Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2020 | Top 20 | Walt Disney World | Epcot Festival | Must Do Disney

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts has plenty of reasons to join the artistic celebration.   So, for 2020, what are the top 20 things to do?   Let’s count them down.

Start by arriving via the Disney Skyliner.  With Future World and the main entrance under considerable construction, the incredible views from the Skyliner, along with the newly refurbished International Gateway, make it a remarkably refreshing entrance to Epcot.  As you “skyline” into the gateway, be sure to check out the construction of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.  The Gusteau’s sign was recently installed, and the attraction is set to open this summer.   From International Gateway, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the festival.

As soon as you enter, be sure to get your Festival Passport, Map, and most important, Times Guide.   Check the Festival Entertainment Schedule right away – wait, is that Mickey and Minnie right at the entrance?  It sure is.  Check that Times Guide, the construction has closed Character Spot, but the characters have scattered all around the park.

The Living Statues are near the temporarily relocated Mouse Gear, and if you’re an Annual Pass Holder, don’t forget to grab your Festival of Arts AP Magnet.

3 new films have premiered at Epcot, and they will live past the festival: the Beauty and the Beast Sing a Long in France including the New Tale as Old as Time Stage and Screen Storytelling Exhibit; Canada Far and Wide, an update to the classic Circle-Vision 360 Canadian Adventure; and Awesome Planet, exploring the beauty, diversity and dynamic story of the Earth in the Land Pavilion.

Festival entertainment at the Festival of the Arts continues to amaze.  The Showcase Plaza features Art Defying Gravity, the amazing Victor Espinoza, Disney Performance Arts Showcase, and Visual Arts in Performance – A must-see!

The Green Landing Family Play Zone can be found between the construction walls in Future World East along with Chalk Art Galleries with professional chalk artists at Work Along with Kids Chalk Art where you can create your own masterpiece, and the nearby Expression Section Paint by Numbers Mural, right on the construction wall.

Before you start your journey around World Showcase, be sure to pick up the Figment Brush with the Master’s Scavenger Hunt.  You’ll find merchandise locations, Artful Photo Ops and the festival highlight, art galleries all around World Showcase; with over 40 artists, you are sure to find something you’ll love.  From Classic Disney Fine Art to Star Wars and everything in between, including Disney Legend, Paige Ohara – be sure to talk to some of the artists; each has a unique story and style they bring to the art of Disney storytelling.

Don’t miss Lebendig German rock band and Suroit in Canada, great additions to the entertainment at World Showcase.

For an additional cost, you can participate in a workshop with a Disney artist in a classroom setting, or paint with a Disney artist to create your very own masterpiece.  The Animation Academy is taking place at the American Garden Theater twice a day.  Be sure to check the Times Guide.  After Animation Academy, the American Garden Theater transforms into Disney on Broadway Concert Series where you can listen to your favorite Disney songs from award-winning Broadway shows, performed by Disney on Broadway stars, every day of the festival.

But wait, there are more, 12 FOOD STUDIOS all around World Showcase!!   Each showcasing a combination of visual and culinary art that will have your eyes and taste buds singing:  Pop Eats with its Layered Cake and Pop Art Sugar Cookie, Agave Pork Belly in Mexico, the Paint Brush Churros at the Refreshment Port, Poached Shrimp Salad, Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Chicken Drumstick in Italy, a Sushi Donut or Fish Shaped Cake with Sweet Red Bean Filling in Japan, the Mosaic Canteen in Morocco with Spiced Beef and Mediterranean Flatbread, the Canadian Masterpiece Kitchen with Wild Mushroom Risotto, and Charcutier Plate with Applewood Smoked Beef, amazing desserts at Decadent Delights, or try something inside out at the Deconstructed Dish.. a Rueben, BLT or Strawberry Cheesecake.  For the ultimate in visual and culinary arts, be sure to check out the Painted Panda in China and the Candy Art of Wenbo Zhang, an amazing display of Chinese candy art using sugar syrup to paint intricate animals…  be sure to check availability.  Those are just the highlights….

Of course, don’t miss Walt Disney Imagineering Presents the Epcot Experience at the Odyssey Events Pavilion to get the inside scoop on the transformation of Epcot; and for a limited time run in early 2020, journey through the past, present and future of Epcot with the new limited-time Epcot Forever nighttime fireworks show.

Listen, if you’re a Food and Wine Festival or Flower and Garden fan as I am, you owe it to yourself to add The Epcot International Festival of the Arts to your Disney Must Do List.  If you were keeping track, that was way more than 20 reasons!  Be sure to subscribe for all of the videos and full performances from Trevor Carlson, Victor Espinoza, and more on the Epcot Experience.  Be sure to subscribe for more www.samsdisneydiary.com youtube.com/samsdisneydiary