Walt Disney World has released the narrator lineup for Candlelight Processional during the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays plus dining package details, entertainment info, and the food booth lineup. This post covers all the details we know thus far about the Christmas-time event.
For starters, the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will run from November 25 until December 30, 2022. Unlike other Christmas-time offerings at Walt Disney World, the holiday festivities at EPCOT always end before New Year’s Eve to clear space for NYE. It remains to be seen what, if anything, Walt Disney World will do for New Year’s, but Festival of the Holidays ending on December 30 at least leaves that door open.
After being announced really late last year (October 15), Walt Disney World is releasing info about this year’s EPCOT Festival of the Holidays slightly earlier, but still much later than the historical norm. This announcement basically fleshes out what is happening, providing new details about the “choirs singing, chestnuts roasting, kitchens cooking, cookies baking or gifts unwrapping” at EPCOT from November 25 through December 30, 2022.
Let’s start with the full lineup of Holiday Kitchens:
American Holiday Table – American Adventure Pavilion
Enjoy a seasonal salute—dig into traditional dishes reminiscent of grandma’s cooking at the American Adventure Pavilion.
Bavaria Holiday Kitchen – Germany Pavilion
Willkommen—help yourself to heartwarming holiday dishes and refreshing beverages at the Germany Pavilion.
Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen – Near Test Track
Join in on the festivities when you visit this location offering cinnamon-glazed nuts and holiday beverages.
The Donut Box – Near Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
Enjoy a classic dessert dressed up in a little holiday cheer when you try one of our seasonally-themed donuts!
Holiday Hearth Desserts – The Odyssey Pavilion
Discover the hearth you’ll call home, with holly jolly desserts, hot cocoa and so much more.
Holiday Sweets & Treats – Near Port of Entry
Rock around the Christmas tree with tasty desserts and festive sips sure to top the “nice” list.
L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen – Between Morocco and France Pavilions
Propose a toast to life—sink your teeth into classic deli noshes with a side of New York flair.
Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen – Mexico Pavilion
Feliz Navidad—celebrate with mariachi dancing and south-of-the-border fare at the Mexico Pavilion!
Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen – France Pavilion
Feast on très magnifique fare, wine and specialty cocktails from the France Pavilion.
Mele Kalikimaka – Near Port of Entry
Savor the flavor of fabulous, festive food and beverages from the islands of Hawai‘i.
Nochebuena Cocina – Near Port of Entry – NEW!
Delight in a delicious plant-based offering while celebrating the happiest season of the year!
Shanghai Holiday Kitchen – China Pavilion
Have yourself a merry little meal—tempt taste buds with popular plates and potables from the China Pavilion!
Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen – Japan Pavilion
Please your palate with an array of festive dishes and drinks served at the Japan Pavilion.
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina – Morocco Pavilion
Travel to the Morocco Pavilion for delicious kebabs and cocktails.
Tuscany Holiday Kitchen – Italy Pavilion
Mangiare—savor a seasonal take on some of the world’s best-loved food and beverages at the Italy Pavilion!
Yukon Holiday Kitchen – Canada Pavilion
Jingle your bells with delightful dishes and libations from the Great White North—at the Canada Pavilion.
Funnel Cake – Between the American Adventure Pavilion
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a new holiday classic: Sweet Potato Casserole Funnel Cake.
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company – Throughout EPCOT
Salute the season with the usual selection of coffees, plus a tasty holiday-themed treat!
Refreshment Outpost – Between the China and Germany Pavilions
Chow down on this year’s holiday surprise: Peanut Stew with sweet potatoes, mustard greens and roasted peanuts. (Sorry, guess it’s not a surprise now.)
Refreshment Port – Showcase Plaza
Savor the flavor of holiday poutine and toast the season with specials like Coquito Soft-serve, also available with Spiced Rum.
On a final food note, the Holiday Cookie Stroll also returns to the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. Purchase 5 cookies from any of the official cookie stroll locations featured in your Festival Passport—and be sure to collect a matching stamp for each cookie purchased.
Once you’ve collected 5 stamps, bring the stamped Passport to Holiday Sweets & Treats to receive a specialty treat. The Holiday Cookie Stroll is fun for all ages and can be completed at your leisure between November 25 and December 30, 2022.
Cookies and Locations:
- Nochebuena Cocina: Alfajores – Vanilla Shortbread Cookie with Dulce de Leche and Coconut
- Yukon Holiday Kitchen: SNICKERS-Doodle Cookie made with SNICKERS Bar pieces
- L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen: Black and White Cookie (plant-based)
- American Holiday Table: Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
- Bavaria Holiday Kitchen: Linzer Cookie
- Holiday Hearth Desserts: Gingerbread Cookie
- Sunshine Seasons: M&M’s Sugar Cookie
- Connections Café: Sugar Cookie
In World Nature, Living with the Land: Merry and Bright Nights will return. During the Festival, ride Living with the Land for a special, sparkling boat tour. Enjoy a peaceful cruise and view twinkling holiday light displays throughout the greenhouses.
We absolutely love Living with the Land. It’s one of the Walt Disney World attractions we do the most. We also absolutely love Christmas lights. Put those two things together, and we are squarely the target audience for Living with the Land: Merry and Bright Nights. Unsurprisingly, we absolutely love this overlay. I could go on and on about this, gushing about the calming atmosphere, thoroughness, and understated simplicity of it all. Suffice to say, do not miss Living with the Land: Merry and Bright Nights!!!
A brand-new overlay will come to EPCOT’s newest attraction over in World Discovery via Guardians of the Galaxy: Christmas Rewind. (That’s just what we’ve dubbed it. Walt Disney World hasn’t announced an official name.)
“This season, the Guardians will trade in their classic hits playlist for a mash-up of seasonal jams at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. Guests will blast off to the tune of an awesome holiday single, bringing joy to Xandar and Terra, too.”
In terms of entertainment, Walt Disney World has teased that the Holiday Storytellers, musical acts, and other performers will bring holiday traditions of the world to life around World Showcase. No specifics as to which ones will be back, but that’s usually not revealed until shortly before the holiday season starts.
Additionally, “JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season” will return to offer a stirring and uplifting performance of music in celebration of Christmas and Kwanzaa with multiple performances daily.
Walt Disney World has also shared details about the 2022 Candlelight Processional. This time-honored tradition has been a part of the holiday season at Walt Disney World since its opening in 1971. Experience the celebrity narrators, the Voices of Liberty acapella ensemble, a 50-piece live orchestra and glorious massed choirs as they present a heartwarming retelling of the traditional Christmas story.
Unlike last year, Walt Disney World will again share this tradition with the community, inviting guest choirs from across Florida to take part in the show. Choirs comprised of Walt Disney World Cast Members will also return, bringing magic to their performances as they do in their roles every day.
Walt Disney World has also released a partial lineup of narrators for the 2022 Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. You can see this show nightly at 5:15 PM, 7:00 PM or 8:30 PM at the America Gardens Theatre in EPCOT’s World Showcase.
This year, the following celebrity lineup will lend their talents to the performance:
- TBA – November 25 and 26, 2022
- Edward James Olmos – November 27 through 29, 2022
- Raul Esparza (NEW) – November 30 and December 1, 2022
- Whoopi Goldberg – December 2 and December 3, 2022
- Isabella Rossellini – December 4 through December 6, 2022
- TBA – December 7 through December 9, 2022
- Josh Gad (NEW) – December 10 through December 12, 2022
- Gloria Estefan (NEW) – December 13 and December 14, 2022
- Neil Patrick Harris – December 15 through December 18, 2022
- Mariska Hargitay (NEW) – December 19 and December 20, 2022
- Cal Ripken Jr. – December 21 through December 23, 2022
- Marie Osmond – December 24 through December 26, 2022
- Courtney Vance – December 27 and December 28, 2022
- Angela Bassett – December 29 and December 30, 2022
Celebrity narrators, dates and other entertainment are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are also returning, and can be booked online beginning September 26, 2022 or October 6, 2022.
Walt Disney World’s press release about the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays pointed to a website with more info about the dining packages, but when I’ve tried accessing that, Stitch ate the page. (That rascal!) So…we’ll keep you posted on what happens with those.
In the meantime, here are details about last year’s Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. Our expectation is that this year is pretty similar, perhaps with a few more restaurants in the lineup, but not the circa 2019 full slate…
This year’s dining packages will be scaled back–you can choose from 4 table service restaurants in Epcot offering Candlelight Processional Dining Packages at lunch and dinner. Each package includes:
- An appetizer, entrée and dessert or one (1) full buffet (where applicable), along with a non-alcoholic beverage
- One (1) guaranteed seat per person to the Candlelight Processional held on the same day
Here’s a list of participating restaurants and dining package prices, which exclude tax and gratuity:
| Adult (ages 10 and up) |
Child (ages 3 to 9) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion |
$62.00 | $35.00 |
| Coral Reef Restaurant The Living Seas |
$74.00 | $25.00 |
| Garden Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion |
$71.00 | $46.00 |
| Rose & Crown Dining Room United Kingdom Pavilion |
$63.00 | $25.00 |
We’re just happy to see Biergarten Restaurant make the cut. This is always our top recommendation thanks to its jovial Christmas atmosphere, music, and value for money. Read Our Christmas Feast at Biergarten Restaurant for what the holiday time experience is like there.
We would strongly recommend those who want a Candlelight Processional Dining Package be online bright and early on October 6, 2022. These will sell out fast–probably far faster than normal. With fewer options (meaning less total dining capacity) plus pent-up demand, we wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see these sell out for the entire season on opening ADR day.
In terms of other basic info, guests will receive Candlelight Seating badges at the restaurant after their meal. The badge will specify the date and show time they have reserved.
Dining Package participants will enter America Gardens Theatre in a separate queue and will be seated on a first-come, first served basis. Seating is guaranteed for those who purchase the Candlelight Processional Dining Package.
If you have other questions, see our Guide to Candlelight Processional at Epcot. While that hasn’t been updated with all of this new info, it should mostly be accurate for 2022. The basics of Candlelight Processional–showtimes, seatings, and more–should be more or less the same this year. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about the Dining Packages and everything else coming to the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited to experience the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays or will you be sitting this one out? Excited for the return of Candlelight Processional or the Holiday Storytellers? Looking forward to the Holiday Kitchens, live music, or anything else? Think there will be any pleasant surprises? Any tips you want to share to make the most of the experience? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
