Opinions on Epcot Arts Festival?

[DopeyDame]

Adding to the chorus of "it was fine, but nothing to plan a trip around"
We were there on Monday and it was nice to have some extras around the park, but nothing that we would go out of our way to see or do again. (We didn't go to the Broadway concert - I actually wanted to, but was overruled by DH and little kids

 

[Dashcomplete]

Yes, especially on a Saturday. We got in line for the 5:30 about 4 last Saturday, which was too early but we ended up in the front (covered) section with a great view. If you get there by about 4:45 it will be mostly full, because they hold like half the seats for the reserved AP seats and other "ticketed" reserved seats (not sure what they were but they had a separate entrance). We went the first time (but it was a Monday) around 5 and ended up standing and waiting in a corner where they held us until they finally released those seats (honestly at like 5:27). The second time we got there around 4:45 and were held in the line outside for a bit (this was a Friday) but eventually ended up with decent seats. I would shoot to get there by 4:30 if you're willing to sit and wait (you can always have one member of your party leave for drinks, restrooms, etc.). If it's not that important, I would probably show up around 5:15 and just assume you'll get a seat somewhere once they fill in all the reserved sections.

thanks for sharing. do you know if they are very strict about enforcing the reserved seating areas? I have reserved a seat with my AP but my mother who does not have an AP does not. my default plan is just to wait with her and sit in the non-AP area but was wondering if we may have success trying to bring her into the AP seating area using my reservation.

 

[marciemi]

thanks for sharing. do you know if they are very strict about enforcing the reserved seating areas? I have reserved a seat with my AP but my mother who does not have an AP does not. my default plan is just to wait with her and sit in the non-AP area but was wondering if we may have success trying to bring her into the AP seating area using my reservation.

I didn't have it for any of the concerts I went to but I saw people squeezing in with others in every section constantly. I would bet if you ask nicely they'll be fine with it, especially since they have so much extra seating there.

 

[Dashcomplete]

I didn't have it for any of the concerts I went to but I saw people squeezing in with others in every section constantly. I would bet if you ask nicely they'll be fine with it, especially since they have so much extra seating there.

cool. thanks for your advice!

 

[Gina Starr]

Hi All,
We are planning on going to the 5:30 concert this upcoming Saturday. Do you recommend lining up for it? If so, how early in advance should we get in line. We don't really care that much about the seats... we just want to get 2 together.
Thanks!

We saw the 5:30 show on the Sunday of the first weekend. We got in line about 45 minutes early and it looked like there was a lot of people in front of us. Having never seen a concert there, I was actually worried we wouldn't get a seat. There was plenty of seats available. If you want to be under the cover, I would get there about an hour early. We were some of the first ones routed to the section behind the covered area. But if you don't care about seats, you could honestly show up right before it and probably get a seat. Or even just listen from outside the theater.

 

[Dashcomplete]

We saw the 5:30 show on the Sunday of the first weekend. We got in line about 45 minutes early and it looked like there was a lot of people in front of us. Having never seen a concert there, I was actually worried we wouldn't get a seat. There was plenty of seats available. If you want to be under the cover, I would get there about an hour early. We were some of the first ones routed to the section behind the covered area. But if you don't care about seats, you could honestly show up right before it and probably get a seat. Or even just listen from outside the theater.

THANKS!

 

[Amw1064]

Hi All,
We are planning on going to the 5:30 concert this upcoming Saturday. Do you recommend lining up for it? If so, how early in advance should we get in line. We don't really care that much about the seats... we just want to get 2 together.
Thanks!

We had passholder tickets and arrived early but only because we got in and out of Via Napoli very quickly. We were there by 4:45 and there was no line on the other side and they had let people in. At 5:00 you would have had great seats this past Sunday.

 

[maranara]

We were there Saturday. Now, to be fair, I have nothing to compare it to - I haven't been to Epcot since 2003 - but we were unimpressed. There wasn't a lot to it, but it definitely made World Showcase more crowded. We didn't try any of the food - DH said "it's food that's trying too hard". I did try one of the speciality coffee drinks (can't remember the name - it was in Canada) and it was quite good. We did the paint by number mural (which my daughter loved) and stood for a couple of the pictures, but that's about it. I didn't understand that art booths - they didn't really seem to fit. It would have been nice if they had brought in artists from each of the countries. And like someone else said, I was overruled on the Broadway concert by DH and DD. We also noticed sections that were blocked off with signs that said that they were getting ready for the Flower & Garden festival - DH commented that maybe they should have focused on the current festival instead of setting up for the next one. I was talking with a CM whose opinion was that the festival was basically adding crowds without adding much value. (he said it was dead Tuesday-Thursday...if I went back during the festival I would do Epcot on one of those days for sure)

 

[jwfla422]

Did anyone notice an Animation Academy (those not familiar...an instructor teaches you how to draw a character)...I see the Anime Drawing Class - not sure if that's what they consider Animation Academy? Do you think this festival made the park really busy because I know Jan/Feb (before Val Day) other than the holiday in Jan. are probably the slowest times at the parks.

 

[labdogs42]

I went yesterday and wasn't blown away. I also felt like it was kind of crowded in world Showcase because of it. The things I did like were the funny prop photos that you could take your picture in and the Figment scavenger hunt. The food booths were a little too "out there" for my food taste, so I skipped those. So, I agree with everyone else -- nothing to plan a trip around!

 

[snchpnz]

I went this past Sunday and I had a great time. I had read such poor reviews of the festival that my expectations were set really low but I actually ended up liking the event. The food seemed to be mostly sweets so I just stuck to the sweet drinks to sort of get a 2 for 1 experience. The drinks were a little weak in the alcohol department but still tasty. I liked the sipping chocolate and deconstructed breakfast thingy. I enjoyed painting the giant paint by numbers canvas and seeing it start to take shape as the day progressed. The paintings you could pose inside of were also fun. I got a few cute pics for Instagram. The art on display was expensive and no different than the stuff you can see at The Art of Disney stores. Still, I like to stop by the stores so it was nice to get to see the stuff while walking around the park having a drink. I saw a few performances throughout the day and finally ended with the Broadway concert which was nice. Although I wasn't fond of the song selections the performers were amazing.

 

[KTR]

We went two weeks ago and I wasn't impressed. I actually started a thread about when to go to Epcot to avoid a festival. But just last night I was telling my husband that the festival would have gone from bleh to amazing if they had made little art galleries in each country with real artwork sampling the styles each country is known for. I would have really loved that and felt like it added to World Showcase rather than detract. They could have marketed Mickey merchandise themed with the paintings too, so they could still get the holy buck. As it was the festival was quite uninspired. There was insanely loud pounding music right at the entryway to WS on the Friday we were there and even the CMs that were nearby seemed put out by it.

 

[kimj88]

Did anyone notice an Animation Academy (those not familiar...an instructor teaches you how to draw a character)...I see the Anime Drawing Class - not sure if that's what they consider Animation Academy? Do you think this festival made the park really busy because I know Jan/Feb (before Val Day) other than the holiday in Jan. are probably the slowest times at the parks.

We have been the same week in January 3 of the last 4 years and this was by far the most crowded. Very annoying as part of why we go that week are low crowds.
I believe the Anime thing is actual Anime, whatever exactly that is, something like comics but not exactly, sorry not much help on that.

 

[Dashcomplete]

Did anyone notice an Animation Academy (those not familiar...an instructor teaches you how to draw a character)...I see the Anime Drawing Class - not sure if that's what they consider Animation Academy? Do you think this festival made the park really busy because I know Jan/Feb (before Val Day) other than the holiday in Jan. are probably the slowest times at the parks.

I believe it's held hourly on the 15 past the hour. There's some mention of it on this board:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/ep...-arts-updated-times-guide-on-post-61.3564482/
And it's on the times guide in post #250

 

[hayesdvc]

I have reservations (AP Passholder) for the 6:45 Broadway show on 2/18. We would actually like to see the show on 2/17 (6:45 or 8:00).

For those that have seen the show so far, one how crowed has it been (my total party is 6 with two being children less than 6) and two how is the show?

If these crowds are nothing like Candlelight Processional or Eat to the Beat, we will just standby for the 2/17 show.

Thanks for any input

 

[hdnwaters]

I was there January 27th. I have been to F & W and tried some awesome food! I was looking forward to the food booths. Nice presentation but I was disappointed in the taste. The scallops we tried had a bitter sauce. We also tried the mini cro-nut sandwiches and they were greasy. The big pictures where neat, needed more of them. I liked the living statues. Then....Test Track shut down! UGH!

 

[freewill]

I have reservations (AP Passholder) for the 6:45 Broadway show on 2/18. We would actually like to see the show on 2/17 (6:45 or 8:00).

For those that have seen the show so far, one how crowed has it been (my total party is 6 with two being children less than 6) and two how is the show?

If these crowds are nothing like Candlelight Processional or Eat to the Beat, we will just standby for the 2/17 show.

Thanks for any input

Sorry I don't know but hopefully someone will be along shortly who can help!