EPCOT Announces Holiday Schedule

The Disney Parks Blog just revealed details regarding EPCOT’s holiday schedule. We now know the Celebrity Narrators for the EPCOT Candlelight Processional, plus details about the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Let’s talk about what you can expect this holiday season.

Disney Confirms Candlelight Processional Lineup 

Let’s start with an EPCOT favorite for many years now. I’m happy to report that EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional will return. This event’s origins date back to Disneyland in the 1950s, when carolers performed during the park’s first Christmas. By 1958, Disneyland had added a full choir for the holidays.

EPCOT’s version of the Candlelight Processional started in 1994, but Walt Disney World has hosted some form of this event since 1971. The retelling of the Nativity Story has become one of the classic highlights of a Disney stay.

For 2023, EPCOT has confirmed 15 Celebrity Narrators, nine of which will make their debuts. Perhaps the most notable new additions are actress/entrepreneur/philanthropist Eva Longoria and reigning Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser. Here’s the full list of Celebrity Narrators this year:

• Chrissy Metz (NEW): Nov. 24-25
• Luis Fonsi (NEW): Nov. 26-27
• Ann-Margret (NEW): Nov. 28-29
• Simu Liu: Nov. 30-Dec. 2
• John Stamos: Dec. 3-5
• Neil Patrick Harris: Dec. 6-8
• Marlee Matlin: Dec. 9-11
• Brendan Fraser (NEW): Dec. 12-14
• Eva Longoria (NEW): Dec. 15-16
• Joey McIntyre (NEW): Dec. 17-18
• Sterling K. Brown (NEW): Dec. 19-20
• Jordan Fisher (NEW): Dec. 21-23
• Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24-26
• Audra McDonald (NEW): Dec. 27-28
• Lisa Ling: Dec. 29-30

Disney Sells Event Dining Packages

As usual, Disney will sell Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. These meals ensure that your parties will have reserved seats for the event, which always sells out. This year’s packages go on sale on October 17th. Here’s a list of this year’s restaurants, along with the prices for adults and children aged 3-9:

• Akershus — $71/$45 for breakfast, $83/$53 for lunch/dinner
• Biergarten Restaurant — $65/$37
• Coral Reef Restaurant — $78/$32
• Garden Grill Restaurant $63/$40 for breakfast, $78/$50 for lunch/dinner
• Le Cellier Steakhouse — $104/$42
• Regal Eagle Smokehouse — $41
• Rose & Crown Dining Room — $66/$29
• Spice Road Table — $55/$24

Please note that Regal Eagle offers a “same day” dining package. You cannot purchase it ahead of time, which makes it a riskier, albeit cheaper, proposition. Disney’s official site also doesn’t list official pricing for children here. I don’t know whether that’s a mistake or a choice. 

October 17th is a Tuesday. So, we’re a little more than a week away from booking these packages. The Candlelight Processional starts on November 24th, which is the day after Thanksgiving. 

EPCOT Announces Festival of the Holidays Booths

Disney also confirmed several other offerings coming to EPCOT next month. Let’s start with the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Here are this year’s official Holiday Kitchens:

• American Holiday Table (American Adventure Pavilion)
• Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany Pavilion)
• Bubbles & Brine (near Port of Entry)
• Char & Chop (near Disney Traders)
• Holiday Hearth Desserts (The Odyssey Pavilion)
• Holiday Sweets & Treats (near Port of Entry)
• L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (between the Morocco and France Pavilions)
• Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico Pavilion)
• Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France Pavilion)
• Nochebuena Cucina (near Test Track)
• Shanghai Holiday Kitchen (China Pavilion)
• Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan Pavilion)
• Swirled Showcase (near Port of Entry)
• Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco Pavilion)
• Tuscany Holiday Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)
• Wine & Wedge (near Disney Traders)
• Yukon Holiday Kitchen (Canada Pavilion)
• Additional Locations:
• Funnel Cake (American Adventure Pavilion)
• Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company (multiple locations at EPCOT)
• Refreshment Outpost (between the China and Germany Pavilions)
• Refreshment Port (near Canada)

A few of those, like Bubbles & Brine and Char & Chop, are ones you may already know. That’s because these Food Kitchens are holdovers from this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. 

That event ends on November 18th, while the Festival of the Holidays starts on November 24th. Disney has decided to keep three of these booths open through the end of the year, a decision I hope will become standard practice in future years.

Disney Announces More Holiday Events

Finally, Disney mentioned some other holiday offerings coming to EPCOT. Some of them aren’t surprising, but they’re welcome news anyway. For example, Living with the Land will bring back its holiday overlay. Here’s a reminder of how that looks:

The Holiday Cookie Stroll is also back for this year! Several designated Cookie Stroll locations will offer distinctive holiday cookies. When you buy each one, you’ll earn a stamp for your souvenir book. Once you’ve gained five stamps, you’ll take your souvenir book to Holiday Sweet & Treats Holiday Kitchen. There, you can exchange it for an exclusive cookie!

I’m also happy to report that the Holiday Storytellers will return this year as well. At the various international pavilions, these costumed cast members relay details about their versions of Santa Claus and the holiday season. It’s always a favorite of my family. 

For 2023, Santa himself will appear at EPCOT, too. This year, you’ll find him at the Odyssey Pavilion. Remember that Disney has promised changes coming to World Celebration by the end of 2023 as well. 

Along those lines, you’ll find performances of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season at the World Showcase Plaza. Oh, and Olaf’s Scavenger Hunt will return as well. Clearly, EPCOT is going to end 2023 in style!

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