Ranking the EPCOT Festivals

[bladiator]

So until Disney creates a new season of the year (Sumautumn? Sprinter?), it looks like they have created the tent poles of their annual EPCOT Festival list.

EPCOT FESTIVAL RANKING 1.0

#1) Food and Wine Festival

• Let's face it, I like to eat, and that's what this festival is all about. And it's the original so it's the most fleshed out of the festivals so far.
• The crowds (especially during the weekends) are brutal. It's definitely something you have to plan carefully.

#2) EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

• My one and only primary reason for making this number 2 is because of the massive additional fireworks that are added each night during this time. I'm pretty sure during my last December trip I made it a point to see at least 5 times.
• Isn't blazing hot during this time of year (usually).

#3) Flower and Garden Festival

• The topiaries are nice to look at. And of course, spring is a wonderful time of year anyway, so it gives me a smile with the warmth and the beautiful flowers.
• Good food -- emphasis are garden freshness is nice.
• Not #2 only because of the fireworks.

#4) Festival of the Arts

• Seems tacked on. Art in general is not that interesting to me, and the art displays seem to really flow out into the walkways more than I would like.
• I'm also not interested in spending $200 on a piece of art. Give me some nice Disney art for an Andrew Jackson and then maybe I'll think about it (but probably not cause I don't want to have to deal with getting that home).

How do you rank em?

 

[dlavender]

My list looks exactly like yours, with a little variation:

1.) F&W - like you stated, its the OG, and the most fleshed out. However, I haven't been too happy with the last two years in terms of "value". Seems like portions keep shrinking (Perhaps my stomach keeps growing?)

2.) Holidays. Sucker for Christmas

3.) Flower and Garden - Visually stunning








Dead last - Festival of the Arts - Very slapped on and almost cringy to me. (Pretty harsh, I know, but I just don't think it's needed nor do I think it adds to the park)

 

[kniquy]

massive additional fireworks that are added each night

Just curios if these fireworks are at the end of illuminations or at a different time? I don't think they had festival of the holidays when i last went so i don't recall any different fireworks. We are going at the end of November so super excited to see what the countries have to offer.

 

[Moliphino]

Just curios if these fireworks are at the end of illuminations or at a different time? I don't think they had festival of the holidays when i last went so i don't recall any different fireworks. We are going at the end of November so super excited to see what the countries have to offer.

It's tacked on to the end of Illuminations and it predates the Festival of the Holidays. It's been a Christmas special for many years, additional fireworks to "Let There Be Peace On Earth".

 

[madchatter]

1. F&W
2. Flower
3. Art (actually really cool) hopefully you guys have given it a chance.
4. Holiday. It’s not really a festival. They just renamed what was already happening to match the other festivals. I do love the illuminations add-on.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So until Disney creates a new season of the year (Sumautumn? Sprinter?), it looks like they have created the tent poles of their annual EPCOT Festival list.

EPCOT FESTIVAL RANKING 1.0

#1) Food and Wine Festival

• Let's face it, I like to eat, and that's what this festival is all about. And it's the original so it's the most fleshed out of the festivals so far.
• The crowds (especially during the weekends) are brutal. It's definitely something you have to plan carefully.

#2) EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

• My one and only primary reason for making this number 2 is because of the massive additional fireworks that are added each night during this time. I'm pretty sure during my last December trip I made it a point to see at least 5 times.
• Isn't blazing hot during this time of year (usually).

#3) Flower and Garden Festival

• The topiaries are nice to look at. And of course, spring is a wonderful time of year anyway, so it gives me a smile with the warmth and the beautiful flowers.
• Good food -- emphasis are garden freshness is nice.
• Not #2 only because of the fireworks.

#4) Festival of the Arts

• Seems tacked on. Art in general is not that interesting to me, and the art displays seem to really flow out into the walkways more than I would like.
• I'm also not interested in spending $200 on a piece of art. Give me some nice Disney art for an Andrew Jackson and then maybe I'll think about it (but probably not cause I don't want to have to deal with getting that home).

How do you rank em?

#1) Food and Wine Festival
#2) Flower and Garden Festival
#3) EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
#4) Festival of the Arts

 

[Dug720]

1) Arts
2) F&W/F&G (seem the same to me)
4) Holidays

 

[FairWahine]

1 - Festival of the Arts. It's the newest and probably why it's my favorite now. So many cool things to do and see. And the food is delicious and also beautiful. I love all of the fun photo opportunities.
2 - Food and Wine. Because it's the OG festival. And I love food.
3 - Flower and Garden. Epcot is so beautiful during F&G.
4 - Holidays. The weather is so good, the entertainment is always great and it's how I get into the winter holiday spirit in hot, humid Florida.

 

[Moliphino]

4. Holiday. It’s not really a festival. They just renamed what was already happening to match the other festivals. I do love the illuminations add-on.

They have added a lot of food booths for the holidays, though. Those weren't around before 2016 or so.

 

[DaisyNY]

1. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays...In two words, Candlelight Processional
2. Flower and Garden - Epcot at its prettiest
3. Food and Wine - love the small bites around the world, but truthfully after 3-4 booths, I'm done
4. Festival of the Arts - Never been...

 

[automaticsoap]

1. Flower & Garden: Epcot is so beautiful this time of year
2. Food & Wine
3. Festival of the Arts: I only went the first year but didn't really partake in a lot of its offerings.
4. Holidays: never been (!) since my visits have never been late November-December. I'd love to make it there eventually.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Is Arts coming back for 2019?

 

[dachsie]

Is Arts coming back for 2019?

Its still listed on the website so I am hoping so as I planned a trip in February for it. I will get all 4 festivals in this next year

 

[Mome Rath]

Is Arts coming back for 2019?

Yes; it was mentioned in an official post, but kind of in an offhanded manner. I believe it was in reference to an artist who is scheduled to be there, so take that as thy will. lol

Rankings:

1) Flower and Garden; much more sedate and beautiful.
2) Holidays; love the holiday food and the storytellers as well as the tag on Illuminations
3) Art; it's new and you can find a lot of different merchandise than normal, and it is at a slower time of year
4) Food & Wine; used to be my favorite, but lately I'm just "meh" about it. Glad if it is there when I go, but will absolutely avoid weekends like the plague, I got tired of the drunks.

 

[fla4fun]

1 Festival of the Arts
2 Holiday Festival
3 Flower and Garden

100 Food and Wine

I avoid Epcot as much as possible during F&W. I don’t drink (don’t like the taste), I am not an adventurous eater so most of the food is not appealing and it’s just plain too crowded. Give me last week when the rides were walk on and the park half empty. I booked specifically to avoid F&W this year.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Having been to all of these several times, Festival of the arts is fantastic. For those of you ranking it last, have you actually been? There's so many cool interactive exhibits and the food booths blow F&W out of the water. It really reminds me of F&W before F&W became crazy.

1) Festival of the Arts
2) Flower and Garden
3) Holidays
4) F&W

 

[bladiator]

I appreciate all the responses ... I feel like I should give Arts another chance ... I had a 14 Month old at the time so maybe just hanging out wasn't as great then and I blamed it on the festival.