One of the most fun-filled experiences you can have during the holidays at Walt Disney World…and perhaps the most delicious…is the Holiday Cookie Stroll in EPCOT. In case you’re not familiar with this scrumptious Christmas tradition, your adventure begins by picking up a Festival Passport at one of the many locations found around the park. There are 8 cookies to be found, and each time you purchase one you can collect a stamp in your booklet. If you can get 5 stamps you can turn your booklet in for a special treat! (So yes, even though there are 8 cookies on the cookie stroll, you don’t need to collect them all – which is good news if you have tired feet, or a full tummy!). You can also take your time and complete the quest over the course of your trip…just don’t forget to bring your passport book the next time you visit the park.
We spent a frenetic couple of days tracing our footsteps back and forth across EPCOT in a quest to collect them all (admittedly we probably didn’t pick the most efficient path…we kept getting distracted with all the attractions!). So if you haven’t had time to get down to Walt Disney World for the cookie stroll, or didn’t get a chance to complete it, we invite you to follow along with us as we set off on the 2023 EPCOT Holiday Cookie Stroll! First stop…the Canada Pavilion in World Showcase.
Stop #1: The Yukon Holiday Kitchen (Canada Pavilion)
Our cookie adventure begins with this delectable Snickerdoodle cookie from our friends to the north. You may have had yummy Snickerdoodles over at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the Magic Kingdom (and make no mistake, those are delicious!), but this cookie elevates “Snickerdoodle” to a whole new level. But we didn’t have time to snack for a long, for our next stop was only steps away…
Stop #2: L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (between the France and Morocco Pavilions in World Showcase)
This is a holiday treat that was around for last year’s cookie stroll, and it’s one of our favorites. One of the nice things about this kitchen is that it’s located near the stage for the Hanukkah storyteller, which is tucked away in a quiet courtyard. It’s a great place to relax (between story telling shows of course!) amid the holiday hustle and bustle of World Showcase.
Stop #3: American Holiday Table: The American Adventure
What would a Christmas celebration be like without a traditional Gingerbread man? This whimsically decorated confection can be enjoyed underneath the festive trappings of the American Adventure Christmas tree. If you pick up your cookie in the evening you may even get a glimpse of the Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre. If you didn’t want to wait in line to see the show (the line for the cookie was long enough!) this is a great way to get a glimpse of one of the most heart-warming and inspirational Christmas shows in all of Walt Disney World.
Stop #4: The Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany Pavilion)
The Linzer Cookie is a variation of the classic Austrian pastry, the Linzer Torte, which legend says is the oldest cake ever to be named after a place. Named after the city of Linz, Austria, the cookie version of this traditional treat features a characteristic circle shaped cut-out revealing a delightful surprise, the fruit preserves found within. The whole thing is dusted with confectioner’s sugar, which in our opinion makes it one of the most delicious cookies on the stroll!
Stop #5: The Odyssey Restaurant
After completing the World Showcase portion of our tour, we strolled across the bridges leading to World Discovery and the Odyssey Restaurant. Not only is the place to pick of the next cookie on our tour, the Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie at the Holiday Hearth Dessert eatery, but you can also meet Santa himself! You can have your photo taken with Father Christmas himself as he sits atop his sleigh in the beautifully decorated meet and greet area. Holiday Hearth Desserts also offers up a number of other Christmas treats, such as the Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth cookie, a Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake (with cream cheese frosting, yum!), a Mint Chocolate Mousse Wreath, and a delectable Apple Caramel Crumb Cake. Don’t eat too much though, for now we must make our way to…
Stop #6: Nochebuena Cocina (World Discovery near Test Track)
This tucked away eatery, located halfway between Test Track and the Odyssey Restaurant, always serves up a unique holiday offering (it was in this area that we got a box full of holiday donuts last year…soooooo good!). For 2023 the Kitchen is serving up this Spice Chocolate Cookie with cream cheese frosting. It was SO delicious and so filling…and may be good reason to enjoy this holiday treat after you ride on Test Track!
Stop #7: Connections Café (World Celebration)
This next cookie can be found at the Connections Café, the Starbucks location found in the heart of EPCOT. Don’t be distracted by the typical Starbucks offerings, this is indeed the right spot to pick up this Christmas treat! The Holiday Sugar Cookie is mouth-watering, chewy delight topped with festive red, white, and green sprinkles. And don’t forget…you ARE at Starbies, so go ahead and wash that down with a nice cold Caramel Crunch Ribbon Frappuccino (we won’t tell!).
Stop #8: Sunshine Seasons
Our next-to-last top takes us to the Land Pavilion and Sunshine Seasons, where you can pick up your Jingle Sugar Cookie (complete with mini M&Ms). This is actually the easiest cookie to get on your stroll, as most of the other kitchens draw long lines, especially during the evening hours. But since you can pick up this cookie right at Sunshine Seasons (in the “help yourself” dessert section) you’ll often be able to walk right up to select yours. But hey, you’re at Sunshine Seasons! Why not celebrate with some Oak-grilled Rotisserie Chicken, Mongolian Beef, or Asian Vegetable Noodle Salad? You sure earned it! And when you’re done, don’t forget to take a ride on Living With the Land so you can enjoy the dazzling holiday light show that turns the greenhouses into festive Winter Wonderland.
Our Final Stop: Holiday Sweets & Treats (near the Port of Entry at the end of the promenade leading to World Showcase)
This is it! We’ve collected our passport stamps and now it’s time to get our prize. This year’s treat features a yummy sugar cookie inspired by Star from the new Disney film “Wish.” But that’s not all, you also get a delicious holiday sundae (complete with candy cane sprinkles, we can’t even begin to tell you how yummy that is!) in a keepsake cup. And of course, you’ll have your completely-stamped passport to keep so you can always remember your Holiday Cookie Stroll adventures for 2023. Just think, only one year to go until next year’s stroll…we might just start our training now!
Enjoy the magic of Disney all year ’round with Celebrations Magazine!
1 year/$49.95!
Click here to order!
ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo77AraCopqOlv6a%2F0meaqKVfZ31zf45qaWhpZ2TBqbGMa2dra12avaS702afqKSZma66ecKopqShlWLAtb7OpaNo