocolate Chip Cookie (Vegetarian)

Drinks:

• American Heritage Milk Chocolate Gourmet Hot Cocoa with Wondermade Marshmallows (non-alcoholic)
• Orange Blossom Brewing Cranberry Kringle Pilsner, Orlando, FL
• Shipyard Eggnog White Porter, Clearwater, FL
• JDub’s Season’s Greetings Peppermint Milk Stout, Sarasota, FL
• Holiday Beer Flight
• Cocoa Candy Cane: American Heritage Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Schnapps

YUKON HOLIDAY KITCHEN (CANADA)
Food:

• Seared Salmon with Crown Maple Whisky Glaze, Parsnip Silk, Apple Chutney and Hazelnut Croquant
• Traditional French Canadian Tourtiere with Canadian Ketchup
• Maple Bûche de Noël: Maple Mousse rolled in Gingerbread Chiffon Cake with Cranberry Sauce and Pecan Crumble (Vegetarian) (Kid-Approved)
• Gold Chocolate Chip Cookie (Vegetarian)

Drinks:

• Frozen Coffee (non-alcoholic)
• Unibroue Éphémère Strawberry and Rhubarb
• Inniskillin Riesling Icewine
• Inniskillin Pearl Vidal Icewine
• Inniskillin Gold Oak Icewine
• Ice Wine Flight
• Frozen Coffee with Tap 357 Whisky

FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS
Food Items:

• Pastelón: Sofrito-marinated Beef with Sweet Plantains and Olives (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Queso Fresco-stuffed Arepa topped with Shrimp, Crushed Avocado Aji and Tomato Sauce (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Arepas topped with Melted Queso Fresco (Vegetarian) (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) (Kid-Approved)
• Tres Leches Rice Pudding with Pumpkin Seeds (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Green and White Sugar Cookie (Vegetarian)

Beverages:

• Coquito: Tropical Eggnog (non-alcoholic) (Kid-Approved)
• M.I.A. Beer Company Trey Reyes Mango Golden
• Coquito: Tropical Eggnog with a Bacardi Gold Dark Rum Floater

HOLIDAY SWEETS & TREATS
Food:

• Peppermint Sundae: Chocolate Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, and Peppermint Candy (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) (Kid-Approved)
• Holiday Tree Sugar Cookie (Vegetarian)
• Holiday Cookie Stroll Completer Cookie – Red and Green Mickey Sugar Cookie (Vegetarian)

Drinks:

• Hot Cocoa
• TG Lee Eggnog (non-alcoholic)
• Chocolate Apple Shake featuring Twinings Winter Spice Tea (non-alcoholic)
• Shipyard Eggnog White Porter, Clearwater, FL
• Hot Cocoa with Assorted Cordials (Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico Liqueur or Fireball Cinnamon Whisky)
• Firenog: T.G. Lee Eggnog with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky
• Chocolate Apple Shake featuring Twinings® Winter Spice Tea and Butterscotch Schnapps

L’CHAIM! HOLIDAY KITCHEN 
Food:

• Pastrami on Rye with House-made Pickles and Deli Mustard
• Potato Knish with Herb Sour Cream (Vegetarian)
• Chicken and Matzo Ball Soup
• Black and White Cookie (Vegetarian)

Drinks:

• Egg Cream: Milk, Chocolate Syrup and Seltzer (non-alcoholic)
• Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn Lager
• Blue Cosmo Cocktail

REFRESHMENT OUTPOST
Food:

• Warm Caramel Stuffed Salted Pretzel with Soft-serve Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce (Kid-Approved)

Drinks:

• Shipyard Eggnog White Porter, Clearwater, FL

REFRESHMENT PORT
Food:

• Turkey Poutine: Sweet Potato Fries with Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Relish and Crispy Onions

Drinks:

• Eggnog Shake (non-alcoholic)
• Eggnog Shake with Baileys Irish Cream

FIFE & DRUM (THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE)
Food Items:

• Holiday Apple Pie Sundae with Soft-serve Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce and Crunchy Streusel Topping (Kid-Approved)

Drinks:

• Budweiser Reserve Collection Copper Lager

TASTE TRACK
Foods:

• Croissant Doughnut tossed in Cinnamon Sugar
• Croissant Doughnut with Chocolate and Holiday Sprinkles (Kid-Approved)
• Croissant Doughnut with Eggnog Pastry Cream and Gingersnap Crumbs
• Gelato

Drinks:

• Pancake Milkshake
• Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red

LE MARCHE DE NOËL HOLIDAY KITCHEN (FRANCE)
Food:

• • Napoléon de Saumon Fumé, Brioche à L’aneth: Smoked Salmon Napoleon in a Dill Brioche
  • Bouchée à la Reine Traditionnelle: Turkey and Mushrooms in a Veloute Cream Sauce served in a Light Puff Pastry
  • Bûche de Noël au Chocolat “Christmas Log”: Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Caramel Ganache

Drinks:

• Spiced Rum Punch Slush: Spiced Rum, Rhum Clement V.S.O.P., Orange and Pineapple Juice with Cinnamon
• Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Blend, Château La Grand Moulin, Blaye, Côtes de Bordeaux
• Holiday Kir: Sparking Wine and Monin Cranberry Syrup
• Willm, Brut Blanc de Blanc Sparking Wine

SAPPHIRE HOLIDAY KITCHEN (MOROCCO)
Food:

• Grilled Lamb Kefta Kebab with Whole Wheat Pita, Cucumber, Olives, Tomatoes, Mint Yogurt Sauce and Harissa-cilantro Dressing
• Confit of Chermoula Chicken Drum with Cinnamon Granny Smith Apple, Toasted Almonds, Brussels Sprouts and Pinot Noir Glaze
• “Sfenj” – Warm Beignets with Cream, Cinnamon Sugar, Toasted Almonds and Chocolate Sauce

Drinks:

• Casa Beer
• Kasbah Prestige Red Wine
• The Andalusian “Poinsettia” Cocktail: Sparking Wine, Orange Liqueur and Cranberry Juice topped with Orange Blossom Water
• Walnut Spiced Coffee with Walnut Liqueur and topped with Cinnamon and Whipped Cream

TUSCANY HOLIDAY KITCHEN (ITALY)
Food:

• Cavatappi ai Quattro Formaggi: Baked Four-Cheese Pasta, Parmesan Crumble and Truffle Essence (Kid-Approved)
• Mozzarella in Carozza: Golden-crusted Fried Mozzarella Sandwich and Tomato Sauce (Kid-Approved)
• Crespelle di Mele: Cinnamon Apple Fritters and a Vanilla Sauce Drizzle with Chocolate Caramel Sauce
• Bacio al Cioccolato: Warm Hazelnut Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream
• Panettone Mignon: Miniature Traditional Italian Christmas Fruitcake

Drinks:

• Moretti Lager
• Moretti La Rossa Double Malt Beer
• Pinot Grigio
• Chianti
• Prosecco
• Corbinello
• Moscato

SHANGHAI HOLIDAY KITCHEN (CHINA) 
Food:

• Pork and Vegetable Egg Rolls (Kid-Approved)
• Mongolian Beef Bao Bun and a Fortune Cookie
• Celebration Barbecue Pork with Steamed Rice and a Fortune Cookie
• Spicy Mala Chicken with Steamed Rice and a Fortune Cookie

Drinks:

• Sweetened Bubble Milk Tea: Mango Flavored Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls (non-alcoholic)
• Jasmine Beer
• Plum Wine

SHI WASU HOLIDAY KITCHEN (JAPAN)
Food:

• New Year Celebration Soba: Buckwheat Soba Noodles in Hot Dashi Soup with Chicken and Spinach
• Holiday Green Tea “Yule Log”: Delicate Spongecake rolled with Whipped Cream Filling

Drinks:

• Ichigo Milk Boba: Popping Strawberry Boba Cream Drink with Japanese Calpico (non-alcoholic)
• Sapporo Draft Beer
• Cinnamon Apple Cider: Plum Wine, Orange Juice with Lemonade and Apples

LAS POSADAS HOLIDAY KITCHEN (MEXICO)
Food:

• Enchilada de Pollo con Mole: Chipotle Chicken in a Corn Tortilla topped with Mole Negro and garnished with Shredded Oaxaca Cheese and Sesame Seeds
• Tamal de Camarón: Corn Tamal stuffed with Guajillo-marinated Shrimp topped with Mole Rojo and Shredded Cotija Cheese
• Arroz Con Leche: Rice Pudding with Cranberries

Drinks:

• Cerveza Mexicana Artesanal: Allende Mexican Craft Ale served with a Floater of Kahlúa
• Noche Buena Margarita: Libélula Joven Tequila, Cranberry and Lime Juices and Agave Nectar topped with Lime Foam and Sprinkles
• La Posada Margarita: Cazadores Blanco Tequila, Horchata-Cinnamon Liqueur, and Agua de Horchata topped with Cinnamon

Our favorite thing from Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays (and Holidays Around the World before it) for the last few years has been the Bûche de Noël au Chocolat “Christmas Log” in France, which is beautifully presented and wonderfully decadent.

A Yule Log being our top recommendation should come as no surprise, given our proclamation that the Plaza Inn Yule Log at Disneyland is a national treasure (and quite possibly the true fountain of youth). This one isn’t quite that good, but it’s still really good.

Once Epcot International Festival of the Holidays starts for 2018 and we have the chance to see and try some of these things, we’ll update with additional recommendations and picks for favorite foods.

As a preliminary recommendation, we’d advise you to treat this just like you would Food & Wine Festival, except with larger portion sizes. There are enough options at these Marketplaces that you can do a day of grazing around the booths, stopping to enjoy the Storytellers in between snacks. You can easily make a full day out of this, ending with the IllumiNations: Peace on Earth tag or Candlelight Processional.

Don’t feel bad about gorging yourself at these booths, either. You’ll be learning about holiday culinary customs in other cultures as you graze, so the argument could be made that you’re doing all this eating to learn. The way we see it, we pretty much have to try all of these snacks. It is our responsibility as citizens of the world. 😉

For comprehensive tips for planning your Christmas-time trip to Walt Disney World, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Walt Disney World. For Walt Disney World trip planning tips and comprehensive advice, make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide and related articles.

YOUR THOUGHTS…

Do you have any favorite snacks from Epcot International Festival of the Holidays/Holidays Around the World at Epcot? Are you looking forward to the new marketplace booths? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts in the comments!