About the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
This year’s festival runs from January 14 through February 21, 2022. The festival celebrates art in all forms: culinary, visual, and performing. There are opportunities to indulge in delectable, creative dishes and discover your inner artist throughout the World Showcase, World Celebration, and World Discovery.
Culinary arts
There are 15 “Food Studios” throughout EPCOT inspired by famous art movements of the last 100 years (and beyond). There are also opportunities to celebrate culinary culture with dishes from the countries around the World Showcase, such as Mexico, France, and Japan. Every menu item promises to be as delicious as it is gorgeous, combining Disney’s artistry and culinary innovation together.
Be sure to check out the Festival’s newest Food Studio, Craftsman’s Courtyard (near Disney Traders). The studio features seafood inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and its birthplace, the California Coast. Other notable food studios include Deco Delights, which offers the “bee’s knees” in desserts designed after the Art Deco trend of the roaring 20s and 30s. The Pop Eats studio includes bright and bold pop-art-inspired snacks, like rainbow popcorn served in a premium Figment popcorn bucket (yes, the one people waited in line six hours for opening weekend).
In addition, the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine allows guests to enjoy five specially-selected dishes and collect stamps for your Festival Passport after each purchase. Once you receive all five stamps, turn in your passport at Deco Delights for a special prize: an artist palate cookie!
Performing arts
The performing arts come alive with the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, with three performances at the American Gardens Theatre every night. Broadway stars perform musical selections from Disney’s 25 years of Broadway productions, including Aladdin, The Lion King, Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and The Little Mermaid. Featured guests will include Kerry Butler (Beauty and the Beast), Robert Creighton (Frozen), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid), Dan DeLuca (Newsies), and Arielle and Adam Jacobs (a brother and sister team who played Aladdin and Jasmine in separate productions). On the last night of the festival, Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin) will appear together for a special final concert.
Visual arts
EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts features work from over 100 Disney and featured artists. The World Showcase and EPCOT neighborhoods are dotted with galleries displaying artwork from famous art studios such as WonderGround, ACME Archives, Thomas Kinkade Studios, Wyland Galleries, and POP Gallery. There is also a Disney Art Festival Market, which features pieces created by Cast Members and visiting artists.
It’s easy to look around and above as you stroll around the World Showcase, but take a moment to look down once in a while: you may see a stunning chalk masterpiece being created right before your eyes, á la Bert from Mary Poppins. Kids of all ages can explore their inner creativity with a dedicated area to create their own chalk art or learn to draw a Disney character from a real-life Disney artist at the Animation Academy. Presentations are held at select times throughout the day at the American Gardens Theatre. Then, the whole family can leave their mark on the enormous paint-by-numbers mural in World Nature.
Additional experiences
Become a part of historical masterpieces with photo ops around the World Showcase that allow you to step into life-sized versions of the world’s most famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and Washington Crossing the Delaware.
Add the Broadway Concert Series Dining package when you book your Disney vacation for guaranteed seating to a showing of the Disney on Broadway concert, plus either lunch or dinner at Biergarten, Coral Reef, Garden Grill, or Rose and Crown. The dining package includes an appetizer, buffet or entree, and a non-alcoholic drink. The benefit of the dining package is that you’ll have a dedicated seating area without waiting in line at the theater, where seats are usually on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tips for visiting the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
The festival takes place in January and February every year. A valid park reservation and admission are required to enjoy the festival. When you arrive, grab a special festival park map, which will give you detailed information about the Food Studio locations, showtimes, and other live entertainment available. You can always get detailed information via the My Disney Experience app as well.
If you want to take a part of the festival home, there are many opportunities to purchase small prints of the artwork featured at the various galleries. There is also original artwork for sale, subject to availability.
Book your Disney vacation with Mousekeplanner
January and February are great months to visit EPCOT with low crowds and cool weather, making this festival one of the best of the year. Are you ready to book your Disney vacation and see everything the Festival of the Arts has to offer? Get a free quote for your vacation with Mousekeplanner! Make sure you keep up with the latest Disney, theme park, and travel news by signing up for our email list. See you real soon!
