Among all the Flowers and Gardens – EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival 2024
From February 28 to May 27, 2024, the annual EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival blooms, brimming with lush garden creations, fresh culinary flavors to try, lively entertainment, and more! This spring event is a must-see if you’re planning a springtime trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. There is so much to see and do with this festival, so let’s take a look at all the unique offerings this festival brings.
One of the special installments available at EPCOT during this Festival is the extravagant topiaries around the park! There will be approximately 100 different topiaries Disney Gardeners have envisioned and created for guests, featuring up to 70 different Disney characters from your favorite feature films. New this year is Asha, Valentino, and the Wishing star from Disney’s Wish, and Groot from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Among the gorgeous topiaries are more than 200 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers, and lots of flower beds with a rainbow of colors.
Depending on the international pavilion you’re in, you’ll also see specific gardens that cater to the agricultural customs of each country! For example, you’ll find a Bonsai collection in the Japan pavilion where you can learn about the art of bonsai and see Masters carefully tend these miniature works of art.
In the China Pavilion, along with the Bamboo Garden, there will also be a China Penjing Garden! New this year, guests can discover the ancient Chinese art of penjing (also known as penzai) that recreates miniature landscapes.
The Germany Pavilion will also have a new installation of a Gnome garden, where guests can see topiary versions of magical garden gnomes, all originating from German folk tales.
Among all the gardens, you’ll also find the Butterfly House! This attraction follows the story of the monarch butterfly as it journeys across North America. These distinct butterflies are considered an endangered species of butterflies and only live for about four to five weeks, so the lifecycle of a monarch is very delicate. Guests can learn about Monarchs’ life and migratory patterns and also see hundreds of other butterflies living in this enclosure, some of which may emerge from their chrysalis!
With the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, there are also a lot of different activities for children to explore! Families can visit Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Garden Presented by OFF!, where families can enjoy this camp-themed garden where kids can climb, jump, and play. There’s also Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration, where kids can hunt for Disney’s favorite honey bee, Spike, and learn about pollination in nature. If your next Disney vacation also falls around the Easter holiday, there’s also an Egg-stravaganza Scavenger Hunt around the world showcase and find Disney character-themed eggs.
Along with all these fun activities, guests can embark on some delightful food adventures around the park. Guests can take advantage of the Outdoor Kitchens, where you can discover an array of festival-inspired bites and drinks. There are different outdoor kitchens around the World Showcase, and guests can also enjoy some American comfort food with a culinary twist.
There’s also the Garden Graze, where guests can grab a Festival Passport at the EPCOT entrance and take a fun food stroll featuring different tasty dishes. Once you collect at least five specialty stamps, you can bring your festival passport to the Pineapple Promenade and receive a festive treat!
Now that we’ve explored all the food and activities offered, it’s time to indulge in some food for the ears as EPCOT’s Garden Rocks series returns! This is a popular concert series during the Flower and Garden Festival, where stars spanning various decades take the stage to entertain guests during their visit! Among local Orlando performers, some notable performers are bringing their classic hits to the stage, including Rick Springfield, The Pointer Sisters, the Plain White T’s, Simple Plan, and more!
Looking into all these fun activities, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to pack up and hop on a plane to enjoy this seasonal festival! If you’re feeling the same, reach out to us at David’s to help plan your next Disney vacation.
~Elyse
