Best Things to Do at EPCOT Festival of the Arts
Discover the best EPCOT Festival of the Arts activities, from painting a giant mural and Animation Academy to Disney on Broadway, art shopping, photo ops and more.
Estimated reading time: 24 minutes
There are Disney festivals where you mostly eat.
There are festivals where you mostly look at things.
And then there’s the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, where Disney apparently decided we should all become artists for the day.
This is one of the reasons Festival of the Arts—affectionately known as FARTS in my house 😂—is one of my absolute favorite EPCOT festivals.
There is SO MUCH TO DO.
You can paint part of a giant mural. Learn how to draw a Disney character. Go on an art-themed scavenger hunt with Figment. Step inside famous paintings. Watch artists create Disney artwork right in front of you. Listen to actual Broadway performers sing Disney songs. Browse artwork from Disney artists and, if you’re like me, potentially come home with something you absolutely did not intend to buy.
And that’s before we’ve even discussed the food.
If you’re trying to decide what deserves your time, these are the Festival of the Arts activities I think are most worth knowing about.
Paint Part of the Giant Paint-by-Numbers Mural
If you’ve never been to Festival of the Arts before, this is one of the activities I would absolutely make time for.
The Expression Section is basically a gigantic communal paint-by-numbers mural.
Cast Members give you a small container of paint and tell you which numbered squares to paint. You add your tiny contribution and then step back to see the enormous image that thousands of EPCOT guests are creating together.
It’s such a simple idea.
And it’s SO FUN.
You’re not going to spend an hour here. You don’t need to be remotely artistic. Nobody cares if the last thing you successfully painted was a handprint turkey in elementary school.
You paint your little squares. Thousands of other people paint theirs. Eventually, this massive piece of Disney art emerges.
I love activities like this because they’re exactly what makes Festival of the Arts different from a normal EPCOT day. You can ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind any time of year.
I can’t help paint a gigantic Disney mural in July.
Learn to Draw a Disney Character at Animation Academy
Animation Academy is another activity that feels completely appropriate for this festival.
During the class, a Disney animator teaches you how to draw a Disney character step by step.
And again, you do NOT need to know how to draw.
That’s kind of the point.
Everyone starts with a blank piece of paper and follows along as the animator breaks the character into manageable shapes and lines. By the end, you have your own Disney drawing to take home.
Will yours look exactly like the animator’s?
Maybe.
Will mine?
Let’s not get carried away. 😂
But that’s what makes it fun.
Animation Academy is also a little more substantial than some of the quick festival activities, so this is one I would actually look up when you arrive rather than simply hoping you stumble across it. Times and offerings can change, and I’d rather build it into the day if it’s something I really wanted to do.
Watch Disney Artists Create Art
This is another part of Festival of the Arts that I think is easy to underestimate until you’re actually there.
Artists aren’t simply selling finished artwork.
You can watch art being created.
Disney brings artists into EPCOT throughout the festival, and you’ll find demonstrations and live art happening around the park. Sometimes you’re watching a canvas slowly come together. Other performances are astonishingly fast.
There is something fascinating about watching someone start with what looks like absolutely nothing and suddenly—oh, hey, that’s Mickey Mouse.
Even if you aren’t planning to buy anything, stop and watch for a few minutes.
The entire point of this festival is celebrating the process of creating art, not just hanging finished pieces on a wall.
Browse the Disney Art
Okay.
This one is dangerous. 😂
Festival of the Arts is probably my favorite Disney festival for shopping because you’re not just looking at the normal collection of festival T-shirts, ears, mugs and Figment merchandise.
There is actual ART everywhere.
Disney artists display and sell work throughout EPCOT, and the variety is incredible. You’ll find completely different artistic styles and interpretations of Disney characters, movies, attractions and parks.
And in many cases, the artists themselves are there.
That makes browsing the art booths an actual festival activity for me rather than simply shopping.
I have a beautiful stretched fine-art print of Belle and the Beast that I bought at Festival of the Arts. It’s done in that gorgeous, romantic, almost Thomas Kinkade-style of Disney art, and I adore it.
It’s also the kind of souvenir that feels completely different from bringing home another coffee mug.
Years later, it’s hanging in my house. I look at it all the time, and I remember where I found it.
So even if you aren’t planning to buy anything, look at the art.
This is one place where I would not race past the booths because you’re trying to get somewhere else.
Meet the Artists
If a piece catches your eye, pay attention to who created it.
Festival of the Arts brings an enormous roster of artists to EPCOT, and some appear in person to meet guests and sign their work.
That makes buying a piece you love even cooler.
Disney publishes information about participating artists and appearance schedules for each festival, so if there’s a particular artist whose work you collect—or someone you discover while researching the festival—check whether they’ll be appearing during your visit.
But you don’t need to know any of the artists beforehand.
I certainly wouldn’t turn this into another thing you have to research extensively before your Disney vacation.
Wander. Look. See what grabs you.
That’s half the fun.
Check Out the Chalk Art
And while you’re looking at art, remember to look DOWN.
One of the coolest Festival of the Arts traditions is the chalk art created right on EPCOT’s walkways.
These aren’t sidewalk drawings like anything I ever produced with a bucket of Crayola chalk in my driveway.
Some are incredibly detailed pieces of Disney art, and you may even get to watch the artists working on them.
The temporary nature of chalk art makes this particularly fun. What you see can depend on when you’re visiting and which artists are working during the festival.
It’s another one of those Festival of the Arts experiences that doesn’t need an itinerary slot.
You just need to notice it.
Let the Kids Make Their Own Chalk Art
Disney doesn’t leave all the chalk to the professionals.
Kids can get in on the action, too.
Kids’ Chalk Art gives younger visitors a place to create their own sidewalk masterpieces, which is such an easy little break from rides and lines.
And I love that Festival of the Arts has activities like this.
Disney isn’t asking kids to quietly admire art created by adults all day. They’re invited to paint, draw and create.
That’s a very different experience from simply walking through an art exhibit—and probably a much better way to get kids interested in art in the first place.
Step Inside a Famous Painting
The Artful Photo Ops are another Festival of the Arts activity I wouldn’t skip.
Disney creates oversized versions of famous works of art with spaces where you can literally step into the scene.
You become part of the painting.
They’re ridiculous. They’re fun. And the pictures are fantastic.
Some have Disney twists, while others play with recognizable works of art. PhotoPass photographers may be stationed at select locations, although the exact photo opportunities can change from year to year.
This is another reason Festival of the Arts feels so interactive.
You’re not walking through EPCOT looking at art behind velvet ropes.
You’re climbing into it.
Hunt for Figment in Famous Works of Art
If you like Disney scavenger hunts, Festival of the Arts has one of the cutest versions.
Figment’s Brush with the Masters sends you around World Showcase looking for Figment hiding inside recreations of famous works of art.
You purchase the scavenger hunt map, then search the pavilions for the Figment artwork and place the corresponding stickers on your map. Once you’re finished, you can turn it in for a small keepsake.
Do you need to do this to enjoy Festival of the Arts?
No.
But it’s particularly good for families because it gives kids something to hunt for while everyone is exploring World Showcase.
And unlike simply dragging children around saying, “Look at this famous painting!”, you’re essentially turning art appreciation into Where’s Waldo.
Except Waldo is a purple dragon.
Obviously that’s better.
Don’t Assume Festival Activities Are Just for Kids
Actually, let’s stop here for a second, because this is one of the things I really like about Festival of the Arts.
A lot of these activities sound like they’re for children.
Paint a mural. Draw Mickey Mouse. Do a scavenger hunt. Pose inside a painting. Play with chalk.
But they’re really not.
Adults do them too.
That’s part of what makes this festival so much fun.
You aren’t expected to stand back and behave like you’re visiting a serious art museum.
Festival of the Arts basically gives adults permission to play.
Paint the square. Draw the character. Take the ridiculous picture. Go find Figment.
You are at Disney World.
Nobody is grading you.
See Disney on Broadway
If I had to choose one Festival of the Arts experience that I absolutely would not want to miss, this might be it.
The DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series brings actual Broadway performers to the America Gardens Theatre to perform songs from Disney’s Broadway productions.
And these aren’t performers who happen to know Disney songs.
These are people who have actually performed these roles on Broadway.
That makes a HUGE difference.
If you love musical theater even a little bit, this is fantastic. If you love Disney music and Broadway?
Well.
You’re going to be very happy. 😂
The performers and combinations change throughout the festival, which means the concert can be completely different depending on when you visit.
Disney typically offers multiple performances during the evening, so check the schedule for your particular day rather than assuming you’ll just stumble into one.
Do You Need a Disney on Broadway Dining Package?
Not necessarily.
You can see DISNEY ON BROADWAY without buying a dining package, and I certainly wouldn’t tell everyone attending Festival of the Arts that they need one.
But Disney does offer dining packages that include a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant and guaranteed seating at a concert performance later that day.
Whether that’s worthwhile really depends on your priorities.
If there’s a particular performer you’re excited about, you’re visiting on a busy day, or you really don’t want to spend time waiting for a seat, the package can make sense.
Otherwise, I would look at the performance schedule and work the concert into my EPCOT day.
The important thing is not forgetting about it entirely.
There’s so much happening around Festival of the Arts that it would be very easy to spend the day painting murals, looking at artwork and eating pretty food—and then realize you missed one of the best parts.
Explore Once Upon a Stage
Festival of the Arts has expanded its Broadway presence beyond the concert series, too.
In recent festivals, CommuniCore Hall has hosted Once Upon a Stage: The Magic of Disney on Broadway, an exhibit celebrating Disney’s history on Broadway.
This is a completely different experience from watching the live concert.
Instead, you’re getting a closer look at the costumes, props and theatrical design behind Disney’s stage productions.
I love that Festival of the Arts doesn’t define “art” as simply paintings.
Visual art is here.
But so are music, theater, animation, culinary arts and performance.
That’s one of the things that makes this particular EPCOT festival so much more interesting than I expected it to be.
Just remember that individual exhibits can change from one festival to the next, so check what’s being offered during your year.
Stop for the Live Performances
Disney on Broadway may be the headline performance, but it isn’t the only live entertainment happening during Festival of the Arts.
You’ll find music and other artistic performances happening around EPCOT throughout the day.
Some are things you’ll deliberately seek out.
Others are the kind of experiences you encounter because you hear music while walking somewhere, stop for a minute and suddenly realize you’ve been standing there for 20 minutes.
Those spontaneous moments are a huge part of why I don’t recommend overscheduling this festival.
If every minute of your EPCOT day is already accounted for, you don’t have room for anything unexpected to be interesting.
And Festival of the Arts is full of interesting things you didn’t know you were going to care about.
Play Disney Lorcana
Here’s a newer Festival of the Arts activity… and one we expect will stick around for a few years.
Disney Lorcana made its Festival of the Arts debut as another interactive way to experience the festival.
If you’re already a Lorcana player, obviously this is going to be much more exciting to you than it is to someone who has no idea what an inkborn glimmer is.
And if that sentence meant absolutely nothing to you?
You’re fine. 😂
This isn’t something I would tell every first-time visitor they need to prioritize.
But that’s also kind of the point of this guide.
Festival of the Arts has enough going on that your best activities don’t have to be someone else’s best activities.
A family that loves Lorcana could spend time here while another family skips it completely and paints the mural instead.
Both are doing the festival correctly.
Eat Some Art
And yes.
Eventually we’re going to eat. 😂
Food is a significant part of Festival of the Arts, just as it is at every EPCOT festival.
But the fun twist here is that Disney treats the food itself as part of the art.
Festival dishes tend to put extra emphasis on presentation, color and creativity. You’ll see food that is designed to look almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
I’m still eating it.
The Food Studios are scattered around EPCOT, and I definitely recommend trying some festival dishes during your day.
But I would not spend Festival of the Arts trying to eat everything.
There is way too much else to do.
Pick the dishes that genuinely sound good to you, share when it makes sense and leave yourself enough stomach space—and time—for the rest of EPCOT.
Try the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
If you want to turn the food into another festival activity, look for the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine.
The exact dishes can change each year, but the basic idea is essentially a food stroll.
You purchase designated colorful dishes from participating Food Studios, collect stamps and eventually earn a festival treat.
This is another completely optional activity.
If the qualifying dishes are things you already want to eat, great.
Go for it.
If you find yourself buying something you don’t particularly want because I REQUIRE THE STAMP, perhaps we have lost the plot. 😂
There is no EPCOT festival police force coming to inspect your passport.
Do the stroll because it sounds fun, not because you think you’re supposed to complete everything Disney puts on a checklist.
What Are the Best Festival of the Arts Activities?
Okay. This festival has a lot going on.
So what if you can’t do everything?
You shouldn’t.
I mean that.
If this is your first visit to EPCOT, or your only EPCOT day during a Disney World vacation, I would never recommend sacrificing the entire park just to complete every Festival of the Arts activity.
Instead, I would choose a few experiences that make this festival feel substantially different from EPCOT during the rest of the year.
My priorities would be:
- See Disney on Broadway. This is probably my biggest must-do, particularly if you enjoy musical theater.
- Paint the Expression Section mural. It doesn’t take long, it’s completely unique to the festival and it’s just plain fun.
- Spend time looking at the art. Don’t treat the artist booths like stores you need to hurry past. This is literally an arts festival. Wander through them.
- Do Animation Academy if drawing appeals to you. It’s interactive, memorable and you get a pretty fantastic free souvenir out of it.
- Do at least one Artful Photo Op. You don’t need to pose in every painting. Pick one that makes you laugh.
- Try some festival food. Not 17 dishes. Not every Food Studio. Eat something that looks delicious.
After that?
Choose based on what sounds fun.
Do Figment’s scavenger hunt if your family loves scavenger hunts. Watch chalk artists if that fascinates you. Play Lorcana if that’s your thing. Meet an artist. Spend an absurd amount of time deciding whether you really need that piece of Disney artwork.
Maybe buy it.
I am apparently not the person who should be advising you against this. 😂
How Much Time Do You Need for Festival of the Arts Activities?
This is one of the reasons I think Festival of the Arts can be tricky for first-time visitors.
None of these activities individually takes over your entire day.
The problem is that there are so many little things.
Ten minutes painting the mural.
A drawing class.
Watch a concert.
Browse through a few art booths.
Stop at a PhotoPass stop.
Look at the chalk art.
Indulge in a food booth.
See another artist you want to watch.
Do Figment’s scavenger hunt as you make your way around World Showcase.
Suddenly you’ve spent several hours doing festival activities without ever feeling like you spent several hours doing festival activities.
And I actually think that’s wonderful.
It just means you need to plan accordingly.
If Festival of the Arts is a major reason you’re visiting EPCOT, give yourself room to wander.
Don’t schedule yourself so tightly that every spontaneous stop feels like you’re getting “behind.”
Don’t Let the Festival Take Over Your Entire EPCOT Day
On the other hand, remember where you are.
You’re still at EPCOT.
Guardians of the Galaxy is still there.
So is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
World Showcase is still worth exploring beyond whatever festival booth happens to be sitting in front of it.
There are fantastic permanent restaurants, characters, shows and attractions all over this park.
I’ve actually tested this balance on a real Festival of the Arts day, using Lightning Lane to take some of the pressure off the attraction side of my itinerary. That gave me room to experience the festival without feeling like I had to choose between doing EPCOT and doing Festival of the Arts.
That’s really the sweet spot.
You don’t want the festival competing with EPCOT.
You want it enhancing EPCOT.
What I Would Do on My First Festival of the Arts Day
If I were experiencing Festival of the Arts for the first time, I would start with my normal EPCOT touring priorities.
I’d use Early Entry, rope drop and/or Lightning Lane strategically for the attractions that matter most to me.
Then I would deliberately leave space.
I’d paint the mural.
I’d browse the art booths and stop whenever something caught my attention.
If Animation Academy fit into the day, I’d do it.
I’d pick a few festival dishes that actually sounded delicious instead of trying to eat around the entire park.
Somewhere along the way, I’d take a ridiculous Artful Photo Op picture.
And I would absolutely plan my evening around Disney on Broadway.
Everything else could happen organically.
That’s the part I wouldn’t want to lose.
Because Festival of the Arts isn’t really a checklist festival.
It’s a wander around EPCOT and discover something cool festival.
You turn a corner and someone’s creating a piece of Disney art.
There’s chalk artwork underneath your feet.
Figment is hiding in a famous painting.
Somebody hands you a paintbrush and tells you to add five tiny purple squares to an enormous mural.
And then you wander past an art booth and somehow a gorgeous Belle and Beast print follows you home.
Oops. 😂
That’s Festival of the Arts.
There are a ridiculous number of things you can do.
The trick isn’t doing all of them.
It’s leaving yourself enough room to do the ones that make you stop and think:
Oh, this is why I came during Festival of the Arts.
More EPCOT Planning Tips
If you’re planning a Festival of the Arts day, these guides can help you fit all those festival activities into the rest of your time at EPCOT:
- EPCOT Festival of the Arts for First Timers — Start here for my complete guide to Festival of the Arts, including what to eat, what to see, what to prioritize and how to plan your first visit.
- Can You Still Ride Everything at EPCOT During a Festival? — I tested exactly that during Festival of the Arts, using Lightning Lane to balance EPCOT’s major rides with plenty of time for festival activities. It’s a great example of how you can enjoy FARTS without sacrificing the rest of your EPCOT day.
- Where to Meet Characters at EPCOT — Festival activities aren’t the only way to get your Disney character fix. Here’s where to find Mickey, princesses and other characters throughout EPCOT.
- Best Shows at EPCOT — Disney on Broadway may be one of the highlights of Festival of the Arts, but EPCOT has plenty of year-round entertainment worth seeing too. These are the shows I think are most worth your time.
- Best Rides at EPCOT Ranked — From Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to Spaceship Earth, here’s how I rank EPCOT’s rides—and which ones I’d prioritize when you’re trying to leave plenty of time for Festival of the Arts.
