Have you ever thought about combining your love of food, art, and Disney all in one place? If so, you’ll be more than happy to experience the Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World.
If you still have no idea what I am talking about, I am guessing you are one of the poor souls who has not gotten your ticket to this Epcot festival yet.
Don’t worry, there still is time.
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Visiting the 2024 Epcot International Festival of the Arts at a Glance:
- This Epcot Festival will take place daily from January 12 to February 19, 2024!
- Epcot opens daily at 9 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.; however, the food booths (also known as the Food Studios) don’t open until 11 a.m.
- Witness the brand-new fireworks show called Luminous the Symphony of Us
- Explore all of the magnificent Art Defying Gravity show
- Capture the most incredible photos with a group of your beloved Disney Hipster Friends with the Artful Photo-Ops!
- Listen to the wonderful artists as they bring you classic tunes from DISNEY ON BROADWAY.
- Eat your way through the festival with the colorful cuisine (my favorite thing to do)!
Keep reading to get a full guide on how to conquer this Disney holiday event like a pro!
When is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts?
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is back from January 12th to February 19th 2024 and it is not something you should miss.
And that is why I am giving you a comprehensive guide about what to do to get the best out of your experience there and if you should go.
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What is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts?
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is Disney’s way of combining the creativity of arts and food in only a way Disney can do!
Although it began only three years ago, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts has become a huge part of the Disney Culture. It is essentially a celebration of creativity.
Creativity, not within the generic definition of it as arousal of visual and auditory senses, but a perfect blend of all five senses.
Each of these senses will be masterfully serenaded in the course of over 30 days that the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is conducted.
If you are still wondering what it is all about, let me list it out for you:
- Artwork
- Concerts
- Food
- More food
- Live performances
- Lots and lots of fun activities
As mentioned earlier, it is held at Epcot inside Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
I am sure you knew this already because you’ve most likely being thinking about attending this event for a while and you probably just need a little bit more information to help you finalize your decision.
That’s why I’m here!
So, let’s finish this Disney guide.
What to expect in the Epcot International Festival of the Arts?
When you enter Epcot, you will get a little Festival of Arts passport to start your day off right!
You can then begin to explore the festival at your leisure and enjoy all of the world class attractions at this Disney theme park.
The festival focuses on mainly three aspects of art– culinary, visual and performance.
There are huge galleries filled with the most original and breathtakingly beautiful pieces of art.
If you were anything like me as a child, you must have idolized these artists for they are also the creators of your favorite characters.
As if it was not enough to dazzle us with their brilliant artwork, these artists will also give us a glimpse into their artistic process by creating art in front of the guests!
What if you’re not into Artwork?
Even if you are not an art gallery person, you can enjoy the Epcot International Festival of the Arts too.
Art comes in various shapes and forms. And one of them is the great voices from Broadway actors and their musical performances. It’s Disney songs like you have never heard before.
Now, I don’t know about you but my little Disney fan heart is jumping and screaming at the thought of all this.
If you thought this was all there was to it, you are highly mistaken. There are also numerous activities which are complimentary to your Epcot Festival ticket.
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What’s New at the Epcot Festival of the Arts?
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts looks a little bit different this year due to the past global crisis.
Although some of your favorite treats and experience may be there, you’ll notice a few changes on trip to Epcot Festival of the Arts.
Let’s go through some of the top strategies for experiencing this annual Epcot festival.
1. Park Reservations
Although Park Hopping is back, you will need still book a reservation for your day at Epcot in certain circumstances.
According to Disney, starting with visits on January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. A date-based ticket requires you to choose a start date when you purchase. For other admission types, theme park reservations may be required.
Visits that Require No Theme Park Reservation
- A Date-based 1-day ticket
- Date-based multi-day ticket
- Vacation package with date-based tickets
Epcot Visits that Require a Theme Park Reservation
- Student group tickets
- Sport and Convention ticket
- Disney Military Salute Ticket
- Annual Pass
- All other ticket types not mentioned above
You can read how this new Disney reservation system works here.
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2. Epcot’s Operating Hours
Epcot normal hours are back and is now open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day.
Your park pass will allow you to come and go from the park as many times as you want throughout the day.
3. Meeting Disney Characters
Although character meet-and-greets were postponed due to the pandemic, you can now meet some of your favorite Disney characters throughout World Showcase.
4. Limited Seminars
Since the creation of this Epcot festival, Disney previously offered a variety of seminar classes to help bring out your creative side.
This year, many of those offerings are postponed. You can however, participate in other events such as the Animation Class.
Here are 11 more things for you to do at Epcot Festival of the Arts!
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How does the Epcot Festival of the Arts differ from the other park festivals?
This artistic festival is different from the other Epcot Festivals in many ways.
Not only is everything a bit over-the-top, there are other characteristics that you may notice below:
- Instead of Garden Rocks Concert series at Flower & Garden Festival and the Eat to the Beat concert series at Food & Wine Festival, there’s Disney on Broadway Concert series for the Festival of the Arts
- Prices are much higher for the Epcot Festival of the Arts food
- The temperatures are incredible in Florida during the Festival of the Arts which makes it the perfect time to visit Walt Disney World
- Most of the offerings for Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts are included with theme park admission
2024 Epcot Festival of the Arts Food
This is where I run out of words…
The food of this art festival is something you have to experience.
Simply reading about it will just not be enough.
However, I will try my best to describe the indescribably delicious tastes, smells and sights of what is probably the best food festival in the entire world.
The cherry on top is that they offer vegan, gluten-free and a dubious kid-approved option as well.
Epcot Festival of the Arts Food Studio Booths
This is exactly what in sounds like. Loads of stalls and a surprising number of adventurous foods to try.
This could be a relatively cheaper experience thank the others if you choose your booths wisely and stick with your Disney budget.
In all fairness, the food is exceptionally delicious and they are not stingy with the quantity, so I would say, it is worth your money.
What to expect at the Epcot Festival of the Arts food booths?
The Marketplace Booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and there is a literal food fiesta.
Apart from being absolutely mouth-watering, the food is also extremely aesthetically pleasing.
And you know what that means– Instagramming the heck out of every dish you buy.
This year, the Food Studio will include over 12 stalls to get your foodie adventure on.
They are bringing back the Pop Eats stall, which was a huge success pre-pandemic as well as a wide range of cuisines from different countries including Japan, France and Italy.
The Artist’s Table, the Painter’s Palette, and the Cuisine Classique are the show-stoppers here.
Just be prepared to shell out quite a few dollars for the experience, the food and drinks can get pricey at this particular Epcot festival.
The Performing Arts at Epcot
As Disney has mentioned, The Show MUST Go on…
Did you know that you can watch a Broadway Show at Walt Disney World? Well, kind of…
At the Epcot Festival of the Arts, you can enjoy classic Disney tunes sung by Broadway’s most-famous actors right here in Central Florida.
You can catch this show on select days from January 12 to February 19, 2024.
2024 Disney on Broadway Show Schedule:
Caissie Levy (Frozen) and Patti Murin (Frozen)
- January 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22 and 23
Gavin Lee (Beauty and the Beast) and Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid)
- January 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24 and 25
Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King)
- January 26, 28 and 29
- February 1, 3, 5 and 6
Josh Strickland (Tarzan) and Kissy Simmons (The Lion King)
- January 27, 30 and 31
- February 2, 4, 7 and 8
Mandy Gonzalez (Aida) and Michael James Scott (Aladdin)
- February 9, 11, 12, 15, 18 and 19
Bradley Gibson (The Lion King) and Shoba Narayan (Aladdin)
- February 10, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 19
The Visual Arts at Epcot
While enjoying the incredible performances, be sure to visit some of the galleries, murals and photo ops that will be happening this year.
Visual Arts You’ll Experience this Year
- Animation Academy
- Artful Photo Ops: take advantage of the special props so you can have unique memories of your time at the festival
- Festival Markets: allows you to buy pieces artwork from the participating artists at the festival
- Festival merchandise: be sure to pick up a few festival souvieniers to commerate your visit
- Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
- Hands-on wall mural
- Interactive Experiences
- Pavilion Exhibits: check out the beautiful artistry from the various countries featured in World Showcase
The Artist you’ll see are quite literally, the créme de la créme of the Disney World and you’ll be able to chat with them.
What is unique about it is that the galleries are all placed throughout World Showcase where you can see the artist creating new artwork right in front of you!
This is definitely something you do not want to miss.
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The Interactive Experience at Epcot Festival of the Arts
Let’s go through more festival activities you can experience while at the Epcot Festival of the Arts.
- Featured Disney Artists and Visiting Artists: You’ll get the opportunity to meet the artist behind the art
- Interactive Experiences: Participate in some of the entertainment like the Paint by Number Mural (daily from park open until 5 p.m.)
- Kidcot Fun Stops: This fun Epcot activity is still going on although the Cast Members won’t be directly involved as in the previous years. According to Disney, kids of all ages can pick their palette, grab their brushes and create their own masterpiece on an art-filled odyssey around Epcot’s World Showcase.
- Figment’s Brush With The Masters: This is a fun scavenger hunt where you help Figment learn about art around World Showcase. You can purchase your map and stickers at Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway. After you’re done finding every item, you’ll return your map to Disney Traders or World Traveler for a free prize!
- Chalk Full of Character: Don’t miss out on the unique chalk drawings located throughout Epcot
- Animation Academy: Everyday at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the America Gardens Theatre, you’ll get a step-by-step guide on how to draw some of your favorite Disney Characters.
Exciting New Festival of the Arts Merchandise
Apart from the usual hoodies and T-shirts, Disney has new merchandise including wall art, paintings, toys and totes.
There is truly a huge plethora of options when you are looking for something to take home as a souvenir of your time at the Epcot Festival of Art and Culture.
My personal favorite is the new Figment inspired long-sleeved shirt with “make a masterpiece today” name printed on the back.
To buy these cool new merchandises, just head to all the little shops located throughout Epcot Theme Park!
Epcot Festival of the Arts Merchandise Items
- Adult Mask
- Apparel (Adult Tees & Spirit Jersey)
- Baseball Cap
- Event Poster
- Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
- Keychains
- MagicBands
- Palette Plate & Drinkware (Mug and Stainless-Steel Water Bottle)
- Trading Pins
Passholder Merchandise
- Adult Tee
- Tumbler
- Trading Pin
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Top 6 Beginner Tips for Epcot Festival of the Arts 2024
Now that we have the basics under our belts, let’s go through a few of my favorite tips for you.
1. Go During Weekdays
Visit Epcot on weekdays instead of weekends. On the weekends, locals crowd add to the one at the festival.
Going on weekdays will give you time to relax and enjoy the festival without constantly pushing through the crowds.
2. Experience the New Epcot Attractions on Your Visit
Three films– Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 and Awesome Planet are available for you to view this year!
The new Guardians of the Galaxy and Remy Ratatouille Adventure rides and the fireworks extravaganza are also available for you to enjoy at Epcot during the festival.
WATCH NEXT: Top 10 BEST Things to Do at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!
3. Use the Disney Photographers
Look around you for PhotoPass Photographers around the theme park and ask them for Magic Shots and special props so you can have unique memories of your time at the festival.
Plus, they’ll also take great photos for you with your own phone.
4. Spend a Couple of Days at Epcot
Do not try to see all of Epcot in a day. It will be tiring and not at all enjoyable. Instead spread out your itinerary across at least three days.
Perhaps you can spend a day doing all the Food Studio booths at the festival and another day focusing on the attractions and seminars.
5. Budget for Food
Believe it or not, $5 here or $6 there, adds up quickly. I recommend budgeting $65-$75 for each person in your party. And that’s just a budget for food!
Beer and wine samples are poured at about 3 ounces for wine and 6 ounces for beer or cocktails.
On average, adult beverage samples usually cost between $5.50 – $10.50 with cocktails around $15.50.
6. Try New Things
It’s easy to stick with the things most familiar to you, but that’s not what Epcot Festival of the Arts is all about!
Since the portions are smaller, it’s a great way to try something at least once…or twice as Andrew Zimmern states.
Not only should you try new food, speak to the artists and really learn about their story and what inspired their passion.
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My Final Thoughts on Epcot Festival of the Arts
So, should you go to the Taste of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts? Absolutely!
It is one of Disney’s BEST festivals and it allows you to activate that creative side of your brain.
You are officially ready to go forth and enjoy the fourth Epcot Festival of Arts and Culture to the fullest extent. I hope this guide helped and you have a great time at the festival!
Prioritize and plan out your day before actually stepping into Epcot. You will thank me later.
Going into the Festival of the Arts is total sensory overload, and it helps to follow an organized plan of action thank planning everything at the moment.
Just remember not to worry if you’re not able to see and do everything. I just want you to have fun and enjoy exploring all the different countries at the park.
Are you excited for this year’s festival? If so, let us know in the comments section below.
If you like this article, then check the links below for more Epcot Festivals Tips
- How to Do the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Like a Pro!
- Epcot for Adults: THE BEST WAY TO DO DISNEY
- Your Ultimate Guide to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival
- What are the Best Drinks at Epcot?
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
Read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
(Original Article Date: January 2018/Updated: January 2, 2024)