It’s finally that time of year! Spring and summer are upon us, and the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is returning. 2023 will be the longest run of the Festival to date, beginning on March 1 and ending on July 5.
Preparations for the Guest-favorite EPCOT Festival have been underway since before the International Festival of the Arts finished on February 20. Very soon, Guests will be able to enjoy all that is on offer in the Disney Park during this exciting time.
Will you be visiting EPCOT theme park while the International Flower and Garden Festival is taking place? Then you’ll want to enjoy these exclusive experiences.
Find all the Topiaries
EPCOT and World Showcase feature beautiful topiaries during the Flower and Garden Festival. Seeking them out is your opportunity to see Disney characters like never before, in topiary form, adorned with beautiful blooms. Favorite topiaries include Woody, Bo Peep, Tinker Bell, the Three Caballeros in the Mexico Pavilion, and Lady and the Tramp in the Italy Pavilion. Can you find all of them?
Upon entering EPCOT during your Disney vacation, pick up a Festival Passport. This will detail all of the topiaries that are showcased around the theme park and their locations. Check them off as you find them, and take photos too!
Take a ride on Living with the Land in The Land Pavilion during your day at EPCOT. You don’t want to miss the Festival decorations throughout the greenhouses.
Taste Frushi
There are plenty of dishes to taste from the Outdoor Kitchens around EPCOT during the International Flower and Garden Festival. Most of the Outdoor Kitchens can be found around World Showcase, but some are located in World Celebration (previously known as Future World), World Nature, and World Discovery. Guests can choose from a variety of dishes and desserts that are available from the Outdoor Kitchens. If you want to try multiple dishes, look at the Garden Graze challenge.
An exclusive dish to the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival that every Guest should try is Frushi. Whether you are partial to a bit of sushi or not, you’ll love this dish if you like fruit. Strawberry, pineapple, and cantaloupe melon are wrapped in white rice and a pink soy wrap. Berry sauce is drizzled over the top and then finished with a sprinkling of coconut. Whipped cream is served on the side and is the perfect accompaniment. Frushi is perfect any time of day. Visit the Hanami Outdoor Kitchen in the Japan Pavilion and pick up your plate for $7.
Buy a Limited-Edition Piece of Merchandise
The Walt Disney Company is known for its limited-edition merchandise. When visiting EPCOT during any of its Festivals, you’ll want to browse the exclusive merchandise released for the event. We especially love the merchandise selection at the Flower and Garden Festival. If you enjoy spending time in your garden and caring for plants, then this is your opportunity to pick up Disney accessories that complement your hobby. You can also purchase Spirit Jerseys, ornaments, pins, and other favorite Disney items. Visit the Festival Markets around World Showcase or stop by the Creations shop to buy your merchandise.
See a Show at the Garden Rocks Concert Series
The America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion comes alive most evenings during the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. The Garden Rocks Concert Series features bands like The Pointer Sisters, Daughtry, Kool & The Gang, and Plain White T’s. Concerts occur at 5:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. on show days.Â
Are you looking to pair your concert with dining? Garden Rocks Dining Packages are available. Guests should secure an advance dining reservation in one of the participating restaurants in EPCOT. Dining guarantees each Guest in your party a seat at one Garden Rocks concert that day.
Other musical performances can also be enjoyed in the Canada Pavilion, United Kingdom, and Mexico Pavilion.Â
Explore the Gardens
Around World Showcase, you’ll find beautiful gardens to wander. You can also take inspiration from the various gardens and information plaques in the displays. We loved the new edition of Blossoms of Fragrance at World Celebration last year. Treat your sense of smell by following a trail of fresh and unforgettable fragrances.
Our favorite gardens include:
- the Alpine Garden in the Germany Pavilion
- the English Tea Garden in the United Kingdom Pavilion
- the Encanto Garden between the France Pavilion and Morocco Pavilion
- the France Bouquet Garden in the France Pavilion
Catch the Disney Monorail from the Magic Kingdom Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT for a unique view. You’ll get an aerial view of the beautiful blooms near the World Showcase.
Complete Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration
If you or the younger Guests in your party enjoy scavenger hunts, you will want to take advantage of this. Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration guides Guests around EPCOT theme park, looking for Spike, the bee. Purchase your map from Port of Entry, Disney Traders, or World Traveler. Once you’ve completed your scavenger hunt, return to one of these locations to claim your reward.
Try Violet Lemonade
The Outdoor Kitchens around World Showcase also offer Guests a selection of beverages to sip on while exploring the Disney Park. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available to purchase and will keep you refreshed throughout the day. Guest favorite beverages during the Flower and Garden Festival include:
- La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush at Fleur De Lys in the France Pavilion
- Orange-Lemon Smoothie at The Citrus Blossom in the World Showcase Plaza, available in an Orange Bird collection sipper cup
- Classic Bubble Milk Tea at the Lotus House in the China PavilionÂ
In particular, you should try the Disney-original drink, Violet Lemonade. Like Frushi, this item is exclusive to the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. The Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade is available from Pineapple Promenade for $4.50.
Spend Time in the Butterfly House
Make time to stroll through Bambi’s Butterfly House, previously known as the Goodness Garden Butterfly House. Located near Imagination!, Guests can learn about the life cycle of a butterfly, watch them flutter around the house, and see them in their chrysalis’. You may even see a butterfly take its first flight after its transformation. Bambi’s Butterfly House closes at dusk, so plan to visit before closing. We recommend setting aside at least 15 minutes to enjoy the experience.
Watch the Spaceship Earth Beacon of Magic
If you’re anything like us, you’ll adore the view of Spaceship Earth during the evening when she’s all lit up. Make time in your evening to sit and watch the light show, accompanied by music, on this Beacon of Magic. We’re excited to see what shows will be shown exclusively as part of the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. Last year, the beautiful light show was accompanied by Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas (1995).
Are these experiences in your plans for your day at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival? If you haven’t yet made plans to visit EPCOT during your next Disney vacation, it’s not too late to add it to the Disney Parks you’ll see. You’re in for a memorable Disney experience in your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Don’t worry if you aren’t visiting the Walt Disney World Resort until later in the year. While you’ll miss the International Flower and Garden Festival, you may experience another EPCOT Festival. The International Food and Wine Festival begins in late July and runs through November.
