Last week I went to Orlando with 24 other bloggers to screen the new Disneynature movie Monkey Kingdom and experience all of the Walt Disney World parks. It was a great time to visit EPCOT because the 2015 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival was going on. I had always thought that the International Flower & Garden Festival was just a bunch of flowers but I was so wrong. It is so much more. There is something for everyone- young and old.
Here are some of my favorite things that I saw at the festival:
Flowers, of Course!
There are over 100 topiary displays, gardens and exhibits—each featuring seasonal designs or several popular Disney characters! These displays were simply breathtaking. There is something for everyone from gardens to Disney character themed topiaries. It is so much fun to spot your favorite character topiaries.
There are over a dozen Disney-themed topiaries to experience, including:
Anna and Elsa – NEW! Located at World Showcase Plaza
Goofy About Spring – NEW! Featuring Goofy, Chip ‘n Dale and friends Located near the Main Entrance
Miss Piggy – NEW! Located at the Italy Pavilion
Spring Is in the Air! – NEW! Featuring Butterfly Topiaries Located behind Spaceship Earth
Disney•Pixar’s Mater and Lightning McQueen Located near Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
Disney•Pixar’s Buzz Lightyear Located near Mission Space
Disney•Pixar’s Mike Wazowski and Sulley Located at Disney•Pixar’s Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Garden Presented by Landscape Structures, Inc.
Fantasia Located at West Future World
Phineas and Ferb Located at the Odyssey Bridge
Farmer Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Located between Future World and World Showcase
Bambi and Friends Featuring Bambi, Flower and Thumper Located at the Canada Pavilion
Peter Pan, Captain Hook & Tick Toc Crock Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
Belle and Beast Located at the France Pavilion
Disney•Pixar’s Woody Located at The American Adventure
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Located at the Germany Pavilion
Lady and the Tramp Located at the Italy Pavilion
Simba and Friends Featuring Mufasa, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Sarabi, Simba and Timon Located at The Outpost between the Germany and China Pavilion
Cinderella and Prince Charming Located at the France Pavilion
Tinker Bell Located at Butterflies on the Go Presented by GoGo squeeZ™
Year of the Sheep Located at the China Pavilion
Winnie the Pooh Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
Make sure to check out the Inside Out Emotion Garden inspired by Disney Pixar’s upcoming movie Inside Out.
Nature
Make sure to stop by the Nature Rocks- Let’s Go Explore exhibit by The Nature Conservancy. Learn tips for getting the whole family out in nature and play. In this day with so many children being connected to electronics all day long, it’s important for them to get out there in the fresh air and play outside in nature.
Education
There is so much to learn at the 2015 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. There is something for everyone and every interest. There are exhibits all around the park to learn about all things nature, horticulture, and so much more. It’s great for those with a green thumb who want to learn how to bring spring at Epcot home with them and those like me who don’t have a green thumb but want to learn more about starting my own garden or wildlife habitat.
Learn how to create a backyard habitat. You can even get your habitat certified as a certified backyard habitat.
Wildlife habitats need 4 things- Food, Water, Cover (shelter), and a Place to Raise Young.
Take the pledge to be a Butterfly Hero and receive a free kit. Go to nwf.org/butterflyheroes to take the pledge and learn more.
I use a lot of essential oils and alternative medicine in my house so I especially liked the Health and Healing Garden.
Shopping
There is lots of nature and garden themed merchandise available throughout Epcot so make sure to get some things to add to your garden or get inspired to start a new one!
Fun For ChildrenThere are several playgrounds for kids throughout the park. Make sure to check them out during the International Flower and Garden Festival as they these playgrounds are only there for the festival.
Throughout Epcot there are Kidcot Activity Stations. Children can stop at each of these stations to complete activities, crafts, and more! The Kidcot stations are available all year round.
FOOD!!!!
In addition to the regular restaurants in Epcot, each country has special Outdoor Kitchens with spring-inspired dishes from that country. They are just the right size to get a taste but not fill up so you can explore and try new foods in all the countries.
Entertainment
Every weekend during the 2015 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival there are different concerts featuring various artists. When we went last weekend the featured artist was Jon Secada. It was nice to sit and enjoy a snack from one of the countries while listening to a free concert.
Here’s the concert schedule for the rest of the 2015 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival:
Florida Fresh Weekend: April 24 – 26, 2015
Garden Rocks Concert Series
- Musical Act: The Guess Who
- Known for the Song: “These Eyes”
“Florida Fresh Weekend” Experiences
- From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, head for the Festival Center and discover why Florida is one of the top agriculture producing states in the nation!
Festival Center Events
- Greenhouse Stage: Catch authors Heather McPherson and Katie Farmand along with a special guest as they share tips and tricks you can plant in your own garden—11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
- Fresh Epcot Stage: See informative and entertaining presentations from nationally known author, landscape designer and professional horticulturist, Jessi Bloom—12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
- IFAS at the University of Florida Stage: Join experts as they present great gardening ideas for everyone—1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. For topics, please visit the Festival Center.
Weekend 9: May 1 – 3, 2015
Learn what’s going down at the ninth Fun Fresh Weekend at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
- Musical Act : Taylor Dane – NEW to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival!
- Known for the Song: “Tell It to My Heart”
Festival Center Events
- See a stunning display of hibiscus in a wide array of colors at the Hibiscus Show.
- Greenhouse Stage: Catch gardening experts as they share tips and tricks you can plant in your own garden at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM—including Rob Williams of Disney’s Horticulture on Friday, May 1, 2015; orchid specialist Arthur Katz on Saturday, May 2, 2015; and Eric Schmidt of Harry P. Leu Gardens on Sunday, May 3, 2015.
- Fresh Epcot Stage: See informative and entertaining presentations from nationally known TV personality and National Wildlife Federation naturalist, David Mizejewski—12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
- IFAS at the University of Florida Stage: Join experts as they present great gardening ideas for everyone—1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. For topics, please visit the Festival Center.
Weekend 10: May 8 – 10, 2015
Learn what’s going down at the tenth Fun Fresh Weekend at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
- Musical Act : Little River Band – NEW to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival!
- Known for the Song: “Reminiscing”
Festival Center Events
- Greenhouse Stage: Catch flower expert J Schwanke as he shares tips and tricks you can plant in your own garden—11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
- Fresh Epcot Stage: See informative and entertaining presentations from nationally known outdoor living expert, speaker and author, Debra Prinzing—12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
- IFAS at the University of Florida Stage: Join experts as they present great gardening ideas for everyone—1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. For topics, please visit the Festival Center.
Weekend 11: May 15 – 17, 2015
Learn what’s going down at the final Fun Fresh Weekend at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
- Musical Act : Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
- Known for the Song: “I’m Henry the VII, I Am”
Festival Center Events
- Greenhouse Stage: Catch gardening experts as they share tips and tricks you can plant in your own garden at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM—including Rob Williams of Disney’s Horticulture on Friday, May 15, 2015; and Dennis Cathcart of Tropiflora Nursery on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, 2015.
- Fresh Epcot Stage: See informative and entertaining presentations from nationally known author, Dave Dewitt—12:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
- IFAS at the University of Florida Stage: Join experts as they present great gardening ideas for everyone—1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. For topics, please visit the Festival Center.
With so much to see and do, you can return again and again, and find something new every time because in 2015, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is so much more than flower and gardens!
Don’t forget to take your family to see Monkey Kingdom!!!
Disclosure- I was invited on an all expense paid trip to Orlando for the Monkey Kingdom Event. All opinions are 100% my own.
Wilderness Explorers is a FREE program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Participants go around from station to station earning badges as they go. We had the opportunity to learn about the program first hand on our press trip for the Monkey Kingdom movie that is now open in theaters.
