EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Let's talk about EPCOT’s new festival the International Festival of the Arts. All in all, it’s pretty much the same thing as Flower and Garden and Food and Wine but this festival focuses on the many different art forms.

The Festival of the Arts celebrates three art forms, performing arts, visual carts and culinary arts. During the festival, you’ll be able to experience Disney on Broadway performances, view some unique artwork from local and nationally-renowned artists and taste some artistic culinary dishes.

The Disney on Broadway shows will take place at the American Gardens theater during the weekends of the festival. They will feature some of the performers from the Disney Broadway shows. They will perform songs from Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Aladdin and the Lion King. Please be aware that they are not the shows themselves but just the singers singing various songs from the shows that they perform and have performed on Broadway.

There is a way to reserve priority seating and that is by booking a dining package. It’s the same package that’s offered during Food and Wine and Flower and Garden. When you book the dining package you’ll be able to book either a breakfast, lunch or dinner reservation and then be offered priority seating for the concert.

So, just like the Food & Wine and Flower & Garden, the Arts Festival has food booths throughout World Showcase that offer guests snack options showcasing culinary creations. I mean what is a festival at EPCOT without food booths? There are not as many booths as there are during F&W and F&W but the thing that does set them aside from the others is these food options are artful creations. Meaning that the food items will be plated nicely rather than just thrown together.

Now what the man event for this festival is, is of course the artwork that is on display. Guests that attend the festival will be able to see the artwork of Disney Legends, like Mary Blair and Herb Ryman on display. There are also other Disney artists that will be onsite painting throughout World Showcase, so you’ll even be able to see these amazing artists at work. You’ll also be able to purchase certain art that is on display in the booths around World Showcase.

In addition to everything that I have mentioned there will also be seminars and workshops taking place during the Festival in the Odyssey Pavilion. The Interactive Workshops are an additional price as well as the Premium Workshops where you will be able to paint with a Disney Artist. It is recommended that if you are interested in the Interactive and Premium Workshops that you call and reserve your spot ASAP. (407-WDW-TOUR). Now, the complimentary seminars are free of charge to park guests. I would suggest with those to get to the Odyssey Pavilion early to claim your spot. There are also culinary exhibits on display in the Odyssey Pavilion so you should head in there at some point to check those out as well.