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Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Brilliant Blooms

Wow… one of my favorite Walt Disney World events is celebrating 25 years of incredible horticultural genius. The 2018 annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festival runs daily from February 28 through May 28. That’s three whole months of amazing botanical color and creativity, Disney style.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a gardening expert, novice, or wannabe-green-thumb, you’ll appreciate the brightly colored blossoming beauties. For me, there’s no better way to welcome spring than treating myself to the brilliant displays and outdoor experiences found at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. For the past 25 years I’ve attended nearly every one of the Festivals, and honestly, they never grow old with me.

With so many fun-filled things to do at the Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot at this time of year is the perfect Disney destination for every member of the family. Whether you’re snapping a selfie with a Disney Character Topiary (remember, no selfie sticks allowed in the Disney theme parks!), sampling savory small plates from one of 15 Outdoor Kitchens, having a blast from the past at a concert during the Garden Rocks Concert Series (Fridays – Mondays), or trying to get the kids to leave the interactive Play Gardens, you’ll have a blockbuster time exploring all that this popular springtime Festival has to offer.

 

 

 

What’s New at the 2018 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

When something lasts a quarter-of-a-century, you know they’re doing it up right! The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is 25 years old because it’s pretty spectacular. Disney doesn’t waste its time with duds! As a long-time attendee, I do wish Disney would make a few improvements, but that’s just my opinion. I realize not everyone is a return guest, year after year. In fact, every year I meet tourists and locals who are attending the Flower & Garden Festival for the first time. But whether this is your first dance with Disney or your 25th go-around, highlighting what’s new may help you schedule your day at Epcot a little better. Here are the additions to the 2018 Flower and Garden Festival…

• • The How-to Garden: an area which gives ideas on fun ways to create a backyard garden at home. You’ll learn how to create your own butterfly house and other garden crafts by re-purposing old materials you already have around the house. Recycling never looked so good! You’ll leave this garden inspired and ready to create your own botanical masterpiece.

 

• • Imagination Play Garden: a lively playground where curious minds can play and roam. It’s for children of all ages, with a separate area for kids ages 5-12. With unique things to climb, tubes to crawl through, and musical instruments to play, it’s a great place for kids to rid themselves of excess energy — and for mom and dad to rest! (This area closes at dusk.)
  • The Honey Bee-stro: this new area is hosted by the National Honey Board. It’s part outdoor kitchen and part educational crash-course on honey. For example, you’ll learn the difference between clover, orange blossom, and buckwheat honey, and how the honey is harvested. You can follow the honey bee on a journey to discover what it takes to create one of nature’s sweetest creations — from their hives to your table.

 

• • Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration: a scavenger hunt where kids (big-kids too!) follow Spike the Bee on his pollination trail around World Showcase, where he’ll be busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at Epcot, then receive a prize. There is an extra cost of $5.99+tax for this. You must purchase your map and stickers at Port of Entry.

 

 

 

Fun is Always Blooming at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!

In addition to the new features at the 2018 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, there’s plenty of returning favorites. In fact, there’s so many things to see and do, you’ll likely need multiple visits to experience it all. Here are a few of the especially popular ones…

• • The Goodness Garden Butterfly House: this up-close garden features a beautiful enclosed area with a nursery where cocoons are turning into butterflies, right before your eyes! You’ll discover the benefits of butterflies as you’re surrounded by 1000 native butterflies that represent up to 10 butterfly species. Hold out your hand, have your camera ready… one is almost certain to land! Plan to spend at least 10-15 minutes in here watching the butterflies and taking photos. (The butterfly house closes at dusk.)

 

• • Garden Rocks Concert Series: soak up the sounds of chart-topping musical acts at Epcot’s outdoor waterfront venue. Popular artists play at the America Gardens Theatre, Fridays – Mondays, at 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8:00PM. If you love the classics from the 50s – 90s like I do, you’ll find yourself tapping your feet to some of the hottest throwback beats of yesteryear — artists like Starship, Little River Band, Rick Springfield, Village People, The Guess Who, Herman’s Hermits, and The Spinners, to name a few. Check out the 2018 Concert Performance Schedule here. The concerts are included with your Epcot admission, but if your wallet allows, add a Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Package and get guaranteed preferred seating for the concerts. Call 407-WDW-DINE for details and availability.

 

• • Outdoor Kitchens: there are 15 different outdoor kitchens at the Flower and Garden Festival this year. As previously mentioned, one is new — The Honey Bee-stro. The appetizer-sized small-plates are a great way to sample a wide variety of delicious main dishes, delectable desserts, and specialty sips. The food kiosks are strategically placed throughout World Showcase and offer these farm-to-table favorites for about $4 – $8 each. They’re not cheap, but I love eating this way — small portions spread out over a timespan of several hours while meandering around World Showcase Lagoon. Hubby and I had 10 food items combined and one bottled water to share (no alcoholic drinks) for $59.31. There are vegetarian, gluten-free, and kid-approved choices available. (I’ve included the food photos below.)

 

• • Topiaries: discover living topiaries inspired by beloved classic Disney characters, princesses, and other popular characters. There are 23 different vignettes at the 2018 Flower & Garden Festival, each featuring a different group of one-of-a-kind living sculptures shaped like your child’s favorite Disney characters. Here’s a full list of this year’s topiaries. The topiaries are a favorite of mine, although Disney has been using the same ones year after year. Sometimes they get moved to a different location, but they’re the same Disney characters. There were no new ones in 2018, not even to commemorate the 25th anniversary (other than the welcome display at the main entrance which gets a makeover every year). With all Disney’s resources and talented crew of horticulturists, is it asking too much for a new topiary to be introduced each year? I didn’t even photograph the topiaries this year, they’re the same as my photos from decades ago. (One of the few complaints I have regarding the Flower and Garden Festival.)  Click here for a photo tour of the Disney topiaries from a previous FloridaFunAndFork article.

 

• • Tours: there are several tours to choose from, including Gardens of the World, English Tea Garden, Royal Tea Garden and Behind the Seeds, all for an additional fee. There is also a free Self-guided Tea Tour. Tour pricing and reservations can be found here.

 

• • Egg-stravaganza: the popular scavenger Easter Egg Hunt returns on March 16, for a limited time. Once you find all the Disney-themed character eggs, return your completed map to Disney Traders for a special surprise. There is a $5.99 fee for this. Purchase your map and stickers at Port of Entry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most activities at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival are included with admission to Epcot (except as noted above), leaving you a few extra bucks for Festival merchandise. There are at least six special shops set up to sell official Flower & Garden merchandise. Certainly, you’ll want to commemorate your visit to the 25th Annual Flower and Garden Festival with a souvenir or collector’s item.

As always, Disney Annual Passholders will find items created just for them, and don’t forget to use your Passholder discount! If you’re a local and have not yet purchased your annual pass, this article from FloridaFunAndFork is a must read. It’s a comprehensive review of a special type of pass for Florida residents, called the Disney Weekday Select Annual Pass. It’s the type of pass I use, and one of the absolute best values you will find at Walt Disney World!

Additional information on Epcot Flower and Garden Festival such as hours, ticket prices, and maps, can be accessed here. And don’t forget to pick up a 2018 Garden Passport at any of the outdoor kitchens around World Showcase. Or, get a head start and download your free copy here. It contains valuable information about the Festival, including a full menu listing every food and beverage item available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Conclusion…

Who says Florida doesn’t have a real “spring” season? For me, (and millions of other Disney fans) it officially starts on the first day of Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival, not the first day of spring on the calendar. I look forward to the vibrant colors and sweet smells of the 30+ million blossoming blooms the Disney horticulturists put on display each year. I was expecting the Festival to be outstanding and really special in 2018, as the Flower and Garden Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary. In that regard, Disney didn’t deliver! I anticipated Disney would go above-and-beyond, given the milestone 25th anniversary.

I was disappointed to find no new topiaries (most were even in the same location as last year), and I could barely find any signage indicating the landmark 25th anniversary. If you’re not looking hard, you may even miss the small anniversary sign in the main entrance topiary display. Also, there was no Festival Center this year, as many Disney guests look forward to the flower and garden seminars and activity demonstrations. In the past, Disney would bring in garden experts from HGTV and other celebrity gardeners.

Obviously, if you’re a first-time Epcot Flower and Garden Festival attendee, you won’t miss what you’ve never had. It’s definitely worth a visit for you. But for Disney Passholders and frequent visitors, the lack of anything new could be disappointing. If you don’t set your expectations too high, you will enjoy the themed gardens, Disney character topiaries, rock concerts, engaging tours, and savory seasonal outdoor kitchens just like you have any other year. After all, Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is one of Walt Disney World’s longest and oldest celebrations for a good reason!

NOTE: Epcot Flower and Garden Festival dates are February 28-May 28, 2018. But whether you chose to visit in the beginning, middle, or end of the Festival, you don’t have to worry about seeing a bunch of wilted flowers. Midway through the Festival, Disney gardeners remove the early spring blossoms and plant a whole new crop of flowers that flourish in Florida’s late-spring’s warmer temperatures. 

 

 

QUESTION: Have you visited the 25th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below — our readers would love to know! Or, perhaps you have a question about the event. I’ll try my best to answer it!