Here are 10 things to do at Epcot's International Festival of the Arts

Epcot, the Disney park known for inventive food and spectacular displays, is at it again. 

Visual arts, culinary arts and performing arts are the three pillars supporting the second Epcot International Festival of the Arts, which opened Friday and runs through Feb. 19.

"It's bigger, brighter, better than ever," said Melissa Valiquette, vice president of Epcot, in welcoming press to an opening day media event.

Last year, festival events only took place on weekends. This year, the fun lasts seven days. Food stations have expanded from eight to 13, and the Disney on Broadway Concert Series features three performances a night on Disney weekends (that's Friday through Monday).

There's so much to see, do and taste, it can be overwhelming. For example, don't pass up a chance to try the Deconstructed Cheesecake at the Deconstructed Dish in the Showcase Plaza. It's as delicious as it is beautiful.

And prepare to be awed if you catch an Art Defying Gravity performance at the Fountain View Plaza. It's an amazing display of strength, flexibility and balance.

You can't go wrong strolling through the park and taking it all in, but if you're a planner and need some direction, here are 10 must-dos. We've broken them down for kids and grownups, but we're all kids when it comes to Disney, right?

5 things kids will love

1) Explore the art. Pick up a festival passport at the entrance of the park. It will be your guide for the day. Turn to Page 25 to find instructions for the Art Walk. Visit countries in the World Showcase, to learn about the art of that culture. The passport has a place for kids to design their own art with instructions like, "Look for the Art Walk palette inside the Mexico Folk Art Gallery to make your own Sugar Skull." The passport also has stickers inside, which are great for entertaining the younger set during the ride home.

2) Pop't Art. This is a modern take on the toaster favorite. Epcot chefs fill two sugar cookies with strawberry filling. It's sweet, colorful and delicious. Find the Pop't Arts at the Pop Eats in the Showcase Plaza.

3) Design your own T-shirt. Brad Palkevich and his team from Enemy Ink are set up to help guests create their own festival T-shirts. "I'm a former cast member," said Palkevich. I never thought I'd have an actual printing press on site at Disney." Kids (and grownups, too) can pick the color and logo and can watch while their shirt is created. Annual passholders have special logo options. Shirts start at $29.

4) 3-D Chalk Art. Located at Future World East, this area is covered in color. Watch chalk artists create images that seem to step out of the pavement. Or grab a piece of chalk and make your own magic.

5) Expression Section. While chalk art washes away, the Expression Section in the Showcase Plaza lets guests make a more permanent mark on the festival. Think of it as a giant paint-by-number mural. Grab a brush and a dollop of paint, and find your number. This is a good one to do early in the day so you can stroll back by later and check out the progress.

5 things adults will love

1) The art and the artists. Tents are set up throughout the World Showcase in the park, and they're all stuffed with works by Disney artists from around the world. The artists are there, painting and chatting with guests. If you love Disney and love art, you'll love strolling through these pop-up galleries.

2) Seared Corvina. The full name of this dish is Seared Corvina with Braised Ratatouille and Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc. It's delicious, made with flaky, mild fish nestled atop fresh, crisp vegetables. And that beurre blanc? Amazing. Find it at Cuisine Classique in Germany.

3) Design your own scarf. Joanie and Gregg Dean and other artists with Artistic Marbling help guests design their own colorful silk scarves using a marbling technique. Even if you don't want a scarf, it's fascinating to watch, as they float the dyes on liquid, rake and swirl it into intricate patterns, then soak up the color with a swath of white silk. Scarf packages start at $59.

4) Disney on Broadway concerts. Stars from Disney productions such as "Newsies," "Tarzan" and "Aladdin" perform three shows nightly Friday through Monday in the American Gardens Theatre. Dining packages and reserved seating are available for an extra charge. 

5) Masterpiece Photo Ops. Imagine yourself in Edvard Munch's "The Scream" or posing as the Mona Lisa. Masterpiece booths set up throughout the park give you the opportunity to do just that. OK, this is fun for kids, too. Where else can you turn the whole family into a classic?

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts runs through Feb. 19. For more information, visit disneyworld.disney.go.com.

Email Leonard at sleonard@floridatoday.com.

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