The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays has begun! We sipped and snacked our way around the park, trying all of the food and specialty beverages. In this review, you’ll find our thoughts on each item available at the festival.

Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow

You can find this booth at number 31 on the map at the bottom of this article. It’s inside CommuniCore Hall.

Food:

• 🆕 Prototype Cookie – $4.75
• 🆕 Ginger-Molasses Cookie – $5.50
• Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie – $3.50

Beverages:

• Gingerbread Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic) – $5.25
• Gingerbread Milk Shake with Whipped Cream Vodka – $12.50
• Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s (Non-alcoholic) – $4
• 🆕 Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s with Whipped Cream Vodka – $12.25
• 🆕 Crooked Can Brewing Company Gingerbread Bock – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Gulf Stream Brewing Baking Spirits Bright Gingerbread Red Ale – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Frosted Gingerbread White Stout  – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz 
• Beer Flight – $12.75
• Seasonal Wine – $6.50

*NEW* Prototype Cookie – $4.75
Sugar cookie with orange-cranberry icing and dark chocolate

The cookie is nice and soft, and we like the idea of icing on the bottom and top with a great presentation. The dark chocolate the most prevalent flavor, but there is a nice hint of the orange and cranberry. Overall, a decent cookie that we would get again. 

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Ginger-Molasses Cookie – $3.50
 with cream cheese icing

This is an extremely soft cookie. The cream cheese is very good, and it reminds us of the carrot cake cookie at Hollywood Studios. All of the spices melded together to create a fresh, delicious cookie. 

Rating out of 7: 7

Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie – $5.50

For the price, this isn’t bad, but you would buy it more for the novelty of eating a Spaceship Earth-shaped cookie more than anything else. The salted caramel filling was good, but the cookie itself was kind of dry. The glitter sprinkles go everywhere, and the caramel will stick to your teeth.

Rating out of 7: 4

Gingerbread Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic) – $5.25

This has a potent flavor of gingerbread throughout. All of the spices of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and especially the nutmeg come through very well. On top of that, the milkshake is very creamy.

It’s very creamy and also nutmeg heavy. That said, we’re not sure we would recommend it.

Rating out of 7: 5

Gingerbread Milk Shake – $12.50
with whipped cream vodka 

We were fans of the non-alcoholic version of the shake, but the addition of the whipped cream vodka brings this to another level. If you’re able to order the alcoholic version, we recommend it out of the two.

Rating out of 7: 6

Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s (Non-alcoholic) – $4

This is your standard Disney hot cocoa, similar to what you’d get at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It’s good for a chilly night, but there are far more interesting options available at the festival this year.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s – $12.25
with whipped cream vodka

This was very good. The whipped cream vodka works well with the hot chocolate, and it will warm you up on a cool day. 

Rating out of 7: 6

Favorites of Festivals Past

You can find this booth at number 30 on the map below. It’s outside CommuniCore Hall.

Food:

• Reuben Croquettes – $6
• Brown Sugar and Mustard-glazed Ham Sliders  – $6
• Panettone Holiday Trifle – $5.25

Beverages:

• 🆕 Cigar City Brewing Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale – $6.25 for 6 oz, $10 for 12 oz
• Keel Farms Pecan Pie Hard Cider – $6.25 for 6 oz, $10 for 12 oz
• Southern Tier Brewing Co. Tiramisu Imperial Stout – $6.25 for 6 oz, $10 for 12 oz
• Beer Flight – $12.75
• Seasonal White Wine – $6.50
• Seasonal Red Wine – $6.50
• Martin Ray Chardonnay – $7
• Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon – $15

Reuben Croquettes – $6
with pastrami, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese with Thousand Island dipping sauce  

We loved this. It shares some similarities with a pastrami sandwich, if you’re a fan of those. We’d definitely get this again on a repeat visit.

Rating out of 7: 7

Brown Sugar and Mustard-glazed Ham Sliders  – $6
with cranberry and apple coleslaw on a Hawaiian roll  

This is not at all a memorable dish. There is a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors, but it overall tastes like grocery store deli meat. It’s not worth your money, and you’re better off making something that tastes and looks similar at home.

Rating out of 7: 3

Panettone Holiday Trifle – $5.25
with eggnog custard topped with cranberry-cherry compote and sugared almonds

While the eggnog custard here is good, we’re not fans of panettone. The more you eat, the worse it tastes. We don’t recommend it.

Rating out of 7: 2

Holiday Hearth Desserts

You can find Holiday Hearth Desserts inside The Odyssey, at number 4 on the map below.

Food:

• 🆕 Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookie (Plant-based) – $3.50
• 🆕 Red Velvet Cake Pop – $5.50
• Reindeer Chow – $6.75
• Apple-Caramel Crumb Cake – $5
• Chocolate-covered Toffee Brittle – $4.75

Beverages:

• Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s (Non-alcoholic) – $4
• Frozen Caramel Hot Cocoa (Non-alcoholic)  – $5.50
• 🆕 BRLO Winter Hard Cider – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Keel Farms Yukon Maple Bourbon Hard Cider – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 3 Daughters Brewing Peppermint Hard Cider – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Wicked Weed Brewing Jack Frost IPA – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Cranberry Vanilla Wheat Ale – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Brewery Ommegang Gilded Noel White Chocolate Imperial Blonde Stout – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Beer Flight – $12.75
• Hard Cider Flight – $12.75
• Cocoa Peppermint Warmer – $12.75

*NEW* Cranberry-Oatmeal Cookie (Plant-based) – $3.50

The cookie is extremely hard and tastes mostly like cardboard. We can appreciate it being a plant-based option, but this pairs barely-there flavor with lots of glitter. 

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Red Velvet Cake Pop – $5.50
with festive sprinkles

This was good. The cake was soft and moist, and there was just the right amount of icing and sweetness. We would say this was better than most cookies available for the festival. 

Rating out of 7: 5

Reindeer Chow – $6.75
featuring M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies Holiday Blend

This was not worth it. It’s just a mix of caramel popcorn and chocolate-covered pretzels. The popcorn reminds us of the one served at Appleseed Orchard in 2020.

Rating out of 7: 2

Apple-Caramel Crumb Cake – $5

This has to be one of the best deals at the festival. Along with the dessert being cost-effective, we found it to be completely delicious. It’s moist and sweet. The apple isn’t overpowering. Absolutely get this.

Rating out of 7: 6

Chocolate-covered Toffee Brittle – $4.75

While this may look like a cookie, it’s not. As the name suggests, this is toffee covered completely in chocolate, with some festive sprinkles on top. Toffee fans will love this, but if toffee isn’t your thing, this may be an item to skip.

Rating out of 7: 4

Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s (Non-alcoholic) – $4

This is your standard Disney hot cocoa, similar to what you’d get at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It’s good for a chilly night, but there are far more interesting options available at the festival this year.

Rating out of 7: 3

Frozen Caramel Hot Cocoa (Non-alcoholic)  – $5.50
featuring TWIX cookie bar pieces and Whipped Cream

While this is advertised as having caramel in it, we couldn’t find any. That said, we liked this drink. For fans of (frozen) hot chocolate, this is exactly what you would imagine it tastes like, and we liked it! The crushed pieces of Twix were a nice addition to break up the hot chocolate flavor.

Rating out of 7: 6

Cocoa Peppermint Warmer – $12.75
Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s with peppermint schnapps 

This had a generous amount of alcohol. But like we said above, the hot cocoa was weak. It was just an average alcoholic hot cocoa with some peppermint added.

Rating out of 7: 5

Connections Café 

Connections Café is at number 1 on the map.

Food:

• Holiday Sugar Cookie – $4.79

Holiday Sugar Cookie – $4.79

It’s your basic sugar cookie. It’s fun and soft. You get vanilla with a hint of cinnamon, and the sprinkles add a good crunch. (Though, to be honest, we hoped that at this price point, they would’ve used Mickey sprinkles instead of the plain red circles.) We’d compare it to a soft chocolate chip cookie minus the chips. It’s fine, but there are other options more worthy of your money.

Rating out of 7: 4

Connections Eatery

Connections Eatery is at number 2 on the map below.

Food:

• Figment Holiday Sweater Liege Waffle – $4.99

Beverage:

• 🆕 Spiced Caramel Apple – $6.29

Figment Holiday Sweater Liege Waffle – $4.99

This year, the Figment Holiday Sweater Liege Waffle swaps out a brioche batter for a gingerbread batter. Unfortunately, the decorations overpower the waffle, and there is something off about the new gingerbread batter. It is cute, but we would not recommend it.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Spiced Caramel Apple – $6.29
Minute Maid Cranberry Juice, apple cider, and caramel syrup garnished with a cinnamon stick (Non-alcoholic) (Spirited version available with Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey)

We were torn on this drink. On one hand, it was refreshing and tasty. On the other hand, it was just holiday just that was slightly overpriced. 

Rating out of 7:4

Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 6 on the map below.

Food:

• 🆕 Tostada de Carne – $8
• 🆕 Tamal de Pollo con Mole – $9
• Dulce de Leche Churro – $6.75

Beverages:

• Holiday Cerveza – $7 for 6 oz, $13 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Chai-Mazing Margarita – $13.50
• 🆕 Horchata Margarita – $14

*NEW* Tostada de Carne – $8
Braised beef tips slowly cooked Mexican-style atop a fried corn tortilla with black beans, crispy onions, and queso fresco

We liked this despite the slightly over salted taste. The black bean is nice, the beef is cooked well, and the sauce was nice. The tostada was also cooked very well. 

Rating out of 7: 6 

*NEW* Tamal de Pollo con Mole – $9
Shredded chicken and mole in corn masa topped with mole negro, queso fresco, crema Mexicana, slivered almonds, and sesame seeds

The mole sauce was delightful and impressed us with the sweet flavor. The chicken was tender but slightly dry. The tamale itself was decent, as well. We really enjoyed this. 

Rating out of 7: 6

Dulce de Leche Churro – $6.75
sprinkled with cinnamon sugar

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Chai-Mazing Margarita – $13.50
Chai-infused Dulce Vida Tequila Blanco, apple-ginger juice, and chai liqueur

We don’t see where this is a margarita. Just because you put tequila on something doesn’t make it a margarita. First, the flavor of tequila hits, and then there is this odd sweetness afterwards following by a little spiciness of the ginger. It’s a weird sweet-and-spicy tequila drink, not a margarita.

Rating out of 7: 1

For a Mexico festival booth, this was amazing. We might even consider this the best drink we have gotten in Mexico at a festival. On the front, this is a nice holiday horchata. On the back, there is a nice burn from the liquors. The size is also nice for the value. 

Rating out of 7: 7

Shanghai Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 7 on the map.

Food:

• 🆕 BBQ Char Siu Pork Fried Rice – $9.50
• Beef Noodle Soup Bowl – $9.75
• Vegetable Spring Rolls – $6.25

Beverages:

• 🆕 Tiger Milk Tea – $8.75
• Brew Hub Year of the Dragon – $5.75 for 6 oz, $10 for 12 oz
• Butterfly Lantern – $14.75
• Lychee Martini – $14.50
• Peach of Longevity – $14.75

This year, the Butterfly Lantern has dropped soda water from the recipe.

*NEW* BBQ Char Siu Pork Fried Rice – $9.50
with Chinese La Chang sausage, egg, yellow onion, green onion, and sesame

Unfortunately, the rice was tough and tasted uncooked. However, the pork was on point. Overall, when you get a bite with everything, the rice is almost excusable. We hope this was only a fluke with the rice. 

Rating out of 7: 5

Beef Noodle Soup Bowl – $9.75
with slow-braised beef shank, green onion, and house-made chili oil

The meat lacks some flavor and is bland on its own. There is also cilantro, but it doesn’t add much of anything to the flavor profile. It’s a good dish, but there isn’t a lot of spice. There’s a small kick you get as an after taste, but it’s not a spicy dish by any means. There’s a lot going on here, so the noodles and meat overpower the spice. It almost tastes like you’re eating spicy miso noodles with some peppers.

Rating out of 7: 5

Vegetable Spring Rolls – $6.25
with citrus sauce

This is your classic spring roll. There’s nothing special about it, but it’s nice and crispy. The citrus sauce is pleasant here, we almost got some tangerine flavor from it that we found enticing. Overall, it was a good spring roll.

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Tiger Milk Tea – $8.75
with Assam black tea, whole milk, brown sugar syrup, and tapioca boba (Non-alcoholic)

The boba was a little chewier than usual, but this was still good quality for theme park milk tea. We also felt the size was decent for the price. We’d get it again.

Rating out of 7: 5

Butterfly Lantern – $14.75
Butterfly pea blossom gin, vodka, prickly pear syrup, lychee syrup, and white boba

This doesn’t taste strong at all, which makes it dangerous considering there’s vodka and gin in this drink. Some of us liked this, some of us didn’t. The divisive ingredient is the lychee. It’s a rather unique flavor and if you’re a fan, you’ll like this drink. The bobas on the bottom of the drink are also lychee and they aren’t the popping bobas that are typically found at these festivals. They’re chewy. Overall, the drink has floral notes and isn’t overly sweet.

Rating out of 7: 5

Lychee Martini – $14.50
Vodka, lychee syrup, and vermouth

This martini is a little medicinal on the front end. Somehow, though, it gets better in the middle before becoming bad again on the back end, with the return of the medicine flavor. It’s certainly unique.

Rating out of 7: 3

Peach of Longevity – $14.75
Peach schnapps, citrus vodka, piña colada mix, and Minute Maid Orange Juice

This cocktail is almost like a drink you’d find at Trader Sam’s, if Trader Sam opted for bottom shelf liquor. Ours was incredibly watered down with a weird aftertaste.

Rating out of 7: 3

Refreshment Outpost 

You can find Refreshment Outpost at number 8 on the map.

Food:

• 🆕 Spiced Shrimp Stew – $7
• DOLE Whip Raspberry – $6.29

Beverages:

• 🆕 Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Florida Ginger Snap Lager – $12.50
• 🆕 Crooked Can Brewing Company Chocolate Mint Cookie Stout – $12.50
• Ciderboys Caramel Apple Hard Cider – $12.50
• Boyd & Blair Chai Tea Mule – $12.50

*NEW* Spiced Shrimp Stew – $7
with Jollof Rice

This came with a lot of very tender shrimp, and the rice had great texture and flavor. Our only complaint was it was overly salted. 

Rating out of 7: 5 

DOLE Whip Raspberry – $6.29
in a waffle cone (Plant-based) 

This was very messy and melty. However, the raspberry flavor tasted real and not artificial. Overall, nothing special, but a solid DOLE Whip.

Rating out of 7: 4

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 9 on the map.

Food:

• Pork Schnitzel – $6.75
• Cheese Fondue – $8.50
• Hazelnut Linzer Cookie – $3.75

Beverages:

• Possmann Pure Hard Cider – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• von Trapp Brewing Trösten Smoked Dark Lager – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Regional Riesling – $9
• Glühwein – $9.75
• Beverage Flight – $12.75

Pork Schnitzel – $6.75
with mushroom sauce, spätzle, and braised red cabbage

The schnitzel is a big thumbs up from us. Great noodles and awesome gravy on top really add to this dish. However, the pork actually tasted like a chicken patty to us. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but when you’re expecting pork and taste something similar to chicken, it’s a little unexpected. Although the schnitzel may taste a bit like chicken, the gravy alone is enough to give this dish a really good review.

Rating out of 7: 5

Cheese Fondue – $8.50
in a bread bowl with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes

Served in a bread bowl with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes, this is the most amount of bread you’re going to get at the festival and it’s a great dish to share. The cheese was good, but perhaps another half-ladle more would have helped finish off all the bread.

Rating out of 7: 6

Hazelnut Linzer Cookie – $3.75
with raspberry jam

It was strangely reminiscent of an Uncrustable. It’s an average cookie but when you want a traditional Christmas cookie (not of the sugar frosted variety), this is a good choice.

Rating out of 7: 6

Glühwein – $9.75
House-made hot spiced wine. Served warm 

This wine is absolutely horrible. We managed to get a few sips down but it was one of the worst drinks we’ve tried. It tastes like really cheap wine that was warmed up, and possibly, even worse than the cheapest liquor you could find at your grocery store.

Rating out of 7: 1

Sommerfest

Sommerfest is at the back of the Germany pavilion, at number 10 on the map.

Beverage:

• 🆕 Warm Apfel Cider – $15.50

*NEW* Warm Apfel Cider – $15.50
with Jägermeister liqueur garnished with an orange wedge. (Served warm)

This was lacking a little more cinnamon, but we really enjoyed this. It was flavorful and a good drink for the festival.

Rating out of 7: 5 

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 11 on the map.

Food:

• Montanara – $7.50
• 🆕 Salsiccia e Peperoni – $8.75
• 🆕 Pizza e Cioccolato – $7

Beverages:

• Peroni Pilsner – $6.50 for 6 oz, $12 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Tiramisu Stout – $7.50 for 6 oz, $14 for 12 oz
• Prosecco – $12
• Moscato – $12
• Chianti – $12
• Italian Red Sangria – $12
• Italian-Inspired Blood Orange Margarita – $13

This year, the Italian-inspired margarita has switched from a lemon to a blood orange flavor, with blood orange liqueur replacing limoncello. It could previously be seen at Italy during this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

Montanara – $7.50
Fried house-made pizza dough with pomodoro sauce, Parmesan, and fresh basil

This is a ball of dough covered in a red sauce with parmesan and basil. Honestly, we’ve had WAY worse items from this booth before. While this is on the basic side, and we’ve definitely had better red sauce before, this isn’t a terrible dish. If you have a picky eater in your group, this may be a good dish for them.

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Salsiccia e Peperoni – $8.75
Sweet sausage, roasted peppers, and focaccia

The Italy Pavilion has moved from being the worst booth from festival to festival to now being the most “average” booth. We haven’t had anything terrible from here, but we also have not had anything mind blowing. The same can be said for this dish. The sauce is fine. The onions and peppers are decent, and the sausage is mild. We don’t hate it. 

Rating out of 7: 4 

*NEW* Pizza e Cioccolato – $7
Fried house-made pizza dough with sugar, cinnamon, and chocolate

Maybe we take back the nothing terrible statement because these are…terrible. The dough was so hard, tough, and chewy. We could barely bite through. The flavor wasn’t bad, though. 

Rating out of 7: 1

Italian Red Sangria – $12

Have you ever put red wine in the microwave? That’s what this is. We thought sangria came with ice and fruit, but this was just a room temperature liquid. The flavor was fruity, so it could have been really good, but as it got hotter, it was just too warm to drink.

Rating out of 7: 1

Italian-Inspired Blood Orange Margarita – $13
Tequila, triple sec, and blood orange liqueur

We would ask how this is Italian, but considering the Italy Pavilion’s long history of bad and bizarre festival food, we’re probably beyond that question. It tastes like pink lemonade. It’s super tart, like there’s a pound of sugar in one cup. It’s barely passable.

Rating out of 7: 3

Fife and Drum

You can find this booth at number 13 on the map.

Food:

• 🆕 Apple Pie Sundae – $6.79

*NEW* Apple Pie Sundae – $6.79
Apple pie filling with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce topped with streusel

This is vanilla ice cream with apple pie filling and caramel sauce. There isn’t much more to say. We feel like this would be better if it was layered so that you could get more of the topping with each bite.

Rating out of 7: 3

Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue

Regal Eagle Smokehouse is at number 14 on the map.

Beverage:

• 🆕 Frozen Gingerbread Eggnog – $6.49

*NEW* Frozen Gingerbread Eggnog – $6.49
with gingerbread syrup topped with nutmeg (Non-alcoholic; spirited version available with Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum)

If you are an eggnog fan, don’t let the gingerbread scare you off. There is a very slight flavor from the syrup that does not overpower the eggnog flavor.

Rating out of 7: 6

Block & Hans

You can find this booth at number 16 on the map.

Food:

• Cinnamon-Glazed Nuts (Plant-Based) – $5.99

Beverage:

• 🆕 Apple Pie Frozen Slush – $6.79, $17.50 with Apple Pie Moonshine

*NEW* Apple Pie Frozen Slush – $6.79, $17.50 with Apple Pie Moonshine
Frozen Minute Maid Apple Juice with cinnamon syrup topped with cinnamon and sugar (Non-alcoholic) (Spirited version available with apple pie moonshine)

This was very strong and refreshing. We got it with the Apple Pie Moonshine, and we god taste that and an apple juice flavor. This would be great on a warmer Winter day.

Rating out of 7: 5

American Holiday Table

You can find this booth at number 15 on the map.

Food:

• Slow-Roasted Turkey – $6.50
• Blackened Catfish – $6.75
• 🆕 Chocolate Cookie – $3.75

Beverages:

• Crooked Can Brewing Company Bah HOPbug IPA – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 3 Daughters Brewing Eggnog White Porter – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Victory Brewing Co. Chocolate Cherry Stout – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Regional White Wine – $7
• Regional Red Wine – $6.50
• Beer Flight – $12.75

Slow-Roasted Turkey – $6.50
with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce

Served with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce, this is classic American holiday food and tastes great when combined into a single bite. The cranberry was especially prominent without being overpowering.

Rating out of 7: 5

Blackened Catfish – $6.75
with Hoppin’ John and comeback sauce

This was almost like a play on white beans and rice. The beans are smaller and didn’t taste like they were cooked thoroughly as the they were slightly tough. The Cajun flavors are there and the catfish was cooked just fine, while the comeback sauce is a Cajun-spiced sauce with a lot of butter, or at least it tastes like it uses a lot. It’s a decent, hearty dish, and very flavorful.

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Chocolate Cookie – $3.75
featuring SNICKERS bar pieces and salted caramel

This was a very soft and chewy cookie which is odd because it was also slightly stale. It is a simple chocolate cookie with Snickers pieces.

Rating out of 7: 3

Funnel Cake

The funnel cake kiosk is at number 17 on the map.

Food:

• 🆕 Red Velvet Cookie Funnel Cake – $12.50

*NEW* Red Velvet Cookie Funnel Cake – $12.50
topped with powdered sugar, vanilla ice cream, cream cheese whipped cream, red velvet cookie pieces, mini chocolate chips, and chocolate syrup

As usual, this was good, but we wouldn’t consider it our favorite festival funnel cake. The red velvet overpowers the excellent funnel cake and the chocolate sauce was a little weak.

Rating out of 7: 5

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 18 on the map.

Food:

• Sushi Tree Roll – $7.50
• Toshikoshi Soba – $8.50
• 🆕 Strawberry Bun – $7.95

Beverages:

• 🆕 Yuzu Refresher – $7
• Sapporo Premium Beer – $5.75 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Japanese Punch – $8.25
• Chocolate Nigori Sake – $14

*NEW* Strawberry Bun – $7.95
Soft pink dessert bao containing sweet strawberry cream filling finished with a light coconut sauce

We were skeptical of the bun once we tore it open. We were met with something weird but interesting. Ultimately, it reminded us of strawberry Nesquick or a strawberry Kit-Kat. The coconut sauce did not really add anything, but we do feel like this is something that will get the conversation started. 

Rating out of 7: 6

Sushi Tree Roll – $7.50
Christmas tree-shaped sushi roll with krab meat and cream cheese garnished with spicy mayo and colorful rice pearls

This was delicious! The tree shape gives it a very Christmassy feel. The cream cheese balances out the sushi, while the boba tastes like soy sauce. They explode in your month. It’s a basic sushi roll, but it’s elevated with the spicy mayo and the presentation is adorable. This one’s a winner.

Rating out of 7: 7

Toshikoshi Soba – $8.50
Buckwheat soba noodles in hot dashi fish-based soup topped with shrimp tempura and chopped green onion

Our resident Japanese reporter had a lot to say about this dish, including the fact that there was too much flour used in the tempura. The noodles also weren’t up to par and were overcooked. Our American reporter didn’t mind the dish, but noted it was nothing special.

Rating out of 7: 4

*NEW* Yuzu Refresher – $7
Yuzu and passion fruit drink with Minute Maid Premium Lemonade and popping green apple boba pearls (Non-alcoholic)

We were disappointed by the lack of a boba straw and we were disappointed by the taste of this drink. It was extremely tart and left a bitter taste. 

Rating out of 7: 2

Japanese Punch – $8.25
Shōchū, plum wine, white cranberry juice, and lemon juice

This is a very plum wine-forward drink. It has a light lemon flavoring in the background, which helps make it very easy to drink. It tastes more like a refresher, and we would like to get it over ice if the opportunity arose. There’s not a ton of alcohol taste in it, but we would get this again.

Rating out of 7: 5

Chocolate Nigori Sake – $14

This tastes like you combined sake with Hershey’s syrup. While, again, it’s not authentic, at least the flavor is decent. The whipped topping is a nice, sweet touch.

Rating out of 7: 6

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina

Tangierine Café is in the Morocco Pavilion, at number 19 on the map.

Food:

• Moroccan Wrap – $6.25
  • Chermoula Chicken
  • Moroccan-Spiced Lamb
  • Falafel (Plant-Based)
• Stone-Baked Moroccan Bread – $5.25

Beverages:

• 🆕 3 Daughters Brewing Golden Fig Hard Cider – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Keel Farms Frostbite Blueberry Ginger Hard Cider – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Gulf Stream Brewing Company Holiday Snakebite – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Sparkling Holiday Fig Cocktail – $11.75
• Beverage Flight – $12.75

The Moroccan Wrap makes its Festival of the Holidays debut this year. Previously, it was available at this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

Moroccan Wrap – $6.25
with tomato-cucumber relish and garlic sauce served on warm Moroccan flatbread 

The pita bread used for these is not great and tastes store-bought. The chermoula chicken version was okay, and we enjoyed the veggies. However, it needed more spice and seasoning Rating: 4/7). The Moroccan-spiced Lamb was a much better. It was slightly dry, but with all the vegetables, it made for a decent wrap (Rating: 5/7). The plant-based falafel was also very dry and didn’t taste great (Rating 3/7).

Rating out of 7: 4

Stone-Baked Moroccan Bread – $5.25
with assorted dips

The orange sauce is the zhoug. It’s tangy and spiced at the same time, slightly reminiscent of a tomato sauce. The chermoula is green, and contains herbs and aioli. The cream-colored one is the hummus. It’s tangy, but still pretty good. If you want a really superb hummus, go to Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, but this one is still good all the same. We enjoyed this, but wish there was more bread to go with the dips.

Rating out of 7: 5

Sparkling Holiday Fig Cocktail – $11.75
Sparkling Wine, Kleiner Feigling liqueur, and white cranberry juice

There’s probably not a lot of alcohol in this one, but it was really well-balanced. It’s not syrupy like other festival drinks, which was nice. It’s quite refreshing, and takes a pretty picture for the budding food photographers out there. We highly recommend this one.

Rating out of 7: 6

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 20 on the map.

Food:

• Pastrami on Rye – $6
• Smoked Salmon Potato Latke – $6.25
• Potato Latkes (Plant-Based) – $4.75
• Rugelach – $4.25
• 🆕 Mickey-Shaped Almond Black and White Cookie – $4

Beverages:

• Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Frozen New York Whiskey Sour – $12.75

Pastrami on Rye – $6
with house-made pickles and deli mustard

With well-seasoned pastrami and a lovely mustard, this was one of the best sandwiches at the festival. It came with a great pickle as well. This is highly recommended.

Rating out of 7: 6

Smoked Salmon Potato Latke – $6.25

The Salmon Latke is a really great deal for the price, considering how much salmon is provided. This latke also has plenty of capers, which surprised us due it being a higher-price ingredient. The dill sour cream on top adds a nice flavor with the potato and salmon mixed in. Creamy, salty, and with a slight herby kick from the dill, this is a great latke, and a great option from the festival overall. Our only complaint about the latkes is that we wish they were a little bit crispier, but it’s still really good.

Rating out of 7: 6

Potato Latkes (Plant-Based) – $4.75

A salmon-less version for the vegetarians, these latkes are are delicious, even though they seem to be made out of mashed potatoes, rather than the traditional shredded potatoes. This is the same dill sour cream that was used in the salmon latke. If you’re not a fan of dill flavoring, we recommend you pass on these.

Rating out of 7: 6

Rugelach – $4.25
Pastry with raspberry jam, walnuts, and cinnamon  

A traditional Rugelach uses a flaky pastry dough, making it a crunchy, sweet treat. Unfortunately, the ones served at this Holiday Kitchen use a very dense, thick dough, making them non-traditional and also not very good. The walnut-raspberry filling was just okay, and we needed way more to balance out the thick dough. Overall, this wasn’t that great, and we’d recommend skipping this item.

Rating out of 7: 2

*NEW* Mickey-Shaped Almond Black and White Cookie – $4

We have had this cookie many times in the past. This is its first year in a Mickey shape, and we were disappointed. The cookie itself is not good and tastes prepackaged. The icing was also not very flavorful. There are better cookies in the Cookie Stroll. 

Rating out of 7: 1

Frozen New York Whiskey Sour – $12.75
Manifest Whiskey and Manischewitz Blackberry Wine  

This is light on alcohol, and very forward on the sour flavors. The Manischewitz is poured on top, almost like a floater. It’s refreshing and great for the hotter weather. It’s not too strong or powerful, with a little bit of fruit punch flavor. All in all, this is a great drink. We’d get it again… maybe one for each night of Hanukkah!

Rating out of 7: 6

Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 21 on the map.

Food:

• Crème de Saumon Fumé en Brioche aux Grains de Sesames, Concombre Et Radis – $9.25
• 🆕 Dinde Rôtie, Sauce et Garniture, servi avec Patates Douces – $9.25
• 🆕 Macaron de Noël aux Épices – $9.25

Beverages:

• 🆕 Vin Chaud: French Mulled Wine – $9.95
• 🆕 Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé – $6.95
• Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini – $14.25

Crème de Saumon Fumé en Brioche aux Grains de Sesames, Concombre Et Radis – $9.25
smoked salmon spread on a sesame brioche roll with cucumber and radishes

This is an unremarkable, acceptable sandwich. The salmon is fine, the brioche is fine. There’s nothing special about it, though.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Dinde Rôtie, Sauce et Garniture, servi avec Patates Douces – $9.25
Roasted turkey with mushrooms, pearl onions, bacon, turkey gravy, and roasted sweet potatoes

The turkey was pretty good and not too dry. The sweet potatoes were very good, especially with the gravy. There is a perfect amount of salt and the mushrooms add a nice flavor, as well. This is a great option for walking around the World Showcase if you want something savory. 

Rating out of 7: 5

*NEW* Macaron de Noël aux Épices – $9.25
 Large gingerbread macaron with spiced filling

We love this presentation. We also love the macaron. The cookie is delicate and has just the right amount of gingerbread flavor. The spiced filling was also great.

Rating out of 7: 7

*NEW* Vin Chaud: French Mulled Wine – $9.95
flavored with orange and cinnamon spices. Served warm 

This was not our favorite. It does not have the flavors we would necessarily want from a spiced wine. Overall, just a basic warm wine with minimal spice.

Rating out of 7: 2

Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini – $14.25
Vodka, cocoa, and whipped cream  

This martini looks stunning and is perfect for a festive and elegant Instagram post. However, the martini is just fine at best. It just tastes like frozen chocolate milk served in a fancy glass. We couldn’t taste any of the vodka in this drink. Even down in the bottom of the glass, it lacked any trace of alcohol.

Rating out of 7: 4

Yukon Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 23 on the map.

Food:

• Seared Salmon – $7.50
• Beef Bourguignon – $7.25
• 🆕 Maple Leaf Shortbread Cookie – $4

Beverages:

• Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee – $5.25, $12.75 with Whisky
• 81Bay Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Banana Porter – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Playalinda Brewing Co. Maple Cookie Blonde Ale – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• 🆕 Collective Arts Brewing Brown Sugar Coffee Porter – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Regional Ice Wine – $14.50
• Regional Red Wine – $11
• Beer Flight – $12.75

Seared Salmon – $7.50
with butternut squash purée, maple-bourbon glaze, and fennel-arugula salad

While the salmon was cooked a bit on the well-done side, making it a tad dry, it was still delicious. The butternut squash puree added a layer of creaminess to the dish and paired well with the fish. Honestly, this is a knockout dish that we would recommend.

Rating out of 7: 7

Beef Bourguignon – $7.25
with crushed potatoes  

The potatoes are really creamy, but there are some potato skins left in for a heartier taste. The sauce is very wine-forward but has a good balance of sweetness. The beef is incredibly tender and fell apart, which we wanted, and to top if off, there are carrots in it too! We loved this dish.

Rating out of 7: 6

*NEW* Maple Leaf Shortbread Cookie – $4
with maple buttercream

The was soft and definitely maple. However, the sugar texture and flavor was overpowering. Although the cookie was soft, it was slightly dry. 

Rating out of 7: 3

Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic) – $5.25

The frozen coffee offering here was good. It has a smooth and creamy consistency, but nothing about it really stands out or makes it a must-try item.

Rating out of 7: 4

Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee – $12.75
with Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky  

The whiskey coffee found here in Canada has a strong taste, but it’s super smooth. For someone who usually doesn’t like whiskey, it surprisingly tasted great with the coffee. A definite winner at this booth.

Rating out of 7: 6

Refreshment Port

You can find this booth at number 24 on the map.

Food:

• Turkey Poutine – $9.50

Beverages:

• 🆕 Keel Farms Cinnamon Sugar Donut Hard Cider – $12.50
• Pasek Cellars Cranberry Wine – $7.50

Turkey Poutine – $9.50
Sweet potato fries with turkey gravy, cranberry relish, and crispy onions

While we prefer the regular poutine, we enjoyed the sweet potato fries. It’s basically a Thanksgiving dinner in a dish. The description didn’t mention cheese curds, so we were excited to find them hiding at the bottom! This is definitely not the worst poutine we’ve had from Refreshment Port and we would even recommend this.

Rating out of 7: 5

Swirled Showcase

You can find this booth at number 26 on the map.

Food:

• 🆕 Liquid Nitrogen Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse – $5.50
• Soft Serve – $6.50
  • Vanilla
  • Apple-Cinnamon
  • Dark Chocolate

Beverages:

• Soda Float – $6.75
• Yuletide Float – $12.75
• Coffee Float – $12.75

*NEW* Liquid Nitrogen Chocolate-Peppermint Mousse – $5.50
featuring M&M’S Holiday Mint Chocolate Candies

We are always fans of the liquid nitrogen offerings at Swirled Showcase, and this one is decent. If you are a fan of chocolate and mint flavor, you will like this. If not, you will probably not be a fan.

Rating out of 7: 5

Yuletide Float – $12.75
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and Barq’s Red Creme Soda with apple-cinnamon soft-serve  

For the cinnamon fans out there, this is a must-get. It’s unique, refreshing, and tastes just like Christmas, thanks to the apple cinnamon soft-serve. We think this is a perfect drink to enjoy during the holidays while out in Florida weather.

Rating out of 7: 6

Coffee Float – $12.75
Dark chocolate soft-serve with Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee and choice of Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur or Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur

For this float, you can choose from milk chocolate or white chocolate Mozart Liqueur; we picked the white chocolate. To us, this comes across like an adults-only chocolate milk, but in the best way. You don’t get overwhelmed by the taste of alcohol, though, and it goes down nice and smooth.

Rating out of 7: 6

Holiday Sweets & Treats

You can find this booth at number 25 on the map.

Food:

• Peppermint Sundae – $6.50

Beverages:

• Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s (Non-Alcoholic) – $4
• 🆕 Festive Flight – $6.50
  • Christmas Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa Topped with Whipped Cream and Sprinkles
  • Gingerbread Hot Cocoa Topped with Whipped Cream and a Gingerbread Garnish
  • Cookie Butter Hot Cocoa Topped with Whipped Cream and Speculoos Spice
• Chocolate-Peppermint Shake (Non-Alcoholic) – $5.25
• 🆕 Carib Brewery Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree IPA – $12.50
• 🆕 Stevens Point Brewery Whole Hog Hazelnut Brownie Porter – $12.50
• Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s with choice of liqueur – $12.50 to $15.50
• Chocolate-Peppermint Shake with Whipped Cream Vodka – $12.50

This year, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey replaces Grand Mariner as a liqueur option for the Hot Cocoa.

Peppermint Sundae – $6.50
Chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, and peppermint candy  

The sundae soft serve uses the typical Disney chocolate flavor, so if you were expecting peppermint to be infused into it like us, you would be disappointed. Instead, the peppermint flavoring comes from flakes added. When they’re mixed into the soft serve and whipped cream, it all works together, however, each individual item on its own is rather basic, making this a rather conventional sundae we’d recommend skipping.

Rating out of 7: 3

Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s (Non-Alcoholic) – $4

This is your standard Disney hot cocoa, similar to what you’d get at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Good for a chilly night, but there are far more interesting options in the festival food and beverage lineup.

Rating out of 7: 3

*NEW* Festive Flight – $6.50

The Cookie Butter Hot Cocoa was fantastic. The Gingerbread Hot Cocoa was good, and we really appreciated the tiny gingerbread garnish. The Christmas Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa was also good, but it was a little too sweet. Overall, we fell like this flight embodies the event and is a must try for hot cocoa lovers.

Rating out of 7: 7

Chocolate-Peppermint Shake (Non-Alcoholic) – $5.25
featuring Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea

The peppermint shake in the larger cup with the red straw is the non-alcoholic version of this beverage. Both of these shakes are made with a caffeine-free peppermint tea, giving you a perfect peppermint taste without the buzz!

Rating out of 7: 5

Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s – $12.25 to $15.50
with choice of liqueur

All three of these alcoholic hot chocolates are delicious. The hot chocolate is thick and not watery, and has a good amount of alcohol in each cup. However, you could easily replicate these at home for probably a cheaper price.

Rating out of 7: 5

Chocolate-Peppermint Shake – $12.50
with Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea and whipped cream vodka  

While both versions of the shake are good, our pick has to go to the alcoholic version. The peppermint tea leaves behind a pleasant minty aftertaste, blending with the whipped cream vodka that makes you feel like you’re in a winter wonderland.

Rating out of 7: 6

Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 27 on the map.

Food:

• Kālua Pork – $6
• Lomi Lomi Salmon – $6.50
• Coffee Mocha Cookie – $3.75

Beverages:

• 🆕 Maui Brewing Co. Mango Stickee Rice IPA – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine – $12.50
• Melon Breeze – $14.25

Kālua Pork – $6
with coconut, sweet potatoes, and mango salad

We loved this! The sweet potatoes were super creamy and the pork had a good flavor. The greens added a nice crunch. It was a light dish and easy to eat.

Rating out of 7: 6

Lomi Lomi Salmon – $6.50
with tomatoes, onions, salmon roe, yuzu mayonnaise, and yuca chips

This had a very attractive presentation. The salmon is tasty. The yucca chips are sturdy for scooping, like a salmon poke bowl. There was a little too much lime juice, but it was fresh and not too fishy. Overall, this was good, but our least favorite of the three dishes.

Rating out of 7: 4

Coffee Mocha Cookie – $3.75
topped with coffee-infused buttercream, cocoa nibs, and chocolate-covered espresso beans

Our cookie tasted fresh but also sported a chalky texture. The buttercream was also not quite right, which we theorized was due to the coffee. Overall, this is a strange cookie that only got worse as we continued to eat it.

Rating out of 7: 3

Melon Breeze – $14.25
DOLE Pineapple Juice, lime juice, melon liqueur, and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

The Melon Breeze was just all right. If you like Midori, you’ll like this. It’s a little sour, and ours was fairly strong. The melon taste comes purely from the Midori. We can taste the spiced rum and maybe some lemon. It’s a straightforward drink.

Rating out of 7: 4

Nochebuena Cocina

You can find this booth at number 28 on the map.

Food:

• Plant-Based Chorizo Tamale – $5.50
• 🆕 Pan de Jamón – $6
• Cinnamon-Spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie – $3.50

Beverages:

• Ponche Navideño – $4
• Left Hand Brewing Co. Mexican Hot Chocolate Milk Stout – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz

*NEW* Pan de Jamón – $6
Traditional Latin Christmas bread, rolled ham, raisins, and green olives

We like this. The bread was fresh with a slight crunch, and the fillings were tasty. However, you can get similar dishes at Jaleo in Disney Springs, and we highly recommend that location in Disney Springs.

Rating out of 7: 4

Plant-Based Chorizo Tamale – $5.50
with plant-based cotija and spicy red chile sauce

Wow, this was spicy! The sauce packs a lot of heat. The cake-like texture of the tamale helps to bring down the spiciness. The plant-based “meat” is slightly dry, but the sauce brings moisture to it. It’s extremely flavorful, hearty, and shareable. This is one hot tamale we would definitely get again!

Rating out of 7: 6

Cinnamon-Spiced Chocolate Crinkle Cookie – $3.50

It tastes storebought. It’s soft-ish with a basic chocolate flavor and a little sweetness from the icing.

Rating out of 7: 3

Ponche Navideño – $4
Christmas punch with apples, pears, guava, oranges, dried hibiscus, brown sugar, tamarind, cinnamon sticks, and cloves (Served warm) (Non-alcoholic)  

This punch lacks flavor and it doesn’t pack a punch. The ingredient list is huge, and we could see fruit and cinnamon floating in our cup, but this was still completely tasteless. We compared it to bathwater. We absolutely do not recommend it.

Rating out of 7: 1

Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen

You can find this booth at number 29 on the map.

Food:

• Cinnamon-Glazed Almonds – $6
• Cinnamon-Glazed Cashews – $6
• Cinnamon-Glazed Pecans – $6
• Fire-Roasted Chestnuts – $6.50

Beverages:

• Eggnog (Non-Alcoholic) – $4
• Southern Tier Brewing Co. Chestnut Praline Imperial Ale – $6 for 6 oz, $9.75 for 12 oz
• Eggnog with Choice of Liqueur – $12.25

Fire-Roasted Chestnuts – $6.50

We’ve never had roasted chestnuts before and we probably won’t again. They were salty, mushy inside, and had an unpleasant earthy flavor. It wasn’t a great experience.

Rating out of 7: 2

Eggnog (Non-Alcoholic) – $4

This is just a basic eggnog, like you could get in your average grocery store this time of year. It’s nothing terribly special.

Rating out of 7: 2

Eggnog with Choice of Liqueur – $12.25
with choice of liqueur (Fireball Cinnamon Whisky or Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey) 

We tried the eggnog with both the Skrewball and the Fireball. The former is simple but great. The peanut butter whiskey and eggnog together is a pleasant, milky diversion from the other drinks.

When the eggnog with Fireball was last at the festival, it known as the Firenog. Drinking this, the alcohol hits you almost immediately. The eggnog is smooth and creamy, but it warms up fast with the Florida weather. The Fireball pairs well with the spice of the eggnog, but on a warm day, this can be a little heavy. Overall, this is a good beverage, especially if you like Fireball. Just maybe save it for the cooler evenings to come.

Rating out of 7: 5

Sunshine Seasons

Sunshine Seasons is inside The Land pavilion. It’s at number number 32 on the map.

Food:

• Peanut Butter Cookie – $4.79

Beverage:

• 🆕 Cookie Milk Shake – $9.49

Peanut Butter Cookie – $4.79
featuring M&M’S Minis Milk Chocolate Candies Holiday Blend

This reminded us visually of the Peanut Butter Cookie from the Main Street Confectionery, which we love. This is super soft, and the whipped topping is delicious. The cookie, unfortunately, was terribly stale and dry, and the peanut butter flavor was weak.

Rating out of 7: 1

*NEW* Cookie Milk Shake – $9.49
Spiced gelato with whipped cream, a cookie wreath, Mickey-shaped holly, and sprinkles (Non-alcoholic)

We had high expectations for this milk shake based on previous festival offerings. There is a strong gingerbread flavor, but it is not nearly as good as the Remy shake from Food & Wine. We upgrade it a point for presentation. 

Rating out of 7:5

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

There are four Joffrey’s kiosks in EPCOT. They are numbers 3, 5, 12, and 22 on the map.

Beverage:

• 🆕 Holiday Cookie Latte – $7.19, $15.99 with Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur

*NEW* Holiday Cookie Latte – $7.19, $15.99 with Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur
Espresso, caramel sauce, almond syrup, and choice of milk topped with whipped cream and merry sugar sprinkles; (Spirited version available with Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur) 

We opted to get this with Bailey’s Original Irish Cream Liqueur. There was a strong flavor from the liquor that went well with the caramel sauce and almond syrup. This is a really good, well-balanced espresso drink. 

Rating out of 7:6

Map

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Alicia