EPCOT Festival of the Holidays With Kids: 2026 Family Guide

Quick answer: EPCOT Festival of the Holidays with kids runs November 27 through December 30, 2026, and Disney labels it as included with park admission. For toddlers and preschoolers, the easiest wins are the holiday storytellers around World Showcase, photos with Santa and Goofy as Santa, the Glimmering Greenhouses boat ride (no height requirement) and, if your child can sit quietly, the Candlelight Processional. Plan a nap, a stroller and an early dinner before you try to loop the whole lagoon.

We checked each fact below against the official Disney pages on October 12, 2026. Dates and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Key Takeaways

• The festival runs November 27 to December 30, 2026, and is listed on Disney's events calendar as included with admission.
• Candlelight Processional runs nightly at 4:45 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm at America Gardens Theatre. On October 12, Disney's dinner-package page said to check back starting October 14, 2026 to book, and seating without a package is first-come, first-served with limited capacity.
• Kid-friendly picks on Disney's list include the holiday storytellers, Santa Claus, Goofy as Santa, the Glimmering Greenhouses boat ride and Olaf's holiday scavenger hunt, but Disney had not posted 2026 details for the scavenger hunt or the Holiday Cookie Stroll when we checked.
• Show times for storytellers, Santa and Goofy are not on Disney's pages. Use the My Disney Experience app.
• Disney parks prohibit strollers larger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long. Plan a stroller nap, because World Showcase is a long walk for small legs.

EPCOT Festival of the Holidays at a glance

What is included, and what costs extra

Disney's official name is EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, and its events calendar marks the festival as included with admission, which covers the festival entertainment: the storytellers, Santa and Goofy as Santa, JOYFUL! and the Candlelight Processional. You still need a valid park ticket and, depending on the ticket type, a park reservation. Disney does not list a separate festival ticket for those shows. Food from the Holiday Kitchens is sold at its own prices, and Disney notes that menu items, pricing and hours are subject to change.

The scavenger hunt is the one item to watch. The scavenger hunt page still described the 2025 version when we checked and said details were subject to change in 2026. Last year you bought a map and stickers at select shops and redeemed the finished map for a keepsake. We would not budget for it until Disney posts 2026 details.

Kid-friendly highlights on Disney's official list

Holiday storytellers

The storytellers are the best use of a toddler's attention span because each show is short and happens in the open air. Disney's entertainment page lists Las Posadas with pinatas and mariachi music at Mexico, a mischievous Barn Santa at Norway, a Chinese lion dancer at China, Micha's Adventskalender puppet theater at Germany, La Befana at Italy, Daruma at Japan, Pere Noel at France, Father Christmas at the United Kingdom and the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs. A Hanukkah storyteller walks the promenade between Morocco and France. Disney says to check the My Disney Experience app for performance times.

Santa and Goofy as Santa

Santa Claus is at CommuniCore Hall daily through December 24, and Goofy as Santa is at The Odyssey daily from November 27 to December 30. Disney does not post meet times or wait times on the page, so check the app on the morning of your visit.

Glimmering Greenhouses

From November 27 to December 30, Living with the Land becomes Living with the Land, Glimmering Greenhouses, a calm boat ride through greenhouses decorated with twinkling lights. Disney lists the ride as "Any Height," so there is no height minimum, and in our view it is a good cool-down or nap-friendly break for babies and toddlers. The regular Living with the Land tour is not offered during those dates.

JOYFUL! and Candlelight Processional

JOYFUL! is a Christmas and Kwanzaa tribute with gospel, R&B and holiday songs at CommuniCore Plaza Stage. The Candlelight Processional is a longer, quieter show with a celebrity narrator, a massed choir, a 50-piece orchestra and herald trumpets. Disney does not list a running time on the page, so we would treat it as a "can my child sit still?" decision rather than a must.

Candlelight Processional with little kids

Shows run nightly at 4:45 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm from November 27 to December 30. Disney lists a different celebrity narrator by date and had November 27 and 28 still to be announced when we checked.

• Seating: Disney says guests without a dining package are seated first-come, first-served, with availability based on limited capacity.
• Dining packages: A Candlelight dinner package includes a seat at a same-day show plus a meal, and package guests enter the theatre in a separate queue from standby guests. On October 12, Disney's page said to check back starting October 14, 2026 to book, and that packages may not be available on peak dates. Valid park admission is not included in the package price.
• Toddler call: If your child can sit for a choir and orchestra, the 4:45 pm show is easiest on bedtime. If not, the storytellers are a better use of the same hour.

Holiday Kitchens and treats with kids

Disney's Holiday Kitchens page says the kitchens serve culinary traditions from around the world from November 27 to December 30, and lists fan-favorites such as Turkey Poutine from La Poutinerie, with offerings subject to change in 2026. Disney had not posted the full 2026 menu when we checked. The Holiday Cookie Stroll is also on the festival page, but its 2026 details were not posted either.

For picky toddlers, share a few small plates and bring a snack from the rental, because the festival lineup is more adventurous than most two-year-olds.

A nap and stroller plan around World Showcase

World Showcase is a long loop around the lagoon, and holiday storytellers are spread across it. A stroller makes the day possible. Here is a toddler-friendly plan built around Disney's published show times. The times are our suggestions.

If your toddler needs a long nap, split the visit: do the morning and late afternoon, and rest at the rental in between. Our EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival with kids guide has stroller ideas that also work here.

How to split the festival by age

• Babies: Let the stroller do the work. The greenhouse boat ride is calm, the storytellers' music is pleasant background noise and a sleeping baby can ride through a lot. If you try Candlelight, sit near an aisle so you can step out.
• Toddlers (1 to 3): Choose short, visual things: the puppet theater at Germany, the lion dancer at China, a Santa photo and the greenhouse ride. Two or three storytellers is plenty. Do not try to see every pavilion.
• Preschoolers (3 to 5): This is the sweet spot. Add Olaf's scavenger hunt if Disney offers it this year, a cookie and the Candlelight Processional if your child likes music.
• Older siblings: Tasting around the Holiday Kitchens and the scavenger hunt keep bigger kids busy while the little one naps in the stroller.

Strollers and gear

Disney's property rules prohibit strollers larger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long and also prohibit stroller wagons. Wagons are prohibited at any theme park. Honest Sherpa rents single, umbrella, jogger and double strollers and delivers them to your vacation rental free of charge. The Sit and Stand Double Stroller page says it meets Disney size requirements, and rain covers are listed on the stroller category page. A rented stroller means you do not have to fly with yours, which helps if you are already packing winter layers and holiday outfits.

Pairing EPCOT with other Disney holiday plans

Disney's holiday season runs from November 13 to January 6 across the parks, so the festival is only one piece. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom is a separate evening event, covered in our toddler guide to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. For an overview that puts every park and event side by side, see our Christmas in Orlando guide.

Packing checklist

• Stroller with a canopy and a light blanket
• Layers for a cool evening and a light rain jacket or cover
• Snacks and a refillable bottle (bags, coolers and backpacks larger than 24 by 15 by 18 inches are not allowed in Disney theme parks)
• Diapers, wipes and a spare outfit
• Phone with the My Disney Experience app for show times
• Noise-reducing ear protection if your child is sensitive to choirs and brass

FAQ

What are the dates for EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays in 2026? November 27 through December 30, 2026.

Is EPCOT Festival of the Holidays included with admission? Disney's events calendar marks it as included with admission. Food costs extra, and last year's scavenger hunt required buying a map, so watch for Disney's 2026 details.

Is Candlelight Processional good for toddlers? Maybe. It is a quiet seated show with a choir and orchestra. If your toddler can sit for a while, try the earliest show at 4:45 pm. Seating without a dining package is first-come, first-served.

When can I book a Candlelight dinner package? On October 12, Disney's page said to check back starting October 14, 2026 to book.

What kid attractions are at EPCOT during the festival? Disney lists holiday storytellers, Santa Claus, Goofy as Santa, Glimmering Greenhouses, Olaf's scavenger hunt and the Holiday Cookie Stroll, plus regular rides such as Frozen Ever After and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure on its family picks list.

Where do I get the Holiday Cookie Stroll passport? Disney had not posted 2026 details for the cookie stroll when we checked. Check the festival page and the app once the festival starts.

When can we meet Santa at EPCOT? Santa Claus is at CommuniCore Hall daily through December 24, and Goofy as Santa is at The Odyssey daily from November 27 to December 30. Times are in the app.

Can I bring a stroller to EPCOT? Yes, within Disney's size limit of 31 inches wide by 52 inches long. Wagons and stroller wagons are prohibited.

Travel lighter this Christmas. Honest Sherpa delivers strollers to your vacation rental free of charge, delivered for your arrival day and picked up on your departure day, with dates chosen at checkout. Enter your zip code or city on the site to see if your address is covered.