Lisa Gallagher is a dream vacation planner with LBAC Travel/Pixie Dust Planners. Contact Lisa for all your vacation needs here!
We all know that Walt Disney World is home to many wonderful rides, attractions, shows, characters and food but did you know they have amazing festivals as well?
I have just returned from an eight day stay in Walt Disney World with my two girls, my other half, and my mother. We were celebrating My mom’s 71st birthday and my daughter’s 13th birthday (I cannot believe I have a teenager!)
We had seven-day park passes and we chose to spend three of those days enjoying Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. We were staying in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, which is a (beautiful) five-minute walk right into the International Gateway of Epcot (the “backway” into Epcot).
The Flower and Garden Festival in Epcot is one of my favorites at Walt Disney World. It typically runs from March to July making it the perfect time for so many travelers. You can enjoy the cooler, not too humid weather with lower crowds in the beginning of March or you can enjoy your time with your family over spring break and spring holidays. My favorite time is in May as most children are still in school which makes the crowds a little lower, with beautiful weather and minimal rain.
During this festival, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the Epcot gardens designed just for this time of year. Larger than life size topiaries of your favorite characters & beautiful sculptures of giant flowers, animals and huge butterflies will capture your attention as you take it al in.
Speaking of Butterflies, you can visit Bambi’s Butterfly House located in World Nature. It is a very large tent-like structure with a metal chain doorway (that helps keep the flow of people moving but keeps the butterflies from flying away). Here, you can learn all about the lifecycle of the butterfly and their migration. In addition to the thousands of butterflies and amazing plant life you will see in the tent, you will find tips on which plants attract the most butterflies so when you get home you can create a garden of your own.
Our other favorite part of this festival is the food! Epcot will set up mini outdoor kitchens all around the park with amazing food and drink. Small plate selections from the local area the booth is representing. If you’ve ever been to Epcot’s Food & Wine festival – Flower and Garden mimics the experience, on a smaller version.
In the front half of the park you will find booths such as Bauernmarket: Farmer’s Market with selections of potato pancakes with house made apple sauce $4.75, toasted pretzel bread with black forest ham, onions and herb sour cream $5, M.I.A. Brewing Hugo Lager 6oz $5.
My favorite was the Epcot Farmers Feast booth which offered a grilled vegetable bruschetta with marinated peppers, zucchini, squash, artichokes, goat cheese and balsamic glaze on grilled ciabatta for just $5. My mom and I split one and it was a perfect snack.
My kids’ favorite was the Fruit Loops Shake for $4.50 at the Sunshine Griddle. This shake tastes just like a bowl of cereal with milk! My kids LOVED it. As my teen said “It is so pretty I need to post it on Insta!”
The countries portion of the park has a mini kitchen for each country with a few extras along the way. The one with the longest line was always the Fleur de Lys in France. And for good reason. You can get selections such as;
- Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre, Herbes et Ail Rôtie: Croissant with goat cheese, herbs, and roasted garlic $6.75
- Pan Bagnat Classique: The Niçoise Sandwich with house-made bread, albacore tuna mayonnaise, tomato, black olives, lettuce, and celery $7.00
- Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Sel: Caramelized Beignet filled with vanilla cream and glazed with caramel fleur de sel – $5.75
After you are totally full from trying all of the small plates and delicious drinks you can relax at the outdoor theatre in America while watching some of your favorite bands put on a concert. This year’s line-up of Garden Rocks includes bands like: The Guess Who, Rick Springfield, Kool & The Gang, The Spinners, Blood Sweat and Tears, The Pointer Sisters, Expose, Air Supply, Daughtry, Survivor and so many more!
For the younger crowd, they may enjoy things like Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration. A perfect springtime scavenger hunt. You can search for Spike the Bee on his pollination trail. You can purchase your map and stickers for just $10, complete the hunt and turn in your map for a fun prize. You can also find interactive play gardens. There are 2 play grounds for the kids to run around and play while you sit and relax, maybe enjoy one of those special drinks from the outdoor kitchens.
There were many families enjoying the festival as well as adult groups “drinking around the world”. As you can see, this festival definitely has something for all ages, interests and taste buds!
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