Creating your own magic at Disney World’s new art festival

My daughter was posing in front of the Mona Lisa. She had seen so much fascinating art throughout the day, and made it a point to imitate the subject of each piece. Now, she had Mona Lisa’s famous smirk down pat, with one side of her mouth curled up and an eyebrow cocked just so. But her sparkly princess dress made it difficult to fully replicate the purple dragon’s posture.

We clearly weren’t at the Louvre in Paris, even though the Eiffel Tower was just a short walk away. And although we were admiring an original Mona Lisa, it was not a DaVinci – it was a Disney.

That purple posing dragon, that was Figment, Walt Disney World’s cartoon embodiment of the imagination. And his likeness was not just instilled into the Mona Lisa. He was also bellowing on a bridge in Munch’s The Scream and crossing the Delaware with George Washington in Emanuel Leutze’s masterpiece.

Figment has been a fixture around Walt Disney World’s Epcot for years, starring in rides and encouraging kids to create. But this winter, Figment took center stage as Walt Disney World introduced its inaugural International Festival of the Arts, hosted at Epcot from January 13 through February 20, 2017.

The International Festival of the Arts was the newest addition to Epcot’s growing slate of seasonal happenings, and it filled the mid-winter gap in the same way the International Food and Wine Festival highlights the fall and the International Flower and Garden Festival brightens up the spring. With new lands, rides and offerings under construction at other Walt Disney World properties, these types of special events give Epcot an enticing freshness.

The arts festival, though, was unique in that it endeavored to enable as well as entertain, infusing every detail with an inspired dose of the imagination.

By opening day, vibrantly colored signs, vendor stalls and performing areas had popped up. Each character meet and greet photo spot was now adorned with a specialized painting of the spot’s character. A Figment topiary greeted guests near Spaceship Earth. And scattered around the park were enlarged, life-sized renditions of some of history’s greatest paintings – with a twist. They were layered and open-backed so that guests could enter the frames, pose for a photo and become a part of the art.

The festival brought together an array of creative mediums – from painting and drawing to music and singing to performance and culinary art – to celebrate all art forms and the power of the imagination.

Sidewalk chalk artists – a la Bert from Mary Poppins – scribbled their way around the pavilions’ pavement. Moving statues ringed the Fountain View stage. Booths highlighting artwork from Disney artists encircled the central World Showcase lagoon. A flash painter, with rapid and precise brush strokes, created a Donald Duck portrait within moments in front of a cheering crowd. Acrobats flipped and tumbled in China while School groups sang in the Odyssey pavilion.

Food vendor stalls were transformed to serve innovative dishes and flamboyant fare. There was a slice of color-blocked almond cake and a deconstructed Reuben sandwich arranged in a ring of puff pastry. Of course, inventive alcoholic beverages abounded as well, from coffees to margaritas.

In the America pavilion’s theater some of Disney’s own Broadway stars held a series of medley shows. We enjoyed Ashley Brown, who played Belle in Disney’s 2005 production of Beauty and the Beast and then the original Mary Poppins in 2006; and Josh Strickland, who starred in the title role of Disney’s Broadway rendition of Tarzan. They performed songs from Frozen, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid and others.

Walt Disney World’s daily park shows already employ some extremely talented performers. But to hear professional Broadway stars was an elevated plane of excellence: a rare and mesmerizing treat that captured almost every patron who strolled past the outdoor stage.

Yes, art was everywhere – but not merely finished products. The theme of the festival revolved more around engaging in the process rather than the framed result. The festival featured an extensive schedule of demonstrations, classes and workshops, as well as interactive experiences for younger guests.

We searched for Figment Mona Lisa and the other Figment-ized paintings as part of Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt, which encouraged kids to explore each Epcot country and engage with artists who showed off the methods and styles of their homelands. For a nominal fee, we purchased a map and stickers to guide us around the World Showcase and once we found all of Figment’s paintings, we received a souvenir magnet.

The art installations in progress were also fascinating features.

For example, lining one of the walkways was a long, blank canvas about six feet high that curved with the path itself. On opening day, light pencil sketches swooped over the white surface. Later in the day, two artists were furthering the outlines and filling in with bright blue and green paint. I stopped to chat with the painters and learned that they were locals hired to work outside for the duration of the arts festival, painting each day on this expansive backdrop. They showed me a template of what the final, massive painting would be – a beautiful, bright abstract painting of peaks, valleys and wave-like designs, very much in theme with Epcot and its focus on nature and technology.

In museums, we always see the final product behind a frame. But to witness artists at work, and watch the painstaking process of planning, sketching and precision evoked a deeper appreciation. What was to become of the gigantic piece of art? According to the painter, at festival’s end it would be sliced up, mounted and put up for sale.

That wasn’t the only enormous, blank canvas on site, though. Another canvas ran along the main walkway, and it had a different purpose. This second one was a paint-by-number landscape for guests to fill in. 

Cast members handed guests small foam brushes and specific cups of paint. Each paint color corresponded to numbers on the canvas. By the end of the day, the mural was still unrecognizable, even though color splotches scattered across the elongated canvas. But a couple days later, the scene had taken form – an abstract, vibrant landscape of Epcot itself, complete with the golf ball Spaceship Earth, a swooping monorail and other noticeable landmarks.

Most every guest takes something home from Walt Disney World, but this was the first time my family and I got to leave something behind (other than the contents of my wallet). It was my family’s favorite festival offering.

With the International Festival of the Arts, Walt Disney World, with some help from its guests, chiseled out a masterpiece – a memorable way to be part of the magic.

 

 

 

 

Key West Comes Home

Something about Key West stays with you long after the sounds of ocean waves and

rollicking tiki bars dissipate into everyday hustle and bustle.

It’s a feeling, a state of mind that you absorb like rays of sunshine – osmosis for the soul.

If you’re lucky it dawdles deep into post-vacation, which is appropriate because nothing

and no one in Key West moves quickly.

The lingering effects of the Conch Republic are also tangible. I don’t mean souvenirs,

although I’ve brought home some extraordinary tropic wines from the Key West Winery,

white vintages from the Keys flavored with pineapple and mango. I mean the kind of

thing you look at every day, or invite people to enjoy with you so that they, too, can

indulge in the relaxation and rejuvenation that come so readily in the Florida Keys.

My love of Key West began in 2006 when my then-girlfriend (now wife) Danielle and I

made our first visit. We didn’t know what to expect, other than the stories from friends

who swore by the romance and fun that awaited us at the end of Route 1.

Falling in love was easy. We both were infatuated from the start. It began with our hotel,

Southernmost, which sits at the southern end of Duval Street, Key West’s main drag. The

opposite end of Duval Street, packed with bars and bands, can get rowdy and loud, but

Southernmost was far enough away with a private beach and tiki bar, to let the relaxation

seep in; but close enough that a quick walk put you mid-excitement.

On that first trip we explored the island tip to tail: we ate conch fritters and key lime pie;

absorbed the famous sunsets; drank with Captain Tony, God rest his ebullient soul; and

held hands atop the Key West Lighthouse, my single favorite spot in the world.

Key West became a part of us, a part of our relationship, which I later galvanized.

In 2008, we made a return trip, joined by my cousin, Ryan and his then-girlfriend (now

wife), Amanda. I had more than vacation in mind that weekend, and only Amanda and

Ryan were in on the secret – after all, I needed someone to carry the engagement ring so

Danielle didn’t find it in my suitcase.

My cousin took his job seriously, but it is worth noting that one should always ensure

they’re following TSA guidelines while carrying an engagement ring. He was stopped

and his bags searched because he had an oversized bottle of mouthwash in his carry on. I

give him credit, he talked his way out of that one by whispering that he had an

engagement ring, but it was close.

Our first day was a Saturday, and only in the background did we hear the warnings about

Tropical Storm Fay bearing down on the region.

That evening we were going to walk to the far end of Duval Street to our favorite

restaurant, Hot Tin Roof. Ryan and Amanda, per previous arrangement, ran late so

Danielle and I conveniently had to kill time by taking a stroll.

We accidentally-on-purpose happened by the Key West Lighthouse, which was closing

for the evening. Bob the lighthouse keeper was sweeping up at the front gate. In the

months prior, I had worked with The Key West Historical Society, proprietor of the Key

West Lighthouse, to set a secret plan in motion, complete with a secret code word.

Bob very nicely explained that the lighthouse was closed, but he’d let us take a walk up

while he finished cleaning.

I trembled climbing the stairs. Danielle was ahead of me and burst out onto the

observation deck before me.

At the top of the lighthouse, as the whole island sunk into a deep red sunset, I knelt and

asked her to marry me (she said yes).

Ryan and Amanda arrived shortly thereafter and joined us atop the lighthouse to soak in

the unforgettable view.

The next morning, with Tropical Storm Fay biting at our heels, we evacuated the Keys

after an abbreviated stay. But Key West, and the special memories we shared, have

remained with all of us since. Sharing a life milestone with family made Danielle and I’s

engagement that much more poignant, and the four of us frequently talk about a return

trip.

Return has not yet materialized, but I know the flavor of Key West took deep root in

Ryan and Amanda. Ryan’s love for the Keys has manifested in a building project. Over

the summer he began renovating his family’s backyard shed, turning it from lawn mower

storage into Key West tiki bar. His vision, he says, is straight out of the Conch Republic.

Once it’s finished, the story of our trip to Key West and Tropical Storm Fay will

undoubtedly be recounted numerous times.

In his song, “Magic” musician Kenny Chesney sings, “I believe there is magic here.”

Key West’s allure is otherworldly. It is intoxicating and everlasting. Once you’re there,

you never really leave. It could only be supernatural.

My wife and I made sure “Magic” was played during our wedding reception.

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