AVOID EPCOT on November 29th — Here's Why

EPCOT

Well, if your calendar is pointing toward November 29th this year, you might want to rethink that plan. As much as we love EPCOT, trust us when we say November 29th might not be the day you want to be there. Why? Let’s talk about it!

As we were saying, November 29th this year at EPCOT is going to be chaos, absolute madness, and here’s why: It’s the opening day of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays!

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

Here’s why you’ll want to avoid it and what you should do instead.

The Opening Day Chaos is Real

As much as we adore EPCOT’s festivals (seriously, they’re magical), opening day is quite a beast all its own and not in a good way. We’re talking about crowds — big, hungry, Disney-loving crowds. If you’ve ever tried to grab your favorite snack during one of these festivals on the first day, you probably know the drill — long lines and elbow-to-elbow foot traffic.

Crowds in EPCOT

Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine Disney fans from all over the country descending on EPCOT at once, all eager to try the brand-new holiday food and drinks. Then toss in the locals (who are also super excited to check out the festivities) packing the park for the entire weekend. Does that sound like a good time? Yeah…not so much.

We Know the Struggle All Too Well

We’re speaking from experience here. Our reporters have been in the trenches during the first day of EPCOT’s festivals for years, and believe us, it’s no walk in the park (pun intended). They’re are on a mission to taste-test everything so we can let you know what’s worth waiting for and what you can skip. Now, for us, it’s all in a day’s work, but for you? Well, let’s just say that it could be a frustrating, sweaty, and maybe even snack-less nightmare.

World Showcase crowds

As we were saying before, those big crowds show up because, just like us, they’re eager to experience the new and returning goodies. That means with all that excitement comes hefty wait times at the food booths and a lot of patience-testing moments. The last thing you want to do is spend most of your day just trying to get your hands on a single snack.

Avoid the Opening Day

So, when should you go instead? If your schedule is flexible, we highly recommend checking out the festival during the middle of the week and middle of the season. By then, the initial wave of Disney die-hards has chilled out, and the festival booths aren’t as swamped. That means you’ll be able to enjoy all the festive fun without having to fight the crowds.

United Kingdom crowds

You’ll also avoid the chaos of the festival’s final days, when everyone’s rushing to grab their last chance at seasonal favorites.

Trust Us, You’ll Thank Us Later

Listen, we get it. We know how exciting it is to experience something new at EPCOT, but if you’re hoping for a relaxing, magical Disney day, November 29th is not it. Skip the stress, avoid the crowds, and visit later in the season when things have calmed down. Your vacation will be much smoother and you’ll still get to enjoy all the holiday magic EPCOT has to offer.

Festival of the Holidays

Until then, keep following DFB for all the latest from Disney!

FIRST LOOK at New SOUVENIRS Coming to the EPCOT 2024 Festival of the Holidays

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