Festival of Arts - Epcot 2018

Thats how I spent my 40th birthday last year, at the festival. I hope you have a great time.

Thanks! And I agree with your expectations advice. Last year in May we went to F&G for the first time. Nice festival to ease into. We went in October for our first F&W experience. WOW! We had such a great time! I'm not expecting the same vibe at Festival of the Arts but will also enjoy the slower less crowded experience.
 
I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but if you are super-dee-doper excited, you may want to lower your expectations a bit. Last year the festival was a nice change from a normal EPCOT day, but it wasn't very exciting. Hopefully this year they will have more booths, and more actual art and activities. The food offerings are not what I would consider to be kid-friendly, they are meant to be culinary art, it's not the kind of food your kids are going to get excited about.

By all means, go, (I'm glad we were able to go last year), but temper your expectations. This isn't anywhere in the ball park of F&W or F&G.

I actually enjoyed it as much as F&G and much more than F&W. I think it depends on your interests. I am a big Broadway fan as well as a big Disney fan, and enjoyed the concerts more than the ones at the other festivals. I also really enjoy Disney art, and spend a lot of time browsing the Art of Disney stores on a regular trip, so the expanded offerings really enhanced my visit.

Personally, F&W is my least favorite festival. I have actually moved my annual September trip back to the end of August, hoping to avoid it. I agree everyone should try each of the festivals, because you never know which one will end up being your favorite.
 
So are the food booths every day and just the shows Friday - Monday? How hard is it to get into a show? I am looking at Monday 2/12.
 
So are the food booths every day and just the shows Friday - Monday? How hard is it to get into a show? I am looking at Monday 2/12.

I'm wondering how hard it will be to get into also, we will be there the 19th or 20th depending on when we go to the Kennedy Space Center. I haven't done a lot of planning for this trip to Epcot only because it's more of an impromptu visit.
 


I did one show last year and just walked in. At that time, all three shows were the same content, so you only needed to go to one.
 
So are the food booths every day and just the shows Friday - Monday? How hard is it to get into a show? I am looking at Monday 2/12.

I did one show last year and just walked in. At that time, all three shows were the same content, so you only needed to go to one.

We will be there Tuesday, I will come back and update!

I'm wondering the same things, and since this is only the 2nd year of this festival and they've expanded it from weekend-only to all week, I'll be depending on reports from you, @Texans_loyal, and other folks who go before we arrive in mid-February! TIA!
 


I thought last year they offered annual pass holders some reserved seating.

Any word in that this year?
 
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so the free seminars, how long are they? they have what appears to be a 3 hour gap, so I am guessing like an hour and a half each?


Also, if I book the Broadway package.... do you get to still use the TIWL discount?
 
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They are also giving Passholders a free piece of Art.

Not that there will be any left by the last weekend (come on, we all know how this goes...), but IF they are and I upgraded at the gate before entering Epcot (which I'm planning to do anyway - so it's not a "just for this" kind of thing), would I still be eligible? I'd be an AP holder - even if only an hour or so "old".
 
Not that there will be any left by the last weekend (come on, we all know how this goes...), but IF they are and I upgraded at the gate before entering Epcot (which I'm planning to do anyway - so it's not a "just for this" kind of thing), would I still be eligible? I'd be an AP holder - even if only an hour or so "old".


Yes, I upgraded at the gate during F&W and got all the pass holder benefits.
 
They are also giving Passholders a free piece of Art.
where do you see that listed? I can't find anything. both wife and I are AP holders

NM I found it after some digging ;)
 
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I actually enjoyed it as much as F&G and much more than F&W. I think it depends on your interests. I am a big Broadway fan as well as a big Disney fan, and enjoyed the concerts more than the ones at the other festivals. I also really enjoy Disney art, and spend a lot of time browsing the Art of Disney stores on a regular trip, so the expanded offerings really enhanced my visit.

Personally, F&W is my least favorite festival. I have actually moved my annual September trip back to the end of August, hoping to avoid it. I agree everyone should try each of the festivals, because you never know which one will end up being your favorite.

You are not the only one who feels that way. We loved F&W several years ago but the last few years have not loved it so much. We were there this past year on the opening weekend which I thought would be crazy but it actually wasn't (we went Friday EARLY afternoon so I'm sure it got nuts after we left)-we actually walked up to the booths and were able to order right away with virtually no lines...otherwise we stayed away the rest of the festival, LOL!! Weekends are like one big packed Pleasure Island (if you remember what that was like) of rowdy, crazy & many drunk people:( with lines that you wish you had a FP+ for!! We just can't deal with that anymore:(

We liked Festival of the Arts last year. It was more low key and my dd enjoyed the food there much more than the fancy FW options;) It reminded me of what FW & EFGS used to be like (you can actually move around & see things). Also enjoyed being able to see the artwork and participate in some of the the activities. DD loved painting the squares on the wall mural! We will be there in 2 weeks and may possibly do another visit the last weekend. Trying to figure out if you can purchase workshop tickets in advance or not.
 
Does anyone know how it works for the paid workshops? Looking at the 11 am workshops for $39 pp...can/does it have to be reserved in advance? Can't find anything anywhere on this?
 
Does anyone know how it works for the paid workshops? Looking at the 11 am workshops for $39 pp...can/does it have to be reserved in advance? Can't find anything anywhere on this?

I called this morning, you need to pre-pay and make a reservation for the workshops. The number to call is (407) WDW-TOUR. They were a bit confused about the free seminars. Those seem to be first come, first serve for seating.

Children are allowed to attend the free seminars with a parent/guardian.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/e...onal-festival-of-the-arts-seminars-workshops/
 

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