Hi Brena,
Welcome back to planDisney! How exciting that you’re visiting the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts in a few days; this unique event celebrates the art of music, flavorful cuisines, and visual arts in ways sure to delight every family member. While I adore this festival, I haven’t attended it with my son. I can understand the ever-changing interests of a tween boy and how to keep him engaged around the World Showcase though. I chatted with my some of my planDisney pals who just returned from the festival - here’s our advice!
Prince suggests gamifying the day, keeping it both fun and challenging. The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine is a foodie’s scavenger hunt to track down specialty items in your Festival Passport. Once you’ve tried five dishes, bring your stamped passport to Deco Delights and receive a complimentary treat. Motivating picky eaters to try new things and be rewarded with free dessert? Chef's kiss, perfection!
Another artful adventure is Figment’s Brush with the Masters, a paid scavenger hunt to find our friend hiding among famous paintings. You can purchase the map at various EPCOT locations (your Annual Passholder or Disney Vacation Club Member discounts apply). As you find Figment, place a sticker on the corresponding masterpiece to track your progress. Tracie’s hint for finding the trickier ones is that Figment likes to shop! Redeem the completed map for an art project prize.
If your son has access to a camera, you could create his own game for the day. We came up with the following photo challenge:
If your son likes to express himself, first be inspired by the incredible creations at the Chalk Art Gallery. Then head around the corner where he can use stencils and colored chalk to let loose at the Kids Chalk Art station, on the bridge to World Showcase Plaza. If paint is his preferred medium, visit the Expression Section to gather materials and paint a few squares contributing to a huge festival mural. He’ll receive a bookmark of the final creation.
Our top picks for fun, Instagram-worthy tween festival foods are:
- Fruit Pizza at Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey
- Sushi Donut at Goshiki in the Japan Pavillion, and
- Mozzarella Frittata at L’Arte di Mangiare in the Italy Pavillion
I hope your family has a wonderful time learning, exploring, and celebrating all that the arts have to offer at this very special event, Brena.
One little spark,
Amy