Your 2025 Guide to EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival
EPCOT, situated within the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is a theme park famous for celebrating different cultures, new technology, and various aspects of the universe, including land, water, and space.
Moreover, EPCOT hosts four annual festivals dedicated to the Arts, Flower & Garden, Food & Wine, and the Holidays. Currently, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 5 to June 2, 2025. Here are seven must-see highlights for attendees!
What does EPCOT stand for?
Before we dive in, a question I often get is, “What does EPCOT stand for?” The answer to that is the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.
This name reflects Walt Disney’s original vision for the park. He intended EPCOT to be a utopian city showcasing futuristic technologies and urban planning concepts, serving as a model community for the future.
However, after Disney’s death, the plans for EPCOT were altered, and it became a theme park rather than a functioning city.
Today, while EPCOT retains elements of innovation and futurism, its focus has shifted to celebrating culture, technology, and imagination within a theme park setting.
Explore the Topiaries
Think of your favorite Disney characters like Snow White, the Seven Dwarves, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and Minnie Mouse – now think of them as topiaries!
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is known for its life-like topiary displays of beloved Disney characters.
This year, explore a brand-new Moana-themed topiary display with Maui, Heihei, and Pua, along with fresh gardens highlighting fashion, playtime, and Inside Out 2. Plus, enjoy the grand return of Phineas and Ferb topiaries!
EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival topiaries are meticulously hand-crafted and absolutely breathtaking! Do not miss the opportunity to explore the entire park and marvel at all the displays!
Visit Butterfly Landing
Explore Butterfly Landing, an enchanting garden that adds to the festival’s allure!
Here, amidst a vibrant array of nectar-filled plants, you will encounter a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, showcasing their mesmerizing colors.
Informative signs provide fascinating insights into butterfly habitats and lifecycles, making it an educational and immersive experience for all.
One of the highlights of this area is the chance to witness butterflies in their chrysalis form, with the possibility of observing their mesmerizing transformation.
Do not miss out on this captivating display of nature’s beauty, presented by AdventHealth in World Nature.
Tour the Rest of the Exhibits and Gardens
As you wander through the park, you will encounter an array of captivating exhibits and gardens to delight in! Each country along the World Showcase boasts its own unique garden featuring plants indigenous to that region.
Explore vibrant flowerbeds, stumble upon exotic gardens, and discover more about sustainable foods, celebrating our ability to live in harmony with the natural world.
Here is a listing of some of the Gardens at the Festival:
World Celebration Gardens
– CommuniCore Hall Garden – Enjoy a bee’s-eye view of a larger-than-life garden.
– Festival Blooms – Marvel at vibrant floral displays, forming captivating living panoramas.
World Discovery Gardens
– Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Garden Presented by OFF! – Bring the entire family to explore this camp-themed garden, where youngsters can leap, play, and climb.
– Connections Conservatory Garden – A beautifully designed garden offering floral inspiration for your indoor spaces.
– Prehistoric Plants – Discover plants that have survived since the age of dinosaurs, dating back 65 million years.
– The Community Garden – A celebration of communal gardening, where you can connect with the earth and one another.
World Nature Gardens
– Bold Bromeliads – A vibrant garden featuring unique, colorful plants that thrive in diverse climates and conditions.
– Floating Gardens – Over 170 small garden plots gracefully drift on ponds near the bridge to the World Showcase.
– Butterfly Landing, presented by AdventHealth – A mesmerizing haven filled with a kaleidoscope of colorful butterflies.
Rosewalk near Imagination!
– “Inside Out 2” Emotion Garden – New! – Discover the language of emotions through vibrant plants.
– Playalong Bay – New! – A playful garden for kids, inspired by Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort, presented by Smucker’s Uncrustables.
World Showcase Gardens
– Blossoms of Fragrance, presented by Scentsy, on the Bridge to the World Showcase – A garden brimming with fresh and unforgettable scents.
Mexico Pavilion
- Tropical Rainforest Garden – Celebrating the diverse flora of the Mexican rainforest.
- Extraordinary Orchids – A stunning display of vibrant, blooming orchids.
- Dessert Garden – Showcasing plants from dry, arid climates that thrive in tough conditions.
Norway and China Pavilions
- Bamboo Garden – Featuring bamboo in various colors, patterns, and sizes.
- China Penjing Garden – The ancient Chinese art of creating miniature landscapes.
Germany and Italy Pavilions
- Gnome Garden – Encounter enchanting topiary garden gnomes inspired by German folklore.
- Garden Italiano – From ripe tomatoes for fresh spaghetti sauce to fragrant herbs for pizza toppings, this Tuscan kitchen garden supplies all the ingredients needed to craft a traditional Italian feast.
American Adventure and Japan Pavilions
- Bonsai Collection – Delve into the art of bonsai, meticulously shaped and nurtured by bonsai masters, transforming them into miniature works of art, and fostering harmony with nature.
- Shishi Odoshi – A traditional Japanese bamboo water fountain, offering a calming and rhythmic sound.
- Kokedama Garden – A serene garden showcasing fresh takes on this ancient Japanese art.
Morocco and France Pavilions
- Spice Garden – Featuring spices and herb blends once valued as highly as gold.
- Haute Nature – New! – Where fashion meets flora in a vibrant, lush garden.
- Bouquet Garden – Overflowing with blooms that make the perfect bouquet of cut flowers.
United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions
- Shakespeare Garden – Immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare amidst this serene garden, featuring excerpts from the bard’s most famous sonnets and the dazzling flowers that inspired them.
- English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings® – United Kingdom Pavilion – Discover the rich history and art of tea-blending in this elegant English tea garden, showcasing the plants employed in crafting Twinings’ exquisite blends.
- Topiary Heritage Garden – Highlighting the techniques used to create stunning festival topiaries.
Enjoy the Food and Drinks
EPCOT’s festivals are known for having delicious food and drinks and this festival does not get left out!
There are many outdoor kitchens for you to enjoy, including BRUNCHCOT, EPCOT Farmers Feast, The Citrus Blossom, and Florida Fresh.
You can find shrimp and grits, conch fritters with key lime aïoli, and taco de camarón at these locations, and that is just the start of what is available.
My Hot Take: The Flower and Garden Festival Food is better than the Food and Wine Festival Food.
One of the festival’s most sought-after culinary stops is The Honey Bee-stro hosted by the National Honey Board™.
Indulge in delectable dishes like Chicken and Waffles, featuring crispy chicken paired with a honey-sweet cornbread waffle, accompanied by whipped honey butter and spicy honey.
Alternatively, savor the Honey-Glazed Cauliflower served with honey-roasted carrot puree, wild rice pilaf, spring vegetables, honey-blistered grapes, and sunflower brittle.
Wash it all down with a refreshing Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with Streusel. As you indulge in these treats, seize the opportunity and discover the vital role honeybees play in our environment.
For dessert, visit the neighboring Swirled Showcase for a delightful Honey Bee-stro creation: liquid nitro honey-mascarpone cheesecake.
For a comprehensive overview of the festival’s culinary offerings, visit Disney’s website.
Alternatively, you can pick up a Festival Passport at Guest Services. It is located to the left of the iconic EPCOT “ball” and provides details about the outdoor kitchens and food selections.
Within the Passport’s final flap, you will discover the Garden Graze Menu, featuring ten festival offerings.
The challenge is to sample five of these items, and upon completion, present your stamped Passport at Pineapple Promenade to receive a special treat!
P.S. This Festival Passport offers plenty of information on what can be found at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival if you forget anything mentioned within this article and your phone battery is running low at the park.
Attend the Garden Rocks Concert Series
It would not be a festival without live music and Disney knows that! As such, the Garden Rocks Concert Series has returned with this year’s Flower & Garden Festival.
The series runs the entire duration of the festival from March 5th to June 2nd this year, and there are many returning and new musicians coming to play!
The Garden Rocks Concert Series offers a diverse lineup of performances, ranging from internationally acclaimed artists on Fridays through Mondays to local bands energizing the crowd from Tuesdays through Thursdays.
Held at the America Gardens Theatre within the American Adventure Pavilion, these concerts offer attendees the chance to enjoy live music while soaking in the festival ambiance.
The best part is that the shows are free admission with a valid EPCOT festival date ticket. The shows are at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM.
Here is a current listing of those performing in the Garden Rocks Concerts:
- Evolution Motown – March 5 – 6
- Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of Boston – March 7 – 8
- Air Supply – 50th Anniversary Celebration – March 9 – 10
- Rico Monaco Band – March 11 – 13
- Blue October – March 14 – 15
- Rick Springfield – March 16 – 17
- Icon Party Band – March 18 – 20
- Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone – March 21 – 22
- 38 Special – March 23 – 24
- SoundUp – March 25 – 27
- Jason Scheff, longtime lead vocalist of Chicago – March 28 – 29
- Queensrÿche – March 30 – 31
- Glass Ceiling – April 1 – 3
- THE ORCHESTRA Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members – April 4 – 5
- Sugar Ray – April 6 – 7
- The M-80’s – April 8 – 10
- Simple Plan – April 11 – 12
- Jo Dee Messina – April 13 – 14
- 4NRS Journey – April 15 – 17
- Mike DelGuidice – April 18 – 19
- A Flock Of Seagulls – April 20 – 21
- Element – April 22 – 24
- Taylor Dayne – April 25 – 26
- 98 Degrees – April 27 – 28
- The Hooligans – April 29 – May 1
- Plain White T’s – May 2 – 5
- Hayfire – May 6 – 8
- Jon Secada – May 9 – 10
- Maverick City Music – May 11 – 12
- Dian Diaz – May 13 – 15
- The Spinners – May 16 – 17
- The Pointer Sisters – May 18 – 19
- Southbound – May 22
- The Outlaws – May 23 – 24
- Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles – May 25 – 26
- Latin Ambition – May 27 – 29
- The Cat Empire – May 30 – 31
- We the Kingdom – June 1 – 2
The entertainment is subject to change without notice.
Garden Rocks Dining Packages
You can opt for a Garden Rocks Dining Package and indulge in a delightful meal at one of EPCOT’s renowned restaurants while securing a reserved seat for a Garden Rocks performance on the same day.
Prices for adults vary, starting from $36 at the Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue and going up to $99 at Le Cellier Steakhouse.
Included in the package is a satisfying meal at a select restaurant:
a) At Spice Road Table, guests savor a delightful spread comprising two small plates, a shared tagine, a dessert platter for sharing, and a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Guests 21 and older).
b) For other participating restaurants, the meal encompasses an entrée and dessert, or access to a full buffet, where available, accompanied by a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Guests 21 and older).
Reservations are required in advance for all restaurants except Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which offers same-day dining packages only.
Scope out the Exclusive Festival Merchandise and Scavenger Hunt
To commemorate your time at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, pick up one of the exclusive festival merchandise found around the park.
There is plenty of Orange Bird, Coco, and butterfly merchandise, live plants, and many other items attributed to this festival for you to bring home and remember the great time you had!
Exclusive to the Flower and Garden Festival is Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt, priced at $9.99 (subject to change without notice), offering participants a special prize upon completion.
To join in the fun, purchase a map from any festival merchandise location. Then, embark on a quest to locate Spike hidden within various global gardens throughout the park.
Once found, place the corresponding plant sticker over the correct garden circle on the map. These stickers depict the different plants Spike is pollinating, such as sunflowers and magnolias, with signs provided for easy identification.
What does Spike look like? He is a plastic bee figurine atop a black pole nestled within flowerbeds or planters.
Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Unrelated to the festival itself but is a must-do at EPCOT, try to ride EPCOT’s newest attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, located in the World Discovery part of the park.
This ride is my absolute favorite at EPCOT! Disclaimer: This ride does spin and is in a dark room, but it is an incredible, fun, and well-constructed ride.
This ride has discontinued the virtual queue system, so now you can join the standby line and enjoy it as many times as you want throughout your day.
You can also purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for this ride. Check out the My Disney Experience app for more details.
Now it is your turn to explore!
Among the enchanting topiaries, immersive Butterfly Landing, colorful gardens and exhibits, lively concert series, and delicious food and drinks, this festival holds a special place in my heart as my favorite among the four. I genuinely hope you have a fantastic time enjoying it as much as I do!
Have you been to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival before? Are you planning to go this year? Let me know in the comments below!
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Bonus Pictures from Previous Years:
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