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One
of the most welcome signs of spring is Epcot's
annual International Flower & Garden Festival.
While the grounds at Epcot
are always beautiful, the Flower and Garden Festival
takes them to the next level and everywhere you look is bursting with colorful blooms. 2019 marks the 26th Annual Flower and Garden Festival that will take place from March 6-June 3 – 90 days!
This year, the Garden Rocks Concerts will take place every night – that's 270 concerts – in the America Gardens Theatre and dining packages are now available to book.
The Honey Bee-stro Outdoor Kitchen debuted in 2018 and several new outdoor kitchens will debut in 2019. AdventHealth will host a kitchen along with a nearby playground where the whole family can learn fun and interactive ways to stay healthy.
A plethora of Disney character topiaries, including classic-character favorites Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and many others, play a starring role each year in the festival. Belle is typically featured in the France pavilion along with Beast, you'll find Snow White in Germany with the Seven Dwarfs, and Anna and Elsa can be found in the Norway pavilion. Woody and Buzz Lightyear will welcome Bo Peep and her sheep to their Toy Story topiary near the Family Play Zone in Future World East.
The 2018 festival brought a brand-new Future World interactive play garden and a revved-up Road to Florida 500 garden with new games and play challenges. The new interactive area in Future World featured a play maze, a sensory garden, an activity zone, and a covered seating area. The redesigned Cars-themed garden based on the Disney•Pixar sequel, Cars 3, added more fun activities like highway bingo for families. We'll let you know what 2019's theme is as soon as it's announced!
The Figment topiary garden between Future World and World Showcase typically offers the perfect selfie backdrop and family photo opportunity.
Perennial Flower and Garden favorites such as the English Tea Garden, the Butterfly Haven, and special kids' activities can be seen at the festival as well. Illuminated topiary and play gardens light up at night for a different festival experience.
Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration family scavenger hunt activity will be more fun than ever this year with new locations to discover along the garden pollination trail. Guests can also commemorate their scavenger hunt experience with select merchandise offerings featuring everyone’s favorite honey bee, Spike.
Explore the Festival and keep an eye out for Spike as he pollinates Epcot’s gardens. In each garden, you’ll need to search for the plant Spike has pollinated, identifiable by Spike himself and a Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration plant stake. Once you find him, add the corresponding sticker to your map.
Once your map is full of stickers, your journey is complete and you can return your map for a springtime surprise.
Maps and stickers for Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration were available for sale at Port of Entry for $5.99 plus tax and we'll let you know if the price changes for 2019.
Another guest favorite returning to the festival April 5-21, 2019 (while supplies last) is the Eggstravaganza Scavenger Hunt, where guests can search for Disney character-themed eggs around World Showcase.
Dozens of Disney-crafted “flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms will transform the park’s landscape. At least 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.
Don't forget to pick up one of the special gift cards that are created for this event too! They're tiny and are attached to a bracelet made out of what looks like an old telephone cord. Take a look at one of the 2018 editions below - there are several flowers in different colors to choose from!
In the past, Annual Passholders visiting the Festival could pick up one of two adorable Spring-themed Passholder magnets depending on the date they attended. Below is a look at the magnets that were available in 2018 - we'll display 2019's magnets when they are revealed.
Flower & Garden Festival Topiaries
This section will be updated with 2019 information once it's made available, but we already know that Buzz Lightyear and Woody will welcome Bo Peep and her sheep to their Toy Story topiary near the Family Play Zone in Future World East!
A brand-new Epcot front-entrance topiary garden will set the milestone anniversary scene with a kaleidoscope of blooming color where topiary icons Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy will welcome festival guests to Fresh Epcot!
Festival Blooms - Future World East and West Lake
Figment - Between Future World and World Showcase
Donald Duck with Huey, Duey, and Louie - Future World behind Spaceship Earth
In celebration of Disneynature’s Penguins, opening April 17, a 9-foot-tall art sculpture made from recycled marine debris will be on display in Future World featuring an adult and baby Adélie penguin. Created by the non-profit organization WashedAshore.org, this work of art is designed to inspire Guests to keep our oceans and waterways clear of plastic pollution.
Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
Taste of Marrakesh
Food:
Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad
Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley and Chili-ranch Sauce
Walnut Honey Baklava
Beverages:
Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur
White Sangria
Casa Beer
Larroque Chardonnay, Meknes
THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews
Food:
Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw (KA)
Shredded Beef Brisket with Smoked Potato, Chorizo Fondue and Green Tomato Relish
Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue and House-made Pickle
Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V)
Beverages:
Frozen Simply™ Lemonade (non-alcoholic) (KA)
Central 28 Brewing Company Sunshine Greetings Orange Hibiscus Wheat Ale, DeBary, FL
3 Daughters Brewing Phantasmas Spicy Double IPA, St. Petersburg, FL
Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL
Boneshaker Zinfandel, Lodi, CA
Frozen Simply™ Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine
Beer Flight
The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board
Food:
Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey-blistered Grapes, Sunflower Brittle and Coriander Flowers (GF) (V)
Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese, Charred Vegetables, Clover Honey Sour Cream and Micro Citrus Greens
Local Wildflower Honey-mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses and Petite Lavender Shoots (V) (KA)
Beverages:
Honey-peach Cobbler Freeze (non-alcoholic) (KA)
Goodwood Brewing Company Brandy Barrel Honey Ale, Louisville, KY
Book a Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Package which includes:
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner at select Epcot restaurants (listed below)
Guaranteed seating at one of 3 concert performances later that day
Choose from 15 unique eateries around Epcot, each offering a menu replete with global delicacies.
Each dinner package includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert—or one (1) full buffet or family-style dining, where applicable—along with a non-alcoholic beverage and one (1) guaranteed seat to the Garden Rocks Concert held on the same day.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Norway Pavilion
Breakfast: $63 for adults; $38 for kids (buffet not available) Lunch: $73 for adults; $44 for kids (ages 3-9)
Dinner: $73 for adults; $44 for kids
The Garden Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion
Breakfast $49 for adults; $30 for kids (buffet not available)
Lunch: $63 for adults; $38 for kids (ages 3-9)
Dinner: $63 for adults; $38 for kids
The Festival Center was not used at all for 2018. The merchandise found in the Festival Center in previous years was located in other locations around Epcot, including the Port of Entry. This move allowed last year's guests to have more convenient access to the things once offered at the Festival Center which was open only three days per week at previous Festivals. We'll update here when we know whether or not the Festival Center will be utilized in 2019.
2018 Garden Destinations
This section will be updated for 2019 once the information becomes available.
Water Wise Garden (presented by Rain Bird Corporation)
Purple Martins
Festival Blooms (presented by FTD)
The Goodness Garden Butterfly House (presented by GoGo squeeZ)
Floating Gardens
NEW! The How-to Garden
NEW! Imagination Play Garden
Bold Bromeliads
Tropical Rainforest Garden
Bamboo Garden
Alpine Containers
Garden Italino
Bonsai Collection
Urban Spice Garden
Florida Fresh Garden
English Tea Garden (presented by Twinings of London)
Shakespeare Garden
2019 Guided Tours
Guided tours are also available for guests interested in learning more about nature’s magic. In Behind the Seeds – The Land, guests can explore the fish farm and four greenhouses that make up The Land at Epcot. Additionally, two guided experiences exclusive to the festival include:
The Royal Tea Garden Tour, presented by Twinings, which takes place each festival morning at the United Kingdom. For a small fee, guests can follow a knowledgeable guide through the tranquil tea garden setting to learn the history and artistry behind growing and blending tea. A post-tour treat of tea and scones is included. The shorter, complimentary English Tea Garden Tour also will be offered on select days.
During the Gardens of the World tour, guests will join a Disney horticulturist for a three-hour walking tour to explore the award-winning topiaries and gardens that make the festival so special. Guests will learn about the unique role landscaping plays at Walt Disney World and discover new plant materials and gardening techniques to use for home gardens.
Guided tours are offered select days throughout the festival for an additional fee. Epcot admission is required. Reservations for tours open January 2019. For more information or to make a reservation, call (407) WDW-TOUR.
Special 2018 Festival Merchandise
This section will be updated for 2019 once the information becomes available.
