At the Happiest Place on Earth, there’s a holiday for everyone.
As you might expect, there’s a parade for every Disney princess at heart and a ride for every young courageous prince. Yet we also want to highlight our favourite festivals, shows, and food that can make every Disney dreamer, young and old, the king of their castle…
Walt Disney World Resort Festivals
EPCOT international flower and garden festival (selected dates)
Held every spring, the
EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is abloom with fresh food and special exhibits, including living sculptures of your favourite Disney characters and nature-themed play areas for kids. Better yet, you can use your Festival Passport as your guide to culinary adventures from around the world. Overall, expect comfort food with a twist suitable for sophisticated palates, ensuring
EPCOT not only serves up rollercoasters but a wild ride for your tastebuds too.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (selected dates)
Celebrate the creation of art and cuisine at this newly created annual festival. Typically running between January and February, the short nature of the festival can leave it somewhat overshadowed by the bigger celebrations. However, with delectable food studios and wonderful demonstrations on display, it’s definitely a festival to take note of. Better yet, the festival is included in the price of admission to
EPCOT. Watch this space for more information on 2024 events.
Walt Disney World Resort Shows
Happily Ever After - Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park
The premier firework show at
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park, Happily Ever After, is back by popular demand. After closing in September 2021 to make way for Walt Disney World Resort's 50th Anniversary show, ‘Disney Enchantment’, guests can once again join a dazzling journey of colour, light and song that captures the essence of your beloved Disney stories. Beyond the firework display, state-of-the-art projection technology transforms Cinderella Castle into a beacon of magic that sparkles just as brightly as the sky above.
EPCOT Forever
EPCOT is all about innovation, and the firework show EPCOT Forever celebrates the theme park’s progression through the years. Each iconic chapter of
EPCOT’s history is brought back to life by musical clips and visual effects that recall the senses and sounds of the park’s very best attractions before sparking a flame of imagination for what the future holds. For a limited time, you can view this nighttime spectacular on and above
EPCOT’s World Showcase lagoon.
Moana, Journey of Water - EPCOT
Set to open at
EPCOT in late 2023, Journey of Water will be Disney’s first Moana-based attraction and invites guests of ages and heights to explore an interactive maze of water along a self-guided outdoor trail. Along the way, you can learn more about the importance of preserving water and the natural world – just like Moana did on her epic journey. Plus, the chance to catch a glimpse of the glorious Te Fiti will surely please all Moana fans.
Fantasmic! Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This elaborate open-air musical takes your Disney dreams in a new direction. As you enter the mind of Mickey Mouse, you will witness a battle between the forces of good and evil. Deep asleep, Mickey dreams of being a sorcerer’s apprentice with the power to control water, colour and, of course, magic. Better yet, the fantasy features characters from some of the most adored animated films – including Moana, Frozen 2, Mulan, Aladdin, and Pocahontas – and is full of suspenseful and whimsical surprises suitable for all ages. Just head to Sunset Boulevard at
Disney’s Hollywood Studios to let this nighttime show light up your imagination.
Beauty and the Beast live on Stage, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Beauty and the Beast might be a tale as old as time, but one of its greatest versions has been given new life on stage. Based on Disney’s 1991 animated musical film, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage takes a Broadway-style approach to the movie’s classic songs and characters. Prepare to be swept away in a whirlwind of colourful costumes, spectacular scenery and rousing moments – all in the space of 30 minutes. Like many of
Disney’s Hollywood Studios' family-friendly shows, you can find daytime performances of Beauty and the Beast live on Stage on Sunset Boulevard.
For the First Time in Forever – A Frozen Sing-Along, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Florida may seem a little warm for Frozen-themed attractions, but this sing-along musical will melt your heart. Combining on-screen characters with on-stage performances, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff appear to sing along with the audience as the Royal Historians of Arendelle recount the story of their enchanted kingdom. If you don’t remember all the words, don’t worry, projected lyrics make classic numbers like “Let it Go” all the more irresistible.
PS. Lightning Lane access to For the First Time in Forever is available to purchase through Genie+, but if you arrive around 20 minutes early, you can usually secure a seat for the 30-minute show.
Festival of the Lion King – Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
In the United Kingdom, we have been spoilt for choice through various theatre productions of The Lion King. However, how many of us can say we have seen the Festival of the Lion King at the home of Disney? At
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, you can be transported to a large-than-life world, ablaze with colour, culture and stirring performances that give new meaning to iconic songs such as Circle of Life. Just head to Africaat within
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park to witness this uplifting 40-minute performance.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond – Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
“When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming.” - Dory.
The last few years have been eventful for all of us, yet to keep looking on the bright side, look no further than
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! Here, you can dive into the life-affirming tale of Nemo and friends, based on Disney and Pixar’s 2003 film,
Finding Nemo. Live performers, animated backdrops, physical sets and state-of-the-art special effects create an immersive deep-sea environment for the 25-minute performance. Better still, the show’s fresh script ensures you not only catch up with Nemo and friends but experience their underwater world from a whole new perspective.
Walt Disney World Resort Food
Blue and green milk - Disney’s Hollywood Studios
For some, blue or green milk may not sound within its sell-by-date. For Star Wars™ fans, you will have seen this legendary Batuu serving in Episode IV of the film franchise,
A New Hope. Produced by giant Banta beasts on outer rim planets like Tatooine, you can now find the unique coloured milk at
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The only left to know is which colour you think tastes better!
Mickey Waffles - Multiple locations
Increasingly, what you eat at
Walt Disney World Resort is as memorable as what you see. And you don’t have to wait until there is a food festival to experience Disney delicacies. For many, a Mickey Waffle is the most iconic theme park snack. Available at multiple locations, in all shapes and sizes, all year long, there’s a Mickey Waffle for everyone (even plant-based diners). Just head to a café or restaurant within
Walt Disney World Resort, and chances are you will find your Mickey Waffle of choice.
Dole Whipe – Aloha Isle
On paper, the recipe for Dole Whip is a frozen blend of fruit, milk, sweetener, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of lemon juice. On faces, you’re doling out wide-eyed smiles in the flavours of pineapple, vanilla or swirls. Head to Adventureland at
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park to experience this sought-after treat.
PS. Our favourite flavour is the Pineapple Dole Whip Float!
Are you ready to holiday where the magic happens? View our Walt Disney World Resort holidays that are tailor-made for more memories.
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