Epcot International Festival of the Holidays 2025

Everyone knows that the minute Halloween is over the Disney Parks ready themselves for the Christmas holidays. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom seem to up and ready overnight, and in the first week or so of November we were able to see the joy of these parks during this time of year. Epcot, on the other hand, waits patiently until its International Food & Wine Festival is over. Then it readies everything for the holidays right before Thanksgiving.

Last week I had the chance to spend not one day, not two days, but three days at Epcot, and was re-immersed in how truly fun this approach to holidays around the world really is. This podcast serves to relive many of those experiences, and to consider some previous podcasts where we highlighted this park during the midst of Covid. Then we turn the podcast over to the music of the park, where we have provided musical enjoyment while you make last minute seasonal preparations. So join us for the 2025 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.

Note that music only begins at 37:45.

This podcast is produced by myself and Performance Journeys, which offers training, development and consultant support to organizations big and small and entrepreneurs new and established. With a wide variety of resources and long-time in-the-trench experience, we offer workshops, online learning, coaching and more to organizations that want to build their teams, raise organizational excellence, improve leadership and create customer loyalty. Check us out at PerformanceJourneys.com.

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We have some wonderful podcast episodes ahead for each remaining week of this year, but we wanted to provide you this holiday version, as it has been greatly lengthened to simply allow you the experience of enjoying the music and festivities of Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays.

The following is an outline of what is shared in the video and podcast:

Festivities

• Festival Fragrances
• CommuniCore Hall
  • Gingerbread Spaceship Earth
  • Santa Claus
• Festival Fragrances
• Odyssey and Santa Goofy
• Living with the Land…Glimmering Greenhouses

Holiday Kitchens

• Food I Tried
  • CommuniCore: Gingerbread Shake
  • Japan: Toshikoshi Soba
  • L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen: Pastrami on Rye
  • Mexico: Tostada de Carne
  • Nochebuena Cocina: Plant-based Chorizo Tamale

• Food I Still Need to Try
  • Mexico: Tamal de Pollo con Mole
  • Liquid Nitrogen Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse
  • Turkey Poutine
  • France: Macaron de Noel aux Epices
  • Japan: Strawberry Bun
  • Festive Flight featuring Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s™

• Holiday Cookie Stroll
  • CommuniCore: Prototype Cookie
  • CommuniCore: Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie
  • CommuniCore: Ginger-Molasses Cookie
  • Canada: Maple Leaf Shortbread Cookie
  • L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen: Black and White Cookie
  • Odyssey: Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookie
  • Prize pack with an exclusive festival spatula and a container of mini M&Ms. 

Entertainment

• Holiday Storytellers–You could spend the better part of the day visiting each of these.
  • Hanukkah Storyteller. As a one act performance, warm and real
  • United Kingdom Father Christmas–Voice horse, but still entertaining
  • Mexico: Las Posadas Celebration
  • Germany: Micha’s Adventskalender Puppet Show–Poor sound/Difficult to hear
  • A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa–Seasoned performers, great costumes

• Joyful! A Celebration of the Season–How many were in the original video I shot in 2020
• Canadian Holiday Voyageurs–How many are traded out each morning.
• Voices of Liberty–The end earlier each day in support of the Candlelight Processional
• Candlelight Processional
  • A Tradition of Walt Disney Since 1968–With Jordan Fisher
  • It vies with Oh Wondrous Night at Sea World for Best Christmas Show

We have many videos on our Christmas playlist, to include many taken this year, and also many that were taken last year at the Disneyland Resort. Check them out on our Disney Insights YouTube page.

And while you’re there, check out our complete video review of Disney Adventure World.

Want to Visit Disney?

Hopefully this podcast has made you realize you need help and support in planning your next trip to Disney. David and Leah with Zanolla Travel know Disney in ways few do and they can make your next trip on land or sea an exciting one–or at least less stressful! Be sure to contact them as you explore your next vacation, whether it is a Disney theme park vacation, a cruise, or an Adventure by Disney. There is no charge to utilize their services, but it will save you enormous time getting all the details right, and with their insight you can be assured you’re going to experience the best trip possible. Contact them today!

David & Leah Zanolla

ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Another way you can support the podcast is through our books!

My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. 

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Find Excellence in Your Organization!

This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.

Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.

Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena. 

Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership development and employee engagement.

Contact us today, and let us help.

Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!