Temperatures are on the rise in sunny Orlando just in time for one of our very favorite events — the Epcot International Flower And Garden Festival.
This annual event at Disney World runs from March 6 through May 19 2013, and it features some of the most amazing topiaries ever seen. It takes Disney more than a year to prepare for the event, which showcases more than 30 million blooms. Here’s an overview of this year’s festival for those of you planning to attend.
Topiaries and Blooms at Disney World
You’ll find more than 100 topiaries throughout Epcot during this event, plus 240 floating mini-gardens, flower towers and other blooms throughout the park. For the first time ever, Illuminated Gardens in Future World and World Showcase will twinkle and glow over the gardens and topiaries each evening.
Mike and Sully from “Monsters University” will make their topiary debuts this year. They join many, many other Disney favorites, including the inseparable Phineas and Ferb, who will be available for photo ops behind Spaceship Earth.
We’re most looking forward to visiting Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House, featuring fairy topiaries of Tinker Bell, Fawn, Vidia and Terrence, as well as hundreds and hundreds of colorful butterflies. You might not know that up to 10 species of 1,000 native butterflies will be drinking from Cape Royal plumbago, passion flower, coral honeysuckle, blazing star and butterfly bush among other nectar plants!
Food plays a central role in this year’s celebrations and the entrance to Epcot feature oversized topiaries of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck in a cookout scene made from more than 15 varieties of flowers, plants and other garden materials.
According to an official press release issued by Disney World representatives:
“The 14-foot-tall Goofy topiary will bobble an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton, Mickey fires up the grill, Pluto swipes a link of hot dogs and Minnie chills out on a colorful blanket of blossoms.”
Food
Making their debuts this year are 12 “garden marketplaces,” similar to the kiosks at the Food And Wine Festival, that will feature a number of culinary creations and cooling libations, including the
much-balyhood Spiced Rum Dole Whip. Each of the marketplaces will feature a produce and herb garden.
Here are a few of the Garden Marketplace menus:the full list:
Florida Fresh – World Showcase Promenade
- Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction
- Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Zellwood
- Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
- Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries
- Florida Orange Groves, Hot Sun, Tomato Wine
- Florida Orange Groves, 40 Karat, Carrot Wine
- Orange Blossom Pilsner
- Strawberry Slush – Non Alcoholic
Jardin de Fiestas – Mexico
- Tacos de Carnitas (Pork Tacos topped with Tamarindo salsa, served on a flour tortilla with Chicharrón)
- Tostada (Crab tostada served with Chipotle Mayo and Valentina Salsa)
- Flan de Guayaba (Guava Custard)
- Conga Fruit Punch – Non Alcoholic
- Corona Light Draft Beer
- Rosita Margarita
- Organic Tequila Flight
Playareas at the Festival
Debuting this year is a circus-themed “Land of Oz” play area based on the “Oz: The Great and Powerful” film that opened March 8. There is an interactive play zone made of giant flowers as well as midway-style games and a variety of Oz-like plants.
Topiaries Lightning McQueen and Mater play host to an interactive “Radiator Springs” play zone on the Test Track Walkway.
Flower Power Concert Series Lineup
Each weekend, you’ll be able to enjoy classic tunes from the 60s and 70s during the Flower Power Concert Series. Show times are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. at America Gardens Theatre:
April 5-7 The Turtles featuring Flo And Eddie
April 12-14 Paul Revere & the Raiders
April 19-21 The Village People (new!)
April 26-28 The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II
May 3-5 Tommy Roe (new!)
May 10-12 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 17-19 Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at noon and 3 p.m., you can get tips and tricks from some of DIY and HGTV’s most popular designers in the Festival Center. More than half of this year’s speakers are new to the festival, including Florida’s David Bromstad (speakers are subject to change).
April 5-7 Meg Caswell, “Meg’s Great Rooms”
April 12-14 Jason Cameron, “Desperate Landscapes,” “Man Caves”
April 19-21 Sara Peterson, editor, HGTV Magazine
April 26-28 Carter Oosterhouse, “Million Dollar Rooms”
May 3-5 Casey Noble, “Design on a Dime”
May 10-12 Dan Faires, HGTV.com’s “DanMade”
May 17-19 David Bromstad, “ColorSplash,” “Design Star All-Stars.”
Epcot International Flower And Garden Festival is included with regular admission to Epcot. If you have a Park Hopper ticket, it’s a great way to begin (or end) a few days of your trip!
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