Le Journal

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts returned January 16 for its annual celebration of visual, performing, and culinary creativity, drawing guests eager to experience the Food Studios, interactive exhibits, and Disney on Broadway Concert Series that have made this event a winter favorite since 2017. However, visitors approaching the colorful festival booths this year discovered something different when pulling out their wallets to pay for Croque Monsieur grilled cheese or Peppercorn-crusted Striploin. Most Food Studios throughout the festival have transitioned to cashless payment systems, and the prices displayed on menus no longer include tax. These changes represent significant shifts in how guests navigate purchasing decisions at what has become one of Epcot’s most food-focused seasonal celebrations. While Disney has been gradually moving toward cashless transactions across its parks, the comprehensive implementation at Festival of the Arts Food Studios marks a notable acceleration of this trend, particularly for festival-specific locations that previously accepted cash without issue during past years. Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic The payment changes affect how guests budget for their festival experience and require advance planning that wasn’t necessary in previous years. Understanding these new policies helps visitors maximize their time enjoying the culinary offerings rather than dealing with payment complications at the booths. Understanding the Cashless Transition Most, if not all, of the 2026 Epcot International Festival of the Arts Food Studios now operate as cashless locations. Guests can pay using credit cards, debit cards, mobile payment systems like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and Disney gift cards. However, cash is no longer accepted at these festival booths, creating a barrier for visitors who prefer or rely on physical currency during their park visits. Disney is encouraging guests who want to use stored value payments to purchase Disney gift cards before approaching the Food Studios. This presents a logistical challenge because you cannot use cash to reload or purchase Disney gift cards at the festival booths themselves. Guests must visit retail locations throughout the parks that sell gift cards, add value to their cards there, and then return to the festival areas to make their food purchases. This adds extra steps to what was previously a straightforward transaction process. The cashless policy aligns with broader industry trends toward digital payments and contactless transactions that accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many restaurants, retailers, and entertainment venues have adopted similar policies, citing faster transaction times, improved accuracy, and reduced cash handling as primary benefits. However, the transition creates challenges for certain guest demographics, including international visitors whose payment cards may not work consistently with U.S. payment systems, families managing budgets through cash envelopes, and guests who simply prefer the tangible control that comes with physical currency. Tax No Longer Included in Display Prices Credit: Disney The second significant change affects how prices appear on Food Studio menus. Every 2026 Epcot International Festival of the Arts Food Studio displays prices that do not include tax. In past years, most Epcot festival locations displayed prices with tax already included, allowing guests to know exactly what they would pay before ordering. This policy shift means the amount shown on the menu is not the amount charged to your payment method. Florida’s sales tax rate is 6.5 percent in Orange County where Walt Disney World operates. For food items, this means a dish advertised at $10.00 actually costs $10.65 after tax. While this may seem like a minor difference, the additional charges accumulate quickly when ordering multiple items across different Food Studios throughout the day. A family planning to spend $50 on…

C’est une festivité pas comme les autres. En Italie, chaque année le 17 janvier, jour de la Saint-Antoine, les animaux domestiques mais aussi ceux de la ferme peuvent être bénis.