Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2024 Edition
The most beautiful time of the year has finally arrived at Epcot and it is the Flower and Garden Festival 2024. This is the longest running festival at Epcot and it’s my personal favorite. The whole Aesthetic of Epcot changes and becomes this immersive botanical garden that comes to life with the buzzing of bees, the silent flap of butterfly wings and the aroma of spring in the air. I want to briefly go over the essence of this whole festival and also include in this post a complete list of the topiaries and where you can find them.
When is it:
This festival runs from February 28th until May 27th 2024.
Know before you go:
This festival is not a special ticketed event with the price of admission to Epcot You can participate in many of these activities for free. If you want to enjoy the special food, merchandise, demonstrations, etc., those come at an extra cost.
I recommend if you can to avoid attending the festival opening weekend and the last weekend those times typically are the most busy.
Flower and Garden is full of activities for everyone to participate in. Just a few to mention are (the ones listed below are free)
Topiary Displays, Exhibits & Gardens
Discover spectacular topiaries of beloved animals and Disney characters, cultivated with care by Disney horticulturists. Fun fact: Disney horticulturalists work for around three months per topiary and they make multiples of the same one so if anything were to happen to one while on display they have one to replace it! Has your favorite character been turned into a plant? See below!
- Asha, Valentino, and the Wishing Star from “Wish” – *NEW* – Main Entrance
- Butterflies – Main Entrance, Scentsy Garden, Butterfly House and World Showcase
- Figment – World Celebration Plaza near Imagination!
- Huey, Dewey, and Louie – World Celebration Plaza
- Donald Duck – World Celebration Community Garden near Connections Cafe’
- Bambi and Friends – World Discovery near Imagination! and Refreshment Port
- Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy” – *NEW* – Near Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Buzz Lightyear – Near Mission: SPACE
- Woody, Bo Peep and Her Sheep – Near The Land Pavilion
- Simba and Friends (Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa, and Sarabi) – Between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
- Pumba and Timon – Between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
- Goofy – Rosewalk
- Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale, and Pluto – Bridge to World Showcase and World Celebration
- Mirabel, Antonio, Isabella, and Luisa from “Encanto” – World Showcase
- Miguel and Dante from “Coco” – *NEW* – Mexico Pavilion
- Anna and Elsa – Norway Pavilion
- Troll – Norway Pavilion
- Pandas – China Pavilion
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Germany Pavilion
- Lady and the Tramp – Italy Pavilion
- Princess Tiana – The American Adventure Pavilion
- Dragon – Japan Pavilion near Torri Gate
- Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy – Between France and Morocco Pavilion
- Beauty and the Beast – France Pavilion
- Lumiere and Cogsworth – France Pavilion
- Butterfly and Flower Towers – International Gateway
- Winnie the Pooh and Friends (Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger) – United Kingdom Pavilion
- Tinker Bell’s Fairy House Garden – United Kingdom Pavilion
- Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Tick Tock Croc – Between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilion
- Geese – Canada Pavilion
Butterfly Landing Presented by Advent-Health
Observe many species of butterflies up close in a kaleidoscope of color. Located near Imagination! in World Nature. This enclosed space is absolutely breathtaking you can spend hours here watching butterflies hatch and admire their beauty. Great experience for all ages.
Global Gardens 2024 at Epcot:
These gardens are a way to learn something new and immerse yourself into different cultures. Tip: Check the daily time’s guide for when the Global Gardens are open as many of them close at dusk.
- *NEW* China Penjing Garden: “Discover ancient Chinese art that recreates miniature landscapes”
- Located in the China Pavilion
- *NEW* Gnome Garden: “Discover topiary versions of magical garden gnomes, originating from German folk tales.
- Located in the Germany Pavilion
- Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy: “Follow your nose to six scent stations and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances”
- Located on the World Showcase Bridge
- The Community Garden: “Connect with the earth and each other at this celebration of a diverse and thriving communal garden plot.”
- Located at World Celebration
- Songbird Meadow Presented by Wild Birds Unlimited: “Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.”
- Located in World Discovery
- Floating Gardens: “Peer upon more than 150 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase”
- Located at World Nature
- Bonsai Collection: “Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating pace and balance with the earth”
- Located in the Japan Pavilion
- English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings: “Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea garden featuring plants used in some of Twinings® finest blends”
- Located in the United Kingdom Pavilion
Family-Friendly Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Garden Presented by OFF! – World Discovery
Explore a camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.
PLAYGROUND LOCATIONS
- Outside behind Creation Shop towards Test Track
- Outside walkway between the Canada Pavilion towards Figment and Disney & Pixar Short Theatre
- Inside Mission: SPACE ride queue
- Inside Test Track’s ride exit
Songbird Meadow – World Discovery
Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your own backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.
Free Concerts:
Move your feet to some of the hottest beats during Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion. Check this link to WDW official site for list of bands and when they are playing. If you want to guarantee yourself a seat check out the WDW site for their concert packages! Bands range from Simple Plan to Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
Additional Festival fun (Participation may require a purchase)
There is a Garden Graze activity you can participate in by Using your Festival Passport which you can pick up for free at different kiosks throughout the park. This passport will be your guide on this food journey featuring 10 tasty dishes. Once you’ve tried at least 5 Garden Graze items and collected a stamp for each you can bring your Festival Passport to Pineapple Promenade, where you’ll receive a specialty treat! In addition to the Garden Graze Activity there will be festival-exclusive Outdoor Kitchens all around Epcot, each offering a specialty menu of creative cuisine and libations. Last year the Specialty treat was a Mango-Lime Dole Whip which you can not get anywhere else and is only available by completing this challenge.
click here to direct to WDW website for the full Garden Graze menu
Outdoor Kitchens, a.k.a. food and beverage booths do not open at the same time as Epcot – They open at 11:00 am daily.
Some menu items may sell out so be sure to prioritize your must-try items earlier in the day. You can note what you would like to try inside your Festival Passport which will list the menus for all the outdoor kitchens!
Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration
Spike, the cute little bumble bee and Flower and Garden Festival Mascot–can be found hidden in the Global Gardens during the festival. Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is a fun scavenger hunt throughout Epcot where once completed, you win a special prize! Searching for Spike is a fun activity for everyone in your party–even if you don’t want to pay $9.99 to receive a completion prize.
This year you may also participate in the Egg-Stravaganza Hunt: Embark on the hunt for eye-catching eggs each resembling a beloved bunny; this experience only lasts till Easter and a little bit after.
Exclusive Merchandise:
And of course Disney has Merchandise exclusive to the festival that changes every year. EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival merchandise is Typically features Figment, Mickey and Minnie, Spike the Bee, and Orange Bird.
*NEW* for 2024
- Orange Bird Collection: Spread the sunshine with adorable Orange Bird keepsakes in this collection featuring apparel, accessories, garden décor and more.
- Coco Collection: Keep the inspiring words “Seize Your Moment” top of mind with this Coco-themed collection that includes apparel, headwear and home décor.
- Butterfly Collection: Flutter through the butterfly garden alongside Minnie Mouse with items from this flowery collection.
- Annual Passholder Collection: Enjoy Festival treasures featuring Spike the Bee on apparel, accessories and trading pins exclusive to our Annual Passholder family.
Disney Hack: You can purchase a gift card for your snacking & drinking around the world. This is the best way to keep yourself on budget! Details on this hack below.
Purchase a Disney Gift Card featuring a unique festival-themed design.Scan your mini festival gift card to pay for food, merchandise and more. These cards can be activated with as little as $15. You can find mini festival gift cards at any festival kiosk throughout the park, Disney Gift Cards can be reloaded at any merchandise location owned and operated by Disney.
Spaceship Earth Show During Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Each night at Epcot—even when there isn’t a festival going on—you’ll find a nighttime light show projected on Spaceship Earth (aka the Epcot Ball).
Last year, Disney debuted “What Else Can I Do?” from Encanto to replace the former “Colors of the Wind” Spaceship Earth show from Pocahontas.
The “Encanto” nighttime show is exclusive to Flower and Garden Festival and should be at the top of your must-do list!
The best spot to view the Spaceship Earth Show each night during the Flower and Garden Festival is from the World Celebrations gardens. These are a part of the new area located behind the Epcot Ball with World Showcase Lagoon to your back. Here you’ll be able to see pylons that coordinate with the nighttime show as well as lights in the floor tiles. It just elevates an already spectacular show into something even more special.
After you watch a few cycles of the soundtrack, be sure to grab one more festival snack before heading to your spot to watch the “Luminous – The Symphony of Us” fireworks taking place around World Showcase Lagoon.
Conclusion:
This is a festival you won’t want to miss, I promise. It has a little bit of something for everyone in your group! This is a festival that will embrace all 5 of your senses! You can see all the beauty of spring as far as the eye can see, hear the sound of the gardens coming to life with nature, smell all the delicious foods and flowers, taste something grown right in Disney World, touch the world around you and take some of that feeling of prosperity and growth home with you to your own flower pots and gardens!