NEWS: 5 New Artful Experiences at the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
We’re less than one month until the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts! Disney has given a sneak peek at five new offerings coming to the festival. Catch all the details below.
Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Mallory Heinz Ledet:
Pick up your paintbrush, prepare your palates, and put on your dancing shoes because the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is just around the corner!
From January 17-February 24, this uniquely-Disney art festival paints the town with displays of culinary, performing and visual arts that will inspire the inner artist in all of us.
To prime your canvas, here are five new artful experiences that will debut with the 2025 Festival of the Arts!
Once Upon A Stage: 30 Years of Disney on Broadway
At CommuniCore Hall, experience the magic of Broadway both on and off the stage in this walkthrough exhibit celebrating three decades of Disney on Broadway. Discover costumes and props from your favorite stage musicals, then venture behind-the-scenes to see how the classic animated films “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” were reimagined for the Broadway stage.
The only ticket you’ll need to see these iconic props and costumes is your ticket to EPCOT!
Opening Bites Food Studio
Just outside at CommuniCore Plaza, enjoy food! Glorious food! This menu is all about paying homage to the foods and drinks immortalized onstage. Keep an eye out for the Festival of the Arts Foodie Guide for more decadent details about Food Studios around the park.
New Artful Photo Op
With the Artful Photo Ops, you can step into the canvas and strike a pose. Along with returning favorites like Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-August Renoir and Edvard Munch’s The Scream, there is a new Artful Photo Op inviting you to voyage alongside our favorite seafarer featuring Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana.”
Festival Merchandise
Paintings, prints, accessories, apparel, trading items – and more! It’s fitting that the Festival of the Arts has art curated from a variety of artists and mediums ready for you to bring home to a gallery of your own. And of course, what would a festival celebrating inspiration be without a brand new, art-themed collection of merchandise dedicated to our favorite imaginary dragon, Figment?
Disney on Broadway Concert Series
Earlier, we revealed the star-studded lineup for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. While I am excited for literally every performer coming to this incredible concert series, I am especially thrilled to see the three newcomers to the America Gardens Theatre stage.
You may know Jelani Remy from his role as Simba from “The Lion King.” Rodney Ingram performed the title role of “Aladdin” on Broadway and originated the role in the Mexico City production, and John Riddle originated the role of Hans in “Frozen.” Cue the applause!
This concert series is an amazing way to see a slice of Broadway talent right here in Central Florida – and, if you’re hungry for more Disney storytelling onstage, visit DisneyOnBroadway.com.
I hope you’ll join me in singing, dancing and dining your way through all the EPCOT Festival of the Arts has to offer. C’mon, friends, we’ll go and paint the park from January 17-February 24!
Editor’s Note: We are providing our article on the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts to help readers understand what the festival offers. Some offerings, such as menus and popcorn buckets, will change in 2025.
RELATED ARTICLE: 2024 Festival of the Arts at EPCOT – 10 Things You Don’t Want to Miss!
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is now open and runs through February 19, 2024. This festival celebrates extraordinary artwork, culinary creations inspired by art movements, and Broadway stars singing beloved Disney songs. The celebration of the arts is sure to delight festivalgoers with magic that only Disney can create. We enjoy this festival year after year. Learn about ten things you don’t want to miss below.
Click here for photos and video from our visit to the festival on opening day!
1 – Food Studios
Think the Food and Wine Festival is the only chance to enjoy fantastic foods at an EPCOT festival? Think again! With more than fifteen unique Food Studios located throughout the park, you’ll find delectable bites and sips crafted with a creative twist, including many new food and drink items. The offerings are unique, and we’ve found there are so many things we want to try this year. Everything we tasted on our visit on opening day was fantastic. We really feel the Disney chefs are at their best during this festival!
2 – Figment’s Inspiration Station
You’ll definitely want to visit Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey. You’ll find vibrant and playful food and beverage items with lots of seating there. This is also where you’ll pick up your Figment Popcorn Bucket! Learn more about ordering your Figment Popcorn bucket below:
3 – The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
In addition to providing a roadmap to navigate the bounty of culinary sensations, the Festival Passport also guides guests through The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, a fun food stroll highlighting seven tantalizing sweet and savory offerings. A complimentary Artist Palette Cookie is available for those who collect five stamps from locations listed in the Festival Passport.
4 – DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series
While the other festivals showcase local and national musical acts, we love that this festival highlights some of Broadway’s brightest stars. During the festival, you can enjoy show-stopping performances by Disney Broadway stars as they share songs from beloved Disney musicals in the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series. Shows take place three times daily throughout the festival at America Gardens Theatre.
Want guaranteed seating? Dining packages for lunch and dinner are available at seven EPCOT locations, with guaranteed seating at the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series. Visit ArtfulEPCOT.com for the lineup of concert performances and dining package availability.
4 – Other Amazing Entertainment
Guests can also enjoy other musical acts, performing multiple times daily in Showcase Plaza. Beyond music, festivalgoers can thrill to feats of acrobatic strength and agility by Art Defying Gravity and be mesmerized by artists who paint beloved Disney characters in high-energy shows that combine performance and fine arts. Check the Festival Passport or My Disney Experience app for showtimes.
5 – Festival Merchandise
New Figment-inspired festival merchandise features an expressive and colorful collection perfect for the whole family. The new festival Spirit Jersey, Figment Chalkboard Framed Mug, Figment Munchlings, and Figment CORKCICLE Tumbler embody the festival’s full array of vivid colors and creativity.
6 – Artwork!
More than 100 Disney and visiting artists will participate in the festival, immersing guests in colorful and expressive artwork at every turn. There are plenty of festival kiosks throughout World Showcase that offer unique artwork for purchase. Most of the artwork features popular Disney scenes and characters.
Featured artists include:
- Alex Maher
- Ann Shen
- Daniel Killen
- John Nadeau
- Josey Tsao
- Maria Stuckey
- Punky Aloha
- Ryan Riller
- Shane Grammer
- Yesenia Moises
All art pieces by these artists are subject to availability.
7 – Activities for the Whole Family
There is so much to do when visiting the Festival of the Arts beyond eating, drinking, and shopping. Here are additional festival offerings guests can enjoy.
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- Kids can create their own chalk art masterpieces at Kid’s Chalk Art
- Families can leave their creative mark on a larger-than-life mural at Expression Section: A Paint by Numbers Mural.
- Guests learn how to draw a Disney character at Animation Academy from an animation artist. This experience occurs in America Gardens Theatre at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM daily.
8 – New Photo Ops Around World Showcase
Throughout World Showcase, guests can step into some of the most iconic artwork from around the world at unique Artful Photo Ops. There are even some new ones this year! Take a look at one of the new photo ops below.
Find these step-in frames around EPCOT:
- International Gateway: Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- The American Adventure: Washington Crossing the Delaware – Emanuel Leutze
- Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion: Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci
- Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion: The Scream – Edvard Munch
- Mexico Pavilion: An Homage to Frida Kahlo
- Bridge to World Showcase: Wish Storybook
- Italy Pavilion Courtyard: Teatime with Penguins
- Bridge to World Showcase: Forest Scene from Sleeping Beauty
9 – Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt
Figment’s Brush with the Masters takes guests on a scavenger hunt around World Showcase to spot the lovable purple dragon as he hides in famous works of art. To get started, purchase your map and stickers (available while supplies last) for $9.99 plus tax at Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or World Traveler. Then, search for Figment hiding inside art inspired by famous works at each World Showcase Pavilion—just look for the Figment-themed picture frame. Whenever you find Figment, add the corresponding sticker to the pavilion on your map. Once complete, return your map to Disney Traders or World Traveler and receive a little keepsake!
10 – Enjoy the New Offerings at EPCOT!
In addition to enjoying the festival, guests can explore all of the new offerings at EPCOT. Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, World Celebration Gardens, and “Luminous the Symphony of Us” opened in late 2023. The transformation of EPCOT is almost complete and you’ll want to visit to check out all of the changes!
Editor’s Note: Walt Disney World provided us with complimentary theme park tickets to EPCOT to check out the festival. However, as always, the thoughts and opinions contained in this article are entirely our own.
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