So the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival for those of you who don't know is an amazing combination of beautiful flower topiary special events with HGTV stars and other famous landscapers, play areas for kids, limited time art vendors, and now even featuring food stands too! Over the past 5 years I've gone to all but one of those seasons. This year is the 20th Birthday for the Flower & Garden Festival and I was so excited to see all the beauty added to the already gorgeous EPCOT.I took lots of photos, as you may be able to tell that I do on a regular basis. Unfortunately I'm blaming my new home of Miami and the Bermuda Triangle for the disappearance of all said photos. What is fortunate however is that my mom visited at another time and I can borrow her photos to share the spring flair with you all!
If you have ever participated in the Flower & Garden Festival for more than one season you may recognize many of the topiary as they are frequently reused in different areas each year. Some new ones for this season however included Phineas and Ferb, Monsters University, Woody & Lots'o, and a Radiator Springs play area. To honor Oz the Great and Powerful there was also a large space between Imagination and World Showcase featuring a play area for kids, fun carnival style games for all ages, and lots of pieces representing the movie. Feel like a photo op in a crash landed hot air balloon? Look no further than here!
The Flower & Garden Festival Passport is a smart way to double check that you've seen all the special happenings and the stamps are very cute but don't feel like you need to get all of them as there really isn't an special prize for completing the whole passport.
Strolling around World Showcase one is sure to find numerous blooming flowers hailing from all around the world. One of my favorite things about Florida is the ability for all these beauties to flourish and the opportunity for such wonderful colors and exotic plants. It seems this year that the Festival was much more geared to families with smaller children as there seemed to be more activities as well as play areas for parents to sit for a bit while their tots spend their extra energy.
If you just can't wait for the Food & Wine Festival this fall visiting the Flower & Garden might just help to tide you over. Several new garden marketplaces have sprung up around World Showcase to offer everyone refreshing treats inspired by their region and the freshness of the Festival. Personally my stop at The Cottage: Savories, Triffles, & Teas was fantastic! The cheddar biscuit with salmon and rose blush lemonade gave me the boost I needed on a hot Florida day.
I hope you enjoyed my overview of my trip to this year's Flower & Garden Festival and wish you a magical day!
Photo time!
