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This program requires registration before ticket package purchase.

Want to know more about this performance experience for your student or youth group?

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Want to know more about this performance experience for your student or youth group?


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Spruce up your performance skills, gain a competitive edge, and seize the opportunity to explore the Walt Disney World® Resort theme parks. Festival Disney is a positive and educationally meaningful music festival for talented middle and high school concert choirs, orchestras and concert bands.

Festival Overview

Achieve performance excellence at our all Disney‐produced competitive music festival! Festival Disney gives your ensemble the chance to compete with other schools from across the country, while also having the opportunity to make once-in-a-lifetime memories at the Walt Disney World Resort.

In addition to middle/junior high school and high school ensembles, in 2025 we are excited to also invite college and university concert choirs, orchestras, and concert bands with both competitive and non-competitive adjudication options. Also debuting in 2025, ensembles will be evaluated by two nationally recognized, collegiate level music educators and one Disney music professional teaching artist who will provide detailed, positive feedback to all ensembles through written and recorded comments. Following each performance, the ensemble will also experience an in-person individualized feedback clinic.

Disney Imagination Campus – Performing Arts is extremely proud to be endorsed by the National Association for Music Education.

2024 Festival Disney Dates

  • March 8 & 9
  • March 15 & 16
  • March 21, 22 & 23
  • April 4, 5 & 6
  • April 12 & 13
  • April 19 & 20
  • April 26 & 27

2025 Festival Disney Dates

  • March 14 & 15
  • March 21 & 22
  • March 28 & 29
  • April 4 & 5
  • April 11 & 12

Additional Information

  • Each ensemble must have a minimum of 20 student performers to be eligible to participate.
  • Each school is invited to register a maximum of two (2) Concert Choirs, two (2) Concert Bands and/or two (2) Orchestras. (We are not able to accommodate specialty ensembles such as jazz bands or show/jazz/madrigal choirs.)
  • Ensembles within the same genre (Choir, Band, Orchestra) participating in Festival Disney may also participate in up to one (1) Performing Arts Workshop on Monday through Thursday only.
  • Ensembles within the same genre (Choir, Band, Orchestra) participating in Festival Disney may NOT participate in a Performing Arts Stage or Marching Performance.
  • All groups must provide their own chartered bus transportation to and from their performance and awards ceremony locations. Disney Transportation may not be used to attend festival activities.
  • We are proud to feature instruments and equipment from music industry leaders such as Ludwig/Musser percussion, Glaesel String Instruments, Steinway & Sons Pianos and Wenger performance equipment.

Nationally Recognized Adjudicators

To date, Festival Disney has been adjudicated by more than 150 distinguished collegiate music educators, including these instrumental and choral education specialists:

Past Choral Adjudicators

  • Dr. Mitos Andaya, Temple University
  • Dr. Jerry Blackstone, University of Michigan
  • Dr. William Powell, Auburn University
  • Dr. Rosephanye Powell, Auburn University
  • Dr. Russell Robinson, University of Florida
  • Dr. Hugh Floyd, Furman University
  • Dr. John Sinclair, Rollins College

Past Instrumental Adjudicators

  • Dr. Ken Dye, University of Notre Dame
  • Dr. Catherine Rand, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Prof. Joseph Hermann, Tennessee Tech University
  • Dr. Anthony Pursell, University of Central Missouri
  • Dr. Stephen Benham, Duquesne University
  • Prof. Keith Bearden, Texas Tech University

 

Venues

  • Festival Disney events will take place at a number of venues in and around the Walt Disney World Resort.
  • Venues will be listed as part of the festival schedule and maps that directors will receive approximately 6 weeks prior to the event.

Festival Disney Solo & Ensemble

We are proud to offer this VIRTUAL educational offering that allows students to compete and receive solo or small ensemble ratings and written feedback from a nationally recognized Festival Disney adjudicator. Students will also receive an exclusive Festival Disney Solo & Ensemble medal for their participation.

  • This virtual competition is for solo performers or ensembles of 9 or fewer performers, who are already part of a group participating in Festival Disney
  • All performance videos will be submitted online, prior to the group’s trip
  • A specific Solo & Ensemble registration form with final details will be sent to all directors closer to the festival dates

Additional fees apply for this experience.


National Core Arts Standards

This performance opportunity fulfills many of the National Core Arts Standards for creation, performing, responding and connecting. Review the standards.

Pricing Information

What's Included

Every Festival Disney package includes:

  • 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-day admission to Walt Disney World Resort theme parks
  • A 20- to 25-minute adjudicated performance with written and recorded comments
  • A personalized educational clinic conducted by a designated adjudicator (concert ensembles only)
  • Festival Disney Awards for all participating ensembles
  • Exclusive Festival Disney Medal for all performers
  • Special Festival Disney Awards Ceremony

Two (2) Festival Disney director's packages are included per school

Festival package inclusions are subject to change without notice.

Additional fees apply for this experience.

Learn more about 2023 Walt Disney World Resort pricing information.

Learn more about 2024 Walt Disney World Resort pricing information.

Awards

  • Festival Disney Award
    All ensembles receive a Festival Disney Award recognizing their participation.
  • Festival Disney Medal
    Each performer receives an exclusive Festival Disney Medal to commemorate their participation.
  • Best in Class
    Presented to the highest-scoring ensemble within each Division and Classification.
  • Festival Disney Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards
    Presented to the three highest, Superior-rated ensembles within specific categories.

Special Awards

  • Choral: Outstanding Soloist, Outstanding Student Accompanist
  • Concert Band & Orchestra: Outstanding Soloist
  • Adjudicator’s Special Recognition: Selectively awarded by the adjudicators for performances of merit by individuals or sections

An exciting celebration is planned for all Festival Disney participants. This special ceremony will take place at the Walt Disney World® Resort on Saturday night.

Please review the Festival Disney Overview for specific details regarding the awards.

How to Participate

Follow these steps when registering for Festival Disney:

  • Review the Festival Disney Overview and Open Letter to School Administrators for full event details.
  • Select the appropriate Ensemble Division and Adjudication Status.
  • Complete the online registration.
  • Submit the non-refundable registration fee for each ensemble. (Fee information provided during registration process.)

Ensembles are NOT registered, and festival availability is not guaranteed, until:

  • We have received the non-refundable registration fee for each eligible ensemble
  • The Festival Disney offices review the registration/availability
  • You have received a confirmation message

During the scheduling phase, we will work to schedule ensembles in the order that their registration was confirmed.

You must apply and receive confirmation of acceptance before purchasing Theme Park tickets for the group.