Epcot 2022 Festival of the Arts Review: New Favorites & Best Values
EPCOT’s 2022 Festival of the Arts officially kicked off on January 14 offering limited-time entertainment and activities, a variety of new kitchens, and, of course, art!
While much of the buzz surrounding the festival has centered on Spaceship Earth’s new Muppets-themed “Rainbow Connection” nighttime tag – and the notoriously long lines for Figment popcorn buckets – we’re all about the food.
After all, it’s just not an EPCOT festival if we’re not eating our weight around the world; and for this particular event, the food and drinks are meant to look as good as they taste.
With that being said, our park reporter Chrissy and our team have visited EPCOT several times since the Festival of the Arts began to discover the best (and worst!) of the fest.
If you’re curious about what to try or skip between now and February 21, here’s an overview of what we’ve sampled so far and our reviews.
Deco Delights
Deconstructed Dish
French Onion Soup – $6.50
It was delicious, but it would’ve been better if it wasn’t cold.
Key Lime Pie – $6.25
Pretty, tasty, and not a bad value either.
Apple Pie a la Mode – $4.50
Chrissy was shocked that she liked this one. It wasn’t as cloying and heavy as you’d think by the description. Plus, it comes in a keepsake cup!
Craftsman’s Courtyard
When it comes to visiting this booth, there are a few things to know. First of all, two of the three items are cast iron-roasted or seared, and you as a guest may pay the price for that while waiting in line.
For example, after Chrissy received her Pâté and the mussels, she was told the trout would be 2 minutes. However, it was more like 9. This meant that her mussels were ice cold when she finally received the trout. It’s just something you may want to plan for to fully enjoy your experience.
Pâté de Campagne – $6.75
While the garnish was gorgeous, Chrissy admits that she just couldn’t manage to eat gray fat-wrapped anything.
Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels – $7.50
This giant bowl of freshly grilled mussels covered in light garlic and herbed tomato sauce was a big favorite and a great value.
Cast Iron-seared Steelhead Trout – $6.75
Tiny, tasty, and probably less lovely because of the wait.
Donut Box
Vanilla Donut – $5.50
This one was pretty, but maybe a bit overcooked?
Inside Out Donut – $5.00
We loved this one! It’s so different and lovely, and the cream was hiding just under a firm layer of icing.
Chocolate-dipped Donut – $5.00
Another pretty option, but also a bit overcooked.
L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise (France)
Sadly, Chrissy and our team didn’t enjoy any of the items at this booth. They were just too small and expensive.
Brie – $8.50
So it looks like the serving size of this one shrunk? This year, it’s basically a tiny roll with a dollop of melted cheese; and while it was good, it’s just not worth $8.50.
Truffle Croissant – $8.00
This item had a deep, musky flavor. While that may not be the best word to describe it, that’s all we’ve got. Also, not our favorite at the $8.00 price point.
Lobster Mousse – $10.50
This dish quickly found its way on Chrissy’s “avoid at all cost” list. The gelatinous texture felt like something out of a 1960’s cookbook.
Chocolate Cake – $7.75
Just too expensive, too small, and too plain compared to other items the festival has to offer.
Gourmet Landscapes (Canada)
Blood Orange-braised Beet – $5.50
If you like beets, you’ll find this colorful display delicious.
Bone Marrow – $10.50
If you don’t want the fuss of preparing bone marrow – or the expense you’ll encounter in a sit-down restaurant – this item is worth considering. It’s also just impressive looking in a Fred Flinstone kind of way. Be aware that bone marrow is a bit of an acquired taste, and whether the $10.50 price tag is a value or not likely depends on the consumer.
Vibrante & Vivido: Encanto Cocina
Now, we don’t talk about Bruno, but we do have to talk about the Festival’s Encanto-inspired kitchen! Ever since this film arrived on Disney+, it’s been having a bit of a moment; and we love that we can relish the hype at this festival and with its yummy food! Seriously, this might be our favorite booth of the entire event.
House-Made Empanada – $6.50
This empanada features spicy filling inside a giant, buttery, flaky pastry. It’s special. It’s delicious. Add it to your list.
Refreshment Port
Goshiki (Japan)
Artist’s Table (American Adventure)
El Artista Hambriento (Mexico)
Huarache Verde – $7.50
You must love cilantro to love this one. Unfortunately, we did not.
Carne Asada – $9.50
While yummy, it might be a little too pricey for what you’re getting.
Chocolate Taco – $6.50
Chrissy was stunned that she would get this one again, especially considering its tiny size and the $6.50 price tag, but it was so neatly prepared and tasty!
Lily – $16.00
So strong and so small, but the Lily is super good and not too sweet. However, at $16.00, it’s also expensive.
I understand you’re trying to be honest, I guess. But this was the biggest bummer of a review. Long wait, complain, small portion, complain, expensive, complain…oh, this was good…complain, complain, complain. Did you realize you were going to Disney World?
We want to try something in each country in Epcot so small portions or sharing a large portion will be the order of the day. We’ve tried this before and I was really struggling to eat any more by the time we got to the 10th country! We really enjoyed it though and everything is so beautifully presented.