The chalk artworks on the walkways of the Downtown Disney Marketplace are only part of the story at the Festival of the Masters. Nearby, there’s a new place to get tasty chicken parts, healthy fast food, and even vegan cupcakes. And it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the theme parks.

, Curator of Yesterland, November 16, 2010

Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney, November 12 through 14, 2010

2010 Festival of the Masters sign

Amazing sidewalk art in progress

More than 200 chalk artists transform the sidewalks around the World of Disney store.

A skillful interpretation of “Rest at Harvest” (1865) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

A few of the 150 art booths on the West Side

Creating art for Yellow Shoes Project

Through the Yellow Shoes Project, creative artists at Disney raise funds for charities.

A food festival too

Downtown Disney restaurants have food booths, making the Festival of the Masters a bit like another Food & Wine Festival.

Pollo Campero and Fresh A-Peel open in Downtown Disney Marketplace

No longer McDonald’s

I never ate at the McDonald’s at Downtown Disney. After all, Walt Disney World is supposed to be about special experiences, and McDonald’s is about as commonplace as you can get. Also, I’m trying to eat healthier foods—which eliminates most of the menu at McDonald’s.

Now, a half year after the McDonald’s at Downtown Disney closed, the building is once again welcoming Walt Disney World guests seeking quick meals. There are two names on that outside of the building and four different counters inside. Officially, the restaurant opened Monday, November 15, 2010, but the soft opening began three days earlier—just in time for the Festival of the Masters.

Two counters side-by-side

I wish I could tell you how the food tasted. Although I dropped in Saturday and Sunday to look around and take a few photos, I had other plans for meals. So I can only tell you that the food looked good. There’s no shortage of healthy options. You can also get fried foods, if you’re so inclined.

Because I can’t describe the chicken in my own words, allow me to quote the November 15 press release from Pollo Campero:

Pollo Campero’s fried and grilled chicken is marinated, sending the distinctive Pollo Campero flavor all the way to the bone. Fried chicken is hand-breaded in seasoned flour and slowly pressure-cooked without trans-fats, resulting in a flavorful and juicy meal. Grilled chicken features the taste of lime and orange juices, red bell peppers, and a special blend of Latin herbs and spices.

Sounds good!

Part of the Pollo Campero menu

The pricing seems reasonable—especially by Walt Disney World standards.

But is it a special experience—or is it just a case of one fast-food chain replacing another?

It’s safe to say that most Walt Disney World guests live within a few miles of a McDonald’s location, but far, far fewer live near a Pollo Campero. And, because this is the first Fresh A-Peel anywhere, it’s a new experience for everyone.

Part of the Fresh A-Peel menu

Here how the press release from Pollo Campero on November 15th describes Fresh A-Peel:

Inspired by Disney’s commitment to offer its guests great-tasting more healthful options, award-winning restaurateur Larry Levy and Pollo Campero teamed up to create Fresh A-Peel. Operating in the same location as Pollo Campero, Fresh A-Peel features a nutritious and delicious array of hot-off-the-grill items and chef-prepared salads and wraps, as well as gluten-free cupcakes and bakery treats.

“Our menu relies on the freshest, most flavorful ingredients,” said Mr. Levy. “I wanted to create nutritious foods even my grandchildren would love. All of them have favorites on the Fresh A-Peel menu, whether they are picky eaters or adventurous tasters.”

The restaurant has a back-to-basics approach to serving family favorites that are prepared in a better-for-you way. Chef-prepared entrees including salads are made with locally grown produce and available in a bowl or as a wrap, and all-natural burgers are prepared to order and packed with flavor. Balanced kids meals are served with fresh fruit and healthy sides, while other delicious menu offerings are gluten-free, low-sodium and vegetarian.

When I was in there, it seemed that far more people were heading to the cash registers with chicken (especially fried chicken) than with healthy options.

Vegan cupcakes

For the “gluten-free cupcakes and bakery treats,” there’s a separate counter. It’s called BabyCakes NYC. There are other BabyCakes NYC locations in New York City and Los Angeles.

This bakery could be very good news for those who avoid wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs. For those of us who like these traditional bakery ingredients (and tell ourselves that everything is okay in moderation), it remains to be seen if the alternatives at BabyCakes NYC can still be good without them.

Not just your usual fast food sodas

Along with typical sodas, you can also quench you thirst with beer, sangria, smoothies, and Latin drinks including horchata and tamarindo.

Beer available, including Famosa Lager from Guatemala

There’s also a beverage counter at the outdoor patio. I’ve never had beer from Guatemala.

Peruvian Quinoa Salad and Saffron Couscous

An extensive grab-and-go selection includes items you’d never expect at a fast-food eatery.

Modern, attractive dining room

I’m looking forward to returning to this restaurant when I don’t have other plans for lunch or dinner.

The Christmas Season starts at the theme parks at Walt Disney World

Town Square at Magic Kingdom

We were at Walt Disney World for almost two weeks, primarily enjoying culinary demos and beverage seminars at Epcot. During this time, holiday decorations started appearing at the parks.

Main Street, U.S.A at Magic Kingdom

There was no Christmas Tree yet at Town Square on Sunday, November 15, but plenty of other decorations were already in place.

Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This year, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights began on November 8 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Crowds at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Every ten minutes the lights “dance.” That doesn’t mean simple blinking light bulbs. It means a huge choreographed show, immersing you in a sea of millions of lights synchronized to holiday music.

I turned to my wife and enthusiastically asked, “Isn’t this great?”

“It’s not even Thanksgiving,” she replied.

Millions of lights

I remember when the lights were on Residential Street, giving the illusion of an insanely decorated residential neighborhood. It was the only time you could walk down Residential Street, which was normally just part of the tram tour.

The Streets of America, transformed

I would end this article by wishing you a Merry Christmas—but it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.

You might be interested in these other Yesterland articles. The first is about an earlier Festival of the Masters. The other is about the earlier use of the building that’s now Pollo Campero.

• The Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney, 2008
• Ronald’s Fun House - McDonald’s at Downtown Disney

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Updated December 4, 2012.

All photos in this article: Werner Weiss, 2010.