As I sat watching it snow out my window this week in upstate New York I decided to think spring. One of the many festivals that Walt Disney World hosts each year is the Taste of Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. This event has been happening each spring since 1994 and has evolved in to an elegant showcase of the Disney horticulturists talent.
Epcot is turned in to an extravaganza of colors, smells and beauty with every detail carefully planned. This year the festival runs from March 3 to July 5, 2021. There are over 20 different food booths spread out between Future World and the World Showcase and approximately 70,000 flowers spread throughout the park and several mini gardens floating in the central waterway.
As with most of the Epcot festivals there is a passport you can pick up that will explain where the many outdoor kitchens are and what they have to offer. There are also several specialty gardens on display such as the Italian garden in Italy, orchids in Mexico and a Bonsai collection in Japan. Some of the topiaries return each year but there is always something new to find. Some of my favorites have been Lady and the Tramp, Bambi and friends and Winnie the Pooh and gang. Many of the topiaries are themed to the different worlds around the World Showcase.
There is also Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration which is a scavenger hunt which follows Spike as he collects nectar and pollinating gardens around the park. There is a map and stickers to use and when completed you can turn it in for a surprise. There is a cost of $7.99 + tax for this hunt.
The Goodness Garden Butterfly House is a large screened in area that showcases several colorful species of butterflies. You will learn all about the lifecycle of a butterfly and how they help with gardens.
Live entertainment is spread throughout the park provided by some of the parks popular entertainer’s such as Voices of Liberty, Jammin’ Gardeners and Mariachi Cobre. Performance times are listed in the park schedule so be sure to pick one up when entering the park.
This year’s festival is the longest one Disney has done allowing for plenty of time to visit and enjoy this beautiful spring event. Interested in experiencing this event? Let me know and we can plan your adventure!