Seminars and performers for inaugural EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is a brand new experience added to the park in 2017. Not only will guests get to see, hear, and taste the best of the art world, there will be special events and experiences available to guest attendees. Disney has now made a number of those events available to book as of tonight.

The festival itself runs over 6 weekends and each weekend will have a number of interactive workshops like the Gesture Drawing Class, led by former Disney animator Todd Bright. This is a great foundational class for animators, illustrators, and storyboard artists. Or try Todd’s Story Telling Drawings class to learn the art of quick sketching from life.

Other workshop opportunities include watercolor painting, mixed media art, calligraphy and floral arrangements. The interactive workshops each cost $39 plus tax and run Friday-Monday.

In a way, this reminds me of some of the Disney Institute classes that used to be offered to Disney guests year-round at the permanent facilities over where Saratoga Springs is now.

Like during Food and Wine and the Flower and Garden Festival, there are also dining packages for the Disney On Broadway inspired concert series. Speaking of the concert series. Here are the performances you can expect to see:

• Jan. 13-16 and 20-23: Ashley Brown and Josh Strickland performing songs from: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid
• Jan. 27-30 and Feb. 3-6: Kerry Butler and Kevin Massey performing songs from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Newsies and Aladdin
• Feb. 10-13 and 17-20: Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White performing songs from Disney’s The Lion King, Aida, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid

Performances will be 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday through Monday of each festival weekend.

Events start on January 13th and run through Feb 20. More opportunities will be listed on the Festival website soon, meanwhile check out this preliminary list. DVC and AP discount is 15%.