With spring in the air, it’s once again time for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival — one of the most beloved annual events at Walt Disney World. If you’re planning a visit to this celebration of nature, topiary artistry, and family fun, book your stay at FantasyWorld, one of the leading Kissimmee Florida resorts. We offer spacious vacation villas with a full kitchen, plus a broad range of amenities including our own water park — an easy home base for a festival-focused trip.
Must-See Topiaries and Garden Displays
It’s hard not to feel like a real-life Disney princess — or prince — when you visit the Butterfly House (also known in past years as Bambi’s Butterfly House). You’ll be enamored by the beautiful butterfly and fairy topiaries, and real butterflies are known to flit by for a personal greeting.
Living topiary sculptures of favorite Disney characters are a highlight throughout the park — Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Buzz Lightyear, Simba, Figment, Anna and Elsa, Princess Tiana, and Encanto characters have all made appearances in recent years. Some fan-favorite topiaries return year after year in the same pavilions, including Lumiere and Cogsworth in the France pavilion, the Troll in Norway, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the Tick-Tock Croc between the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions, and Pumbaa and Timon near Imagination (exact roster varies by year). In the France pavilion, keep an eye out for the France Bouquet Garden, a rotating display of stunning floral arrangements.
In recent years, the festival has also featured Blossoms of Fragrance, an immersive display surrounded by vibrant butterfly topiaries with several scent stations — floral, fruity, citrus, spice, woods and fresh — for a multisensory garden experience.
Family-Friendly Activities
The festival isn’t just for garden lovers — there’s plenty to keep kids engaged too. Look for interactive play areas, gardens, and exhibits designed specifically with children in mind throughout the festival grounds [source: 2019 post].
Two festival traditions are especially popular with families:
- The Garden Graze — a food stroll highlighting five sweet and savory bites across the festival’s Outdoor Kitchens via your Festival Passport. Complete the graze and earn a small prize.
- Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration — a scavenger hunt for kids of all ages. Pick up a map and stickers at select merchandise locations (while supplies last) and complete the hunt for a special prize.
Guided Tours & Educational Experiences
Throughout the festival, Disney horticulturists lead guided tours through the gardens, offering “behind-the-seeds” stories and educational tips you can bring home to your own garden. Past tour offerings have included Gardens of the World, an English Tea Garden tour, and Behind the Seeds.
There are also informational presentations throughout the festival featuring DIY and HGTV experts, sharing tips to help you make the most of your own gardens back home.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
No visit is complete without catching a show in the Garden Rocks Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. The lineup changes every festival season and typically features several evening performances a week — check Disney’s official festival page for the current schedule and artist lineup before you go.
Prefer a guaranteed seat? The Garden Rocks Dining Package pairs a meal with a reserved spot at one of the concerts on select dates — a good option if you don’t want to worry about arriving early to grab a space on the lawn [source: 2019 post].
Food at the Festival
Between garden strolls, don’t miss the festival’s Outdoor Kitchens, with an emphasis on farm-to-table ingredients across a rotating menu of specialty dishes and drinks, both local and international in inspiration.
Plan Your Stay
With hundreds of gardens, hundreds of floating flower planters, and tens of millions of blooms across the festival grounds each season, there’s something for every visitor to enjoy — whether you’re a dedicated gardener or just here for the topiaries and the food. Book one of the vacation villas at FantasyWorld, one of the outstanding Kissimmee Florida resorts, and make this fantastic floral festival part of your Orlando trip.
FAQs
Is the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival included with regular park admission?
Yes. Festival access — including the topiaries, gardens, and Garden Rocks concerts — is included with standard Epcot admission. The only paid add-on is the Garden Rocks Dining Package, which reserves your concert seating alongside a meal.
When does the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival take place?
The festival typically runs from early spring through early summer each year, though exact dates vary by season — check Disney’s official festival page for current-year dates.
What are the best things to see at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival?
Highlights include the Disney character topiaries throughout World Showcase, the Butterfly House, pavilion-specific garden displays like the France Bouquet Garden, and the seasonal Outdoor Kitchens.
Are there activities for kids at the festival?
Yes — look for the Garden Graze food stroll and Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration scavenger hunt, both popular with younger visitors, along with play areas and exhibits geared toward families.
Where should families stay for the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival?
FantasyWorld Resort in Kissimmee, FL offers spacious 2-bedroom vacation villas with full kitchens, just minutes from Epcot and the rest of Walt Disney World — an easy, affordable home base for a festival trip.
