Revisiting the World Showcase and the Customs of Christmas: Epcot

Christmas around Epcot’s World Showcase will look different this year as there will be no Storytellers. Follow along on my adventures as I share with you how each country in Epcot’s World Showcase celebrates Christmas while looking back at the storytellers of years past. Today we focus on the Christmas offerings around Epcot.

Christmas Traditions at Epcot

One of my favorite traditions while visiting Epcot around the holidays is for me and my youngest daughter to visit each and every Storyteller’s event during our trip to Epcot.

As a Sociologist, who teaches and studies culture, it makes my heart so happy to be able to partake in learning and participating in the vast array of Christmas traditions that countries practice around the world.

So far in our 13 part series, we have already visited the holiday customs and traditions from Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, Italy, Germany, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, China, Norway and Mexico.

Today, we continue our adventures to the festivities around Epcot outside of the World Showcase.

Living With The Land

This attraction is my husband’s favorite at Epcot. We often find ourselves riding it a couple times during the day.

Upon beginning your adventure, you will find yourself taking a gentle guided boat tour learning more about farming and its history.

Throughout the attraction, guests will encounter how horticulturists are using innovative growing techniques and cross-breeding crops to help grow plants and food.

In fact, many of the foods and fish that are grown throughout the attraction are taken directly from farm-to-table!

This means that guests can enjoy them throughout many of the WDW resort restaurants such as Sunshine Seasons and Garden Grill Restaurant, both of which are in the same building as Living with the Land!

Upon entering the attraction, guests will pass through a tunnel adorned with Christmas lights that leads them into the greenhouse.

Around the corner, guests are then greeted by a family of snowmen. Within the sandy floors, there are lights that illuminate the entire attraction at night.

Throughout the rest of the attraction, guests will find much more holiday décor, complete with another tunnel full of Christmas lights.

If you have the opportunity this holiday season, I would strongly encourage you to visit Living with the Land as it will surely bring you holiday cheer and make your tummies a bit hungrier for some great healthy food!

Thankfully, the holiday overlay is available to enjoy this 2020 holiday season.

Gingerbread Display

It was wonderful to hear the announcement that The Gingerbread Capitol City would be returning for the 2020 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays!

This annual tradition features a patriotic display of United States landmarks — all in gingerbread!

Traditionally, the gingerbread display can be found inside the American Pavilion but this year it has been moved to another location within the World Showcase.

Guests can find the gingerbread house at the World Showplace building between the Canada and the United Kingdom pavilion.

This year’s gingerbread recreation of the United States Capitol Building, includes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and a 5-foot tall Washington Monument.

The detail that is included in this years gingerbread model is beautiful and majestic.

A Mickey Mouse figurine stands at the top of the Capitol Building while decorated Christmas trees adorn the front lawn.

In front of the Washington Monument, “Where Dreams Come True,” is written in the rocks in the landscaping.

And to think that the entire masterpiece is edible! It would make it very difficult for me to take a bite! The gingerbread will be on display until December 30, 2020.

Cookie Stroll

If there is one thing that I love to make and to receive during the holiday seasons, it would be cookies! I’m so excited that the Holiday Cookie Stroll has returned this year to the Festival of the Holidays!

For those of you that may not know what the Cookie Stroll entails, it is a yummy filled stroll around the World Showcase which focuses on the five official Holiday Cookie Stroll locations.

At each of the five locations, guests are able to purchase a cookie and receive a stamp on their Festival Passport.

After you have collected all five stamps, you return your Passport to the Sweets & Treats Holiday Kitchen guests will receive the complimentary Peppermint Minnie Cookie!

Sounds extra sugary, doesn’t it?

Make sure to read Christina’s detailed article on all the festive cookies for the Cookie Stroll HERE.

Why not take home a cookie jar to commemorate the joyous occasion of completing the stroll? I’d purchase one even if I did not partake in the stroll!

How adorable is this cookie jar that features the mischievous duo of Chip and Dale!

Festival of the Holiday Offerings

I was very excited to hear of the various holiday offerings for holiday menus as the food booths during the holidays at Epcot are one of my favorite things to do!

There are so many great food options at this year’s International Festival of the Holidays that it becomes so hard to not know where to start!

Make sure to read Donna’s article on the holiday food, snacks and beverage menu now available at Epcot during the holidays. You can read it HERE.

Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will begin on November 27th and will run through December 31st. 

Our Storyteller Adventure Continues

For our last adventure, we will be visiting the traditions and customs of Christmas practiced in the United States.

What a way to bring our thirteen part series to a close. Very bittersweet!

It has been such a wonderful journey writing and sharing how Christmas and the holiday season is practiced throughout the countries located within the World Showcase at Epcot.

I hope you join me on our last adventure!

Did you visit the new gingerbread display at Epcot this year or in year’s past? Have you experienced the Living with the Land holiday overlay? Let us know in the comments on Facebook and in our Facebook group.