{"id":60219,"date":"2018-04-24T12:00:16","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T16:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=60219"},"modified":"2022-04-08T23:42:47","modified_gmt":"2022-04-09T03:42:47","slug":"epcot-flower-and-garden-festival-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/epcot-flower-and-garden-festival-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Welcomes Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is the 25th edition of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival<\/a>, and the park celebrates spring with vibrant flowerbeds, floating gardens, larger-than-life topiaries, culinary experiences, and Garden Rock Concerts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Topiary lovers will enjoy the many topiaries found throughout the park.\u00a0Frozen<\/em>\u00a0fans will find Anna and Elsa topiaries at the Norway\u00a0Pavilion, and\u00a0Cars <\/em>topiaries thrill children at the\u00a0desert-themed interactive play garden located in Future World East.\u00a0Look for Belle and the Beast at the France Pavilion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Classics are the topiaries of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the German Pavilion, plus the Lady and the Tramp, right next door in the Italian Pavilion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And than, there is Figment!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Winnie the Pooh and Friends are found at the United Kingdom Pavilion and so is Tinker Bell.\u00a0The Three Caballeros topiaries at the Mexican Pavilion are my\u00a0favorite.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One of the most impressive creation is the bromeliad dragon topiary found at the China Pavilion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Beautiful\u00a0garden spaces<\/a> throughout the park entice guests to recreate\u00a0these wildlife habitats back at home. Annual favorites are\u00a0the English Tea Garden,<\/strong> the Shakespeare Garden,<\/strong> and the Goodness Garden Butterfly House.<\/strong> Walking among\u00a0hundreds of colorful butterflies, guests can observe cocoons in several different stages of development and learn how to attract these\u00a0amazing creatures to their very own backyards.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Garden-ready ideas, including how to create your own butterfly house, can be found at the How-To Garden!<\/strong>\u00a0in Future World West. In the absence of any garden seminars this turned out to be my favorite garden.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The interactive play gardens<\/a>, complete with children\u2019s outdoor climbing systems, are perfect for kids to let off steam. In addition to the Cars<\/em>-themed Road to the Florida 500\u00a0<\/strong>garden, children of all ages will love the new Imagination Play Garden,<\/strong> where they can test their\u00a0reflexes on a net play climber and discover different sounds through a musical maze.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n

One of the most amazing sights is Festival Blooms,\u00a0<\/strong>the\u00a0flower beds surrounding the Future World east and west lakes, including more than 100 floating mini-gardens. The must-take picture upon entering the park is, of course, the topiary display featuring Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. Nothing beats this photo-op with the iconic Spaceship Earth in the back.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Taste your Way through Epcot\u2019s\u00a0International Flower and Garden Festival\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

But what would be Epcot\u2019s International Flower and Garden Festival be without the outdoor kitchens<\/a>\u00a0scattered around\u00a0World Showcase? Similar to the Food & Wine Festival, guests can\u00a0taste their way from country to country.<\/p>\n

From Canard Confit Aux Gnocchi \u00e0 la Parisienne: Braised Duck Confit with Parisian Gnocchi at Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion), to\u00a0Pork Taco: Slow-braised Pork Taco served with Apple Relish, Goat Cheese, and Chile de \u00c1rbol Sauce\u00a0(Mexico Pavilion), to\u00a0Fritto Misto: Crispy Shrimp, Zucchini, and Spicy Sauces (Italy Pavilion), there\u2019s something for every taste.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I found my favorite meat dish,\u00a0Lamb Chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique, at The Berry Basket booth.\u00a0And who can say no to\u00a0Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue, and House-made Pickle from THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews at the American Pavilion.\u00a0For a twist on hot dogs, try\u00a0Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips, available from the Pineapple Promenade booth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Vegetarians, too, will have no problem finding yummy treats, such as\u00a0Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce\u00a0at Bauernmarkt: Farmer\u2019s Market\u00a0(German Pavilion) or the very filling Tarte \u00e0 la Tomate Proven\u00e7ale:\u00a0Tomato Tart with Saut\u00e9ed Onions, Fresh Thyme, and Rosemary on a Flaky Pastry Crust at\u00a0Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion).<\/p>\n

\"Epcot\"<\/p>\n

My favorite vegetarian dish was Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley, and Chili Ranch Sauce from Taste of Marrakesh at the Morocco Pavilion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries (Germany Pavilion),\u00a0Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue (Florida Fresh booth), and\u00a0Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepper Berry Gelato (The Berry Basket booth) take care of those with a sweet tooth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Rock Concerts, Garden Tours, and More\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday through Monday, guests can enjoy the free\u00a0Garden Rock Concerts<\/strong> at\u00a0the America Gardens Theater in the American Adventure Pavilion.\u00a0Showtimes are 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. When I visited, Night Ranger<\/em> performed. Check out the complete lineup here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The festival, the Garden Rock Concerts, and all gardening programs are included in your park admission. If you want to carry the educational part of your visit a little further, you can sign up for Gardens of the World<\/a>,<\/strong> a three-hour walking tour throughout the park. A Disney horticulturist explains what goes into maintaining the landscapes and displays, while sharing\u00a0behind-the-scenes tales about the award-winning topiaries and gardens that make the festival so special. Guests also\u00a0learn about various plant materials, gardening techniques, and how to apply Disney landscaping techniques at home. The price for this tour is $85 plus tax. Guests must be at least 12 years of age to participate. In addition, guests under 18 years of age who are participating in the tour must be accompanied by a paying guest at least 18 years of age.\u00a0Visit Guest Relations or call 407-WDW-TOUR to make reservations.<\/p>\n

Make sure you ride\u00a0Living with the Land<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about the\u00a0vegetables grown. Did you know that they are served year-round in some of Epcot\u2019s restaurants and in the outdoor kitchens during the festival?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Free of charge is the\u00a0English Tea Garden Tour<\/a><\/strong> presented by Twinings of London\u00ae. The 20-minute tour is held\u00a0Monday through Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and 5:)0 p.m., Friday through Sunday at 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.\u00a0Same-day registration is available in The Tea Caddy gift shop at the United Kingdom Pavilion. For $18 plus tax, you can sign up for\u00a0Royal Tea Garden Tour,<\/strong> a 45-minute VIP guided tour that includes the artistry and history behind growing and blending tea. The tour ends with a sampling of\u00a0tea and scones. This daily tour\u00a0begins at 9:45 a.m. in the United Kingdom Pavilion before World Showcase opens to the general public at 11:00 a.m. For more information and reservations, call 407-WDW-Tour. Note that, for all tours, valid admission to Epcot is required.<\/p>\n

Fun Scavenger Hunts for the Entire Family\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

From March 16th through April 1st, guests visiting the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival could participate in the\u00a0Egg-stravaganza scavenger hunt.\u00a0<\/strong>Be on the lookout for a\u00a0dozen\u00a0hidden Disney Character-themed eggs. This is an annual event that takes place right around the Easter holiday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

New this year\u2014and running throughout the duration of the festival\u2014is\u00a0Spike\u2019s Pollen Nation Exploration<\/a>.<\/strong> Follow the trail of Spike, a bee who has been pollinating his way around the festival.<\/p>\n

At the end of each game, kids collect a small prize. Maps and stickers for both scavenger hunts can be\u00a0purchased for $5.99 plus tax.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While still beautiful, this year’s festival did not have many new gardens and not a single new topiary. \u00a0The gardening programs were also missed, and so was the fact that there was no Festival Center this year, as there had been in the past. Hopefully the 2019 edition will come back with lots of new exhibits and gardening seminars. The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs now\u00a0through May 28th.<\/p>\n

For in-depth information on all there is to do year-round at Walt Disney World, check out\u00a0The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids<\/em><\/a>\u00a0by Bob Sehlinger and Liliane Opsomer, with Len Testa.<\/p>\n

What are your favorite parts about the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival? Share them in the comments, or on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Did you like this article? Make sure to share it with your friends! Check below for easy ways to share!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is the 25th edition of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and the park celebrates spring with vibrant flowerbeds, floating gardens, larger-than-life topiaries, culinary experiences, and Garden Rock Concerts. Topiary lovers will enjoy the many topiaries found throughout the park.\u00a0Frozen\u00a0fans will find Anna and Elsa topiaries at the Norway\u00a0Pavilion, and\u00a0Cars topiaries thrill children…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":60614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-walt-disney-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60219"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62071,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60219\/revisions\/62071"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}