USA TODAY International Edition
EPCOT’s festivals are prime time for visit to Disney World
You could visit Walt Disney World any time of year, but savvy travelers will want to strategically plan around four key events: EPCOT’s festivals.
The first one of 2023, EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, just started. Each one features unique experiences you won’t find at other times.
“That steak dish and that beer cheese soup at Canada for Food and Wine, you’ll only find it during Food & Wine. That Candlelight Processional entertainment, only time that you’re gonna see it is if you come during Festival the Holidays,” Dave Kesting, general manager of EPCOT Festivals, told USA TODAY. “So they all have similar components, but each one has a different star of the show.”
All of the experiences are included in the price of park admission. And there are only a few weeks of the year when there isn’t a festival going on. So guests who don’t time their trips accordingly, miss out on the extra value of their tickets.
Here’s what travelers planning trips to Disney World should know:
How many festivals does Disney World have?
EPCOT hosts four festivals each year:
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
What are the dates?
The only 2023 dates announced so far are for the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, last Friday through Feb. 20.
Last year, Flower & Garden ran from March 2 through July 4, Food & Wine ran from July 14 through Nov. 19 and Festival of the Holidays ran from Nov. 25 through Dec. 30.
How much does a day at EPCOT cost?
Disney World recently increased prices for all of its theme parks except Disney’s Animal Kingdom. One- day, one- park EPCOT tickets now range from $ 114 to $ 179 daily, depending on the time of year. The previous starting price was $ 109.
How long is Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT?
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs about a month, traditionally from around Thanksgiving to nearly the New Year. During the event, guests can learn how various cultures from around the world celebrate different holidays and try traditional foods from yule logs to latkes.
Many guests make a point to visit EPCOT during the festival to catch its Candlelight Processional, in which celebrity narrators tell the Christmas story alongside a live chorus and orchestra. Last year’s narrators included Josh Gad, Mariska Hargitay, Simu Lu and Angela Bassett.