What to Expect: The Animation Academy at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts
One of our favorite events at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is the Animation Academy. This twice-daily class, led by an animator, allows guests to learn how to draw a Disney character. The class is offered twice daily throughout the festival at the America Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion.
Now, I know what you might be thinking if you’ve never taken a drawing class from Disney. If you don’t know how to draw or don’t believe you can draw well, it’s okay. I can’t either. Somehow, though, 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 consensus with most guests.
Below, we’ll go over the details of the experience from a previous festival. I would also like 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.
2026 Animation Academy Featured Artists
Here is the list of featured artists for the Animation Academy at the 2026 Epcot International Festival of the Arts:
- Luke Consolo
- Matthew Dewater
- Justin Dring
- Will Gay
- Hannah Loflin
- Alex Maher
- Michael Montgomery
- Fidel Santiago (New in 2026)
- 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 2026 Epcot International Festival of the Arts.
2026 Epcot International Festival of the Arts Guide
In the Comments
Have you ever taken an Animation Academy class during the Festival of the Arts? Let us know in the comments below.
