Epcot’s Fourth Annual International Festival of the Arts – ON NOW!
We here at MickeyBlog are delighted to share the news that Disney World’s first official festival of 2020 has officially kicked off! Today marks the start of the fourth annual Epcot International Festival of the Arts. From now through February the theme park will celebrate the visual, performing and culinary arts as only Disney can do! And this year’s Fest brings even more fun including 12 festival Food Studios, a new Van Gogh photo op and let’s not forget the amazing Disney on Broadway Concert series!
The Festival of the Arts runs from now until February 24th, giving you plenty of time to start planning that Orlando visit! It’s the perfect time to explore and even express your own artistic talent at multiple hands-on exhibitions and workshops. And have we mentioned it’s fun for the whole family? Kids will love awesome activities like the Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt, Animation Academy at America Gardens Theatre and the Expression Section: Paint-by-Number wall mural in Future World. Guests can also interact with Epcot Living Statues in Future World East and marvel at the acrobatic performances of the Art Defying Gravity troupe at the World Showcase Plaza stage.
One of our favorite things to do at the Festival each year is to stroll around the World Showcase to check out the incredible photo ops. You’ll find an eclectic array of amazing backdrops putting you in the middle of some of Arts biggest masterpieces from artists like Van Gogh, Edvard Munch and Leonardo da Vinci. There’s also a homage to Frida Kahlo at the Mexico Pavilion (see above.) And yesterday, we also shared images with you of the Peter Pan Storybook photo-op at the UK Pavilion.
If kids need to burn off some energy, we also recommend heading to the Green Landing Family Play Zone!
Disney on Broadway Concert Series- Visitors can go Broadway each evening for a show-stopping performance at the America Gardens Theatre — here’s the talent lineup for this year’s concert series:
- Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
- Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
- Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
- Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
- Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
- Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
- Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
- Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
- Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott
Seating for the concert series is FREE to anyone with a valid Epcot admission ticket. However, it is on a first-come-first-seated basis and spots do fill up quickly. If you want to ensure that you get a good seat for the show consider making a restaurant reservation under the Disney on Broadway Dining Package, which guarantees seating for one show on the day you dine. Packages at participating Epcot restaurants are now booking; visit ArtfulEpcot.com or call (407) WDW-FEST to make a reservation.
Food Studios – Twelve culinary around the World Showcase offer creative bites and refreshing sips. Some of our favorites include Sous Vide Chicken Roulade at Pop Eats!; Vanilla, Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta at The Masterpiece Kitchen; and the Rainboba sparkling water layered with Fruit Boba and topped with a Foam Cloud (heavenly!) at The Deconstructed Dish. Need chocolate? Head to The Artist’s Table for the Sipping Chocolate Flight of white, milk and dark chocolate – yum!
In addition, TODAY Epcot is also offering three new films! Check them out!
“Awesome Planet” located at The Land pavilion, this new film is narrated by Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and features spectacular imagery, in-theater effects, and an original musical score by Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price.
“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” – Located in the Canada pavilion this update to “O Canada!” is narrated by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy. The film presents breathtaking new scenes!
“Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” – New at the in the France pavilion, this new singalong production is directed by Don Hahn, who produced the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films. Guests are invited to sing-along to this thrilling new animated twist on a “tale as old as time.” At the theater you’ll also want to take time to explore a new exhibit, “Tales as Old as Time: French Storytelling on Stage and Screen,” featuring a stunning display of ornate costumes, music and artwork dedicated to the adaptation of French literature in cinema, theater, ballet and opera. Here you’ll see the live-action “Cinderella” film or Belle’s costume from “Beauty and the Beast.”
While visiting World Showcase, be sure to check out two new bands including Lebendig, an award-winning German pop-rock band who will perform their modern take on Germany’s well-known Schlager sound in the Germany pavilion. And over at the Morocco pavilion, enjoy the creative mix of traditional Gnawa music and the current sounds of Morocco with Atlas Fusion.
You can book premium festival experiences like Paint with a Disney Artist for a fee at 407-WDW-TOUR or you can sign up for openings still available your day of the visit. Check out ArtfulEpcot.com for details.
The festival also offers interactive workshops for an additional fee including: Ink & Paint Animation, 3D Paper Crafting, Gesture Drawing Basics, Animation 101 or Doodling (Saturday and Sunday only) bookable at 407-WDW-FEST or in-park Guest Relations.
Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog all weekend for the latest Epcot International Festival of the Arts news and updates!
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