Counting Down to the Flower and Garden Festival
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Counting down to a vacation or trip is pretty common for everyone. How many posts have you seen that share how many sleeps until the big trip? When you are counting down to a Walt Disney World trip that countdown can be pretty exciting. We love visiting Disney all year round but there are always two times a year that are particularly special to us. One is mid November after the parks are decorated for Christmas but before the holiday season begins. It’s like a kickoff to the holidays! The other favorite though is in the Spring and we love this time of year largely because our favorite Epcot festival is the Flower & Garden Festival.
This year Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival will be running through July 5, 2021! That is the longest time this festival has run yet and we can’t wait to explore it. Running into the summer months will allow a lot more guests to experience the park in full bloom so I wanted to share some of the reasons we love this festival at Epcot!
Topiaries - The topiaries at Disney parks are always lovely and well maintained but there is nothing like the topiaries you will find at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. The beautiful topiaries are not just characters but actual scenes in many cases with multiple characters grouped together. They are the perfect backdrop for selfies but just beautiful to see all by themselves. There are over 100 topiaries to be found at this years festival!
Gardens - Through out the entire park you will find special gardens and exhibits relating to the beautiful blooms you are seeing in the parks. Visit a bamboo garden in the China pavilion, a tropical rainforest garden in the Mexico pavilion, a Tuscan kitchen garden featuring herbs and produce for the classic Italian meals in the Italy pavilion and so many more! With over 20 gardens represented this year, there are plenty you won’t want to miss including the Goodness Garden Butterfly House, the Honeybee Bistro, and the new Prehistoric Garden.
Taste of Epcot - Epcot has been bringing new dining experiences to each of their Festivals. These outdoor kitchens offer a variety of foods, drinks, and desserts at a snack price. The are themed to each kitchen and available for a limited time. You can even participate in the Garden Graze where you try 5 different items from the special Garden Graze menu and receive a bonus complimentary treat. You can check out the menus in advance and make a plan of what you want to try too! I have my list made and I think I could easily spend my day at Epcot eating all of the tasty treats! I’d love to hear what you want to try or let me know what your favorites were after you visit in the comments. We have always loved the frushi in the Japan pavilion, Hanami.
Character Promenades - You will definitely see characters in Epcot! Mickey and friends will show up driving through the World Showcase and you can be sure to see the Princesses in horse drawn carriages as well! Watch the gardens, you may just spot Joy and Sadness or Winnie the Pooh and friends through out the day.
Live Entertainment - It’s not all characters though, the festivals always bring some live entertainment and the Flower and Garden Festival will not disappoint! The Jammin Gardeners which you will find near the Canada pavilion will play some unique instruments and entertain the entire family. America Gardens theater will also host the Voices of Liberty and Mariachi Cobre and you won’t want to miss these performances while there. You’ll be able to check show times and locations in the Festival Guide when you arrive.
Scavenger Hunts - During the festivals, Disney offers a scavenger hunt for a small fee. This year there are two scavenger hunt events. Eggstravaganza begins on March 19. You can purchase a scavenger hunt map for $7.99 and begin your hunt for specially decorated eggs around the World Showcase. When complete, return to show your completed scavenger hunt for a special prize. The second is Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration and you will follow Spike the Bee on his pollination trail. The cost for this scavenger hunt is also $7.99. You can purchase the hunt including maps and stickers at Disney Trader’s or World Traveler and this is also where you will return for your prize upon completion. These are limited time events, so the scavenger hunt will only continue while supplies last.
Special Photo Opportunities - Photopass photographers will have special magic shots and props in the park to ensure you have great photos from the festival. You’ll see places you can stop for selfies through out the festival areas as well.
Festival Merchandise - The festivals always bring a lot of unique merchandise to the parks. It may be special characters like Spike the Bee or the Orange Bird who are often spotted on merchandise for this event. There will be special ears, clothing, bags, pins, mugs and travel cups as those are big souvenir items all year round. During this festival though, you will also find some unique souvenirs such as pots, gardening supplies, windchimes and other gardening accessories.
Frushi from the outdoor kitchen in the Japan Pavilion.
There are so many fun experiences for families at this festival and so many unique things to see and do! Even with all of the great things that come with the Flower and Garden Festival, you’ll still want time to visit your favorite attractions, restaurants, and shops. Don’t forget to stop by the Kidcot Stations so your family can participate in this fun and free activity around the world showcase!
Will you visit the festival this year? Leave a comment below and let me know what you can’t wait to see or try!
If you are starting to think about a summer vacation or if you would like to visit Walt Disney World during the Flower & Garden Festival, I would love to help you start your planning! You can email me at juanita@themagicforless.com or submit a request for a free no obligation quote.
