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Greetings fellow Rope Droppers,
Epcot really leans into festivals these days, so of course we’re geeking out over new deets on the first festival of 2026.
This week’s 4-min read gets into that, plus ongoing DAS displeasure, and new cabanas on Castaway Cay.
Gabe
Disney Parks Blog
Festival of the Arts has its dates, its stars, and its Figment ready to go. Disney has confirmed that the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will run for almost six weeks from January 16 through February 23, bringing visual, culinary, and performing arts back to World Showcase with chalk art, photo ops, and the Disney on Broadway concert series included with park admission.
Headlining the return is Disney on Broadway at America Gardens Theatre, with rotating pairs of performers from shows like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, plus dining packages at more than a dozen restaurants (booking starts December 17) for guests who want guaranteed seating.
Around the park, more than twenty Food Studios will plate up festival dishes and bites. Figment’s Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt sends you through World Showcase to track down hidden frames and a keepsake prize. A big new player arrives with Disney Lorcana activities, including a Collection Quest and Ink and Find card hunt that both end with limited edition promo cards.
For planners, this festival sits in that sweet winter window between holiday crowds and spring break, which often makes Epcot feel like a gallery, a concert hall, and a snack crawl all at once. If your crew loves Broadway, collectibles, or Figment merch, this may be the year to trade a second Magic Kingdom day for an extra lap around World Showcase.
Festival Element | What to Know | Our Take |
|---|---|---|
Dates | January 16 to February 23, 2026 | Aim for weekdays in late January or early February if you want cooler temps and potentially softer crowds. |
Disney on Broadway | Multiple shows daily at America Gardens Theatre, included with admission, with rotating performer pairs and dining packages that go on sale December 17. | If a favorite performer is listed during your trip, anchor that Epcot day around their concert time and lock in a dining package if you dislike long standby waits. |
Food Studios | More than twenty Food Studios scattered through the park showcase visually styled dishes and festival-exclusive bites. | Treat it like a progressive meal, share plates, and start near opening so you are not eating heavy courses right before your Broadway show. |
Figment’s Brush with the Masters | Purchase a map at Creations Shop, Disney Traders, or World Traveler, then hunt for Figment in classic art around World Showcase and redeem for a keepsake. | Great midday activity when queues spike, and a clever way to keep kids moving between pavilions while adults snack. |
Disney Lorcana activities | Expect extra energy in Morocco and nearby walkways, and if someone in your party loves games, give this a dedicated time block so it does not compete with snack studio hopping. | Expect extra energy in Morocco and nearby walkways, and if someone in your party loves games, give this a dedicated time block so it does not compete with snack studio hopping. |
What's your favorite Epcot festival of the year?
Disney’s Disability Access Service changes are now a boardroom story as well as a queue one. After narrowing DAS eligibility in 2024 mostly to guests with developmental disabilities and adding required video chat screenings, Disney is facing both a federal lawsuit and a shareholder proposal from advocacy group DAS Defenders that argues the overhaul harms disabled guests and may be dragging down attendance. (AP News)
Disney has told regulators it plans to leave that resolution off the 2026 proxy, calling it misleading and focused on day to day operations, and saying the issues are already addressed. A recent SEC process change now makes it easier for the company to do that without prior staff review.
Shareholder-focused coverage across multiple fan and investor sites this week frames this as a push for an independent third party review of DAS that Disney is firmly resisting. (Mickey Visit) For guests on the ground, the practical note for now is that the current DAS rules remain unchanged, even as scrutiny around them keeps building.
Myth: Pet insurance claims are too slow
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Points Rebalance: The 2027 DVC charts are out—mostly steady, but AKL Value/Club rooms jump 1–11 points while some Savanna Views dip, and Polynesian sees +1–2 in September and select periods, so double-check your math before that 11-month window opens. (DVC Fan)
Drop-off Restored: Beach Club’s porte cochere is open again, so normal arrivals/pickups are back. Exterior refurbs at Beach and Yacht continue through 2027 (expect daytime noise/walls), and the bathrooms near Martha’s Vineyard remain closed until spring. (WDWNT)
Kali Returns: Kali River Rapids splashes back at Animal Kingdom on December 12 after its annual refurb. (Disney Food Blog)
Sail Away Gifts: Disney Cruise Line rolled out a shareable Sail Away Gift link so friends can buy onboard credit for your stateroom. Bonus: the Onboard Gifts catalog just expanded for Disney Adventure sailings from Singapore with new drink packages, romance add-ons, and family bundles (Disney Cruise Line Blog)
Refurb Radar: Kidani’s first refurbed DVC rooms open Dec 12. Expect fresh furniture, lighting, and Murphy beds where they fit, but availability will be tight and requests aren’t guaranteed. (DVC Fan)
Cabana Shuffle: Castaway Cay’s Family Beach Cabanas are now Sandcastle Cabanas on the updated map, plus new Mickey & Minnie Cove Cabanas near Serenity Bay and Hangar 98 BBQ replacing Serenity Bay BBQ. (Disney Cruise Line Blog)
And finally, isn’t AI crazy? Instagram user @parkhopnation created some pretty wild “selfies” with Disney royalty via Nano Banana, and you’ve gotta scroll through these!
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