ORLANDO, Fla. — The holidays, of course, have not been literally canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. But how they are celebrated will probably look different, and that includes festivities at Walt Disney World. The resort has announced elements of its event dubbed Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which will begin Nov. 27.
Disney already announced that Candlelight Processional, the popular retelling of the Christmas story featuring mass choir, live orchestra and celebrity narrator, would not be happening at the theme park this year. Here are a few of the holiday options available to Epcot visitors.
— Enjoy Holiday Kitchens around World Showcase, including three inside World ShowPlace, a location incorporated during the current Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — which ends Nov. 22.
— Santa Claus makes appearances via a horse-drawn tour around the lagoon, "calling out happy holiday wishes to all," according to the official Disney Parks Blog. Royal sisters Anna and Elsa will be seen in the Frozen Holiday Promenade. Mickey Mouse and friends will continue to be seen looping around World Showcase.
— The new "Olaf's Holiday Tradition Expedition" is a scavenger hunt around World Showcase to find holiday traditions that the "Frozen" snowman misplaces.
— Voices of Liberty, the a cappella group, will sing carols at America Gardens Theatre.
— "Joyful! A Celebration of the Season" will feature gospel, contemporary, R&B and traditional holiday music inside World ShowPlace.
— JAMMitors, a percussion group, will perform on Canada's Mill Stage.
— Mariachi Cobre musical groups will present Mexican holiday customs.
— The Holiday Cookie Stroll winds through World ShowPlace, the America, Canada and Germany pavilions as well as the L'Chaim Holiday Kitchen between the Morocco and France pavilions.
Not listed for 2020, along with Candlelight, are the holiday storytellers found in multiple pavilions or the holiday overlay that debuted at Living With the Land last year.
The pandemic has upended other Disney holiday traditions, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the white-light treatment to Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.
Disney World will mark the holidays through Dec. 30, but for those looking just slightly farther ahead, Disney's Animal Kingdom will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31. Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios are scheduled to close at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve, followed by Epcot at 8 p.m.
