10 Reasons Why I’m Excited For This Year’s EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival
We are mere days away from the launch of the 2021 Taste of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival which kicks off NEXT Wednesday (Marth 5th.) Whether you’re counting down the days (like me), thinking about popping down to check it out or will be at Disney but aren’t sure whether to make it part of your visit – you’re in luck!
To put you in the mood for all things Flower & Garden, I’ve assembled my list of 10 awesome reasons why it should definitely be on your Disney bucket list!
1. Topiaries With Character
You don’t have to have a green thumb to fully appreciate the incredible topiaries that are guaranteed to serve as a high point of your Flower & Garden Festival visit. You’ll find stunning creations in Future World and at many of the countries in the World Showcase. Be on the lookout for some of your favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Buzz Lightyear, Figment, Anna & Elsa, Simba, Belle and Beast, Lady and the Tramp, Remy, Peter Pan, Bambi, Winnie the Pooh and MORE!
For a complete look at all of the topiaries you’ll find this year, check out my article here.
2. Butterflies!
We are delighted to announce that the butterfly village will be making a return for this year’s fest. Not matter what your age, there is just something so magical about walking into an enclosed garden with a kaleidoscope of butterflies flying about! A visit here is also educational as you’ll learn about the lifecycles of these awesome insects. You might even see one emerge from its chrysalis.
3. Outdoor Kitchens
The Food & Wine Festival isn’t the only time where festival-goers can indulge in delicious treats from around the world! This year during the Flower & Garden Festival there will be over 20 Outdoor Kitchens where guests can sample an eclectic array of savory and sweet dishes as well as cocktails, wines, beer and more! There’s sure to be something for ALL tastes. The top three treats we can’t wait to try are:
- NEW: Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon Bread with Jalapeños, Bacon, and House-made Whipped Honey Butter (gluten/wheat-friendly) at The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board
- Popsicle Trio: Honeydew, Raspberry-Mint, and Coconut-Lime (gluten/wheat friendly) at Refreshment Port
- Twinings of London Energize Matcha -Cranberry & Lime Green Tea with Hanger 1 Makrut Lime Vodka served in a Mason Jar (new).
Image Credit: Disney
4. Awesome Entertainment
Though the Garden Rocks concert series will not be back this year due to social distancing, there will still be a whole host of awesome entertainment. On select nights throughout the festival local Orlando talent will take to the stage at the American Gardens Theatre to delight with a fabulous array of music from a variety of genres. Also be on the lookout for performances by Mariachi Cobre, Voices of Liberty, and the beloved JAMMitors! Be sure to pick up a Times Guide when you enter EPCOT for a full list of entertainment options taking place during your visit.
5. Exclusive Flower & Garden Merch
We are anxiously waiting for Disney to reveal the merchandise for this year’s Flower & Garden Festival but we’re positive that as in previous years it will be absolutely amazing. Typically you can find everything from designer Dooney & Bourke bags to Spirit Jerseys stuff for the Garden and so much more! Keep following along with MickeyBlog and we’ll share the merch with you as soon as its revealed.
6. Enchanting Gardens
In addition to the incredible topiaries you’ll find throughout EPCOT, another highlight is checking out some of the special curated gardens. NEW for this year is a Prehistoric Garden which will be located at Future World East. Here you can take a trip back in time and check out plant life that would’ve existed some 65 million years ago (the same time that dinosaurs roamed the earth!) Another of our favorites is the English Tea Garden at the UK Pavilion where you can find out about tea blending. We also can’t wait to see the bonsai collection at the Japan Pavilion!
7. A Promenade of Characters
Because of social distancing, traditional meet and greets at EPCOT and across all Disney World theme parks are currently on hiatus. But be on the lookout because you never know what Disney characters might turn up in new and mysterious ways. Two options to try and catch are:
- Mickey and Friends World Tour- On your adventures around World Showcase, you may spot Mickey and his friends out and about on their own sightseeing tour!
- Princess Promenade- Wave hello to some of your favorite Disney Princesses as they travel around World Showcase in a horse-drawn carriage.
8. A Vegetarian Friendly Garden Graze
Go on a vegetarian adventure with the Garden Graze. Guests can enjoy a variety of fresh dishes, collect matching stamps in your Festival Passport and at the very end (once you’ve collected 5 stamps) you can bring your Festival Passport to the Pineapple Promenade for a very special treat!
To find out more, check out our article on the Garden Graze here.
9. Egg-stravaganza Scavenger Hunt
You can celebrate Easter Disney-style with a delightful hunt around EPCOT for colorful eggs inspired by some of your favorite Disney characters. To get started you purchase a map ($7.99) at select EPCOT locations and then head out in search of eggs. Once you’ve found them all, you can return the complete map for a sp-egg-tacular treat!
10. Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration
This year, families can enjoy not one but TWO awesome scavenger hunts! Follow Spike the Bee on his pollination trail. Each year Spike is busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens. Get in on the fun by purchasing a map and stickers at select merchants ($7.99.) Once you’ve found all the locations where Spike is hiding you can return your map to Disney Traders or World Traveler for a surprise treat!
I hope that NOW you’re as excited as I am about this years EPCOT international Flower & Garden Festival! Don’t miss the fun which kicks off Wednesday (March 3rd) and runs until July 5, 2021. Readers are also encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Walt Disney World news and updates!
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