Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses Tour Returns for 2025

Hey Disney Vacationers! If you love EPCOT during the holidays as much as I do, then you’re going to want to pay attention to this. Disney just confirmed that the Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses Tour is coming back for the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.

This special holiday tour made its debut last year and quickly became a fan-favorite. Think of it as a seasonal twist on the classic Behind the Seeds tour, but with holiday lights, festive flavors, and a guided walk through the Living with the Land greenhouses. It’s back—and here’s everything you need to know.

Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses Booking Date

Disney has announced that the Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses Tour will be available to book starting October 9, 2025. As of now, Disney hasn’t updated their website with booking details, so keep refreshing the My Disney Experience app or the Walt Disney World site if you want to grab a spot.

• Tip from last year: these tours sold out quickly, especially the first week of release. If this is on your must-do list, I’d recommend booking the morning reservations go live.

How Much Does the Glimmering Greenhouses Tour Cost?

Last year the tour was priced at $45 per person, plus tax, and ran at 6 PM and 7 PM nightly. Disney hasn’t confirmed pricing for 2025, but based on how most tours have increased this year, I’d expect a bump in cost. My best guess is somewhere in the $49–$55 range.

Even with a small increase, it’s still one of the more affordable behind-the-scenes experiences at Disney World.

What You’ll Experience on the Tour

Disney says the 1-hour guided tour includes:

• A closer look at holiday crops that bring festive flavors to traditions around the world.
• A walk through the greenhouses filled with brilliant holiday light displays.
• A chance to learn about sustainable growing techniques that Disney uses year-round.

Last year, I found the biggest difference between riding Living with the Land and doing the tour was access. The ride takes you through the greenhouses, but the tour takes you inside them. You’re walking the same space where the lights glow brightest and the holiday crops shine—it feels more immersive.

Alternative Way to See the Lights

Don’t want to pay for the tour? You can still enjoy the Living with the Land holiday overlay by riding the attraction after sunset. The ride glides you through the greenhouses and gives you a great look at the light displays.

The downside? Wait times. Once the sun sets, the line jumps. In 2024, posted waits were around 45 minutes. In reality, I usually waited closer to 30 minutes, but that’s still longer than the usual 10–15 minutes Living with the Land sees during the day.

Is the Glimmering Greenhouses Tour Worth It?

If you’re the type of person who:

• Loves holiday lights.
• Enjoys learning about EPCOT’s behind-the-scenes growing systems.
• Wants a unique holiday tradition that’s alternative to the Candlelight Processional

Then yes, it’s worth every penny.

For me, the value came from the guided education and the ability to actually walk the greenhouses instead of riding past them. Plus, you can take your time with photos, which is something you can’t really do on the boat ride.

If you’re planning to do the daytime Behind the Seeds Tour, consider switching to the Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses tour. It’s everything you’ll experience with the regular tour, with the addition of the holiday lights!

Planning Tips

Here’s how I’d fit the Glimmering Greenhouses Tour into an EPCOT evening during the Festival of the Holidays:

1. Book the 6 PM tour. You’ll still have time afterward to enjoy the food booths and catch Candlelight Processional or fireworks.
2. Pair it with dinner. Garden Grill or Sunshine Seasons are both right next door and make an easy pre-tour or post-tour meal.
3. Save the ride for another day. If you’re already paying for the tour, don’t waste time waiting in the longer evening line. Ride Living with the Land in the morning on a different EPCOT day.

FAQs

Do you need a park ticket for the Glimmering Greenhouses tour?
Yes. A valid EPCOT park ticket and a park reservation (if required) are needed in addition to the tour ticket.

How do you book the tour?
Book online through the Walt Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app.

How long is the tour?
The tour lasts about 1 hour.

Is the Glimmering Greenhouses Tour different from the regular Behind the Seeds tour?
Yes. Behind the Seeds runs year-round and focuses on the science and agriculture side of EPCOT’s greenhouses. The Glimmering Greenhouses version is seasonal, offered only during the Festival of the Holidays, and adds lights, holiday crops, and festive flair.

Final Thoughts

The Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses Tour is the perfect add-on for EPCOT during the holiday season. It’s affordable, educational, and one of those unique Disney experiences you’ll be talking about long after your trip.

If you’re building your EPCOT holiday lineup—Candlelight Processional, food booths, fireworks—this tour fits right in as the quiet, cozy highlight. And if you just want the lights without the tour? Living with the Land still has you covered.

For me, though, walking through those glowing greenhouses felt like EPCOT magic at its best.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!