What to Expect: The Animation Academy at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts
As we continue our coverage of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, I wanted to share one of my favorite activities: the Animation Academy. This twice-daily class, led by an animator, allows guests to learn how to draw a Disney character. It takes place each day of the Festival at the America Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion.
I know what you’re thinking if you’ve never taken a drawing class from Disney. You don’t know how to draw or can’t draw well. It’s okay. I can’t either. But somehow, when I’ve attended these classes led by highly talented instructors, my drawing always turns out way better than I could have ever imagined, and I think that’s the general consensus with most guests. So, before we get into the details, I want to stress that the daily times for this experience are limited. It’s also well worth taking the time to attend one of the sessions. Who knows? It might even be the highlight of your day.
Featured artists for the Animation Academy at the 2025 Epcot International Festival of the Arts include:
- Luke Consolo
- Matthew Dewater
- Justin Dring
- Will Gay
- Hannah Loflin
- Alex Maher
- Michael Montgomery
- Sarah Schmidt
- Lon Smart
Animation Academy When & Where
America Gardens Theater Daily at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Only two sessions are offered each day. So, if you want to participate, you’ll need to plan to be in the area and seated early. The theater is also where the Disney on Broadway Concert Series is held each evening.
When you arrive at your desired session, you’ll pick up a clipboard, a sheet of paper, and a pencil outside the theater. You’ll need to return the clipboard at the end of the session. A few cast members stand near the theater exits to help with the process.
You can then find a seat. The theater is pretty sizable, and I think the closer, the better for this type of drawing class.
Here’s a side angle showing how most guests sit toward the front. You can see the sketch on the screens as the artist creates it.
They will provide simple instructions as they draw.
What starts as a blank sheet of paper….
…soon becomes your very own work of art! Here is my sketch of Orange Bird from a previous festival.
Overall, we enjoy the Animation Academy and the festival’s other participation opportunities. For more festival details, please see our guide to the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. In case you missed it, we also recently shared the details of the collaborative mural painting offered during the festival.
How to Participate in a Paint by Numbers Mural at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts
In the Comments
One last mention–If you cannot attend the Animation Academy at Epcot during your visit, you might try the Animation Experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s the same type of class. However, it’s offered year-round and focuses on drawing fan-favorite Disney animal characters! Have you ever taken one of these drawing classes? Let us know in the comments below.
Whether you’re new to the world of Disney or are a seasoned pro in search of a new adventure, their goal is to give you an experience like you’ve never had before. Check with our travel partner, Firefly Travels, to begin planning.
