Beginning today, your Epcot experience will be extra vibrant! From January 17th to February 24th, the 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts will provide guests with opportunities to EAT, be ENTERTAINED, and ENGAGE firsthand with the arts. Earlier this week, Tim got the opportunity to attend a media preview of this colorful event, showcasing some highlights of the variety of experiences available for everyone to enjoy!

ENJOY THE EATIN’

If you are a self-proclaimed “foodie”, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to indulge in the culinary arts. With an assortment of food studios stationed throughout the park, you will have the chance to sample an array of flavors from spicy to savory to sweet and more! One especially delectable dish can be found at The Deconstructed Dish food studio: the Deconstructed Reuben. This was one of Jenn’s favorite menu items last year and has been updated for this year’s festival with the modification of rye-crusted sauerkraut and jarlsberg cake in lieu of pickled red cabbage and a rye curl.

If you thrive in the face of a challenge, then you may want to tackle the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, which is similar to the Holiday Cookie Stroll from the recent Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. Each time you purchase a participating menu item (listed above), the cast member taking your order will place a matching stamp in the back of your festival passport. Once you’ve collected five stamps, consider this challenge won – you will receive a colorful culinary treat at the Decadent Delights food studio.

EXPLORE THE ENTERTAINMENT

If you find yourself whistling while you work, you will appreciate the return of the Disney on Broadway Concert Series! Three times daily, you will have the opportunity to rest and relax in America Gardens Theatre while reveling in the musical artistry of various Broadway stars like Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White. Six pairs of phenomenal performers are slated to showcase their talent with tunes from Disney on Broadway shows, so be certain to check out the schedule ahead of time to discover which performers you will have the chance to see.

If you are intrigued by unique talents, then make sure you stop by the Showcase Plaza Stage! You can witness fantastic feats of strength while Art Defying Gravity display their acrobatic abilities. You can view a visiting visual artist craft and create Disney characters in paint. There are a variety of other acts whose artistic expression will be on display for your enjoyment; just make sure you look at the Times Guide for specific performance days and times. Note: The location of these shows has been updated to Showcase Plaza to accommodate the ongoing construction where the former stage existed.

ENGAGE WITH THE ART!

If you enjoy exhibiting your own aptitude for art, then pop over to the Expression Section: A Paint-by-Number Mural in Future World! You can engage in this experience (for free!) in a new location this year – on a construction wall where the Fountain of Nations was formerly found. You will be provided with paint, a brush, and a designated number; once you scope out some spots with that number, you can unleash your inner artist and create a colorful, collective masterpiece alongside other park guests.

If perplexing puzzles appeal to you, then try out Figment’s Brush with the Masters, a scavenger hunt around Epcot’s World Showcase. You can purchase a map and stickers ($7.99) at a few locations in the park: Pin Traders – Camera Center, Disney Traders, or World Traveler. Once you’ve snagged a map, you can stroll through each of the World Showcase pavilions searching and seeking out pieces of art that correspond to the stickers. After successfully collecting clues, return your map to either Disney Traders or World Traveler for a surprise prize of your choice!

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts offers activities that will grasp the interest of every guest! Events highlighted above provide just a small sampling of the array of activities available to you at the festival this year. One new addition that Tim and Jenn are especially excited to experience is the brunch at Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion of World Showcase. This meal is offered on weekends only January 13th through February 23rd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Keep your eyes peeled for a video review of this special experience soon!