Festival of Holidays at Epcot

We've come to our last day in the parks (but not too sad this time since we still have our cruise!), which had to be Epcot.  The close runner up to Christmas at the Magic Kingdom is Christmas in Epcot, especially the World Showcase.

Again, first things first, have to grab the map.

We normally start with Spaceship Earth and the Test Track before heading back to the World Showcase, but this time we were on a mission.  

(Beautiful huge Christmas tree at the entrance of the World Showcase)

We walked quickly through Mexico (Katie and I will backtrack to go on Donald's Tres Amigos Ride--I love that ride!  It brings back good memories)

(Dancers and Piñatas for Christmas!)

and came to Norway.  

We managed to score early fastpasses to the new Frozen themed ride!

I loved the new ride!  Just as FYI, the World Showcase opens at 11, later than the front part of the park, which is why we usually hang out there at first.  We got the fastpasses to Frozen before 11.  We hadn't realized that the rides were open before everything else!

There are two things about the Festival of Holidays that make Epcot extra special (beyond just the decorations).  First, there are Storytellers that tell about different holiday traditions in the countries we walk through.  First up, a barn Santa from Norway!  

Next, on to China!

Here we got our first sampling of my second favorite thing about the Festival of Holidays--the food stalls!  

(Bubble tea and egg rolls!)

China is definitely one of the prettiest sections of the park.

On to Germany!  Yes, we started with more food--stuffed pretzels topped with ice cream with Eggnog Ale.  We did not like the Ale at all.  We ended up giving away one cup to a random (appropriately aged) couple we passed.  We were desperate to get rid of it.

Yet another cart before we got to Germany with gluhwein (spiced hot wine), Sauerbraten, schnitzel, and German potato dumplings (yum!) 

And a giant pretzel.  Okay, we got a lot of food here.  We all shared it I swear!

(Santa steins!)

(The Epcot garden railway--my Dad loves the model train display)

Next we crossed over into Italy.  A little taste of Venice.  

(and I mean a taste--of pasta!)

Italy's storyteller is La Befana, a kind witch that visits children on the eve of Epiphany. 

We've reached the halfway point--America. 

Inside the pavilion was a gingerbread replica of the Capital and the Lincoln and Washington Memorials.

(Santa & Mrs. Claus!)  

(yummy spiked hot chocolate)

Next up, Japan!

(Udon noodles!)

Lamb kabob outside of Morocco.

When we got to France, we saw this super cool acrobatics/balancing act!

(Yes, more food--gingerbread ice cream)

(Belle's Christmas outfit is so pretty!)

 Pere Noel stopped for a visit.

Next, a quick jaunt over the candy stripped bridge

and into the U.K.!

(Father Christmas!)

(Fancy spiced wassail tea)

(spiked eggnog)

(Ice wine flight)

(spiked hot chocolates)

My parents headed back to the hotel while Katie and I park hopped to see a tiny bit of Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Thankfully today had been a much warmer day (and Epcot is usually warmer anyway) so it had been a very nice park visit for the family, but my parents decided they'd prefer to just go back to the room and start getting ready for the next day.

The Vintage style decorations are very fun.

We even lucked into a showing of the Frozen sing-a-long.

We really went so we could see the new Toy Story Land, which had not been open (or completed) the last time we were there (the year before).

(This decoration is a teacup!!!  two tea sightings today)

We had hoped to see Fantasmic, but the only seats left when we got up there were way in the back.  We figured it wasn't work it (we've seen it before) so did a bit of shopping before heading back.