If you are a connoisseur of the arts, January and February are the perfect times to visit Walt Disney World. But, if you are a vegan and excited about visiting an EPCOT festival for the food options, you might want to skip this one. EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts runs from January 12 to February 19 this year. This festival celebrates beautiful works of art and the artists who created them. They also feature a variety of food booths from around the world alongside stellar entertainment and activities.

Vegan Eats at The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

As fantastic and fun as the International Festival of the Arts is, it left many vegans disappointed this year. Unfortunately, Disney only offered two vegan dishes at this festival. We heard about some potential modifications, like removing the cheese from the beet dish in Canada, and that the sesame balls at the China pavilion may be vegan as-is. However, we couldn’t get confirmation about those that day, so we skipped them. Both plant-based dishes were delicious, and while we appreciate that there was something vegan to eat, it would be nice to see more offerings. For now, here are the two dishes specified as vegan on the brochure.

Wild Mushroom Risotto

Located in the Canada booth, this creamy, savory dish has Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction. We enjoyed this treat. It receives 4 out of 5 Bumblebees.

Stone-baked Moroccan Bread

This item from the Morocco area has been a vegan option for the last few festivals, and while it is delicious, it would be nice to see more vegan options. This snack comes with three dips for you to enjoy: Hummus, Chermoula, and Zhoug. We love them all. Since we just had this dish two times in a row, we decided to skip it. However, in our last taste of it during the holiday celebrations, we gave The Moroccan Bread a 4 out of 5 bumblebees.

Entertainment at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts

There are plenty of fun activities and entertainment options to experience at EPCOT Festival of the Arts 2024, including some interactive art activities, jaw-dropping shows, and beautiful musical performances. No matter what your family enjoys there’s something for everyone.

Disney on Broadway

Disney on Broadway brings live performers from Broadway to you. These stars share their favorite songs from Broadway roles in this exclusive concert series. All performances are in the American Gardens Theatre.

Art Defying Gravity

Watch talented acrobats display their strength, grace, and agility in this gravity-defying performance. You can watch these performances in the World Showcase Plaza.

Visual Art in Performance

Visiting visual artists paint colorful Disney characters as you watch on. These displays are in the World Showcase Plaza.

Musicians

Live musicians bring art to life with music. You can view their art in the World Showcase Plaza.

Fun Activities for the Whole Family at Festival of the Arts

Expression Section: A Paint-By-Number Mural

Leave your mark on a gigantic, paint-by-numbers mural. This activity occurs during the World Celebration from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Animation Academy

One of Disney’s super-talented animation artists will guide you through an opportunity to paint your own Disney Characters. Animation Academy has two showings at America Gardens Theatre at 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.

Chalk Art Galleries

Chalk Artists showcase their unique artwork on the Bridge to World Showcase.

Kids’ Chalk Art

Kids can also draw their chalk creations in the Bridge to World Showcase from 11 am-5 pm.

Chalk Full of Characters

The amazing Chalk Artists also have hidden drawings of favorite Disney characters throughout the World Showcase. Can you find them all?

Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt

Learn about art as you go on a scavenger hunt with Figment. Purchase your map at Creations Shop, Disney Traders, or World Traveler. Once you have completed the scavenger hunt, return your map to one of these shops for a surprise.

Artful Photo Ops at EPCOT Festival of the Arts

You will find seven photo-ops featuring some of our favorite masterpieces. Take home photos of the family immersed in these works of art. Here is a list of each with their location.

“Wish” Storybook – Bridge to World Showcase  

Teatime with Penguins – Bridge to World Showcase  

Forest Scene from “Sleeping Beauty” – Bridge to World Showcase  

“Luncheon of the Boating Party” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir – France 

“Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emmanuel Gott – The American Adventure

“Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci – Between Italy and Germany 

“The Scream” by Edvard Munch – Between Italy and Germany

A Homage to Frida Kahlo – Mexico 

The FARM Buzz team had a wonderful time viewing the beautiful and unique art and enjoyed the two vegan dishes. Disney should consider adding more vegan options to their Festival of the Arts menus next year. We would love to see what fun, imaginative, art-forward, plant-based dishes the Disney chefs have up their sleeves. In the meantime, try one of Disney’s other festivals. They offer one or two more vegan choices than the Festival of the Arts.

Better Vegan Options at Other EPCOT Festivals

We previously visited Disney’s Festival of the Holidays and EPCOT Food & Wine 2023 and found several options. Both of these events were much more vegan-friendly than the Festival of the Arts. After attending these previous festivals, our team was slightly disappointed at the Festival of the Arts. Disney has some creative, delicious plant-based dishes every year, but Universal Studios has been way ahead of the game when it comes to plant-based food options at special events. We cannot wait to see what the next festival has in store.