There were plenty of oddities to see today at the International Festival of the Arts at Epcot. I never thought I’d see an eight-hour line for a bucket of popcorn, but there it was. People lined up in a queue that wrapped through the park, hoping to acquire a plastic dragon head that didn’t even come with popcorn anymore… instead, a plastic spork was substituted once the edible option ran out. Both the popcorn bucket and the spork are selling on eBay now for hundreds of dollars. Pardon me if I don’t understand it. The bucket is seemingly more popular than Flight of Passage was when it first opened. Go figure…
After waiting 45 minutes for the Figment popcorn bucket, a lovely woman just gave one to my friend’s daughter. #Epcot #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/NCzOCuANZP
— Rick Dougherty from Tall Guy Talks Travel (@rick_ear) January 14, 2022
They might call it the “Festival of the Arts”, but it seems to me to be just an excuse for food and alcohol. Everyone is going around to eat deconstructed sandwiches and foods with little colorful sprays of sauce, blue food colored margaritas, and “50th celebration” cakes that are inevitably adorned with something shimmery. Other than a few locations to purchase paintings, an interactive mural, and some small bits of chalk art, there’s really not a lot of art going on here. But maybe that doesn’t matter? Most people seem happy to be out and about, and let me tell you: there are multitudes of people out and about at Epcot this year.
They’re all congregated around the World Showcase, but the Festival of the Arts on January 15th was ridiculously crowded. Lines for food items often stretched for more than an hour’s wait. The delicious sushi donut should have had a Lightning Lane option. With so many people around the lagoon, there simply is not enough capacity to handle the throngs of guests in a way that keeps the experience positive. On more than one occasion, it became obvious that people were frustrated with the huge queues. It makes it difficult to “eat around the world” or try all these avant garde dishes if each one has at least a thirty minute wait time.
It would be nice to have more art-themed experiences during the weekend-only festival. Living statues would be a great addition, or perhaps a class on painting that guests could participate in. As is, you really have to search for the art part of the festival that is supposed to be all about beauty. Yes, the rainbow adverts are everywhere, and yes the Spaceship Earth Rainbow Connection display is fine (except few ever see it because it’s only played on the side few guests are watching). I miss being able to access the Wonders of Life pavillion for more festival opportunities, and they need to come up with a plan in the future, even if half the park is under construction. I’m not exaggerating when I say that World Showcase was packed shoulder to shoulder while the other parts of Epcot were like a ghost town.
NEW VIDEO: Muppets "Rainbow Connection" Show on Spaceship Earth – EPCOT International Festival of the Arts 2022! #ArtfulEPCOT #WaltDisneyWorld #RainbowConnection
VIDEO: https://t.co/aYVk6qoJDG pic.twitter.com/1GhouL2KyF
— Jeff Lange (@JeffLangeDVD) January 15, 2022
As I’ve established, the festival is mostly an excuse to eat and drink. So what’s good around the world? Some of the best things I had and saw were the deconstructed BLT, the sushi donut, the scallops over at the American Adventure, and a mushroom risotto in Canada. I don’t really recommend the drinks, as they’re so ridiculously overpriced that it’s just silly when you can grab specialty drinks at the standard locations. The normal gelatos in Italy are better than almost any dessert or drink you’re going to find at a temporary kiosk. The exception to that is the Donut Box, which is hidden near Test Track. Because of its seclusion, there’s almost nobody in line… and though they don’t have sushi donuts, they do have great, sugary pastries. When considering the queues for other desserts, it’s a win-win to walk straight to the cashier.
To review the festival, I’d say that if you’re going for artsy edibles, you’ll have a relatively good time if you are okay with long waits. If you want Disney-themed fine art at exorbitant prices, you can find that. But honestly, I would recommend you just go to Epcot on a weekday when the festival isn’t in full swing. I don’t think you’d be missing much, and the lines will be manageable.
Did you go to Epcot in the last two days? Do you understand the Figment popcorn craze? Let us know in the comments below!
