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Changes coming to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World celebrations

Changes coming to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World celebrations


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From November 28 through December 30, 2014, China, Mexico and Morocco will be offering new Holidays Around the World celebrations at Epcot.  Traditionally each country in the World Showcase presented a little storyteller show that presents that country’s cultural holiday traditions.  In 2014, Epcot will make some additional changes to the guest offerings.

China will remove the historical Monkey King storyteller and provide a celebration of the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival that features a Chinese Lion Dance.  Epcot briefly tested a performance of this type a few years back before settling on the current show offered during the day.

Mexico will offer a new “Fiesta de Navidad” celebration featuring an upbeat mariachi band with festive dancers and Morocco will feature a new storyteller show.  Epcot offered a new Canadian Holiday Voyageurs for 2013 and that show will return along with the storytellers from France (Pere Noel), Germany (Helga and the Nutcracker), Italy (La Befana), Japan (Daruma vendor), Norway (Julenissen and Sigrid) and the United Kingdom (Father Christmas).

In the America pavilion guests will be invited to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus until Christmas eve, learn about Hanukah and Kwanzaa and listen to the dulcet tones of the Voices of Liberty as they perform traditional Christmas carols.

Epcot will also return the popular group known as “Joyful – A Gospel Celebration” at the Fountain Stage in Future World.

I hope to have the full schedule for the performances and build a new Touring Strategy next week.

Some of the special tasting areas that allow guests to sample flavors from around the world will include:

  • World Showcase Promenade:  Turkey waffle (a sweet potato waffle with roast turkey and green bean casserole)
  • Canada Pavilion:  Pecan-maple bark
  • United Kingdom Pavilion:  Hot applejack cider with whiskey and a blend of seasonal spices
  • France Pavilion:  Bûche de noël au chocolate (chocolate cake shaped like a log) from Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie and gingerbread ice cream from L’Artisan des Glaces.
  • Morocco Pavilion: Honey walnut baklava from the Morocco Juice Bar
  • American Adventure Pavilion:   Gingerbread man, chocolate chunk cookies and sugar cookies, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and peppermint bark
  • Italy Pavilion:   Panettone a type of sweet bread loaf, moscato wine, and ciocolata calda (hot chocolate)
  • Germany Pavilion:  Stollen fruit cake and sip glühwein (hot spiced wine)
  • China Pavilion: Kaikouxiao (happy face fried cake) from The Joy of Tea kiosk
  • Norway Pavilion:  Rice cream from Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
  • Mexico Pavilion:   Sweet tamales at La Catina de San Angel

Illuminations will continue to feature the very popular holiday.

Here’s the performance schedule for the Candlelight Processional (subject to change without notice).  The Processional is performed at 5:00 pm, 6:45 pm and 8:15 pm nightly.

  • November 28 – 29: Jodi Benson
  • November 30 – December 2: Neil Patrick Harris
  • December 3 – 4: Jonathan Groff (NEW!) 
  • December 5 – 6: Whoopi Goldberg
  • December 7 – 9: Levar Burton
  • December 10 – 11: Edward James Olmos
  • December 12 – 14: Joe Morton
  • December 15 – 17: Chita Rivera
  • December 18 – 20: Ana Gasteyer (NEW!)
  • December 21 – 23: Marlee Matlin
  • December 24 – 25: Isabella Rossellini
  • December 26 – 27: Blair Underwood
  • December 28 – 30: Steven Curtis Chapman

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Becca Porter

Thursday 10th of September 2015

Will there be similar thing happening this year?

kennythepirate

Thursday 10th of September 2015

Yes, Holidays around the World happens each year. I'll have updated schedule a week or 2 before

Jen

Friday 28th of November 2014

Any update on the holiday storytellers schedule for this year? We arrive tomorrow.

kennythepirate

Sunday 30th of November 2014

Been posted for two weeks :)

Ruthie

Thursday 27th of November 2014

Kenny,Just wanted to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving :-) Ruthie

kennythepirate

Sunday 30th of November 2014

Thanks Ruthie, we had a nice Thanksgiving!

Alexis

Friday 21st of November 2014

Hi Kenny, love the site and the app. Any updates on the Holiday characters at Animal Kingdom? Or is everybody staying in their regular safari outfits? As always, Thanks! Alexis

kennythepirate

Sunday 23rd of November 2014

Visited yesterday and they are wearing their holiday attire. I posted photos of Donald and Daisy on my Facebook page yesterday

mom2littlebugz

Wednesday 19th of November 2014

Kenny what happens to the story tellers if there is rain or unusually cold weather. Considering the extreme and early cold we seem to be having this week in a lot of the states, I am worried. We have a Candlelight Dinner package reservation Dec 19 and it is our first holiday in Epcot so we are really looking forward to it. Thanks.

kennythepirate

Sunday 23rd of November 2014

Rain may cancel some presentations or move them inside the nearby pavilion, but they perform in the cold

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