Disney announces details for the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Nov 01, 2018 in "Epcot International Festival of the Arts"

Posted: Thursday November 1, 2018 9:14am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World Resort will begin January 18 2019, and will continue for 39 days through February 25 2019.

Disney on Broadway Concert Series expands to seven days a week during the festival in 2019. Each week, different pairs of Disney on Broadway stars will take the America Gardens Theatre stage to sing favorite songs from award-winning Disney on Broadway productions.

The lineup will rotate regularly, featuring music from shows such as “The Lion King,” “Frozen” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Performers this year include:

  • Kerry Butler (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
  • Meredith Inglesby (“The Little Mermaid”) and Steve Blanchard (“Beauty and the Beast”)
  • Arielle Jacobs and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
  • Heidi Blickenstaff (“Freaky Friday”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
  • Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
  • Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)

The concert series is included with park admission; showtimes are 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. nightly. The Disney on Broadway Concert Series Dining Package is available at participating Epcot restaurants and guarantees show seating; package bookings open Nov. 8, 2018, at Disneyworld.com. Reservations can also be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

In addition to the concert series, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts will feature 13 Food Studios, plus additional creative food and beverage offerings around Epcot with an expanded selection of delicious new tastes to savor:

  • The Artist’s Table will feature beef wellington with mushroom bordelaise, fennel cream and roasted baby vegetables
  • Smoked salmon and cream gâteau with egg yolk cream, paddlefish caviar and micro-herbs at The Painter’s Palate
  • Pop Eats! will serve up almond frangipane cake with raspberry and chocolate
  • Red wine-braised short rib with parsnip purée, broccolini, baby tomatoes and aged balsamic will be available at Cuisine Classique

Art collectors and Disney enthusiasts alike will find artwork for sale throughout the entire park, from the Art of Disney store to Festival Markets. In addition, special merchandise will be available at Mouse Gear and other Epcot locations featuring the festival’s logo adorning shirts, mugs, totes and other items.

Activities will include:

  • Everyone’s invited to grab a paintbrush and help create a wall mural along World Showcase Plaza.
  • Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to literally step inside works of art and take fun photos, such as the “Washington Crossing the Delaware” Artful Photo Opportunity.
  • The Paint with a Disney Artist program invites guests to learn under the tutelage of a professional (offered select Fridays and Sundays, including continental breakfast, for an additional fee).
  • A variety of workshops led by professionals will teach different artistic techniques, such as floral design, ink and paint, mixed-media art and more (offered Friday-Monday for an additional fee). As a memento of what they learned, guests will take their creations home with them.
  • Complimentary 30-minute seminars will give guests helpful instruction for producing their own artwork at home.
  • More than 50 visiting artists participating in the festival will be available to meet with guests and share insights on their work.
  • Disney artists’ work will be exhibited across Epcot.
  • Gravity-defying feats of strength, acrobatics and many performing artists are scheduled throughout the festival.
  • International musical and variety acts will share their talents with guests, including the return of Bodh’aktan to the Canada stage and Delta Q, a new group performing in Germany.
  • Guests can join in the fun of Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt by purchasing a map at select merchandise locations.

Details on workshop registration will be released soon.

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I am TimmyFeb 13, 2019

Why do I always miss the best stuff? No matter when I plan for. Hope someone posts pics of her stuff!!! Pleeeaase.........

TrainsOfDisneyFeb 12, 2019

I thought the lighting looked great. You can’t get the looks they were getting (profiles surrounding the artists) without focusing them into the first few rows of the crowd. That’s the nature of concert lighting. The alternative is to keep the artists further away from the stage edge, or have a much more basic light show.

MisterPenguinFeb 12, 2019

Chalk art area for kids... There was an active area elsewhere.

MisterPenguinFeb 12, 2019

Ahhh... no. The performance is for the audience. Blinding part of the audience should never be part of the show no matter how good it looks from a different angle.

MisterPenguinFeb 12, 2019

That whole back row was empty.

MisterPenguinFeb 12, 2019

The living statues at the Arts Festivals appear as different metals and represent FW pavilions!!..

winstongatorFeb 12, 2019

Looks pretty crowded. My whole family would enjoy this, but I don't think the rest of them will make it.

winstongatorFeb 12, 2019

My favorite booth from 2018 was the Star Wars one. An artist was there who had worked on the Wizarding World and more recently Galaxy's Edge. It was fun to just chat with him for 10-15 minutes. I don't remember buying any art that year. This year I was looking for a cap, but the $30 was better spent on the food there. The cost for the festival merchandise gives me pause, but the $8-10 for small plates has me wanting more.

MisterPenguinFeb 12, 2019

Animation Academy, baby...

TrainsOfDisneyFeb 12, 2019

Gavin and Heidi were amazing. It was so much fun to see Gavin perform again (I saw him a few times on broadway and on the national tour) and Heidi was just awesome. I went to all of their shows when I was in town (6 total). As to the lighting, please don’t. I’m a concert lighting designer and I thought the lighting was very well designed for the show. If you don’t want lighting to hit you, sit further back. I also got very lucky with the various artists I saw (they change from week to week).

MisterPenguinFeb 12, 2019

So, I really, really love what they're doing with the Arts Festival. The Broadway show was great. I had Heidi Blickenstaff & Gavin Lee. They did a fantastic job of 'selling' the connection of Disney with Musicals including the Disney channel movies (High School Musical and Freaky Friday). A half hour show so enjoyable. It's nice they're doing three shows an evening every day and alternating talent within the week. Although, I'm gonna have to write WDW and complain about their overuse of backlighting the performers which puts spotlights right into the audience's eyes...

DznyGrlSDFeb 12, 2019

meet Paige on February 14 - 18 - i ARRIVE ON THE 19TH - DANG!!!

Walt dFeb 12, 2019

I really wish we could see her art on here, maybe tomorrow on here?