It's the 25th anniversary of the Epcot® International Flower and Garden Festival, and the park is once again overflowing with bright plants, flowers, trees and topiaries adorning both Future World and World Showcase.
Here are some of the top things your won't want to miss at this year's festival:
- Gardens, lots of Gardens!: In addition to all the natural flora throughout the park, the Walt Disney World® horticulture team has created some truly breathtaking gardens for Epcot Guests to enjoy this year. New gardens this year include “The How-To Garden” and “The Imagination Play Garden,” bot are are perfect for adults and kids to enjoy. Returning gardens include favorites such as “The Goodness Garden Butterfly House” and “The Water Wise Garden,” which showcase environmental responsibility as well as just being fun!
- Outdoor Kitchens: An Epcot Festival wouldn't be complete without fun food and drinks! This year's festival has 15 Outdoor Kitchens around World Showcase, with the newest being “The Honey Bee-Stro,” which features Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée; Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese; and Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses. These dishes were created to showcase multiple honey varietals in creative and exciting ways. Returning Outdoor Kitchen favorites include “The Berry Basket” (featuring a lamb chop with quinoa salad and blackberry gastrique) and “THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brew” (featuring a pulled-pork slider and warm chocolate cake with Bourbon-salted caramel sauce and spiced pecans). YUM!
- Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration: One of the beloved characters from Disney animated short cartoons, Spike the honeybee, has been “pollen-nating” throughout the Festival. In this springtime scavenger hunt, gardeners of all ages can follow Spike on his pollination trail around World Showcase, where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot. To get started, purchase a map and stickers at Port of Entry. (Note: Maps are available while supplies last.)
- Garden Rocks Concert Series: Each Friday through Monday of the Festival (what we like to call a “Disney Weekend”), favorite artists from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s will rock out at the America Gardens Theatre. Rick Springfield, Survivor and Lonestar are just some of the popular acts in the lineup. Each night, there will be three performances: 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. And don't forget about the Dining Packages available at several of Epcot restaurants with reserved concert seating in a nice package.
- Character Topiaries: Topiaries throughout the park feature beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and The Tramp, Buzz Lightyear, and Beauty and the Beast.
- Merchandise: Guests will find Festival themed hats, T-shirts, mugs and other fun Festival merchandise throughout Future World and World Showcase.
- Tours: A great ways to get the “inside track” on the Festival or the latest in gardening techniques is to take one of the tours offered during the Festival. There are tours of The Land pavilion greenhouses and the “Gardens of the World – Spring Edition.” There is also the daily Royal Tea Garden Tour at the United Kingdom pavilion that includes a tea tasting.
Planning to visit this year’s festival? Make sure you plan on more than one day to see, smell, hear, touch and taste everything. Don't have plans to visit? Let's fix that! Email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or you can use this fast and easy form to request a free, no obligation quote! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get personalized help and advice from someone that will get to know you, your wants and your travel plans (which you’re not going to get if you book on your own or direct with Disney)!
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