2026 Festival of the Arts: The Strategy Guide

It’s festival season at EPCOT, and Scott and Candice are kicking off a two-part deep dive into one of the most overlooked (and shortest!) festivals of the year: Festival of the Arts.

This episode is not about the menus yet.
This is about mindset, strategy, expectations, and how to experience the festival in a way that actually feels meaningful.

If you’ve ever left a festival overwhelmed, overspent, or underwhelmed, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

Favorite Disney art
Candice shares her favorite piece of Disney art at home. Scott talks about the artwork in his office and the posters that line their bar walls, setting the tone for why this festival matters.

What Festival of the Arts actually is
This is not just a food festival with pretty plates. They break down the three pillars of the festival:
• Visual arts (artist booths, galleries, live signings)
• Performing arts (Disney on Broadway concerts, Voices of Liberty, live musicians)
• Culinary arts (creative and beautiful, but not always the best food)
Plus interactive elements like mural painting, scavenger hunts, chalk art, and PhotoPass art experiences.

Why you can’t “do it all”
You could spend an entire day in EPCOT doing only festival activities and still not experience everything. This is a festival that rewards intention, not speed.

How to prioritize your festival day
They walk through how to approach the festival depending on what you care most about:
• Attractions
• Visual art
• Live performances
• Food
The key takeaway: build your day around what matters to you, not what influencers say you “must” do.

Honest talk about festival food
Festival of the Arts food is often gorgeous, creative, and Instagram-friendly. That does not always mean it’s the most satisfying food of the year. Setting expectations matters.

Smart (and realistic) budgeting advice
• Rank your must-try items before you arrive
• Use gift cards to control spending
• Separate festival food budget from snacks and sit-down meals
• Don’t compare your experience to influencers who are being paid to eat everything

A reminder of what makes Disney different
They talk candidly about why live entertainment, storytelling, cast members, and immersion are the heart of Disney—and why supporting those experiences matters if we want them to continue.

Next week: Part Two – The Menus
What they would order
What they would skip
What sounds amazing but probably isn’t
What’s actually worth your money

If you enjoy thoughtful Disney conversations, honest opinions, and strategy without the hype, you’re in the right place.

And remember… there is always a great big beautiful tomorrow.