NEWS: More Details Released on the 2020 Epcot Festival of the Arts

With only two more weeks left of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, we’re starting to get more information on the next festival to come to Epcot – the Epcot Festival of the Arts. Disney recently released more information on the talent coming to the popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series and other offerings coming to the festival. Check out all the details below.

Here are all the details from Disney cast member Jennifer Fickley-Baker:

Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World Resort will kick-off its annual global celebration of visual, culinary and performing arts January 17- February 24, 2020. The new Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine debuts at this year’s festival, showcasing food creations that make you look twice and delight all your senses. New stellar Broadway talent is slated for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, and more special performances are scheduled. The festival fun is designed for all ages, so plan for an outing complete with something for everyone in the family, including three brand-new film experiences that debut at Epcot on festival opening day!

As Walt Disney once said, “Color does brighten things up, doesn’t it?” We say, “yes!” This year’s Food Studios’ menus are bursting with bright hues and flavors, and you’ll have a chance to sample the spectrum of delicious dishes with the reward of a colorful culinary prize. As you stroll the World Showcase Promenade, you’ll be tempted by the creative bites and sips created by talented Disney chefs. Collect a stamp for each menu item you taste along the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, fill your Festival Passport “palette,” then collect your colorful culinary prize.

Plan ahead by viewing festival menus at Food Studios. You can savor abstract fare at Deconstructed Dish and satisfy your sweet tooth at Decadent Delights. The edible options are endless at 12 Food Studios and other festival food and beverage stops.

In November, we shared some of the show-stopping talent lineup for the festival’s popular Disney on Broadway Concert Series, running three times daily at America Gardens Theatre.  Now, here’s the rest of the story:

• 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 – NEW! Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• NEW! 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 – NEW! Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and NEW!Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• NEW! Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott.

All shows are included with theme park admission. The best way to experience a performance is by reserving a Disney on Broadway Dining Package, which guarantees seating for one show on the day of the dining experience. Packages at participating Epcot restaurants are now booking; guests can visit ArtfulEpcot.com or call (407) WDW-FEST to make a reservation.

And remember: age doesn’t matter – art is for everyone! There’s fun for kids of every generation at the Green Landing Family Play Zone. You can pose for some memorable family pictures at several Artful Photo Ops, then paint a piece of our Expression Section: Paint by Number Mural at World Showcase Plaza.

When you join us for festival fun, you won’t want to miss the new films debuting at Epcot January 17, 2020. You’ll see art meet science in “Awesome Planet” at The Land pavilion, which employs spectacular imagery, in-theater effects, and an original musical score. You’ll get to perform as part of the audience at the “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion. And you’ll be surrounded by the visual beauty of northern climes when viewing “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion – it’s a breathtaking update to the original “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score and narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.

While visiting World Showcase, be sure to check out a brand new to Epcot performing in the Germany pavilion, Lebendig (“Alive”), Jan. 17 – Feb. 25. This four-piece pop/rock outfit will delight audiences with its contemporary interpretation of the beloved German Schlager style, including covers and originals.

Save the dates to come celebrate the visual, performing and culinary arts with us during the 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Epcot International Festival of the Arts: What You Need to Know

by Chad and Cindy Nykamp

Disney loves special events and festivals and the latest addition to the line-up in a brand-new festival celebrating the arts that takes place at Epcot. The festival is a celebration of visual, culinary and performing arts. You might be wondering if Epcot needed another festival (this makes four), but the answer is yes! We enjoyed walking around Epcot and taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of this fun, new offerings. Here are the 8 things you need to know about the Epcot International Festival of the Arts.

1 – It’s Time to Go to the Festival

Unlike its first year when the festival only ran on weekends, the Festival of the Arts will again remain open seven days a week from January 17 until February 24, 2020. The hours of the festival are 11:00 am – park closing. Most activities are free, only a few professional artist workshops require an extra fee.

2 – Get Your Supplies

You’ll want to pick up a 2020 Festival Passport when you enter Epcot. If you miss it there, they have them all over the park. This is a very handy guide that will give you all the information you need to make your way around the festival. As with the other event passports, you can check off activities and food items tasted.

Disney also offers a scavenger hunt, Figment’s Brush with the Masters. For a small fee plus tax, you can purchase a map at Pin Central, Disney Traders or World Traveler. During this scavenger hunt, you’ll be searching for a Figment themed picture frame within each country pavilion. You’ll place the appropriate portrait sticker on the right country on the map. After finding all the hiding Figments, turn in the map at Disney Traders for a prize.

3 – Explore Art Galleries Throughout the Park

Throughout World Showcase you’ll find many tent locations featuring Disney and visiting artists. You may see some of the artists in action. These tents have a variety of artwork available for purchase. You’ll also find Pavilion Exhibits.

4 – Disney on Broadway Concert Series

Celebrating the performing arts, the Disney on Broadway Concert Series highlights songs from award-winning Disney on Broadway musicals. The concerts take place at the American Gardens Theater, every day of the week this year. Showtimes are 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm. There is a dining package available for the concert series if you would like reserved seating. For more information and pricing call (407) WDW-DINE.

Here is the lineup for 2020:

• 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 – NEW! Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• NEW! 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 – NEW! Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and NEW!Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• NEW! Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott.

5 – Epcot Living Statues

One of the most interesting activities of the festival is the Epcot Living Statues. You’ll find these statues at the Fountain View Stage and Plaza. Three statues, all with different theming, come to life in the most unsuspecting ways. It was very fun to watch surprised guests and statue interactions. Quite a crowd gathers, but feel free to go up to the statues for a very fun photo opportunity! Check out the slideshow below for pictures of the statues.

6 – Strike a Pose

If you’ve always wanted to be in a painting, now is your chance. Disney has created life-size portraits that you can step into. Think you can smile as good as Mona Lisa? Or cross the Delaware River as stoically as George Washington? Then plan on stepping in and strike a pose. Disney PhotoPass photographers are there to snap pictures so the whole family can get in on the action. Here is a list of the 2019 locations and paintings:

7 – Food Studios

With the success of adding food and drinks to the Flower and Garden Festival, it’s no surprise that Disney has added “Food Studios” to the weekend’s line up. There are a total of 12 Food Studios that all have different art themes with the food presentation. There are also plenty of additional festival food items that are available throughout World Showcase. Festival food and drink prices vary. Your Disney Dining Snack credits would be well used here, though not all items are eligible as snack credits. Check the menu boards to see if it qualifies as a snack credit.

8 – Festival of the Arts Merchandise

What would be an Epcot festival without the opportunity to purchase event merchandise? All throughout the park, you’ll find event merchandise that includes Tervis tumblers, hats, t-shirts, posters and more. Festival Merchandise can be found all over the park.