2014-03-04

By Rikki Niblett

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©Disney

It’s here!  This year’s annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festival kicks off March 5 and will run through May 18. Its purpose is to celebrate everything that’s wonderful about horticulture and spring. This year marks the 21st year of the Festival and it’s sponsored by HGTV.

Each year the Festival offers guests the opportunity to delight in beautiful gardens, topiaries, butterfly gardens, listen to celebrity presentations or the the Flower Power Concert Series, enjoy garden-themed food booths, and much, much more! I thought that since the Festival has arrived, I’d combine everything into one sort of giant “guide” for touring during this time of year.

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is really one of the most gorgeous times of the year to visit.  The park is FULL of color. There’s a magic in the air (some would say it’s because it’s the first sign of life we’ve seen since Fall…goodbye Winter!) It is simply a glorious time to be visiting Epcot in general.

So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at what exactly is new for this year’s Festival:



What’s New for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival



©Disney

Every year brings about some new bits and pieces to make this festival even better than before and this year, there are quite a few.  They include:

The front entrance garden will feature Goofy, Donald, and Daisy as they venture out on a butterfly hunt. Here, Goofy’s butterfly net will prove useless as topiary butterflies light up on the back of his floral garb.  Also, a topiary bee will buzz on Donald’s head. The front garden will also feature a real waterfall, as well as a pond with water lilies.

Many of the topiaries will see a new, computer-generated look.  They will look more realistic than they ever have before. (And from what I’ve seen, are incredibly impressive! If you liked the topiaries before, these are even more spectacular!)

Maybe it is easy being green, as this year, topiary versions of Kermit the Frog, as well as a floral Miss Piggy will be on display to celebrate the theatrical release of Muppet Most Wanted.

Topiary Timon (from The Lion King) will join his buddy Pumbaa and other Lion King favorites in the Outpost section.

Last year brought us the Marketplace Kiosks – food booths that served garden fresh items.  This year they have been renamed as Outdoor Kitchens. There is also a brand new booth called Urban Farm Eats that celebrates an all natural, sustainable garden menu. Some items will even come from The Land Pavilion.

New artists to the Flower Power Concert Series, Gary Lewis and the Playboys who will perform March 14-16 and The Alan Parsons Live Project who will perform May 16-18.

A new Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Garden will welcome families with a whimsical play land of activities.

Bears Sand Sculpture – To promote the upcoming Disneynature’s Bears film that opens in theaters on April 18, this fantastic sand art exhibit will be able to be found near the Canada Pavilion.

Gardener’s Palette Presented by Transitions Adaptive Lenses: Explore all this charming location has to offer, located at Future World East near Universe of Energy.

Hummingbirds at Home, a new exhibit presented by the National Audubon Society, will feature walk-through hummingbird gardens and tips on how to attract the beautiful birds.

Most things that have been staples for the event are returning.  Those include many of your favorite artists for the Flower Power Concerts, gardens, HGTV/DIY Stars, and of course, the incredible topiaries.  First, let’s take a look at all the different topiaries that will be found throughout the park.

Cogsworth and Lumiere in the France Pavilion

Topiaries

To me, the main draw of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is the flowers and the gardens (obviously), so the best part of the festival for me, has to be, hands down, the topiaries that can be found all throughout the park.  There are over 100 for guests to spot in all.  (What a fun scavenger hunt that is!) I think that these works of art, made entirely from plants are just simply the bees knees.

Here’s a list of which topiaries will be found around Epcot this year, as well as their location:

Topiary Description

Location

Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto

Behind Spaceship Earth

Buzz Lightyear

Mission Space

Mater/Lightning McQueen

Test Track Walkway

Phineas and Ferb

Oddysey Bridge

Mike and Sulley

Imagination Walkway

Fantasia

World Showcase Plaza

Butterfly

Future World/World Showcase Plaza

Bambi and Friends

Canada Pavilion

Peter Pan and Captain Hook

United Kingdom Pavilion

Winnie the Pooh and Friends

United Kingdom Pavilion

Classic Disney Couples

International Gateway

Beauty and the Beast

France Pavilion

Woody and Lotso

American Adventure Pavilion

Lady and the Tramp

Italy Pavilion

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy

Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Germany Pavilion

The Lion King

Outpost

Pandas

China Pavilion

Toll

Norway Pavilion

Spring is in the Air – Goofy, Donald, and Daisy

Main Entrance

 

New this year is slated to be an area where guests can have their first ever topiary photo opportunity.  Guests will be able to pose with Goofy and Donald and a topiary soccer ball.  How neat!

 

Festival Center

The Festival Center is located between the Universe of Energy and Mission: Space pavilions. You’ll recognize it by its gold dome. (Also because it was the former Wonders of Live Pavilion years back.) Here, you sit in on the Designer Presentations, hear tips from talented gardeners, shop for Festival merchandise, and more.

Festival Center Shop – Bring home a piece of the event with a variety of Epcot Flower & Garden Festival-themed merchandise.

HGTV Theater – Hear tips from the experts at HGTV and see how Disney Horticulture goes about growing the magic in a video presentation called “The Making of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.”

Planting Pointers – Daily at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, be on hand as the experts from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida present an assortment of topics and ideas to help your technique.

Intermissions Café – Stop by Intermissions Café, which features a fine selection of wine, cheese, wraps and salads.

Ask an Expert – From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, receive answers to your gardening questions, courtesy of the “Master Gardeners” from IFAS at the University of Florida.

Greenhouse Stage – Drop by daily at either 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM to meet with either Disney horticulturalists gardening specialists as they share their knowledge for your garden at home.

March 7–9:

2014 Top Gardening Trends – Robert Bowden

March 14:

I Did Something Wild in My Yard! Landscaping Techniques to Benefit Wildlife – Dr. Mark Hostetler

March 15:

Magical Hummingbirds – Don Kendzior

March 16:

Florida Hikes for Botanical Beauty – Sandra Friend & John Keatley

March 21–23:

 An Edible Education: The Garden as a Teaching Tool -Kendra Lott

March 28:

Mounting Excitement: Creating a Driftwood Air Garden – Dennis Cathcart

March 29:

Accidental Artist – Craig Mitchell Smith

March 30:

Hypertufa—Ancient Pots – Melanie Palmrose

Designers’ Stage Presented by HGTV –  Monday through Thursday, expand your knowledge during seminars led by nationally recognized garden VIPs.

The scheduled seminar line up for festival’s Designer’s Stage  is:

March 5:

Magical Hummingbirds – Don Kendzior

March 6:

Gardening for Conservation – Jarrod Stewart

March 10:

Monarch Butterflies and Their Migration – Jaret Daniels

March 11–13:

Great Containers Made Easy (12:00 p.m.) – Marcia Leeper & Steven Nordmeyer

Crazy for Containers (3:00 p.m.) – Marcia Leeper & Steven Nordmeyer

March 17:

Gardening with Nature – Don Kendzior

March 18–20:

The Audubon Birdhouse Book: Great Homes for Great Birds – Margaret Barker

March 24:

Colorful Shrubs – Eric Schmidt

March 25–27:

Fantastic New Plants for 2014 (12:00 p.m.) – Danielle Sherry

Diagnosing Your Veggie Problems (3:00p.m.) – Danielle Sherry

At the Designers’ Stage, Friday through Sunday, take part in informative Designer’s Presentations hosted by HGTV personalities.  The celebrities will share their wisdom and knowledge with park guests which will happen at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.These are fun presentations, but remember, if there’s someone you really want to see, arrive early because spots will be limited and these will be popular! The full list of HGTV/DIY celebrities and their dates are:

Appearance Dates

HGTV/DIY Celebrity

March 7-9

Vern Yip (Design Star)

March 15-16

Chris Lambton, “Going Yard”

March 21-23

Matt Blashaw, “Yard Crashers”

March 28-30

Matt Muenster, ”Bath Crashers”

April 4-6

Taniya Nayak, ”House Hunters on Vacation”

April 11-13

Amy Matthews, “Renovation Raiders”

April 18-20

John Gidding, ”Curb Appeal”

April 25-27

David Bromstad, “Color Splash”

May 2-4

Chip Wade, ”Elbow Room”

May 9-11

Genevieve Gorder, HGTV Star

May 16-18

Alison Victoria, ”Kitchen Crashers”

 

Flower Power Concert Series

©Disney

The Flower Power Concerts feature bands from yester-year.  Performances take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the Festival at the American Gardens Theater. Showtimes are at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. The concerts are included with your Epcot admission.

These can be fantastic performances (Peter Noone puts on a fabulous show and who doesn’t want to do the YMCA with the Village People live?), so if you see someone on the list you want to see, make sure to line up ahead of time to guarantee yourself a seat. If you don’t necessarily want a seat, remember, you can always take in a little bit of the artist’s show while you’re walking through the American Adventure Pavilion.

March 7-9 The Guess Who “American Woman”

March 14-16 Gary Lewis and The Playboys “This Diamond Ring”

March 21-23 The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”

March 28-30 The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer in the City”

April 4-6 Paul Revere & The Raiders “Good Thing”

April 11-13 Village People “Y.M.C.A”

April 18-20 The Grass Roots “Midnight Confessions”

April 25-27 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VII, I Am”

May 2-4 Starship starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”

May 9-11 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats “The Twist”

May 16-18 Alan Parsons Live Project “Eye in the Sky”

 

Educational Experiences

Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival offers a lot of different educational opportunities. These include activities such as tours, special gardens, exhibits, and more.  I think that these are fantastic offerings and help to add to the buzz (get it?  Bees…flowers…oh nevermind…) of what Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is all about.

Gardens

Garden Retreat (Presented by HGTV) -  Test Track Walkway

Water Wise Herbs & Vegetables (Presented by Rain Bird Corporation)  – Imagination Walkway

Festival Blooms  – Future World East and West Lake

Florida Fresh Garden  – Adjacent to the Germany Pavilion

Everglades Garden (Presented by Nature Conservancy)  – Imagination Walkway

Italy Container Garden - Italy Pavilion

Exhibits

Gardener’s Palette (Presented by Transitions) – Future World East, near Universe of Energy

Hummingbirds at Home (Presented by the National Audubon Society)

Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House (Presented by HGTV) -  Imagination Walkway

Backyard Habitat (Presented by National Wildlife Federation)  – Imagination Walkway

Bonsai Collection – Japan Pavilion

Orchids  – Mexico Pavilion

Bears Sand Sculpture (Presented by Disneynature Bears) – Near Test Track Walkway

Themed Weekends and Special Happenings

Art in the Garden Weekend – March 28 to March 30 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Visualize nature through the eyes of “plein Air” artists and one-of-a-kind works around World Showcase.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists – April 4 to April 5

Uncover incredible indigenous creatures from the team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

Florida Fresh Weekend – April 25 to April 27

Behold the bounty of the Sunshine State

Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. – May 9 to May 11

Unearth amazing flora designs, each of which defies description.

Tours

Epcot Gardens of the World Tour

Gift the garden enthusiast, or even yourself, with a guided tour led by a Disney horticulturist. Follow along as your host takes you on a 3-hour tour of special displays and award-winning international gardens—taking place Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9:00 AM to noon.

English Tea Garden – Presented by Twinings of London Tea

Enjoy the history and art of tea blending during a guided 20-minute tour of an elegant English Tea Garden, featuring some of Twinings finest tea blends.

 

Shopping

This Festival offers a lot of great gardening and home design pieces, as well as merchandise themed after the event. These items include plush, mugs, ears, shirts, wind chimes, pins, and Vinylmation.  Each year Disney designs some fabulous new designs to symbolize the event and it appears that this year is no exception! To pick up your souvenirs, head to:

Garden Emporium – Located near the Canada Pavilion.

Garden Treasures – Located near the Mexico Pavilion.

Garden Oasis – Located near the Mexico Pavilion.

Garden Boutique – Located near the Germany Pavilion.

Port of Entry – Located near the entrance to World Showcase.

Mouse Gear – Located inside Future World.

 

Fun For Kids

Mike Wazowski

Many people wonder if the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is something that only adults enjoy, but that notion couldn’t be further from the truth.  There are a lot of little touches that Epcot includes to get the kiddos excited about this festival too.  I think they’ll get a kick out the Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House.  It is so neat being surrounded by butterflies!  And what better place to burn off some steam than Mater’s Play Garden or the all new Monstrous Garden!

Mater’s Parts, Plants & Play Garden: Play at this exciting stop located at Test Track Walkway.

Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Garden: Scare up some fun at this playground found on Imagination Walkway.

Backyard Play Garden: Join in all sorts of outdoor activity where kids can take part in stimulating activities that inspire playful, active and healthy living.

Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House: Don’t miss the chance to catch a glimpse of Tinker Bell’s butterfly friends as they flutter about at this magical stop.

 

Outdoor Kitchens

©Disney

Of course, one of the more popular, recent additions, has been the introduction of the Outdoor Kitchens. Last year was the first year for the Outdoor Kitchens (which were known as Marketplace Kiosks).  These Kitchens focus on serving small bites of delectable treats and beverages with a focus on fresh ingredients. The booths are similar to what you would see at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. There will be 11 kitchens total, found throughout World Showcase. (Plus the Intermissions Cafe found in the Festival Center, which brings the total to 12.) They open at 11:00 a.m. and close when the park does.

I got to experience these last year and here a few tips.  Last year, these seemed a bit less trafficked than the Epcot Food and Wine Festival booths are, but the truth is, if you want to avoid the longest lines, dine at the booths in the afternoon, when they first open.  The crowds are likely going to be a bit heavier as time goes on and people make their way back for evening touring around World Showcase.

Of course, if you want to avoid the largest crowds, go to the food booths during the middle of the week.  On the weekends, the locals will likely join the party too.

Don’t forget to pick up your Garden Passport. This is a special booklet that you should get stamped as you visit the Outdoor Kitchens.  Passports can be picked up at the Festival Center, at any DVC Information Booth, or at the Outdoor Kitchens. I had fun getting this stamped at each booth.

Don’t be afraid to try something outside of your comfort zone.  Guests will find the TRYit logo on select entrees and desserts of things that even the pickiest of eaters should enjoy.

It seems like this year, they’ve changed up the menu quite a bit, at least based off of what I sampled. The only thing that I tried last year that’s come back is the pulled pig slider, which I will admit was quite good!  It would have been nice if it had a bit of bbq sauce on it too, but it tasted delicious either way.

Here is the full list of all the Outdoor Kitchens that will be featured during this year’s festival:
 

Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico Pavilion) – Enjoy flavors like savory tacos and fruity cocktails.

Food

Drinks

Tacos al pastor – Corn tortilla filled with achiote-marinated pork, garnished with grilled diced pineapple, onions and cilantro

Tecate draft beer

Quesadilla de hongos con queso – Flour tortilla filled with mushrooms and cheese

White Mexican sangria

Flan de chocolate Abuelita – Mexican chocolate custard

Franbuesa (raspberry) margarita on the rocks

Tequila flight – blanco, reposado and añejo

Dasani bottled water

 

Lotus House (China Pavilion) -  Dine on a variety of Chinese cuisine, like popular street foods and bubble tea.

Beijing-style candied strawberries ©Disney

 

Food

Drinks

Beijing-style candied strawberries

Popping bubble tea

Spring pancake with grilled chicken and green apple

Kung Fu Punch – Vodka and triple sec with mango and orange juice

Vegetable spring rolls

South Sea Storm – Guava juice with light and dark rum

Plum wine

Tsing-Tao beer

Lychee aerated water

Florida Fresh (Germany Pavilion) – Savor fresh Florida ingredients that are grown and produced locally.

 

Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes, and cilantro ©Disney

Watermelon salad with pickled onions, BW Farm baby arugula, feta cheese, and balsamic reduction ©Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale ©Disney

 

Food

Drinks

Watermelon salad with pickled onions, BW Farm baby arugula, feta cheese, and balsamic reduction

Watermelon passion fruit slush featuring Simply Lemonade

Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes, and cilantro

Hurricane class 5 white sangria featuring simply lemonade, Florida orange groves

Florida kumquat pie

Garda Italian Wine Blend, Quantum Leap Winery

Rogue Valley Pinot Noir, Quantum Leap Winery

Blonde Ale, Orlando Brewing Company

Cotton Mouth Belgian Style Witbier, Swamp Head Brewery

Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale, Florida Beer Company

Florida Avenue Blueberry, Cold Storage Craft Brewery

Beer Flight – Blonde Ale, Cotton Mouth Belgian Style Witbier, Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale and Florida Avenue Blueberry

Simply Orange

 

Primavera Kitchen (Italy Pavilion) – Sample some of this country’s many flavors like caprese, manicotti, torte di ricotta and Italian wines.

Food

Drinks

Caprese – Fior di latte mozzarella, roasted peppers and olio verde

White peach bellini – Prosecco and white peach puree

Three cheese manicotti – Egg pasta stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce and béchamel

Strawberry rossini – Prosecco and marinated strawberries

Torta di ricotta – Lemon cheesecake with limoncello-marinated strawberries

Frozen Italian primavera – Assorted fruit slushy with limoncello and vodka

Placido Pinot Grigio

Placido Chianti

Bosco del Merlo Prosecco

Moretti Lager

Moretti La Rossa

 
The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews (American Adventure Pavilion) – Celebrate the truly American tradition of barbeque, paired with craft brews from across the country.

Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake with Maple Frosting and Pretzel Crunch ©Disney

Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw ©Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food

Drinks

Pulled pig slider with cole slaw

Magic Hat #9, Magic Hat Brewing

Smoked beef brisket with collard greens and jalapeño corn bread

Maduro, Cigar City Brewing

Smoked turkey “rib”

Fat Tire, New Belgium Brewing Company

“Piggylicous” bacon cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch featuring Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon

Billy’s Chilies, Twisted Pine Brewing Company

Beer Flight – Magic Hat #9, Maduro, Fat Tire and Billy’s Chilies

The Original Rib Shack Red Wine

Hanami (Japan Pavilion) – Hanami is a traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers.  Take in the gorgeousness while enjoying delicate bites and refreshing beverages.

Hanami Sushi ©Disney

Food

Drinks

Frushi – Fresh pineapple, strawberries and melon, rolled with coconut rice, topped with raspberry sauce, sprinkled with toasted coconut and served with whipped cream on the side

Pinepple Paradise with Yuzu Slushie – Frozen blend of sweet sake, pineapple juice and crème, flavored with a hint of Yuzu citrus juice

Temaki hand roll – Sliced Panko fried chicken, curry sauce, rice and pickled julienne carrots wrapped with Nori

Orange Mango Slushie – Frozen blend of Nigori sake, mango and orange juice

Hanami sushi – A flavorful combination of salmon, scallop and beef-topped rice balls served atop a shiso violet sauce

Kirin draft beer

Japanese puffed rice cakes with green tea whipped cream and azuki

Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco Pavilion) - Discover the tastes on North African spices which will be paired with fresh ingredients, as well as Moroccan beer and wine.

Food

Drinks

Lamb brewat roll with prunes and sesame

Mint iced tea

Harissa chicken kebab with couscous salad

White sangria

Baghrir – Moroccan pancake with honey, almonds and argan oil

Desert Rose – Sparkling wine with pomegranate liqueur

Casa Beer

Guerrouane red

Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion) – Indulge your senses in France’s most magnificent culinary masterpieces.

Orange Blossom Macaron ©Disney

Food

Drinks

Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençal – Parisian-style dumplings with vegetables and mushrooms

La Vie en Rose frozen slush – Vodka, Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liquor, and white and red cranberry juice

Confit de canard, pommes de terre Sarladaise – Pulled duck confit with garlic and parsley potatoes

Kir Imperial – Sparkling wine, Chambord and black raspberry liquor

Macaron à la fleur d’ Oranger – Orange blossom macaron with white chocolate ganache

Rosé pamplemousse cocktail – Rosé wine mixed with natural grapefruit syrup

Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – Fruity white beer with citrus notes

Buttercup Cottage (United Kingdom Pavilion) - Delight in afternoon tea offerings and fresh garden flavors.

Pork and apple sausage roll ©Disney

Berry tea cocktail and field green with Plant City strawberries ©Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food

Drinks

Freshly baked potato and cheddar cheese biscuit with smoked salmon tartare

Chilled rose blush lemonade featuring Simply Lemonade with Raspberry (nonalcoholic)

Field greens with Plant City strawberries, toasted almonds and Farmstead stilton

Twinings Cold Brewed English Classic with lemon grass syrup

Pork and apple sausage roll with house-made piccalilli

Berry tea cocktail – Twinings Cold Brewed Mixed Berry Tea with Florida Cane vodka and Plant City strawberry, flavored with raspberry and açaí syrup

Freshly baked lemon scones with berry preserves and crème fraÎche

Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee

Deloach Pinot Noir

 

Pineapple Promenade (Canada Pavilion) – Eat up (quite literally) as you try all kinds of treats featuring delicious and juicy pineapples.

Food

Drinks

Dole Whip

Frozen desert violet lemonade featuring Simply Lemonade (nonalcoholic)

Dole Whip with Myers’s dark rum

Tropical Mango Pale Ale, St. John Brewers

Dole Whip with Parrot Bay coconut rum

Once Upon a Vine’s The Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc

Sweet potato cinnamon waffle with pineapple soft serve

 

Urban Farm Eats – Taste treats from this booth’s all natural menu, with many dishes that have been cultivated from the soil.

Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer ©Disney

 

Food

Drinks

Pickled beet salad with goat cheese cream, mizuna and pistachios

Cucumber lemon spa water, finished with a sprig of fresh mint

Land-grown eggplant “scallop” with romesco sauce and spaghetti squash

The Vegan Vine Chardonnay

Ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub

The Vegan Vine Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer

Intermissions Cafe (Festival Center) – Pop inside to find fine food and beverages.

Food

Drinks

Grapes

Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria, Florida Orange Groves

Fruit & cheese plate

Garda Italian Wine Blend, Quantum Leap Winery

Vegan trio

Rogue Valley Pinot Noir, Quantum Leap Winery

Southwest chicken wrap

Martini Prosecco

Tuna salad with pita

Strongbow Cider, Bulmers Cider Company

Side salad

SweetWater Blue, SweetWater Brewing Company

Asian tuna salad with noodles

Caprese Push-Pop – Tomato, mozzarella and balsamic

 

Odds and Ends

Aurora and Prince Phillip illuminated in the International Gateway

There are also a few additional details that you should know that will enhance your visit to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.  The Illuminated Gardens and Topiaries are back.  Each evening, enjoy your walk around World Showcase just a little more as the topiaries are illuminated and twinkle.  The topiaries are even more spectacular all lit up at night.

In addition, be on the look out for a mini Disney Gift Card that is exclusive to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Much like the gift card that’s available for Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, this card has a bungee cord so you can wear it around your wrist and simply swipe to pay for food and more. Run out of money?  The card can be reloaded as many times as you want at most festival kiosks.

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is included with your theme park admission, however, keep in mind, that some aspects may have additional costs associated with them.

What are your favorite aspects of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival?  What are you most looking forward to this year?  Overall, it’s slated to be another beautiful time to visit Epcot.

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