Everything You Need to Know About the 2020 Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

The 2020 Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays may not look the same but there is still plenty of holiday eats and drinks and if you look closely you’ll find the extra magic we all need this year. Here’s more on what the festival does and doesn’t have, including the menus at the 17 Holiday Kitchens!

With a new(ish) name and a few changes, the 2020 Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is back. And like the revamped name suggests we are getting just a “taste of” the normal holiday festival.

While you can still get a Spike the Bee souvenir cup or the adorable and reusable spork at some locations, the festival has been given a holiday makeover.

And it is a wee bit more “normal” from the low-key Flower and Garden hybrid that was the never-ending Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

Entertainment Expands for Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

One bit of fantastic news about the 2020 Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays is that it is bigger than the Food and Wine Festival in terms of we are graced with more entertainment offerings.

And although we are still missing some huge elements that become holiday traditions for many families, Disney is opening more entertainment venues for this festival.

You can now catch live entertainment on the Canada Mill Stage, World Showplace Events Pavilion and the American Gardens Theater. These performances include the Voices of Liberty, the Mariachi Cobre, JAMMitors and JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season.

No Candlelight Processional or Holiday Storytellers

Unfortunately, Disney made the tough call to cancel the Candlelight Processional. Oh, NPH how I’m gonna miss thee!

And the storytellers won’t be sharing the holiday traditions from around the world with us in 2020.

But we can spin this in a positive way (or not) – without these treasured traditions we have more time to eat and drink our Christmas cheer…

Holiday Fun for All

Holiday scavenger hunt

Disney introduced a new themed scavenger hunt this year – Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition. Before you head off on a grand quest with Olaf make sure you pick a map at one of the merchandise locations throughout the park.

Once you have have found all the Olafs you can redeem your completed map for a holiday surprise!

New way to see characters

And you won’t want to miss the character cavalcades (only way to see characters this year).

Mickey and Friends World Tour have changed into their holiday best just for the Festival of the Holidays! And you can catch a glimpse of Santa in his own promenade.

Holiday cookie stroll

Not that we need an excuse to try all the snacks but Disney gives us one just in case with the holiday cookie stroll.

First, you’ll need to pick up a festival passport which can be done at your first holiday kitchen stop. In the back, you’ll find a list of locations along with spaces for the cookie stamps you receive for purchasing the cookie stroll cookies. Once you’ve purchased five cookies you can pick up a complimentary completer cookie!

17 Holiday Kitchens for Festival of the Holidays

Festival Favorites

Food Items:

• Blackened Bass, White Cheddar Grits, and Okra with Tomato and Onion Stew
• Duck Confit and Dumplings with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Fig Reduction
• Gingerbread Cookie – Cookie Stroll

Beverages:

• Coquito: Tropical Eggnog (non-alcoholic)
• Frozen S’mores (non-alcoholic)
• Coquito: Tropical Eggnog with Bacardi Gold Dark Rum
• Frozen S’mores with Whipped Cream Vodka

Holiday Hearth-NEW

Food Items:

• Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
• Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie
• Snowball Cookies
• Peppermint Bark
• Stollen: Holiday Fruit Cake
• Mouse Crunch

Beverages:

• Gingerbread Milkshake (non-alcoholic)
• Hot Cocoa (non-alcoholic)
• Gingerbread Milkshake with Whipped Cream Vodka
• Cocoa Candy Cane: Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Schnapps

Prost!

Food Items:

• Charcuterie and Cheese Plate

Beverages:

• M.I.A. Beer Company White Christmas IPA, Doral, FL
• 3 Daughters Brewing 70 Degree Winter Weizen, St. Petersburg, FL
• Playalinda Brewing Co. Gingerblonde House Ale, Titusville, FL
• Ciderboys Mad Bark Apple Cinnamon Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
• 3 Daughters Brewing Blueberry Peppercorn Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
• Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards 1911 Honey Crisp Hard Cider, Lafayette, NY

World Showcase Holiday Kitchens

Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen-NEW

Food Items:

• Kālua Pork with Okinawa Purple Sweet Potatoes, and Mango Salad
• Lomi Lomi Salmon with Tomatoes, Onions, Salmon Roe, Yuzu Mayonnaise, and Yucca Chips
• Haupia: Hawaiian Coconut Pudding with Candied Macadamia Nuts and Coconut

Beverage Items:

• Kona Brewing Co. Big Wave Golden Ale, Kailua-Kona, HI
• Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
• Melon Breeze with Spiced Rum

Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Giant Tostada de Chorizo: Chorizo served on a Giant Tostada with Chipotle Black Bean Purée, Salsa Verde, Queso Cotija, Crema Mexicana, and Pickled Onion (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Tamal de Pollo: Braised Chipotle Chicken served in a Corn Masa topped with Mole Verde, Queso Cotija, Crema Mexicana, and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Dulce de Leche Churros: Dulce de Leche filled Churros sprinkled with Cinnamon-sugar

Beverages:

• Tulum Mexican Craft Beer with a Blackcurrant and Ginger Liqueur Floater
• Pumpkin Spice Margarita: Tomba Blanco Tequila, Ojo de Tigre Mezcal, Nixta Corn Liqueur, Pumpkin Spice Purée, and Lime-Agave Juice with Cinnamon-Sugar Rim
• Horchata Margarita: Casa Noble Blanco Tequila, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, Horchata Rum, Agua de Horchata, and a hint of Cinnamon-infused Mezcal Liqueur

Shanghai Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Red-stewed Beef Rice Bowl
• Curry Chicken Rice Bowl
• House-made Crab and Cheese Wontons

Beverage Items:

• “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Bobas (non-alcoholic)
• Tsingtao Lager
• Jasmine Draft Beer
• Dragonfly: Jose Cuervo Tequila Gold, Vodka, Mango Syrup, and Orange Juice
• Marco Boba: Amaretto, Iced Coffee, Milk, and Boba
• The Lucky Mo: Peach Schnapps, Peach Syrup, Orange Juice, and Piña Colada Mix

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Pork Schnitzel with Mushroom Sauce, Spätzle, and Braised Red Cabbage
• Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl with Steamed Baby Vegetables and Marble Potatoes
• Linzer Cookie – Cookie Stroll

Beverages:

• Possmann Pure Hard Apple Cider, Frankfurt, Germany
• Ayinger Brewery Celebrator Doppelbock, Bavaria, Germany
• Regional Riesling
• Glühwein: House-made Hot Spiced Wine

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Biancaneve Italian Flatbread with Mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan
• Sacchetti alla Boscaiola: Four-cheese Mini Beggar’s Purses filled with Sweet Sausage, Caramelized Onions, Pancetta, and Cremini Mushrooms with a Creamy Sauce
• Cannoli Siciliani: Crisp Pastry filled with Sweet Ricotta, Chocolate, and Candied Orange

Beverage Items:

• Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner
• Pinot Grigio
• Chianti
• Prosecco
• Rosa Regale
• Moscato
• White Sangria with Prosecco
• Red Sangria with Cabernet Sauvignon
• Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila

American Holiday Table

Food Items:

• Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Cranberry Sauce
• Holiday Pot Pie with Jackfruit, Mushrooms, Carrots, Peas, Onions, and Puff Pastry (Plant-based Item)
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Cheesecake with Cranberry Whipped Cream and Candied Pumpkin Seeds
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookie – Cookie Stroll

Beverages:

• Bell’s Bright White Ale, Comstock, MI
• Shipyard Eggnog White Porter, Clearwater, FL
• Playalinda Brewing Co. Peppermint Chocolate Stout, Titusville, FL

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• New Year Celebration Soba: Buckwheat Soba Noodles in Hot Dashi Soup with Shrimp Tempura, Fish Cake, and Chopped Green Onion
• Chirashi Sushi Tree: Sashimi-grade Tuna, Salmon, Ikura, and Yellowtail with Vegetables decorated on a bed of Rice
• Ichigo Mont Blanc Tart: Strawberry and Bavarian Cream filled tart sprinkled with Konpeito

Beverages:

• Ichigo Milk Boba: Cranberry and Yuzu Cream Drink with Japanese Calpico and popping Strawberry Boba Pearls (non-alcoholic)
• Sapporo Draft Beer
• Tsubaki Whiskey Sour: Plum Wine with Whiskey, Cranberry Juice, Sugar, and Lemon

Sapphire Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Grilled Lamb Kefta Kebab and Grapes with Euro Cucumber, Red Pepper, Pickled Pearl Onions, 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, and Chocolate Sauce

Beverage Items:

• Mediterranean Beer
• Kasbah Prestige Red Wine
• The Andalusian “Poinsettia” Cocktail: Sparkling Wine, Orange Liqueur, and Cranberry Juice topped with Orange Blossom Water

L’Chaim Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Pastrami on Rye with House-made Pickles and Deli Mustard
• Smoked Salmon Potato Latke
• Potato Latkes (Plant-based Item)
• Sufganiyot: Mini Jelly-filled Donuts
• Black and White Cookie (Plant-based Item) – Cookie Stroll

Beverages:

• Shmaltz Brewing Company Hanukkah Beer: Golden Jelly Doughnut Pastry Ale, Clifton Park, NY
• Blue Cosmo Cocktail

Le Marche De Noel Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Rillette de Saumon: Salmon Spread with House-made Bread
• Dinde Forestière, Pommes Dauphines: Turkey with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions in a Mustard Cream Sauce with Puffed Potatoes
• Bûche de Noël au Caramel: Christmas Log with Chocolate Cake and Dark Chocolate Caramel Ganache

Beverage Items:

• Boosted Mimosa with Monin Immunity Boost
• Rosé Pétillant Méthode Traditionnelle Champenoise: Rosé Sparkling Wine, Pink Flamingo
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Village de France
• Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini: Grey Goose Vanilla, Vodka, and Chocolate Milk

Yukon Holiday Kitchen

Food Items:

• Seared Scallops with Parsnip Silk, Apple Chutney, and Hazelnut Croquant
• Beef Bourguignon with Crushed Potatoes
• Maple Bûche de Noël: Maple Mousse and Cranberry rolled in Gingerbread Chiffon Cake
• Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie – Cookie Stroll

Beverages:

• Frozen Coffee (non-alcoholic)
• 81Bay Brewing Co. Maple Cinnamon Coffee Beer, Tampa, FL
• Regional Icewine
• Frozen Coffee with Tap 357 Whisky

More Holiday Kitchens at the 2020 Epcot Festival of the Holidays

Citrus Blossom Showcase Plaza

Beverage Items:

• Orange Cream Shake in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (non-alcoholic)
• 81Bay Brewing Co. Cinnamon Cranberry Orange Wheat Ale, Tampa, FL
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Selections

Holiday Sweets and Treats

Food Items:

• Peppermint Sundae: Chocolate Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, and Peppermint Candy (Gluten/Wheat Friendly)
• Minnie Peppermint Cookie – Cookie Stroll

Beverages:

• Hot Cocoa (non-alcoholic)
• Chocolate Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings® Peppermint Cheer Tea (non-alcoholic)
• Shipyard Eggnog White Porter, Clearwater, FL
• M.I.A. Beer Company Coquito Beer, Doral, FL
• Hot Cocoa with Assorted Cordials (Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico Liqueur, or Fireball Cinnamon Whisky)
• Chocolate Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings® Peppermint Cheer Tea and Whipped Cream Vodka

Holiday Treats in Select Locations During the Festival of the Holidays

Funnel Cake (The American Adventure)

• Sweet Potato Casserole Funnel Cake topped with marshmallow, cinnamon and sugar, honey roasted pecans, and caramel drizzle.

L’Artisans des Glaces (France Pavillon)

• Glaces au Pain d’Epices – Gingerbread ice cream with gingerbread pieces
• Holiday Macaron with mint ice cream

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• Caramel Tinsel Donut topped with crumbled Twix candy bars.
• Carmel Tinsel Latte: a Mocha topped with caramel drizzle and crumbled Twix candy bars.

Refreshment Outpost

• Warm Brown Sugar Stuffed Pretzel with soft-serve ice cream and chocolate sauce
• Spike the Bee Sipper available with a Frozen Slushy
• 3 Daughters Brewing Spicy Apple Cinnamon Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL

Refreshment Port

• Turkey Poutine French fries with turkey gravy, cranberry relish and crispy onions
• T.G. Lee Eggnog
• T.G. Lee Eggnog with spiced rum

So, yes this year’s Festival of the Holidays is different. And while I don’t think you’ll hear that it’s the best, it isn’t horrible. AND yes, the magic is still there – you just might have to look a little deeper.

Have you been to the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays? What did you think – drop your experience in the comments below!