After a month of delays in notification from Disney Festival Of The Masters, I just received this email.
As you may be aware, Downtown Disney is undergoing the largest expansion in its history as it transitions into Disney Springs. While it certainly is an exciting time for us, it has presented challenges as we attempt to stage the 2014 Festival of the Masters. Much of the area that traditionally houses the Festival is unavailable due to the expansion work, and so I must share that we have made the difficult decision to not host the event.
We are sorry for any inconvenience or disruption to your schedule. Please be assured that if you paid an application fee, you will promptly be reimbursed. The enthusiastic support of the arts community has contributed to the long-running success of the Festival of the Masters. Therefore, we wanted everyone who submitted an application to be the first to know of this decision.
We value and appreciate all of your hard work, dedication and commitment to your art, the arts community and to this Festival. Walt Disney World Resort has long been an advocate and strong supporter of the arts and we remain committed to nurturing the arts.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of growth.
Keith Bradford
Vice President Downtown Disney
Comments
Thank you Bob, I wondered about that too.
This also caused the cancellation of the House of Blues show that same weekend.
I wanted to share a link I found from Disney own words as to whether there will be bringing it back in the future. Basically they are saying they haven't ruled it out, but no plans at this time either. Here is the link: http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/festival-of-masters/news/20aug2014-d...
Alison, I hadn't been to downtown Disney since the show last year, so hadn't realized the area was under major renovation still. Carol, I received my refund yesterday. That was the right thing to do. I know it's especially tough for the artists that didn't plan a backup. Thankfully I had Gainesville as my backup. I can make a little profit at that show. Thanks Barrie for your experience with Temple Terrace. It's a local show for me, so tried it the year I was not invited to Disney. Pleasant show, but for me sales were just horrible. Wouldn't mind trying Pensacola, but only made the waitlist.
How many businesses could you be in where they throw in free Disney tickets? I get your point about the ambiance too, Edward.
The one plus is that they refunded us our entry fee. I got the email from PayPal this morning. I agree with John: there is nothing in their communication that sounds as though they intend to continue the show. I did not do well last year, but thought I would give it another shot -- the free Disney World tickets were popular with the family!
Wow! So many "Debbie Downers"! This was my favorite festival of all times, not just because of sales, but the fact that as an artist/painter, I could paint on location in Disney World of all places! I felt pretty honored just to be doing that, and then the perks of the free park passes were pretty cool as well. I honestly think they have not bailed on this festival on a permanent basis and to be honest, I'm holding out for it to return, hopefully in 2015. The parking issues were massive and I think this badly needed improvement will make it all that much better when it returns, and I did say WHEN!!!!! In the meantime, I have been bombarded with requests from other promoters to fill that weekend with their show/shows!!! Kind of a nice problem to have if you ask me. Keep it half full folks and you will have plenty to drink.
Don't rule out Temple Terrace, everyone. They have good award money, fer sher. Sometimes sales are good, too. So check them out. I think their show is the same weekend as Disney; it certainly was last year. 1st place winners in several categories get $500 and paid booth fee next year as well. Best of show gets $1000. Used to be Best of Show got $2,200, but they split up the money so they could spread it out to more artists.
Disney obviously had no thought for the artists who had already long made their plans,secured their hotels and will waste a good fall sales weekend at some other event. or for those many from out of state a planned Florida trip to do the show. Only the bottom line with Disney. Ugh!
I feel for you, John. We did that show once and didn't want to return. But that was when they didn't allow reproductions whatsoever. I think they changed that rule, but we found another venue that suited us better anyway. And that venue is a small one called Temple Terrace Community Arts Festival. That's Tampa area if you don't already know it. They are moving their show to a new location this year and we're not gonna be there, anyway. Our last show is Pensacola and then we'll come home to Florida. No sense in driving back to Tampa for a smaller show.
But telling you about Temple Terrace isn't the only reason I'm posting here. We got a call two days ago from the director of a fledgling show called The Cotton South. He was following up with tele calls since we hadn't responded to his email earlier in the day in which he announce he was cancelling his show. It was supposed to be September 27 weekend.
I was at Disney Marketplace in April and my first though upon seeing all the construction was where in the world are they going to put the show so I'm not surprised.
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