The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will return next week.
The Festival of the Arts is EPCOT’s first festival of 2025 and will run from January 17th until February 24th, 2025. This is typically EPCOT’s shortest festival, and there is so much to see and do. This year, there will be new entertainment offerings, an updated Figment popcorn bucket, two new food booths, and new and returning food and beverage offerings. Disney recently released the 2025 menus and our team has some thoughts about what needs to go.
Each year, when menus are released for each EPCOT festival, they are full of new and returning favorites. The 2025 festival will have 17 “Food Studios,” otherwise known as food booths. This year’s Festival of the Arts boasts 56 new menu items, which is so exciting, but after the menus dropped, our team thought some of the new items were questionable and that it is about time some of the returning items rotated out.
Pop Eats
Pop Eats, which is near Port of Entry, is a Festival of the Arts classic. It was even home to the OG Figment popcorn bucket that caused long waits a few years ago. While you can’t go wrong with grilled cheese, and the presentation is fun and artsy, we feel that it is about time that this menu gets an update.
Almond Frangipane Cake
Just like the Pop Eats menu, the Almond Frangipane Cake at Deco Delights has been part of the festival for a little too long. This cake is layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate, and while it is pretty, it’s time for something new.
Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie
Over at Refreshment Outpost, the Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie is another Festival of the Arts staple. While it is fun to “paint” with our frosting, we get it; it is an art festival, but let’s do something different!
Bubble Gum Soft Serve
Swirled Showcase has been home to some yummy soft-serve options, but the new flavor for the Festival of the Arts is questionable. To us, bubble gum soft serve is not something we are craving, but hey, we have not had the chance to try it, so maybe it will surprise us. And we can see it being a huge hit with the littles.
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
Tangierine Café, located in the World Showcase’s Morocco pavilion, has really started to let us down. Although it did not come as a surprise, this year’s menu has no new additions besides one drink. Come on, Disney, let’s shake things up!
Mozzarella Fritta
Italy’s snack offerings over the past few festivals have been interesting. Dare we bring up the nachos from the 2024 Food and Wine Festival? While our team thinks that the Italy booth needs help for every festival in general, we wish that the Mozzarella Fritta did not make its return for the 2025 Festival of the Arts at L’Arte di Mangiare. This dish features flash-fried breaded fresh mozzarella with artist palette condiments, and in our opinion, it is just not that good.
Although we are not fans of these items, who knows, this year’s festival may surprise us! We will be headed to EPCOT to try everything on the festival’s return date, so make sure to stay tuned to AllEars!
A Popular Food Stroll Is RETURNING in 2025 at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts
Agreed but honestly, all the various Epcot festival’s offerings have gotten stale. We need some new and interesting eats. Come on, they used to change most offerings every year.