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What To Know: The 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World

topiary
Credit: Disney

Which Walt Disney World park gets all dressed up to celebrate Spring? Epcot, of course! Every year, when the rest of the country is still struggling to emerge from the icy grip of winter, Epcot puts on its finest decorations in the form of fragrant flowers bursting with vivid colors, culinary delights to tempt the taste buds, lively music to enjoy, and larger-than-life topiaries of our favorite Disney characters.  Celebrating its 26th year, The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is a delight to experience every year. If you’ve never had a chance to check it out before, here’s what awaits you for the 2019 version!

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1. Amazing Topiaries

Our favorite characters dot the Epcot landscape in the springtime in the form of lush green topiaries. Winnie the Pooh, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and Bambi and Flower are some of the familiar faces we see every year. This year, make sure to look for some new friends in the form of Toy Story 4 characters. Bo Peep and her sheep are making their debut alongside Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Kermit the Frog can be found sporting a new bike as well! Epcot’s front topiary display changes every year as well, featuring Mickey, Minnie, and their pals in a new adventure. As dusk settles in, some of these topiaries twinkle and glow, adding an entirely new dimension to the Festival.

2. Penguins

Penguins aren’t usually associated with spring, but this year’s Festival features a detailed penguin sculpture created from ocean garbage. Check out the artwork in Future World West, and you might be inspired to go see the DisneyNature Penguins film!

3. Wine Walk

While you’re enjoying the lovely topiaries and spring blooms, take a walk on the wine trail! Two refillable acrylic wine glasses, and six pours of wine from the World Showcase pavilions in Germany, Italy, and France, and a passport to keep track of it all is yours for only $32.00.

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4. Shopping Paradise

New Flower and Garden Festival merchandise comes out every year to celebrate the bright colors that Spring brings. New t-shirt designs, handbags, MagicBands, jewelry, and gardening accessories pop up at kiosks and MouseGear. Exclusive Passholder merchandise can be found as well. I especially love the Violet Lemonade mouse ears!

5. Passport to Fun

A perennial favorite at the Flower and Garden Festival, the Passport serves as your guide to all of the fun! Each kiosk is listed with a handy checklist to keep track of the sweet and savory items you’re tried, as well as fun activities for kids and a schedule for the garden rocks concerts.

6. Outdoor Kitchens

Bring your appetite to the Flower and Garden Festival, because the food kiosks are amazing! New additions for 2019 include The Trowel & Trellis, The Citrus Blossom, Arbor at the Gardeners Terrace, and the Flavor Full Kitchen.

7. Nightly Concerts

Music complements the celebration of spring with the Garden Rocks Concert Series, which happens nightly during the length of the festival at the America Gardens Theatre. Favorite groups return every year, but new talent is also added to the lineup for 2019. Debuting this year are the Smithereens, A Flock of Seagulls, and the Marshall Tucker Band, just to name a few.

8. Playtime

A great way for younger guests to burn off some extra energy is to check out the new play areas. Bo Peep’s Playtime Training Grounds is themed after the Toy Story 4 characters, and The Play Full Garden motivates everyone with ways to eat healthy and stay fit.  If scavenger hunts are more your thing, check out the Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration. Pick up a map at the Port of Entry shop, compete the hunt throughout the World Showcase, and return the finished map for a special treat.

9. Displays

Make time to stop and check out the myriad of gardens that are on display everywhere, educating and amazing guests all at the same time. From bonsai gardens in the Japanese pavilion to an English tea garden at the United Kingdom garden, with gardening demonstrations everywhere in between, there’s truly something for everyone!

About Melissa Fegely

I have been a professional writer for over 18 years with degrees in Biology and English. I am a lifelong Disney fan and a Disney Vacation Club member of over nine years. Having visited Walt Disney World several times growing up, I really caught the Disney bug after many trips with my husband. Now I am happily addicted to taking our son to Walt Disney World as often as possible and watching him experience the magic and Mickey Bars as he grows up. Traveling to Walt Disney World twice a year, I enjoy attending the Flower and Garden festival held in the spring and strolling around the World Showcase, as well as exploring all of the hidden gems that all four parks have to offer. I love helping my family and friends plan their next Disney trips based on my experiences. I also enjoy reading, swimming, traveling, and cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, attended Shippensburg University, and current live in suburban Philadelphia with my husband, son, and two cats.