Oops, We Forgot to Leave Our Weather at Home! A Fantastic Festival of the Arts 2025 TR! (Updated 2/17!!)

[VAtink]

SO happy you did another Trip Report. Not only do I adore your Trip Reports as I travel a lot with my adult daughter, but you were there the EXACT time we were there. We were across the street at BCV. We almost were at BWV and it would have been fun to meet you in the lobby. Would have loved to have met your mom since I'm the mom on my trips!

Aw, thank you! That would have been fun to have met up, oh well, maybe we'll be there the same week again in the future!

The weather was horrendous and I'm from the frozen tundra of the Midwest! Wow!

Right? That was such a gross weather week, I'm just happy the rain finally stopped for our last two days!

 

[VAtink]

Day 2, Part 1: Another Rainy Epcot Morning!​

We got to sleep in a bit this morning. Originally our plan was to hit rope drop at Epcot, however the forecast showed the rain stopping around 9, so we decided we’d rather wait for the rain to end before heading out.

We ended up waking up around 7:00 and made some coffee and slowly got ready. Around 8 we headed to the coffee shop in the lobby since for some reason our room only had two coffee pods in it and we wanted more coffee. We then headed back to the room to enjoy the coffee and the chocolate croissants and wait out the rain.

Around 8:30 the rain had stopped, so we headed out. This time we took the shortcut through the courtyard to get to the lobby and down to the boardwalk and it was SO much faster than walking through the halls, it seriously shaved a few minutes off of the walk!

We made our way over to Epcot, and just as we were entering, the rain started again. NOOOOOO. Stupid weather getting it wrong. Fortunately, we brought our umbrellas just in case!

Once in the park I made a DAS for Soarin’, and the return time was in 5 minutes, so we started to head there. On the way we had to get our usual picture of my mom in front of the tea store!



We then continued on to Soarin’! There was a short wait, but soon we were on! This time we were assigned in C3, but the closest seats to B, so not horrible, AND they fixed the Eiffel tower lean, so that was cool to see! I do miss the old ending though with the fountain of nations, I miss that fountain!

By the time we were off of Soarin’ we were into our LL return time for Guardians, so headed that way.

As we got closer we were shocked to see the line for the VQ, it stretched all the way back through the breezeway between Creations and Connections, I’ve never seen it so long! It turns out they had a little snafu this morning and accidentally called all the boarding groups through like 80 all at once, oops! No wonder the line was bonkers!

At least for the LL there was no line and soon we were on!



This time we got Conga for the song. STILL no Disco! I’m starting to think it’s because we always ride this using the LL so are always on the right sides of the preshow rooms, and then are usually some of the first to exit the final preshow room, so maybe just due to the timing of our exiting that final room we’re not aligning with when Disco is played?!? Maybe? Or maybe that song just doesn’t exist.

Next up: More Farts Food!​

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I am also wondering if Disco Inferno is being hoarded by the song gods!! We rode GotG 5 times during our trip. Each time we were hoping for Disco Inferno. NEVER got it. We did get September 2x (our second fav song), Everybody Wants to Rule the World 2x and Congo once. GotG is my favorite ride of all time no matter the song.

ETA: We always rode with VQ not LL.

 

[Araminta18]

Oh my gosh I feel like we get Disco Inferno ALL THE TIME and it's my least favorite song LOL

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Ugh on this rain but good for you making the best of it. So funny you've never heard Disco Inferno.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Around 8 we headed to the coffee shop in the lobby since for some reason our room only had two coffee pods in it and we wanted more coffee.

They are very skimpy on coffee supplies in some of the resorts. I always call for extra coffee and blankets when we check into the room.

On the way we had to get our usual picture of my mom in front of the tea store!

The umbrella makes it look very "Mary Poppins - ish." It is very cute.

I’ve never seen it so long! It turns out they had a little snafu this morning and accidentally called all the boarding groups through like 80 all at once, oops! No wonder the line was bonkers!

I would hate to have been in that line.

 

[VAtink]

I am also wondering if Disco Inferno is being hoarded by the song gods!! We rode GotG 5 times during our trip. Each time we were hoping for Disco Inferno. NEVER got it. We did get September 2x (our second fav song), Everybody Wants to Rule the World 2x and Congo once. GotG is my favorite ride of all time no matter the song.

ETA: We always rode with VQ not LL.

Haha, seriously! My favorite song is September, which we used to always get, but lately we keep getting I Ran which is my least favorite song (so far....maybe I'll dislike Disco even more if I ever get it!). My mom's favorite is One Way or Another, which we rarely get as well. I do love the ride though regardless of song!

And good to know it has nothing to do with timing/line used. One of these days I'm just going to have to win the lottery and rent out Epcot and stay on the ride until I finally get all the songs!

 

[VAtink]

Oh my gosh I feel like we get Disco Inferno ALL THE TIME and it's my least favorite song LOL

HAA! I feel like that's just how it goes on this ride sometimes, we've been getting I Ran a ton lately and it's our least favorite song! (so far...)

 

[VAtink]

Ugh on this rain but good for you making the best of it. So funny you've never heard Disco Inferno.

Yeah, at least this day did dry off eventually, so not a total washout like the previous day and the following day! I'm hoping this next trip in June we'll finally get Disco, of course in June we're only going to Epcot twice, so have fewer chances, but statistically it in theory should happen one of these rides!

 

[VAtink]

They are very skimpy on coffee supplies in some of the resorts. I always call for extra coffee and blankets when we check into the room.

Yeah, we were surprised they only had two pods! We did request more, and they delivered like 15 to our room later, so that was good at least!

The umbrella makes it look very "Mary Poppins - ish." It is very cute.

Yes! I actually really like this picture with the umbrella, it's one of my favorite tea shop ones from over the years!

I would hate to have been in that line.

Right? I felt bad for the CMs there, they kept yelling that people should only line up if they've been called, apparently they didn't realize yet that everyone had been called all at once! That line must have taken a long time to get through.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Someone got in trouble for that boarding group fiasco. Yikes!!

 

[WDW-WOW]

Day 2, Part 1: Another Rainy Epcot Morning!​

We got to sleep in a bit this morning. Originally our plan was to hit rope drop at Epcot, however the forecast showed the rain stopping around 9, so we decided we’d rather wait for the rain to end before heading out.

We ended up waking up around 7:00 and made some coffee and slowly got ready. Around 8 we headed to the coffee shop in the lobby since for some reason our room only had two coffee pods in it and we wanted more coffee. We then headed back to the room to enjoy the coffee and the chocolate croissants and wait out the rain.

Around 8:30 the rain had stopped, so we headed out. This time we took the shortcut through the courtyard to get to the lobby and down to the boardwalk and it was SO much faster than walking through the halls, it seriously shaved a few minutes off of the walk!

We made our way over to Epcot, and just as we were entering, the rain started again. NOOOOOO. Stupid weather getting it wrong. Fortunately, we brought our umbrellas just in case!

Once in the park I made a DAS for Soarin’, and the return time was in 5 minutes, so we started to head there. On the way we had to get our usual picture of my mom in front of the tea store!

View attachment 936570

We then continued on to Soarin’! There was a short wait, but soon we were on! This time we were assigned in C3, but the closest seats to B, so not horrible, AND they fixed the Eiffel tower lean, so that was cool to see! I do miss the old ending though with the fountain of nations, I miss that fountain!

By the time we were off of Soarin’ we were into our LL return time for Guardians, so headed that way.

As we got closer we were shocked to see the line for the VQ, it stretched all the way back through the breezeway between Creations and Connections, I’ve never seen it so long! It turns out they had a little snafu this morning and accidentally called all the boarding groups through like 80 all at once, oops! No wonder the line was bonkers!

At least for the LL there was no line and soon we were on!

View attachment 936571

This time we got Conga for the song. STILL no Disco! I’m starting to think it’s because we always ride this using the LL so are always on the right sides of the preshow rooms, and then are usually some of the first to exit the final preshow room, so maybe just due to the timing of our exiting that final room we’re not aligning with when Disco is played?!? Maybe? Or maybe that song just doesn’t exist.

Next up: More Farts Food!​

Here now and got Disco. It's the worst song of the ones I've experienced (EWTRTW, September, Conga, Disco). I'm hoping for I Ran tomorrow!

 

[VAtink]

Someone got in trouble for that boarding group fiasco. Yikes!!

Right? I can't even imagine how long that wait must have been!

 

[VAtink]

Here now and got Disco. It's the worst song of the ones I've experienced (EWTRTW, September, Conga, Disco). I'm hoping for I Ran tomorrow!

Haha, so it's probably a good thing we never get that song! I Ran is our least favorite song so far, maybe one of these trips we'll finally get Disco to see how it stacks up!

 

[VAtink]

Day 2, Part 2: More Farts Food!​

We last left off riding Guardians. On the way out we stopped for the photopass picture at the ride.



We then headed over to Creations to do some more shopping.

Now, I had packed relatively well for the predicted weather, I had sweaters and a puffy coat. The day before we flew down the coldest it was expected to be while we were there was in the 50s, so not bad and definitely doable with just sweaters, I doubted I would even need the coat most days. BUT, once we arrived the weather completely changed to be in the 30s while we were there! EEK! That’s a massive difference in low temps, and I didn’t have quite the warm enough outfits needed for that, especially since we were going to DAH in HS that evening and would be out and about when it hit those low 40s and upper 30s.

So while in Creations I was on the lookout for a thicker sweater and a winter hat. I fortunately brought gloves since I remembered last time I was there in January and it was chilly in the morning and evenings the only thing I wish I had were gloves, but that trip the low was only 48, so not bad compared to this trip! But now I realized I needed some extra layers and a hat to keep me warm!

They had sold out of hats at Creations by the time we looked (they did restock later in the week), but I did find a super thick spirit jersey that I ended up purchasing since it looked super warm (spoiler alert, it was too warm!)

I also picked up the festival Lug bag, it screams 1980s so I obviously love it (what can I say, I’m an 80s baby ). I also picked up some monorail potholders, an ornament, and mom got a pair of sunglasses.



This time we did mobile check-out since the regular check-out line was nuts!

By the time we wrapped up at Creations, it was 10:50 so we headed to our first food booth of the day which was already open, Opening Bites!

There was no one in line yet, although there weren’t really any lines all day at the food booths, one bright side to the icky weather.

Here we picked up the Soft Shell Crab Slider, the Enchanted Rose, and the beer flight. Once we had our food we took it to one of the new seating areas nearby.









I will admit, I really didn’t want to try the soft shell crab, that thing just looked so creepy and gross, but my mom raved about how good it was, so I took a bite. I am SO glad I did, it was so good! I still can’t get over the look of it, but it did taste amazing.

The enchanted rose was also delicious, and I liked two of the three beers in the flight.

One funny thing happened while eating. So we were at one of those built in tables in that new seating area in the middle where the fountain used to be, and there were maybe 6 other tables around ours, but for some reason while eating a bunch of people came up to the table we were at to eat their food. It got so crowded we were shoulder to shoulder, meanwhile all the tables around us were empty! People are so weird, and yes, the queuing instinct applies to tables as well apparently.

While eating my phone rings, and it’s a 407 number so I assume it’s Disney, and sure enough it is! Apparently we forgot to take the room occupied sign off our door that morning and they wanted to know if we wanted our room cleaned. I told them we did, and didn’t think much more of it….but this would come back to haunt us later!

After we finished eating, we swung by the art booths that were set up by the Encanto stage. Here I ended up buying a large print of the Mexico pavilion with the three caballeros.



While browsing the art, one of the festival performers started, so after making the purchase we stopped by the stage to watch him. It was Don Black and he was a saxophonist, and he was amazing!
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https://flic.kr/p/2qLUpX4

We all laughed when he played Let it Go and got to the “cold never bothered me anyway” part since it was FRIGID this morning, only 40 degrees! Funny enough, that song seemed to be played everywhere this trip, we kept hearing it wherever we went.

The rain had stopped at this point at least, so while we were cold, we weren’t wet and cold.

Next up: That’s Not How You Hold a Lion​

 

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Day 2, Part 3: That’s Not How You Hold a Lion​

We last left off watching Don Black perform at the festival stage. Once he finished his set, we decided to pop into the Broadway exhibit since we were right there.

On the way over we stopped at the Moana photo op.



Guys, this exhibit is SO COOL! We spent a long time in there reading all the information and admiring the costumes.









We also got pictures with the Genie’s lamp.





They also had a picture with the baby Simba prop, so we got in line to get that picture too.

Most people understood the assignment and held Simba up like in the Lion King…



Then, there was my mom. She apparently thought the goal was to dismember the poor lion!



HAAAAA! I have no idea why she thought to hold Simba like that!

After we finished up exploring the Broadway exhibit, we started to make our way towards WS. We swung by the paint by numbers mural and were thrilled to see it was finally open! It hadn’t opened the prior day with all the rain, and I was worried with all the rain that week it might not open.

Next up: Back to the Food Booths!​

 

[Wood Nymph]

I could see brisk sales of hats and sweaters in the shops of Norway and Canada in the World showcase. You got really unlucky with the cold weather.

The soft shell crab sandwich looked very scary. I don't think I could handle it.

We enjoyed the Broadway show props exhibit, too. We spent a long time in there when we were there.

 

[VAtink]

I could see brisk sales of hats and sweaters in the shops of Norway and Canada in the World showcase. You got really unlucky with the cold weather.

Funny enough, we found hats at Norway and got one there!

The soft shell crab sandwich looked very scary. I don't think I could handle it.

Yeah, I can't get over how it looks, I'm glad my mom ordered it so I could try it though.

We enjoyed the Broadway show props exhibit, too. We spent a long time in there when we were there.

This exhibit was really well done, we loved reading all the info there and checking out all the costumes and such.

 

[VAtink]

Day 2, Part 4: Back to the Food Booths!​

We last left off heading to the paint by numbers mural.

There was a short line for it this morning, but compared to later in the week when the sun finally came out, the line was practically non-existent.

This was a lot harder this time around, not so much the painting part, but actually finding our numbers! I had 14, and there were zero 14s in the area we were assigned. I finally found some in the area next to ours, and the people there graciously let me join them to do some painting.




My mom had the light purple/gray-ish paint, you can see her squares next to all the green ones. I had the super dark purple you can see just over the line on the far right to the next painting spot.

After finishing our paint by numbers squares, we made our way into the WS. Our first stop this time was Canada!

We ended up getting the wild mushroom risotto, the citrus-braised beet tartare, the radler, and the frozen scotch cocktail.





We really liked the food here, I especially loved the risotto, the radler was also really good, but the frozen scotch cocktail was just ok.

After finishing up our food, we made our way over to Mexico!

On the way over we stopped at a photopass photographer!



Here we swung by the food booth, which was the only one with a line this day, albeit a very very short line (took maybe 2 minutes?). We ordered the carne asada and the natilla de maiz.

We took our food to a nearby table (again thank you icky weather for keeping the crowds away so we could easily find tables!).





The carne asada was really really good. One of my favorite dishes from the festival. The natilla de maiz was just ok. It basically tasted just like popcorn, it even had popcorn on top, but the texture of flan. So it wasn’t so much a taste issue but more of a texture issue for me.

After finishing up in Mexico we made our way to Norway to use the DAS we had booked earlier for FEA.

We got lucky and were assigned the first row!



After the ride we browsed the store a bit and I continued my search for a winter hat. I suspected Norway would have them, and sure enough they did! So I got myself one, and thankfully it wasn’t horribly expensive, at least the one I got, they had some that were like $100, but I found one that was only $30, and I think we got the AP discount too, so not bad.

We also picked up a bar of chocolate, we decided we wanted to try chocolate from each country, which became a fun challenge to complete!

Once we finished up with our shopping, we continued our way around WS.

Our next stop was the food booth in Germany where we picked up the red wine-braised beef short rib and the play on rose flight. I’ve had these before and loved them so couldn’t wait to get them again.





These were once again delicious, these also made it to our best of the fest list! I will note though that I could have done without the froze, it was a bit too cold for that this day!

After eating we popped into the store there to get some more chocolate to try out.

At that point we were getting really tired, and since we had a super late night coming up, we decided it would be best to head back to the room for some midday naps.

On the way back we did swing by the coffee place in the lobby to grab some fruit and juice for breakfast the following day.

We made our way back to our room, only to find it was being cleaned! NOOOOOOO!!!!

I suddenly regretted telling Disney when they called that we wanted our room cleaned. Oh well.

At least it wasn’t raining anymore, and our room was right next to the quiet pool and the stairs to get down there, so we headed down there to sit at a table and wait for our room to be ready. We could see into our room so when the lights were turned off we assumed they were done, but I went up to check before we lugged all our packages up with us.



Sure enough they had finished so I ran back down the stairs to fetch my mom and all our bags. The wait was only about 15 minutes, so not horrible, and it was nice we had a place to hang out nearby to wait.

Next up: Even More Food Booths!​

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Trying chocolate from every country? What a great idea. I might have to steal that in May.