2023 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival | Ultimate Guide

Spring is in the air and The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is back again in 2023! The Flower and Garden Festival is definitely one of our favorite events in Walt Disney World and that’s why I’ve put together this information guide about it so you and your family can be prepared and have the best time possible! 

The 2023 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is finally back the way we know and love it, in its full glory. It’s always a must-see event and maybe the best festival all year long.

One thing is for sure, this is EPCOT at its most beautiful. At no other time of the year will you see so many gorgeous gardens, plants, flowers, and of course, the famous topiaries.

In this post, we have an in-depth guide for your visit to the Flower and Garden Festival in Epcot in 2023 and all the information you will need including Dates, Menus, Reviews of the Food, Topiaries, Activities, Tips, and more. 

This will update you on all the food, drinks, and events happening this year, and everything that’s new, so make sure to read everything about the Flower and Garden Festival in our guide below.

Also before we get started, we have two other resources you will find useful when planning your visit:

• Flower and Garden Topiary Guide – Take a tour with us around Epcot to see Every Disney Topiary in the park.
• 25 Best Epcot Flower and Garden Snacks – Our personal favorite food and drink items, both savory and sweet!

Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest updates on the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, as well as more Disney Vacation Planning Tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Most of all, have fun, and hope to see you around Epcot! 😉

2023 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Dates

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is now celebrating its 30th year and will take place for a total of 125 days from March 1 to July 5, 2023, in Walt Disney World. Every year it has slowly been getting longer and longer and 2023 sets the record for the longest Flower and Garden festival ever at 127 days!

The outdoor kitchens you’re used to visiting are back, and of course, the famous Disney-themed topiaries which are the highlight of the event for me (besides the food of course!)

This year we will see brand new topiaries from Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa from Disney’s hit animated film “Encanto,” as well as a new Princess Tiana topiary.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series is returning in 2023 and is a staple of the Flower and Garden Festival. Musicians perform nightly at the America Gardens Theater. More info on this coming soon.

What is the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival?

If you’ve never been to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival in Disney World, then you are in for a great time! If you’ve been to Epcot before then you’ll notice there is almost always a festival going on all year round, and it always involves great food and drinks!

The 4 Annual EPCOT Festivals are:

• Festival of the Arts
• Flower and Garden Festival
• Food and Wine Festival
• Festival of the Holidays

2023 is the 30th annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, which is a celebration of gardening, flowers, and the magnificent topiaries around the park.

You can walk around EPCOT in both World Showcase and the other 3 “Worlds” and look at dozens of flower beds, gardens, and topiaries in the shape of your favorite Disney characters. This is the biggest highlight, and there is no time of year when Epcot is more beautiful than during Flower and Garden.

Really, if you haven’t seen Epcot during this time of the year, you are missing out. It’s one of the reasons we consider March one of the best times to visit Disney World.

Oh yeah, and there is amazing food too! There are food marketplaces set up all throughout World Showcase and Future World, each with a different theme and representing a different type of cuisine.

Taste some amazing flavors at these outdoor kitchens that use natural ingredients, sometimes even grown right in the park.

How the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Works

During the Flower and Garden Festival, there are dozens of events, tours, and activities to take part in. You can roam around Epcot and go see whichever ones look the most interesting to you. Make sure to research ahead of time which ones sound the most interesting to you and put them at the top of your list to do.

For the food, each outdoor kitchen at Flower and Garden has a different menu and is focused on small plates, not big meals. It’s best enjoyed casually, strolling from one booth to the next while trying different items and taking your time as you take it all in.

Most have the theme of a certain type of cuisine like Italian, French, or Mexican, and specific flavors like citrus, pineapple, or smokehouse. In each kiosk, there are food and beverages unique to that theme or area. So for example, if you go to the Florida marketplace booth there’s a good chance you’ll find something key lime, orange, or similar.

How Much Does the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Cost?

You do not need a separate ticket for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, it isn’t a hard-ticketed event. You only need to have a valid Epcot park ticket for that day and you will then be able to experience the festival as much as you want to.

Before You Go

While the Disney Flower and Garden Festival is pretty straightforward, there are some things you should plan before going to get the most out of your time there. What’s most important is to book in advance any of the tours or events you want to attend, as many end up selling out.

You definitely should book the 2 unique tours in advance, The EPCOT: Gardens of the World Tour and the Royal Tea Garden Tour, as they tend to sell out.

It’s also a good idea to look at the food you want to eat ahead of time. There are a lot of different unique options so study the menus and write down which outdoor kitchens have snacks you are interested in trying and head there.

Finding Your Way Around the Festival

There are a few things that can help you navigate your way around Flower and Garden that you should definitely pick up on your way into the park:

Festival Passport – Just like with every Epcot Festival, the Flower and Garden Festival has its own passport book you can pick up for free. This will be your main guide during your time there and contains all the most important information including lists of the Outdoor Kitchen Menus, Topiaries, Gardens, and the Concert Lineups.

Epcot Park Map – The standard Epcot map that contains all the attractions, shops, and restaurants around World Showcase and Future World. This will be useful when fitting the other Epcot attractions into your schedule. Plus they always make a special version of it for the Flower and Garden Festival.

Hours Guide – This includes information for all the Epcot entertainment, including some Flower and Garden events. Make sure you have the right times so you don’t miss them.

What is New at Flower and Garden in 2023?

The great thing about the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is that every year it changes, and this year there are a ton of new things to get excited about, as well as many old favorites from recent years.

Since Walt Disney World is just winding up its 50th Anniversary celebration, the Flower and Garden Festival will also share in the festivities for the first month.

This year we will see brand new topiaries from Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa from Disney’s hit animated film “Encanto,” They will be located right at the entrance to EPCOT making for a great photo op. Also, a new Princess Tiana topiary will be located at the American Adventure Pavilion.

Some of your favorite topiaries are returning to EPCOT this year so expect to find Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the Germany pavilion, as well as Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, Tick Tock Croc, Figment, Anna and Elsa, and more!

There are a number of new activities, gardens, and entertainment you definitely are going to want to check out during your visit.

You’ll be happy to know that the springtime scavenger hunt Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is back once again this year. Follow Spike the Bee on his pollination trail, where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at EPCOT. Once you find him in each garden on your map, you can add the corresponding sticker of the plant he is visiting. 

Bambi’s Butterfly House enchants guests with a kaleidoscope of butterflies showing off their extraordinary beauty and colors.

One of the cooler ones is the returning fragrant garden “Blossoms of Fragrance” by Scentsy on the bridge to World Showcase. Here you can enjoy the sights and scents of spring all the while being surrounded by vibrant butterfly topiaries. Use your nose to smell the 6 scent stations—floral, fruity, citrus, spice, woods, and fresh.

Of course, our favorite thing to do at any EPCOT festival is to eat, and there are a total of 15 outdoor kitchens at Flower and Garden this year that we plan on thoroughly enjoying.

The Citrus Blossom is moving to a new location at Odyssey with fresh new items that you won’t want to miss.

As a fun activity, follow the Garden Graze, a fun food stroll highlighting five delicious sweet and savory offerings listed in the Festival Passport. If you complete it, you get a special treat at the end.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series is back in 2023 and is a great way to relax at the end of a long day in EPCOT. Concerts feature internationally recognized artists at the America Gardens Theatre stage Friday through Monday. From Tuesday to Thursday, you can enjoy local bands.

Merchandise is always a huge part of the festival, and this year you can find garden-inspired merchandise collections featuring vibrant apparel, drinkware, garden tools, and much more.

They will feature your favorite characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Figment, and Spike the Bee. And you definitely won’t want to miss the official 70’s inspired Orange Bird merchandise!

The Remy topiary is also staying at the entrance to the France expansion. It makes sense to keep him since he is the star of the new attraction in the France pavilion: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The Remy topiary gets people excited to visit the new ride which has been a hit so far with guests.

Stay tuned for more details on the new additions to the festival soon.

Topiaries and Gardens

The Flower and Garden Festival is known for its themed topiaries, and that again is the focus in 2023! These are gorgeous, life-sized plants, shaped to resemble your favorite Disney characters. If you haven’t seen these before, they will surely be one of the highlights of the festival.

This year there are two new ones: Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela and Luisa from Disney’s “Encanto”, and Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog.”

Besides those, all your favorite Disney characters will be back, plus a few we haven’t seen in a while are making a return. Some of the characters include Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Belle, and the Beast, Donald, Daisy, Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, Anna and Elsa, and more.

Here is a list of the topiaries at the 2023 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and their locations:

• Anna and Elsa – Norway Pavilion
• Bambi and Friends – World Nature near Imagination!
• Beauty and the Beast – France Pavilion
• Buzz Lightyear – World Discovery near Mission: SPACE®
• Dragon Topiary – Japan Pavilion near Torii Gate
• Figment – World Nature near Imagination!
• Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy – Germany Pavilion
• Lady and the Tramp – Italy Pavilion
• Lumiere and Cogsworth – France Pavilion
• Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey and Louie – Bridge to World Showcase
• Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa (NEW) – Located near the EPCOT main entrance.
• Pandas – China Pavilion
• Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Tick Tock Croc – Between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions
• Pluto and Chip ‘n Dale – The American Adventure Pavilion
• Princess Tiana (NEW) – The American Adventure Pavilion
• Pumbaa and Timon – World Nature between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
• Remy – France Pavilion
• Simba and Friends (Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa, and Sarabi) – World Nature between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
• Sorcerer Mickey Mouse, Brooms, Ostriches, Hippo and Gator – Entrance to World Showcase
• Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs – Germany Pavilion
• The Three Caballeros (Jose, Donald, and Panchito) – Mexico Pavilion
• Tinker Bell’s and Fairy House Garden – United Kingdom Pavilion
• Topiary Butterflies – Main Entrance
• Troll – Norway Pavilion
• Winnie the Pooh and Friends (Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger) – United Kingdom Pavilion
• Woody, Bo Peep and her sheep – World Nature near The Land Pavilion

Make sure to see our guide to Every Disney Character Topiary at Flower and Garden.

Which one is your favorite??

Gardens

Besides the topiaries, this festival has some amazing gardens you can walk through and sometimes learn and interact in. There are thousands of gorgeous budding flowers and plants of every color possible that make them up and bring Epcot to life as you’ve never seen. It really is stunning.

Here are the gardens from last year, but most of them will be returning in 2023:

Front Half of EPCOT

• Bambi’s Butterfly House – World Nature near Imagination! – View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, in all their extraordinary color. Learn about butterfly lifecycles and maybe even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Closes at dusk.
• Blossoms of Fragrance Garden Presented by Scentsy – World Showcase Bridge – Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
• Bold Bromeliads – World Nature by The Land Pavilion – Tour a variety of these amazing plants.
• Festival Blooms – World Celebration – Admire thousands of flowers that form colorful, living panoramas, with a 50th Anniversary celebration theme.
• Floating Gardens – World Nature – Peer upon more than 150 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase.
• Green Landing Family Play Zone – World Discovery – Enjoy playtime with WALL-E and his eco-friendly garden. Closes at dusk.
• Health Full Trail Presented by AdventHealth – Imagination! Walkway – Delight in a whimsical area made to inspire youthful energy and creativity! The whole family can learn ways to stay healthy at this Outdoor Kitchen and garden. Closes at dusk.
• Outdoor Escapes Presented by OFF!® Repellents – World Discovery – Unwind in refreshing spaces that show just how easy it is to create an outdoor escape that brings family and friends together—no design expertise, huge budget, or green thumb required! Closes at dusk.
• Prehistoric Garden – World Discovery near Mission: SPACE – Imagine life on Earth 65 million years ago with astounding plant life that’s thrived since the age of the dinosaurs.
• The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board® – Rosewalk near Imagination! – Learn about honeybees’ critical role in the environment, and enjoy sweet and savory treats made possible by their hard work.

World Showcase

• Alpine Miniature Garden – Germany Pavilion – Appreciate the little things in this showcase of diminutive dwellings nestled in a forest of fine shrubs.
• Bamboo Garden – China Pavilion – Visit this garden to see bamboo in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes.
• Bonsai Collection – Japan Pavilion – Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating peace and balance with the earth.
• China Zodiac Garden – China Pavilion – Discover your favorite zodiac with while visiting clever creations.
• English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings® – Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea garden at the United Kingdom Pavilion, featuring plants used in some of Twinings®’ finest blends.
• Extraordinary Orchids – Mexico Pavilion – Set eyes on these spectacular plants blooming in radiant color.
• France Bouquet Garden – France – See bountiful blooms perfect for a bouquet of cut flowers.
• Garden Italiano – Italy Pavilion – From fresh spaghetti sauce to pizza toppings, this Tuscan kitchen garden features all the produce and herbs needed to create a classic Italian feast.
• Kokedema Garden – Japan Pavilion – Admire fresh expressions of an ancient Japanese art at this tranquil garden.
• Shakespeare Garden – United Kingdom Pavilion – Rediscover Shakespeare in this idyllic garden featuring excerpts from some of the Bard’s most famous sonnets—and the dazzling flowers that influenced them.
• Spice Garden – Morocco Pavilion – Discover how Eastern cultures flourished, trading signature spices and herb blends, once considered more valuable than gold.
• Tropical Rainforest Garden – Mexico Pavilion – Discover the rich biodiversity of the Mexican rainforest and learn about its highly adaptive species.

Outdoor Kitchen Menus & Food

Of course, it’s not only about flowers, topiaries, and gardens here. A big highlight of any Epcot festival is the food and drink, and the Flower and Garden Festival is no different. We were pretty satisfied with the amount of real, quality food and drink offerings last year and 2023 might even top it.

Food Details

• Kitchens located in World Showcase, World Celebration, and World Discovery
• Outdoor Kitchens open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Alcohol will only be served to Guests 21 and older
• Outdoor Kitchens subject to closure at any time
• Food and beverage samples are available while supplies last
• All menu items are subject to change without notice

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2023 has 17 main outdoor kitchens, plus 7 other kiosks offering special food and drink items during the Festival. That means there are a total of 24 Outdoor and Indoor Kitchens offering food and drink specifically for the 2023 Flower and Garden Festival.

This year’s Kitchens include:

• BAUERNMARKT: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
• BRUNCHCOT (Near Test Track)
• The Citrus Blossom (Odyssey)
• EPCOT Farmers Feast (Near Test Track presented by Chevrolet®)
  • Early Bloom Menu
  • Springtime Menu
  • Summer Solstice Menu
• Fleur de Lys (France)
• Florida Fresh (Near Disney Traders)
• Hanami (Japan)
• The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board® (Near Port of Entry)
• Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)
• La Isla Fresca (Between Morocco and France)
• Lotus House (China)
• Magnolia Terrace (American Adventure)
• Northern Bloom (Canada)
• Pineapple Promenade (Near Port of Entry)
• Primavera Kitchen (Italy)
• Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)
• Trowel & Trellis Hosted by Impossible™ (Near Port of Entry)
• Additional Locations
  • Connections Café & Eatery
  • Funnel Cake
  • Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
  • Refreshment Outpost
  • Refreshment Port
  • Sunshine Seasons
  • The Land Cart hosted by AdventHealth

We are happy to say that this year the Outdoor Kitchens have nearly 50 new dishes to try that were not available in previous festivals. That’s what we like to see, new food and not just the same dishes over and over each year.

Take a look at this year’s Flower and Garden Menus below which will give you a good idea of what to expect. And for the tastiest food and drink items, check out our 25 Best Epcot Flower and Garden Snacks, just don’t look at it when hungry!

BAUERNMARKT: Farmer’s Market

Food

• Potato Pancakes with House-made Applesauce (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) – $4.75
• Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions, and Herb Sour Cream (Gluten/wheat friendly) – $5.00
• Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese – $5.75
• Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries – $4.75

Beverages

• Bitburger Premium Pils
• Stiegl Brewery Radler Raspberry
• Flensburger Dunkel
• Apfelschaumwein: Sparkling Wine and Apple Liqueur – $10.00
• Beer Flight – $10.00

BRUNCHCOT (Near Test Track)

Behold buzz-worthy brunch items that are sure to hit the spot.

• Avocado Toast with marinated toybox tomatoes on toasted ciabatta (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) 
• Shrimp and Grits: Blackened shrimp and cheddar cheese grits with brown gravy and sweet corn salsa 
• Lox Benedict on Everything Focaccia with everything-spiced cream cheese, shallots, crispy capers, and hollandaise (New) 
• Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with cream cheese frosting and candied bacon

Beverages:

• Froot Loops Shake (Non-alcoholic) 
• Peach Bellini (New) 
• Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew Cocktail with milk, Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur, and vanilla vodka

The Citrus Blossom

Treat your taste buds to the subtleties of lemon, orange and lime—turning delicious dishes even more delish!

Food

• Orange Sesame Tempura Shrimp with orange chile sauce (New) 
• Citrus Baked Brie with preserved lemon marmalade, limoncello-macerated blueberries, and spiced marcona almonds (New)
• Lemon Meringue Pie: Lemon curd, lemon mousse, and toasted meringue (New)

Beverages

• Orange-Lemon Smoothie in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (Non-alcoholic) (Limit 2 per guest) – $15.00
• UFO Beer Co. Citrus Hazy Wheat Beer 
• 81Bay Brewing Co. Citrus Honey Cream Ale
• Parish Brewing Co. Drive Thru: Orange Octane Imperial Sour
• Bella Strada Spritz (New)
• Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy – $6.00
• Beer Flight – $10.00

EPCOT Farmers Feast – (NEW)

Early Bloom Menu (Available March 1 through April 8)

• Chilled Potato and Leek Soup “Vichyssoise” with bacon lardons, potato croutons, chive oil, and crispy leek (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) – $5.00
• Char-grilled Bison Ribe-Eye with creamy leek fondue, red wine butter sauce, and whipped red wine goat cheese (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) – $8.00
• Spice Cake with cream cheese icing and candied pecans and parsnip (New) 
• Hibiscus Lemonade Cocktail featuring Islamorada Brewery & Distillery Hibiscus Gin

Springtime Menu

• Grilled Vegetable Bruschetta with marinated peppers, zucchini, squash, artichokes, goat cheese, and balsamic glaze on grilled ciabatta
• Grilled Swordfish with crushed fingerling potatoes, pea and mint purée, grilled asparagus, and lemon beurre Blanc (New)
• Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-down Cake with crème fraîche whipped cream

Summer Solstice Menu

• Tomato and Cornbread Panzanella with avocado, burrata cheese, and fresh basil
• Barbecue Seared Pork Tenderloin with summer succotash, herb butter, and grapefruit vinaigrette (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)
• Sweet Corn Crème Brûlée with corn biscotti (New)

Beverages

• Collective Arts Brewing Blueberry & Elderberry Sparkling Hard Tea (New) 
• Ghost Mary: Translucent Bloody Mary with Boyd & Blair Cucumber Vodka, tomato water, horseradish, celery salt, and a hint of pepper (New)

Florida Fresh (Near Disney Traders)

Discover the many flavors of healthy Florida cuisine in this delightful eatery!

Food

• Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread and spicy corn chips (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) – $5.75
• Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread and plant-based cotija cheese (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)
• Blackened Fish Slider with roasted tomatoes, watercress, and citrus remoulade on brioche (New) 
• Watermelon Salad with blueberries, pickled red onions, balsamic, and feta
• Florida Strawberry Shortcake (New)

Beverages

• Cucumber Watermelon Slushy (Non-alcoholic) 
• Cucumber Watermelon Slushy with gin

Fleur de Lys

Indulge in haute cuisine and boissons that’ll make you fall in ooo-la-la-love with this palate-pleasing Parisian pop-up!

Food

• Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre, Herbes et Ail Rôtie: Croissant with goat cheese, herbs, and roasted garlic – $6.75
• Daube de Boeuf à la Provençal, Compote de Tomate au Romarin Gnocchi à la Niçoise: Provençal-style braised beef, rosemary tomato, and niçoise gnocchi (New) 
• Tarte Chocolat Mogador: Chocolate tart with Valrhona single origin chocolate brownie, walnuts, and raspberry coulis served warm (New)
• 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

Beverages

• Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 Draft Beer – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• VeRy Raspberry: Rosé wine with natural raspberry flavor – $6.00
• Kir àla Poire: French sparkling wine with Monin desert pear (New)
• La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Vodka, Grey Goose l’Orange Vodka, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice – $13.50

Hanami

Journey to Japan for innovative plates crafted with culinary Zen—each delish dish is a Festival favorite!

Food

• Frushi:  Strawberry, pineapple, and lychee wrapped in sweet rice and pink soy wrap served with whipped cream, drizzled raspberry sauce, and toasted coconut – $7.00
• Hanami Sushi: Assorted Nigiri sushi with lemon-cured salmon, soy-marinated tuna, and cured mackerel (New)            
• Creamy Shrimp Udon: Udon soup with shrimp and spring vegetables (New)    

Beverages

• Sakura Cherry Blossom Pilsner (New)           
• Hakushika Hana Kohaku Plum Sake: Junmai Ginjo blended with Japanese plum (New)   
• Nigori Dragon Fruit Sake Cocktail (New)                       

The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board

Quell cravings with an incredible menu of all-natural food and drink infused with the nectar of the gods!

Food

• Chicken and Waffles: Crispy honey-brined chicken and honey sweet cornbread waffle with whipped honey butter and spicy honey (New) 
• Pollinator Flatbread with honey-whipped mascarpone, honey caramelized onions, blueberry gastrique, prosciutto, honey-whipped goat cheese, arugula, honey vinaigrette, and bee pollen (New)
• Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with honey whipped cream, whipped honey, crystalized honey, honeycomb, dehydrated honey, and fennel pollen meringue kisses – $5.00

Beverages

• Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with streusel in a Souvenir Spike the Bee Sipper Cup (Non-alcoholic) (Limit 2 per guest) – $15.00
• B. Nektar New Wave Lemonade Mead
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine, St. Petersburg, FL – $6.00
• Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with Blueberry Vodka – $12.00

Jardin de Fiestas

Take a food-tastic tour of the Mexico Pavilion… these tantalizing tastes will add some spice to your day!

Food

• Quesadilla de Flor de Calabaza: House-made masa tortillas with squash blossoms, bacon, onion, zucchini, and cheese (New) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 
• Taco Vampiro: Braised Beef on a Corn Tortilla with Crispy Grilled Monterey Jack Cheese and Salsa Ranchera (Gluten/wheat friendly) – $8.00

Beverages

• Mala Hierba Margarita: Centinela Tequila Reposado, elderflower-chamomile tea, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, and UNA Flower-infused Vodka with a chile salt rim (New) 
• Cristal Margarita: 100% Agave Tequila Blanco, Ilegal Mezcal Joven, clarified lemon juice, and orange liqueur in a souvenir cup (New)
• Craft Mexican Lager – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)

La Isla Fresca

Nibble on Caribbean-seasoned dishes that’ll send appetites swaying to the island beat!

Food

• Braised Oxtail with pigeon pea rice (New)
• Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain White Rice, mango salsa, and coconut-lime sauce
• Coconut Tres Leches: Vanilla cake soaked in oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk with toasted coconut (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) – $4.50

Beverages

• Tropical Freeze Lemonade, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup (Non-alcoholic) – $4.50
• Islamorada Beer Company Coconut Key Lime Ale
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Tropical Perception White Sangria 
• Tropical Breeze with Don Q Límon Rum

Lotus House

Sink your teeth into authentic Chinese eats filled with morsels of good fortune!

Food

• Spicy Mala Chicken Skewer with creamy peanut sauce (New) – $6.75
• House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons – $7.75
• Pan-fried Vegetable Dumplings 

Beverages

• Rose Bubble Milk Tea (non-alcoholic) (New) – $8.75
• Cherry Blossom Pilsner Draft Beer 
• Kung Fu Master: Tito’s Vodka, Triple Sec, mango, orange juice, and soda water
• Tang Dynasty: Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila Gold, light rum, strawberry, piña colada mix, soda water, and white boba pearls – $13.75
• Tropical Moon: Smirnoff Vodka, Triple Sec, passion fruit, soda water and white boba pearls (New)

Lotus House – Handcrafted Artisan Cotton Candy

Sink your teeth into authentic Chinese eats filled with morsels of good fortune!

Food

• 2-Layered Sweet Heart – ($7.00)
• 2-Layered Butterfly Dream – ($8.00)
• 3-Layered Sunrise Star – ($10.50)
• 4-Layered Aurora Blossom – ($12.50)
• 5-Layered Spring Fantasy– ($16.00)

Magnolia Terrace

Get a nice, cozy feeling with some comfort food inspired by the Gulf region.

Food

• Muffuletta Panini with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss with olive salad (New) 
• Spicy Chicken Gumbo with Andouille sausage and BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain & Wild Rice (New) – $6.25
• Crawfish Pie (New)
• Bananas Foster Bread Pudding (New)

Beverages

• Bayou Cocktail: Bayou Spiced Rum, Coconut Rum, Fruit Punch, and Orange Juice – $12.00
• Central 28 Beer Co. Pretty Things Ale (New)
• Wicked Weed Brewing Day Light American Light Ale, Asheville, N.C. (new) – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine Double IPA, Broussard, La – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• Beer Flight – $10.00

Northern Bloom

Fantastic fare from our Great White North neighbor… O Canada!

Food

• Seared Scallops with French green beans, butter potatoes, brown butter vinaigrette, and Nueske’s Applewood-smoked Bacon (gluten/wheat friendly) – $7.25
• Beef Tenderloin Tips, mushroom bordelaise sauce, and whipped potatoes with garden vegetables – $7.00
• Chocolate Maple Whisky Cake (New)

Beverages

• Maple Popcorn Shake (Non-alcoholic) – $4.75
• Collective Arts Brewing Honey Lager
• Glutenberg Blonde Ale, Montreal
• 81Bay Brewing Apricot with Maple Syrup, Tampa, FL – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• Maple Popcorn Shake with Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky – $13.00
• Beer Flight – $10.00

Pineapple Promenade

Get your tropical fruit fix from tart ‘n’ tangy to the sweetest frozen treats!

Food

• Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips – $8.00
• DOLE Whip® (Plant-based) – $5.75

Beverages

• Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic) – $4.50
• Pineapple DOLE Whip® with Fanta (Non-alcoholic) – $6.25
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL – $12.00
• BrewDog Hazy Jane IPA
• Urban Artifact Teak Tropical American Fruit Tart
• DOLE Whip topped with Sōmrus Mango Cream Liqueur  – $12.00
• 3 Daughters Brewing Tropical Hefe, Asheville, N.C. (new) – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• Pineapple Beer Flight – $10.00

Primavera Kitchen

Mangiare hearty helpings of Old-Country dishes served with a glass of vino… now that’s amore!

Food

• Caesar con Gamberett: Baby gem lettuce, shrimp, Caesar dressing, and crispy bread crumble (New)
• Tortelloni Primavera: Spinach tortelloni, sweet butter, pancetta, corn, peas, and fava beans (New)
• Budino alle Nocciole: Chocolate-hazelnut pudding with cookie crumble (New)

Beverages

• Peroni Pilsner – $6.00 (6oz) | $10.00 (12oz)
• Prosecco, Villa Sandi – $10.00
• Moscato, Fior d’Arancio Montegrande – $11.00
• Italian White Sangria with Prosecco – $11.00
• Italian Red Sangria with Cabernet Sauvignon – $11.00
• Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila – $11.00

Refreshment Outpost

Food

• Pineapple Skewer with Tajin Seasoning (gluten/wheat friendly; plant-based; Garden Graze) – $4.75
• Tangerine soft-serve
• Ice Cream Float: Tangerine soft-serve and cream soda 

Beverages

• Lavender Martini: Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with Lavender and Lemon 
• Lexington Brewing Tangerine Cream Ale – $10.75
• Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Grand Cherry Hard Cider (New)
• Southern Tier Brewing Co. Juice Jolt IPA (New)

Refreshment Port

• Shrimp Scampi Poutine with cheese curds, lemon-garlic cheese fondue, spinach, and artichokes (New) 
• Soft-serve Waffle Cone: Peanut butter, jelly, or swirl 

Beverages

• Mighty Swell Purple Magic Spiked Seltzer (New)
• Villa Maria Earth Garden Sauvignon Blanc (New)
• Frozen Mojito with Boyd & Blair Rum (New)

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina

Intoxicate taste buds with the exotic flavors of this North African mecca—mysterious Morocco!

Food

• Hummus Trio: Traditional hummus, red beet and black garlic hummus, and avocado-herb hummus with Moroccan bread and crispy papadam (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) 
• Orange Blossom-Saffron Cake (New)

Beverages

• Pomegranate Mimosa
• Keel Farms Strawberry Elderflower Hard Cider 
• Bold Rock Tangerine Hard Cider
• 3 Daughters Brewing Pomegranate Hard Cider
• Cider Flight

Trowel & Trellis Hosted by IMPOSSIBLE™ Foods

Delight in some of your favorite foods—created from innovative recipes with some impossibly delicious twists!

Food

• Boneless Impossible Korean Short Rib with cilantro-lime rice, Danmuji slaw, and kimchee mayonnaise (plant-based; Garden Graze) – $6.75
• IMPOSSIBLE Lumpia with Thai sweet chili sauce (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) 
• Chocolate Cake with black currant ganache, mixed berry compote, and chocolate ice cream (New) (Plant-based) (Garden Graze) – $4.75

Beverages

• Twinings Iced Green Tea with Cranberry and Lime (Non-alcoholic)  – $4.50
• Parish Brewing Co. Bloom Hazy IPA, Broussard, La. – $5.00 (6oz) | $9.00 (12oz)
• J. Lohr Wildflower Valdiguié
• Twinings Iced Green Tea with cranberry and lime with Hangar 1 Makrut Vodka served in a mason jar

Specialty Coffee Carts Hosted by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company®

Wet your whistle with Festival-inspired beverages and adult libations at coffee carts across the park!

World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE)

• Exotic Lemon Tea: A refreshing mix of Frozen Lemon and Iced Tea featuring Exotic Berry notes (Spirited option available featuring Grey Goose Vodka) (New)

American Adventure Coffee Cart Hosted by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• Key Lime Cold Brew: A zesty blend of French Roast Cold Brew with flavors of Key lime and white chocolate topped with a splash of cream, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbs (Spirited option available featuring Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur) (New)

Canada Coffee Cart Hosted by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• Melonade: A tangy blend of Frozen Lemon with a burst of watermelon (Spirited option available featuring Grey Goose Vodka) (New)

World Showcase (Near Disney Traders)

• Orange Cream Cold Brew: A smooth blend of French Roast Cold Brew with flavors of orange and vanilla topped with a splash of cream, whipped cream, and coconut shavings (Spirited option available featuring Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur)(New)

Funnel Cakes

Food

• Banana Split Funnel Cake: Funnel Cake topped with Banana-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Diced Strawberries, and a Maraschino Cherry drizzled with Chocolate Syrup (New) – $10.50

The Land Cart hosted by AdventHealth

Food

• Fruit and Cheese Plate: Grapes, strawberries, cheddar, and Mini Babybel Snack Cheese 
• Vegetable Plate: Broccoli, carrot sticks, and tomatoes with dip (Plant-based)
• Pretzels with Hummus Dip (Plant-based)
• Cookies ‘n “Cream” Chocolate Mousse Cup (Plant-based) (Garden Graze)

Sunshine Seasons

Beverages

• Strawberry-mango Slushy (Non-alcoholic)

Connections Café & Eatery

Food

• Orange Bird Liege Waffle (New)

Beverages

• Flower Drop Cocktail: St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Minute Maid Premium Lemonade (New)

Block & Hans

Beverages

• Arendelle Aqua Lemonade: Frozen Lemonade with Monin Cotton Candy (Non-alcoholic) (KA) – $5.75
• Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar Mead, Boulder, CO – $10.75
• Arendelle Aqua Lemonade: Frozen Lemonade served with Monin Cotton Candy and Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine – $13.00
• Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Lexington, KY
• Short’s Brewing Company Local’s Light Lager, Bellaire, MI
• Dogfish Head Brewery American Beauty Pale Ale, Milton, DE
• Brooklyn Brewery Defender IPA, Brooklyn, NY
• Golden Road Brewing Pineapple Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA
• 3 Daughters Brewing Hard Rosé Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
• Beer Flight

Disney Dining Plan

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan and visiting the Flower and Garden Festival, you will find many occasions to use up your snack credits. As always, you want to get the most value out of your snack credits, which means choosing wisely which ones to pay for in cash and which to use snack credits on.

The majority of the snacks you will find at the Outdoor Kitchens will run in the $4 – $8 range and are snack-credit eligible. When using the Dining Plan snack credits, always try to spend them on the most expensive snacks and pay cash/credit card for the others. The more expensive a snack is, the more value you’re getting for those credits.

*(The Disney Dining Plan is suspended for the time being, however, it should be returning in 2023.

Other Things to do at Flower and Garden

Every year, Flower and Garden has many exhibits, tours, play areas, and other activities for you to explore during your time there. There is so much to do that you won’t have time for it all. Try to pick the ones that sound most interesting to you.

Activities

Garden Graze – Enjoy a variety of fresh EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival dishes and collect a matching stamp in your Festival Passport for each specially notated menu item. When you’ve collected 5 stamps, bring your Festival Passport to Pineapple Promenade to redeem a Festival-exclusive treat.

Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt – This is a pay-to-play scavenger hunt that costs $9.99 plus tax. Join Spike the bee along the garden pollination trail where he will “bee” busy collecting nectar and pollinating gardens at EPCOT. At the end turn in your completed map for a surprise gift.

Health Full Trail – Presented by Advent Health – Delight in a whimsical area made to inspire youthful energy and creativity! The whole family can learn ways to stay healthy at this Outdoor Kitchen and garden along the Imagination Walkway.

Tours

*These tours have been suspended for this year’s festival but should be back again next year.

For guests who are interested in learning more, there are normally 3 special guided tours available during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival that are normally not available during other times of the year. These include:

• English Tea Garden Tour – This tour will teach you about the history of tea making, and good for guests of all ages. It lasts 20 minutes and the best part is that the tour is FREE!
  
  To register for the English Tea Garden Tour, go to the Tea Caddy shop on the same day you want to take a tour. Tours take place 7 days a week, and run at 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM on Monday – Thursday and at 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:00 PM from Friday – Sunday.

• Royal Garden Tea Tour – This is the longer and more in-depth version of the English Tea Garden Tour. It also teaches you about the history of tea making, including growing and blending the teas. It also includes tea and scones once your tour is finished.
  
  The cost is $20 per person.

• Gardens of the World Tour – This is one of the most popular tours where a Disney horticulturist takes you behind the scenes to see how all the vegetation, flowers and topiaries are planted, the thought that goes into them, and how they turn plants into the beautiful topiaries you see around Epcot.
  
  This tour is about 3 hours long and costs $85 per person.

Discounted Tours – If you are going to be booking a tour and you are an annual passholder, but sure to take advantage of the 15% discount on the Gardens of the World Tour.

You can book one of the Flower and Garden Tours by visiting Guest Relations or calling (407) WDW-TOUR.

Exhibits

Every year the Flower and Garden festival includes various exhibits that provide educational information on plants, flowers, gardening, and more. Last year the list included the Florida Federation Garden Club, the Simple Living Institute, and the University of Florida Master Gardeners.

Penguins – Probably the most eye-opening exhibit was the 9-foot art sculpture made to celebrate the Disneynature film “Penguins.” This sculpture was of an adult and baby penguin and made to make guests aware of the plastic pollution right now in our oceans and other waterways.

Urban Spice – Located in the Morocco pavilion, learn about the history of spices in ancient cultures, right down to our day today. Find out where they come from and how they are made.

Plant a Garden Perfect for Pollinators – This display located near the Butterfly House gives you valuable information and tips about home gardens.

Kids Play Areas

If your kids need a break and need to let off some steam, the Flower and Garden Festival has you covered. There are 2 play areas for them to explore.

Green Landing Family Play Zone near Test Track – Located in World Discovery near Test Track. Includes themed interactive fun.

And don’t forget the Goodness Garden Butterfly House presented by GoGoSqueeZ, and the popular “How To” garden will return with clever tips for home gardeners. 

PhotoPass and Magic Shots

One area of Flower and Garden that sometimes gets forgotten is the PhotoPass and Magic Shot locations. All around EPCOT you will find photographers set up near some of the topiaries where they will take your picture.

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival PhotoPass Locations include:

• Front of the park
• On the Walkway leaving into World Showcase
• Showplace Plaza (in-between World Celebration and World Showcase)
• The bridge between the United Kingdom and France

These photos are a great way to have a memory of the day with your friends and family and give you a backdrop of some of the park’s best icons.

Some of the photographers also can do Magic Shots which are themed photographs with some of your favorite Disney characters and include special effects. Make sure to ask the photographer if they are available.

You can take as many photos as you want with the PhotoPass package, and it can be a good value if you use it in all the parks. PhotoPass is free if you have a Disney World Annual Pass, so don’t forget to use it!

Garden Rocks Concerts

The Garden Rocks Concert Series are finally returning in 2023, and boy are we glad to have them back again this year!

The Flower and Garden Festival isn’t just about plants and food, but just like any of the Epcot festivals, it features great live music too. Every night the Garden Rocks Concert Series hosts a new musical artist or group in the American Heritage Theater in the American Adventure pavilion.

Performances for the Garden Rocks Concerts occur 3 times a night at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM It’s convenient because that gives you 3 chances to see the artist or group playing that day.

The more popular groups are featured on the America Gardens Theatre stage Friday through Monday, while the local groups perform Tuesday through Thursday.

Tickets for the event are free, just show up and grab an available seat. I would recommend showing up at least 30 minutes before the start of the show, especially if it’s an artist you really like. Don’t expect the artists to be the most popular of the moment, but they are well-known artists that aren’t quite as popular today as they used to be.

Don’t let that scare you away, most of the bands are really good, and I’m sure you’ve heard of a bunch of them. There is a wide variety of music styles represented this year including Rock, Country, Latin, Jazz, the 60s, the 70s, R&B, and more.

• March 1-2 – Glass Ceiling
• March 3-4 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
• March 5-6 – Daughtry
• March 7-9 – Audio Exchange
• March 10-11 – Tommy DeCarlo
• March 12-13 – Smash Mouth
• March 14-16 – Element
• March 17-18 – Mike DelGuidice
• March 19-20 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
• March 21-23 – The Vybe
• March 24-25 – Berlin
• March 26-27 – The Pointer Sisters
• March 28-30 – The Female Collective
• March 31 – Luis Figueroa – NEW

• April 1-2 – Piso 21 – NEW
• April 3 – Melina León
• April 4-6 – Epic
• April 7-8 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
• April 9-10 – Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
• April 11-13 – Foregniers Journey
• April 14-15 – Blue October
• April 16-17 – Switchfoot – NEW
• April 18-20 – Evolution: Motown
• April 21-22 – A Flock of Seagulls
• April 23-24 – Jo Dee Messina
• April 25-27 – Hooligans
• April 28-29 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
• April 30, May 1 – Kool and the Gang

• May 2-4 – The Finesse Party Band
• May 5-8 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
• May 9-11 – Latin Ambition
• May 12-15 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
• May 16-18 – 506 Crew
• May 19-20 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
• May 21-22 – Casting Crowns – NEW
• May 23-25 – M-80’s
• May 26-27 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
• May 28-29 – Rick Springfield
• May 30-31, June 1 – Champagne Orchestra

• June 2-5 – Plain White T’s
• June 6-8 – Glass Ceiling
• June 9-10 – The Spinners
• June 11-12 – The Commodores
• June 13-15 – Element
• June 16-17 – Vertical Horizon
• June 18-19 – Tony Orlando
• June 20-22 – Foregniers Journey
• June 23-26 – Simple Plan
• June 27-29 – Epic
• June 30, July 1 – Living Colour

• July 2-3 – Wang Chung
• July 4-5 – Evolution: Motown

Garden Rocks Dining Package

Seeing one of the Garden Rocks concerts is a great way to cap off any visit to the Flower and Garden Festival, but sometimes it can be hard to get a seat. If you want to skip waiting in line, you can get a reserved seat at the show by booking the Garden Rocks Dining Package.

There are 8 participating restaurants in World Celebration and World Showcase, allowing you to reserve either Lunch or Dinner and get reserved seats for the show on the same night as your dining package.

Prices vary widely depending on which restaurant you choose and which meal (the nicer restaurants are more expensive of course). Prices start at $35 per person and go all the way to $95 per person.

Meals at a Participating Restaurant Include:

• Spice Road Table – Includes 2 small plates, a shared dessert platter and a nonalcoholic beverage
• All Other Restaurants – Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, or 1 Full Buffet (where applicable), and a Non-Alcoholic Beverage are all included in the packages.

You must choose a dining reservation that starts at least 2.5 hours BEFORE the concert start time.

Here are the restaurant choices and prices:

Make Reservations

Guests can begin booking reservations for the Garden Rocks Dining Package on February 9, 2023. Make your reservations as soon as possible because reservations will sell out fast.

Important Dining Package Info

• Garden Rocks Dining Packages are only offered Friday to Monday from March 1 to July 5.
• Packages are not offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
• Reservations require a credit card guarantee.
• Guests will receive Garden Rocks seating badges at the restaurant after their meal. The badge will specify the date and show time they have reserved.
• Guests enter the America Gardens Theatre through a separate queue and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is guaranteed only for your assigned showtime.
• You can show up 5 minutes before showtime and get in with no problem, but you won’t have the best seats. If you want a center seat then you will need to show up a little earlier.

Same-Day Dining Packages – If you are planning a last-minute visit you may be able to purchase same day dining package that allows you to:

• Dine without reservations at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue that day.
• Enjoy guaranteed seats to a Garden Rocks performance later that same day.

Merchandise

Disney always has great merchandise for the Epcot Festivals, and at Flower and Garden 2023, there are sure to be some new items you might want to check out. Let’s take a look at items from the years past to get an idea.

• Mickey Mouse Home Garden – Celebrate this year’s festival with home garden-inspired merchandise from this collection featuring vibrant apparel, drinkware, garden tools and so much more.
• Orange Bird – Find adorable Orange Bird keepsakes within this vibrant collection that includes apparel, accessories, and other novelties.
• Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse – Browse a collection that celebrates Mickey and Minnie Mouse—featuring apparel, drinkware, trading pins, and a MagicBand.
• Figment’s Garden – Grow your imagination with Figment-themed apparel, drinkware, and more as you dream green this festival season.
• Spike the Bee – Find sweet reminders of Spike the Bee on apparel, accessories, drinkware, a garden stake, and other collectible novelties.

There are the usual t-shirts, hats, cups, and more, but the coolest thing from this point of view is the Spike the Bee collection. Spike is a Disney character from short films in the 1940s and will be heavily featured at this year’s festival.

What is sure to be one of the most popular items in the Spike the Bee Sipper, which you can get at The Honey Bee-stro and contains the Honey-Peach Freeze drink.

You can also find him at The Honey Bee-stro kiosk. Both of these sippers have limited qualities and will sell out fast, so if you want them I suggest you go early in the festival, and first thing in the day as soon as that kiosk opens.

Be on the lookout for more Spike merchandise in the shops like shirts, mugs, hats, and more.

The biggest hit from last year is back in 2023, the Orange Bird sipper!

This year Disney Munchlings have joined the festival with the limited-edition Citrus-infused Cupcake Orange Bird with Honey Disney Munchling! This adorable plush will be coming soon to EPCOT during the festival and on shopDisney.

There is also other Orange Bird merchandise like these adorable Mickey Ears, Shirts, and more!

Passholder Exclusives

Every year at Flower and Garden there is special merchandise available for Annual Passholders only. Here is an example of what to expect:

• Passholder-Exclusive Magnets – Last year, there were 2 new complementary magnets for annual passholders, both available at different dates.
  
  The “Donald Duck with Spike the Bee” magnet was available from March 4 – April 19, while the “Orange Bird” magnet was from April 20 – June 1. Both magnets were available at Mouse Gear.
  
• Passholder-Exclusive Merchandise – There also was Passholder-exclusive merchandise like t-shirts and pins. Annual Passholders get a 20% discount on merchandise so make sure to use it if buying anything.

Where to Stay for Flower and Garden Festival

There are plenty of options for places to stay if you want to be near Epcot and the Flower and Garden Festival. It’s nice because then you don’t have to do everything in one day but you can come back as many times as you want.

The best options for staying close to Flower and Garden are the Epcot area resort hotels. Here are our favorites in order:

1. Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
2. Boardwalk Inn Resort
3. Riviera Resort
4. Swan and Dolphin Resorts
5. Caribbean Beach Resort
6. Art of Animation Resort
7. Pop Century Resort

Any of these options are great because they are either within walking distance from Epcot or you can take the Disney Skyliner over. Both ways will bring you to the back entrance of Epcot at the International Gateway, perfect for entering World Showcase.

If you are having a hard time deciding, check out our post on the Best Resorts at Disney World where we share the pros and cons of each one.

When is the Best Time to Go?

Even though we love this time of year, there are definitely good and bad times to go to Flower and Garden. The Flower and Garden Festival lasts for 90 days, which means some days and weeks during that time will be busier than others.

We’ll help you choose the right time to avoid the crowds as much as possible, which will make your experience here 10x more enjoyable. Our Disney World Crowd Calendar will make it easier to find out when the parks are less busy.

Go on a Weekday, Avoid the Weekends – This is Epcot Festivals 101. If there is any advice you listen to in this article, make it this one.

Flower and Garden, like all of the festivals, is more crowded on the weekends. This is because the locals are off work, and many with a season pass will come into Epcot for the scene to eat and hang out. That means lines are insanely long and even the walkways around World Showcase can be unbearably crowded.

Avoid the First and Last Weeks – Again, the crowds come out more when something just starts because they want to see what’s new this year. Also, the last week of the festival is really crowded because locals want to hit Flower and Garden one last time before it goes away for the year.

Avoid Spring Break and Easter – The crowds in Walt Disney World in general during these weeks are crazy, and everything is going to be a long wait. Spring Break is typically held during the middle of March, while Easter in 2023 is on April 9, and crowds will be high from March 10 – April 17.

If you can make it to the Flower and Garden Festival during days outside of those timeframes, you are much more likely to have the best time possible.

EPCOT Flower and Garden Tips & Tips

• Go During the Week – I said this earlier, and I’ll say it again because it’s important: Don’t go on the weekends. It’s full too crowded and not a pleasant way to spend a vacation day.
• Merchandise – Get the merch you really want as soon as possible. Don’t wait and think you’ll come back and get it another day because it might be gone by then.
• Dining Package – Get the Garden Rocks Dining Package to save time. This will allow you to do other things instead of waiting in line, especially if it’s an artist or group you really want to see.
• Dining Credits – Don’t forget to use those Snack Credits, and use them on high-priced items.
• Classes – If there are any limited-space classes you want to do, sign up immediately as they tend to sell out.
• Take Breaks – It gets hot in Epcot, and there aren’t a lot of shaded places along the World Showcase Promenade. When you get too hot, go see one of the films for a nice relaxing break and stop in at some of the shops along the way, which also have A/C.
• Have Fun! – Don’t be so worried about doing everything, because you won’t be able to. Just make a list of the most important things to do, and make those a priority. Whatever else comes is gravy!

Flower and Garden Touring Plan

With so many things to see and do at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, it may seem difficult to organize. Here is a quick touring plan for what we would do if we had 1 Day in Epcot and wanted to incorporate the festival into our day.

1-Day Epcot Plan with Flower and Garden Festival

• Genie+ Selections: Test Track, Soarin’, and Mission: SPACE

• 8:30 AM – Arrive at Epcot
• 9:00 AM (Park Opening) – Rope Drop Test Track
• 9:30 AM – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• 10:10 AM – Breakfast Sunshine Seasons
• 10:40 AM – Soarin’ Around the World
• 11:20 AM – The Seas w/ Nemo
• 11:50 PM – Mission: SPACE
• 12:00 PM-1:30 PM – Snack Around World Showcase
• 2:00 PM – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (Standby or Lightning Lane)
• 2:20 PM – Gran Fiesta Tour
• 2:50 PM – Journey Into Imagination
• 3:20 PM – Living with the Land
• 3:55 PM – Frozen Ever After
• 4:55 PM-5:40 PM – Explore the Flower and Garden Exhibits, Topiaries and Gardens around World Showcase
• 6:00 PM-7:00 – More Snacking around Flower and Garden Festival
• 7:00 PM – See one of the other Epcot films (American Adventure or Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along)
• 8:00 PM – Watch Garden Rocks Concert
• 9:00 PM – Watch Epcot Fireworks Show

That should be a good touring plan for how you can do all the major attractions in Epcot and still get to snack and explore your way through the Flower and Garden Festival. Wait times will depend on how crowded the park is that day so prioritize your favorite attractions first.

How Many Days Should I Go to the Flower and Garden Festival?

This depends on what kind of Disney World vacationer you are and how many days you have for your vacation.

• If you are staying in Walt Disney World for one week or less, we recommend only dedicating 1 day to the Flower and Garden Festival (the same day that you are touring Epcot as a park).
• If you are going to Disney World for longer than 7 days, then you can plan to come to Flower and Garden more than 1 time, especially since it’s impossible to try all the snacks in 1 day.

Another option if you do end up staying at one of the nearby Epcot area hotels, is to just walk over when you are hungry, grab some food and then go back to your hotel. It’s easy to do and allows you to experience more of the food, without dedicating an entire day there.

Is the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Worth It?

Even though Epcot is always more crowded when there is a festival going on, we think visiting Flower and Garden is absolutely worth your time. This is Epcot at its most beautiful and if you haven’t seen the park like this, then it’s worth planning your vacation around it at least once.

The special gardens are fantastic, the flower beds in Future World will blow you away, and there are many fun activities for kids and adults alike. The food kitchens are also incredible and have arguably the best food of any of the festivals.

Flower and Garden Festival is absolutely one of our favorites, right up there with the Food and Wine Festival, and something you absolutely have to experience at least once, so why not do it in 2023??

Stay tuned here to Ziggy Knows Disney as we bring you the latest updates from the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!

Make sure to read our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for more tips on your upcoming trip and everything you need to know!

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about the 2023 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival…

• What is your favorite part of Flower and Garden?
• Which Epcot festival is your favorite?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂