Walt Disney World’s Epcot has kicked off the 2024 International Festival of the Arts, highlighting creativity in visual, performing, and culinary arts. The festival, running from January 12 – February 19, is the shortest Epcot fest of the year, but it’s our favorite! We were there on Day 1 to taste all the foods the culinary arts studios had to offer, so we can pass our favorites on to you.
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What Is the Festival of the Arts?
Epcot at Walt Disney World is considered by many to be the most sophisticated of the four Florida Disney theme parks, and it has become known for its festivals. If you’re planning a trip to Epcot, chances are good that you’ll visit during one of the four festivals. The International Festival of the Arts kicks off the festival season each year, typically running for six weeks in January and February. This year it will be held from January 12 – February 19, 2024.
During that time, the park is filled with opportunities to get your art on in a number of ways. You can become part of a classic painting, check out chalk art lining the bridge to World Showcase, take in a show by Disney on Broadway performers, paint a mural with hundreds of other guests, or sample the culinary arts from all over the world.
I’m sure you can guess which of those is my favorite! Nom nom nom…
How Much Do Food Items Cost at Festival of the Arts?
During the Festival of the Arts, food studios pop up all over the park, from World Celebration to World Showcase. Each studio highlights a different type of cuisine with a few food and beverage choices. Portions tend to be small (think small samples rather than full meals) but prices are not, ranging from a little under $5 to around $12 per item. Alcoholic beverages tend to be around $15. I’ve listed the 2024 costs of each of my recommended items below to give you an idea of how much plates are going for this year.
Now that the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is back, snack credits can also be used at most food studios. While you cannot use a meal credit at these kiosks, you can exchange one snack credit for any menu item that displays the purple DDP logo next to the food item. If an item doesn’t show the DDP logo, you cannot purchase it with DDP. I’ve notated the DDP logo in the menu below.
How Do You Pay Without the Disney Dining Plan?
When we go to Epcot for Festival of the Arts (or any of the festivals, really) we plan ahead and purchase gift cards for our food and beverage funds. Not only can you use them at most food studios and restaurants in the park, but you can also use them for souveniers or snacks in the gift shops. Costco and Sam’s Club sell Disney gift cards at a 10% discount, so you can spend $90 for a $100 gift card. Target shoppers can get a 5% discount on Disney gift cards purchased with the Target Redcard. If it’s easier for you to bill your purchases to your Disney resort room, you can use your gift cards to settle your bill when you check out, too. Plus, if there’s any credit left over, you can save it for your next trip!
You can also pay in cash or with debit or credit cards. We found it best to have multiple payment options on hand, as some food studio registers were finicky about debit and gift cards. But whatever option you choose, be sure to keep your receipt out after paying. You’ll need it to collect your food!
What Are the Best Things to Eat at This Year’s Festival of the Arts?
There were so many delicious dishes at the Festival of the Arts this year! I found it very difficult to narrow my favorites down to these eight. These dishes were from different food studios, not including beverages. I have a palate for a wide variety of seasonings and textures, and I love trying unique flavor combinations as much as I love tried-and-true comfort foods. I tried to incorporate a variety in the hopes that everyone will see something they’d like to try.
While I try to eat about 90% gluten-free, I do not have food allergies and do not eat according to a specific diet. Despite that, I realize the importance of safety when it comes to food allergies, intolerances, and special diets.
If you have food allergies and are visiting Festival of the Arts in 2024, I highly suggest you print out this 2024 Epcot Festival of the Arts List of Allergy-Friendly Options. It lists food and drinks that are safe for a number of allergies, including (but not limited to) nuts, shellfish, soy, and egg. Year-round restaurant selections are not included in this list. If you are in doubt, it is best to ask before you purchase. Some studios can accommodate your allergy on-site (depending upon severity, of course). For example, a customer before me was able to get poutine without cheese.
Folks that eat gluten-free can follow the above allergy guide for foods that are prepared without gluten. But Mouse Ear Memories has put together a list of items that can be modified to be gluten-free by removing or substituting ingredients. You’ll need to mention that your food needs to be gluten-free when you order, and it’s a good idea to double check before leaving with your accomodated meal to ensure you won’t accidentally ingest gluten.
If you follow a vegan lifestyle, I am sorry to say that there are very few dishes that are suitable for your needs at this year’s festival. This came as a surprise for me, since Disney had announced a plant-based food initiative in 2019 that would provide more plant-based dishes. For more information on vegan dishes at this year’s festival, I recommend following my friends at Vegan Disneyworld.
Without further ado, let me tell you about my personal favorites at this year’s Festival of the Arts. I’ve got some that are old favorites, some that are new and exciting, and everything in between!
Beef Wellington
You wouldn’t expect to find the classic English Beef Wellington ($8.75) in the middle of a theme park, but here it is! Tender and juicy beef tenderloin is wrapped in mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and puff pastry and served with a red wine demi-glace. Mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and simple light greens accompany this wonderfully savory dish, and make the perfect pairing.
Our portion was cooked to the medium-well level and the pastry was baked to a beautiful golden brown. The meat was seasoned well, allowing the flavors of each individual ingredient shine, and the demiglace added an extra zing that really put this dish over the top!
Also available at this studio: Cast Iron Roasted P.E.I. Mussels ($8)
Find it at Cuisine Classique, World Discovery Near Test Track
Sushi Donut
If you’re looking for a sweet, sugary breakfast donut, you’ll want to walk right past this one and head for the closest Joffrey’s booth. But if you’re a sushi lover, this will be the place for you!
The Sushi Donut ($8.75 and DDP snack eligible) at the Goshiki Food Studio is named for its shape, rather than its ingredients and preparation. Salmon, tuna, shrimp, cucumber, and sesame seeds are beautifully arranged upon a donut-shaped mound of sticky rice, with palate-cleansing pickled ginger in the center. A trio of sauces decorate the plate: wasabi aoili, sriracha aoili, and eel sauce.
We found that the best way to tackle eating this was to cut it into more traditional-looking slices, one for each topping. Chopsticks are available at the food pickup window, or you can grab a fork from the cutlery stands near any booth. The fish was delightfully buttery, supple, and as fresh as could be! I especially enjoyed swiping my sushi through all three sauces for added dimensions of flavor. This was such a generous portion of food for the price, I wish this was a year-round offering!
Also available at this studio: Wagyu Bun ($9.75, DDP snack eligible and NEW this year) and Ichigo Mochi — Daifuku ($6.75 and DDP snack eligible)
Find it at Goshiki, World Showcase near Japan
Gnocchi Poutine
I admit it. I was always reluctant to try poutine of any sort. Fries, gravy, and cheese curds sounded more like a dare than a hearty dish. But I found my inner strength when I saw a gnocchi version on the menu at Refreshment Port, next to Canada.
Well friends, I finally drank the quirky kool-aid that they call poutine. Refreshment Port offered Traditional Poutine as well, so going along with the “When in Canada (kinda)” theory, I ordered up both poutines so I could finally see what all the fuss was about.
The Gnocci Poutine ($10) was something I’d love to have for dinner on a chilly night. Gnocchi created the base for this dish, and it was topped with a generous portion of red wine-braised beef (seasoned perfectly) and buttery burrata, along with some cheese curds and a bit of basil. The heartiness of this dish made it one of my favorites, especially since it was such a cool day.
And what about the Traditional Poutine ($7.50)? After tasting it, I can see why it’s a fan favorite. That savory gravy over golden French fries was pretty tasty itself, but when you toss in a handful of salty cheese curds? Flavor melding mania! You’ve got me, poutine lovers! I’m in. For more insight into my poutine experience at Festival of the Arts, check out this Instagram post.
Also available at this studio: Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie ($5.50)
Find it at Refreshment Port, World Showcase on the outer edge of Canada
Tostada de Langosta
There’s nothing like finding a dish that speaks to you, and this fusion of lobster and tostada was practically screaming at me to try it!
The Tostada de Langosta ($8, DDP snack eligible) takes elements of a Maine lobster roll and merges them with classic crunchy tostadas to create a delicious tribute to the sea with a nod to Mexico. A crispy fried corn tortilla is topped with a cold lobster salad, made with chipotle aioli, onions, and mango. Guacamole, and shredded cabbage add to the layers of flavor in this delightful dish, topped off with a bit of hot sauce.
Not only did I enjoy the zingy taste of this atypical tostada, but I also enjoyed its cool temperature. It was definitely a unique dish that has inspired me to experiment with cultural fusions in my own kitchen. The Tostada de Langosta was NEW this year, and I hope they bring it back. 10/10 would get again!
Also available at this studio: Carne Asada ($10.50, DDP snack eligible and NEW this year)
Find it at El Artista Hambriento, World Showcase on the outer edge of Mexico
Duo de Saumon, Hot and Cold
Double your pleasure with this salmon two-fer in France!
While most people rave about the warm brie in a bread bowl at this French food studio, I fell in love with the Duo de Salmon ($14.75 and NEW this year). The two salmon offerings can be purchased separately ($7.95 each; DDP snack eligible), but I chose to save a buck and sample them both. I’m so happy that I did!
The hot salmon, Vol-au-Vent de Saumon et Epinards, Sauce Chardonnay was a warm puff pastry topped with baked salmon and spinach, covered with a Chardonnay and shallot cream sauce. The rich sauce and flaky pastry was exactly what I think of when I imagine French food, and it was every bit as heavenly on the palate as I had hoped for.
The cold option, Saumon Fume Mousse et Aspic, Blini et Fromage de Chevre was a elegant amuse-bouche consisting of a flaxseed biscuit topped with salmon mousse and smoked salmon, and garnished with fresh dill. Isn’t it beautiful? I am a big smoked salmon fan and enjoyed this, but the mousse had a gel-like consistency that some poeple may not find appealing. I am obviously not one of those people because I preferred the cold one.
Also available at this studio: Crème de Brie en Petit Pain – Warm creamy brie in a house-made bread bowl ($9.95 and DDP snack eligible), Moelleux aux Noisettes, Croustillant Noisettes, Coulis Framboise et Mangue – Molten Valrhona chocolate cake, hazelnut crunch, and mango-raspberry coulis ($9.25, DDP snack eligible, and NEW this year)
Find it at L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise, World Showcase in France
Hummingbird Cake
When it comes to savory vs sweet, I usually prefer savory snacks. That’s especially true when I’m snacking on Disney food; savory foods hit just right when I’m in the Florida heat and riding rides. So when you see me posting about a sweet snack, it’s got to be really good!
Hummingbird Cake ($4.75 and DDP snack eligible) is a southern specialty that I’ve made myself and enjoyed both at restaurants and in people’s homes. But this version at Festival of the Arts blows them all away. The banana pecan cake is moist and flavorful, with delicious spice that contrasts beautifully with the cream cheese frosting that coats the cake on all sides.
Normally, hummingbird cake contains pineapple, but this version incorporates the pineapple element as a warm compote that is perfect for dipping, along with the caramel sauce. It’s a party of sweet flavors that had me practically licking the plate!
Also available at this studio: Duck and Dumplings ($7.95 and DDP snack eligible),
Find it at The Artist’s Table, World Showcase in America on Japan side
Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak
Follow the mouthwatering scent of grilling meats and you’ll find yourself at The Craftsman’s Courtyard, nestled between World Showcase and World Celebration, near the Disney Traders shop. That’s where you’ll discover this delicious Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak sandwich ($7, NEW and DDP snack eligible).
All the meat sold at this studio is grilled right on-site. You can watch the chefs at their grills just to the left of the booth. They are happy to answer any questions you might have as they work, or simply enjoy the heavenly aroma as it wafts across the area.
We loved the tender skirt steak and would have eaten it straight off the grill if we could, but we agreed that the sandwich was a slam dunk for value. The steak was served on a grilled French roll with caramelized onion and mushrooms, fresh arugula, then covered with a bleu cheese sauce. It was sweetly garnished with pickle, onion, and sweet red peppers. If you have a small appetite, this sandwich alone could fill your belly. And at just $7, we found it to be the best bang for your buck at the festival.
Also available at this studio: Grilled Pork Belly ($6.75, NEW and DDP snack eligible).
Find it at The Craftsman’s Courtyard, between World Showcase and World Celebration near Disney Traders
Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib
I’m one of those people with a Pavolovian response to the words “short rib”. If I see it, I must eat it. And finding this returning favorite on the menu at Pastoral Palate made my short rib loving taste buds tingle in anticipation!
The 2024 Fine Arts Festival version of Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib ($8.75 and DDP snack eligible) did not disappoint. If you love meats that are so tender that they fall apart with the touch of a fork, you’d want to be first in line for this dish. Not only was the beef a droolworthy large helping that was tender as could be, but the parnsip puree, broccolini, and tomatoes complimented the short rib in nothing short of perfection. I love how light and creamy the parsnip puree was, and it added a beautiful extra layer of texture against the beef and vegetables. It was topped off with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and that sweet, acidic taste brought all the elements together in one glorious symphony of flavor.
Also available at this studio: Black Forest Cake ($4.75 and DDP snack eligible)
Find it at Pastoral Palate, World Showcase near Germany
