DIY at Disney: Art Workshops at This Year's Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Drink around the world, eat around the world and now craft around the world! In its second year, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts celebrates all things artistic, from Disney Broadway performances to learning how to animate. What’s most impressive is the dozens of DIY and craft sessions with Disney artists. The festival runs until Feb. 19 and the final week is chock full of inspiring, hands-on workshops, seminars and demonstrations. Here are our festival favorites.

Learn From Disney Artists

If you’ve always wanted to work at Disney, you’ll love these sessions. Learn animation basics, paint a watercolor still life, see how character topiaries are made for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival or take a peek inside a Disney Imagineer’s sketchbook. You can also schedule an exclusive four-hour workshop with a Disney artist. On Feb. 16, you can paint around the world at Epcot before World Showcase opens. Just having the park to yourself is a perk!
 

Art Marbling

Local Orlando company Artistic Marbling transports you to ancient Japan for a display of Suminagashi, an art technique with floating pigments. You’ll be mesmerized by how you can manipulate the floating paint into hundreds of designs. And after you create your pattern, you can transfer the design onto a one-of-a-kind silk scarf. 

Fun With Food

Learn tricks that will wow guests at your next party with sessions on pancake art and watermelon carving. For Instagram pros, you don’t want to miss the latte art demonstration on Feb. 17. If these sessions make you hungry, there are tons of art-inspired bites around the park, from Mondrian-esque cake to splatter-painted Pop’t Arts.

Artisan Crafts

Love Old World design? Guests can learn about craftsmanship throughout history, from casting bronze to wood carving to live demonstrations with a master basket maker. If you want to get the look at home, the “Making the New Look Old” seminar teaches DIY techniques to age wood and other materials.

Hands-On Wall Mural

Take part in a community mural inspired by your favorite Disney characters. In this giant paint-by-number, you’ll receive a color with a corresponding number. Find 10 of your squares and paint. It’s fun to step back and watch the characters come alive. When you exit, you’ll receive a free postcard with the final mural design to commemorate your visit.

Paper Crafting

There are so many paper craft sessions this year, from making your own blossom to the art of paper quilling to even upcycling your park map into a beautiful piece of art. Don’t miss the 3D paper crafting session on Feb. 15. Guests will learn how to make a shadow box with 3D paper artwork.

Printing

Ever wonder how designs are transferred onto things like posters and T-shirts? Learn all about the custom, printing process from local Orlando screen printers Enemy Ink. You can visit their setup in Future World and see how various colors and designs are transferred onto T-shirts. Design your own custom shirt for a one-of-a-kind souvenir. 

DIY Decor

This year the festival has included numerous, hands-on workshops with take-home keepsakes to display in your home, from teapots to burlap wreaths. The festival even featured a calligraphy seminar with a hand-lettered alphabet to take home and use on future projects, but we’re most excited about the sweetheart-inspired string art workshop on Valentine’s Day.

Mosaics

In addition to colorful mosaics you can spot throughout the park, the festival offers seminars in the art form, such as a lecture all about stained glass. If you love the castle in Beauty and the Beast, you’ll love this seminar about the process of designing and constructing glass hangings. I attended a hands-on workshop and created my own organic mosaic last weekend. I had so much fun playing with dried pasta and beans to create a beautiful sunrise over country fields.

Floral Arrangements

Take your arrangements to the next level with a workshop in floral design. You’ll learn basic design principles and create a Disney-inspired arrangement to take home. Festival designs include arrangements inspired by Mickey Mouse, Finding Nemo, a special bouquet honoring Epcot’s 35th anniversary, and even a workshop on Valentine’s Day featuring upcycling techniques and ways to use alternative materials in floral arrangements.