Hi Lisa!
Thanks for bringing this question to planDisney!
The Festival of the Arts is one of my favorites, and I already know you’ll love it! It brings a vibrancy to Epcot like no other festival.
Everyone has different priorities when it comes to all the fun offerings, so I highly recommend looking through the
festival webpage or
this Disney Parks Blog post to see if anything in particular stands out to you. You’ll also be able to find the festival guide on your
My Disney Experience app once the Festival of the Arts gets a little closer. You can find the guide on either the homepage of the app or by searching for the festival using the search icon at the bottom of the screen.
With that being said, of course, I’m happy to share some of my personal favorites! It’s good to note that these experiences are subject to change.
Ok… first, let’s chat about the food. The food is art in itself! Sometimes I swear it looks too pretty to eat, but I promise it’s worth diving in. Last year, my absolute favorite food studios were Encanto Cocina and Pop Eats. Since the food studios and dishes change each year, keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for their festival foodie guide. My guess is that they’ll release the guide in the new year.
Now, moving on to the art! Definitely make sure to stop by the paint-by-numbers mural. It’s a quick stop, and it’s fun to be a small part of a beautiful piece of artwork. Usually, the mural takes 2-3 days to complete, so depending on when you participate in it, you may be able to see the final product that day or a little later in your trip if you end up visiting Epcot again.
If you’re familiar with the Animation Experience at Animal Kingdom, they have a similar experience during the festival at the America Gardens Theatre at select times. And I’m always so impressed watching Visual Art in Performance, an artist who paints a character in real time.
My boys were big fans of the Figment scavenger hunt around the World Showcase and stopping for the photo ops around the park that make it seem like you’ve stepped into a painting.
Finally, the music. The Disney on Broadway concert series is incredible (I’m a big Broadway fan!), and the
performers have already been announced. If you want to ensure you get a great seat, I’d consider booking a
concert series dining package, pending availability.
I hope that gives you a good start when planning your day at Epcot! Enjoy every second! And let us know if you have any other questions.
Jenn J.