The Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival is one of my favorite events in Walt Disney World®. The last few years, my family has visited Walt Disney World® during April or May, and we've been able to experience the magical Disney-themed topiaries, beautiful gardens, outdoor kitchens, and more first-hand. In my opinion, visiting Epcot® during the Flower & Garden Festival should be on every fan's Disney Bucket List.
(Photo Credit: Magical Pix by Candi)
2018 marks the 25th year of the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival. It began on February 28th and will run through May 28th. The topiaries, gardens, outdoor kitchens, concerts, and more can be found throughout Epcot, and you have access to them with your regular park admission. There is so much to see, do, and experience that every member of the family will find something new to explore with each visit.
Outdoor Kitchens
This year's Flower & Garden Festival features more than a dozen specialty outdoor kitchens featuring International food and drink. Visitors can explore authentic German, Caribbean, English, French, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, Canadian, Italian, Moroccan, and American cuisine throughout the World Showcase. The kitchens are open daily from 11 am - 9 pm. You can view the full menu for each outdoor kitchen on the official Walt Disney World® website.
(Photo Credit: Magical Pix by Candi)
Garden Rocks Concert Series
After you've grabbed a bite to eat, you can enjoy live music at the America Gardens Theatre at World Showcase. Concerts are running daily through the end of the festival on May 28th, with showtimes at 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 pm. You can view the full list of bands appearing during the Garden Rocks Concert Series on the official Walt Disney World website. Please remember that scheduled appearances may be change without notice.
There are a variety of Garden Rocks Dining Packages available for lunch and dinner, which includes a meal at a popular Table Service restaurant in the World Showcase and a guaranteed seat at the concert held on the same day. Your MousePros agent can help you make a reservation for this special dining package at your choice of restaurant.
Topiary Art
One of my favorite parts of the Flower & Garden Festival is the Disney-themed topiaries that you can find throughout Epcot®. My personal favorite year-after-year is Beauty and the Beast in the France pavilion, and this year, I would love to have seen Cruz Ramirez outside of Test Track. So many favorite characters can be found in topiary form, from Mickey and Minnie to Woody, Tinkerbell, and Elsa. If your kids are like mine, they'll love taking pictures with their favorite topiaries.
(Photo Credit: Magical Pix by Candi)
Special Tours
If you want to enhance your Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival experience, you can purchase tickets for one of the special events or tours that are available during the festival.
The Gardens of the World tour is a 3-hour guided experience with a Disney Horticulturist throughout the World Showcase. For $85 per guest, you'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the topiaries and gardens throughout the festival, and how you can apply Disney landscaping techniques at home. Guests must be at least 12-years-old to participate in this tour.
The Royal Tea Garden Tour is a 45-minute guided tour of an English tea garden. For $18, you'll explore the tea garden in the United Kingdom pavilion while learning the artistry and history behind growing tea while enjoying a sampling of tea and scones. This tour is given once a day at 9:45 am, prior to the World Showcase opening at 11 am.
It is recommended that you have advanced reservations for both tours. Your MousePros agent can help you with this.
(Photo Credit: Magical Pix by Candi)
Kids' Activities
While adults are sure to enjoy the delectable food and drink options throughout the Flower & Garden Festival, kids can participate in a variety of activities created just for them. For $5.99, you can purchase a special map at the Port of Entry in between World Showcase and Future World, and search for Spike the bee as he pollinates flower beds across Epcot. Return your map to the Port of Entry for a special prize! Kids will enjoy the interactive play areas found at Imagination Walkway, Future World West, and along the Test Track Walkway. There are also a number of fantastic gardens for the whole family to explore, including one where you can observe butterflies throughout their life cycles, a Mexican rainforest garden, and a Japanese Bonsai garden.
(Photo Credit: Magical Pix by Candi)
There is still plenty of time to enjoy this year's Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival! Contact MousePros today for a free, no obligation quote on your next trip. 2019 packages aren't available to book yet, but you can contact your agent today to get on the list for 2019 package information when it becomes available.