Disney Shares Additional Details About the 2018 Flower & Garden Festival

The 25th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will kick off spring at Walt Disney World Resort on Wednesday, February 28 and continue through May 28, 2018, with seasonal fun for all. What began in 1994 as a 38-day celebration of Disney-style gardens and topiaries has grown over the years to a 90-day spring extravaganza with something for every generation.

The 2018 festival, which takes place during the 35th anniversary of Epcot, will showcase millions of brilliant blossoms, flavor-rich cuisine from 15 Outdoor Kitchens, Disney topiary stars, interactive play gardens and live chart-topping musical acts during the Garden Rocks Concert Series.

The 90-day festival will open with an irresistible array of sights, sounds, tastes, aromas and tactile discoveries:

• New and creative dishes will debut at 15 Outdoor Kitchens encircling the World Showcase Promenade. Guests can sip and savor their way around Epcot, enjoying chef-inspired noshes and refreshing libations.
• A bonanza of Disney character topiaries, including classic-character favorites Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and many others, will play a starring festival role. Returning this year, Belle will be featured in France along with Beast, Snow White in Germany with the Seven Dwarfs, and Anna and Elsa in Norway.
• A brand-new Future World interactive play garden and a revved-up Road to Florida 500 garden featuring new games and play challenges will set the pace for family festival fun. The new interactive area in Future World will feature a play maze, a sensory garden, an activity zone and a covered seating area. The redesigned “Cars”-themed garden based on the Disney•Pixar sequel, “Cars 3,” will add more fun activities like highway bingo for families.
• A brand-new Epcot front-entrance topiary garden will set the milestone anniversary scene with a kaleidoscope of blooming color where topiary icons Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy will greet festival guests.
• The popular Garden Rocks Concert Series will feature hit makers of the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Three evening concerts each Friday through Monday present musicians that span multiple genres.
• Garden Rocks Dining Packages will be available on select days at a number of Epcot restaurants.
• Each Outdoor Kitchen will feature its own raised-bed or in-ground garden of herbs and produce that can inspire the growing numbers of guests who want to learn to grow what they eat.

“The culture of growing your own food continues to trend, and our guests each year have quite a few questions related to edible gardens,” says Eric Darden, festival horticulture manager. “They get a big kick comparing items in our gardens with the herbs and produce our chefs incorporate into the festival’s Outdoor Kitchen recipes.” And there’s more:

• The back-by-demand Figment topiary garden between Future World and World Showcase will offer the perfect selfie backdrop and family photo opportunity.
• The Royal Tea Garden Tour will return for a second year each festival morning at the United Kingdom pavilion. For a small fee, guests can follow a knowledgeable guide through the tranquil tea garden setting to learn the history and artistry behind growing and blending tea. A post-tour treat of tea and scones is included. The shorter, complimentary English Tea Garden Tour also will be offered on select days.
• Among the nearly 100 festival topiaries will be returning favorites like the pandas and Bromeliad dragon at the China pavilion, The Three Caballeros at the Mexico pavilion, Disney-Pixar’s Woody at the American Adventure pavilion and Buzz Lightyear in Future World.
• Dozens of Disney-crafted “flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms will transform the park’s landscape. At least 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.

Topiaries

Snap one-of-a-kind photos of sublime shrubs-of-art—each carefully pruned by a talented crew of Disney horticulturists.

1. Anna and Elsa from Frozen - Located at the Norway Pavilion
2. Bambi, Flower, and Thumper  - Located at Showcase Plaza - West Towers
3. Beauty and the Beast - Located at the France Pavilion
4. Bromeliad Dragon - Located at the China Pavilion
5. Butterflies - Located near Showcase Plaza
6. Buzz Lightyear - Located at Future World East near Mission: SPACE
7. Daisy Duck, Chip and Dale - Located at Future World West near Imagination
8. Donald Duck with Huey, Dewey and Louie - Located behind Spaceship Earth
9. Figment - Located between Future World and World Showcase
10. Lady and the Tramp - Located at the Italy Pavilion
11. Lighting and Cruz from the Disney•Pixar Cars Films - Located at Future World East near Test Track
12. Pandas - Located at the China Pavilion
13. Simba, Pumbaa, Timon, Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa, and Sarabi - Located at The Outpost Shop
14. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Located at the Germany Pavilion
15. Stitch - Located on the fountain side of MouseGear
16. The Three Caballeros, featuring Jose, Donald, and Panchito - Located at the Mexico Pavilion
17. Tinker Bell - Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
18. Troll - Located at the Norway Pavilion
19. Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy - Located at Main Entrance
20. Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends - Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
21. Woody from the Disney•Pixar Toy Story films - Located at The American Adventure

Gardens, Tours, and Exhibits

Become entranced in an aromatic petal paradise. Surround yourself with the beautiful sights and sounds of nature as you weave your way through breathtaking flower beds, plots of plant life and wildlife habitats. From Bonsai trees to butterflies, there’s a bounty of displays ready to capture your family’s attention and imagination. Highlights include:

• Alpine Container Garden – Visit the Germany Pavilion to learn about hearty alpine plants that have adapted to survive in extreme temperatures and are the perfect match for windy balconies, cold-weather climates and sloped or parched landscapes.
• Bamboo Garden – As a member of the grass family, bamboo can be found at the China Pavilion in many colors, patterns and sizes.
• Bonsai Collection – Take a trip to the Japan Pavilion and discover the ancient art of bonsai with some of the finest living sculptures created by bonsai masters, who carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art—creating peace and balance with the earth.
• English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings of London – Discover the history and art of tea blending at this elegant English Tea Garden at the United Kingdom Pavilion, featuring plants important to some of Twinings finest tea blends.
• Festival Blooms – Located at Future World, this display boasts thousands of flowers form colorful, living panoramas overlooking Future World’s East and West lakes.
• Floating Mini-Gardens – Peer upon over 100 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the walkway between Future World and the World Showcase.
• Florida Fresh Garden – Calling all the little ones! Come between Morocco and the France Pavilion and climb, explore, play and more at this fun-filled garden planned—and planted—with young children in mind.
• Garden Italiano – From fresh spaghetti sauce to your favorite pizza topping, this Tuscan kitchen garden at the Italy Pavilion features all the produce and herbs needed to create a classic Italian feast.
• Imagination Play Garden – NEW! Explore a play garden for children of all ages near Imagination Walkway (closes at dusk). Test reflexes on a net play climber, discover different sounds through a musical maze and use your senses.
• Purple Martin Garden – Spot purple martins as they soar to and from their nests in our purple martin bird houses. These amazing migratory birds flew over 3,000 miles from the Brazilian Amazon to raise their families right here at Epcot! Keep an eye out for Disney conservationists that study these birds and test your identification skills by finding the brown and white females as well as the iridescent, all-purple males.
• Road to the Florida 500 – Inspired by the Disney•Pixar film Cars, topiary buddies Mater, Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez invite you to relax and recharge while your kids race around in a desert-themed mini-park at Test Track Walkway (closes at dusk).
• Shakespeare Garden – Thou shalt adore matching up famous quotes to flowers found within this vibrant garden at the United Kingdom Pavilion. William Shakespeare often used flowers and exotic gardens to help set the scenes for his plays and employed them as symbols and metaphors.
• The Goodness Garden Butterfly House Presented by GoGo squeeZ—Visit this foliage-filled exhibit at Future World West to view a kaleidoscope of butterflies and observe several species up-close, learning about their life cycles and maybe even witnessing them emerging from chrysalises.
• The How-To Garden – Stop by this display in Future World West and take the Disney Flower and Garden Festival home with garden-ready ideas, including how to create your own butterfly house, garden crafts and sustainable ideas.
• Tropical Rainforest Garden – NEW! Visit the Mexico Pavilion and learn how Mexico rainforests are rich with plants and animals that have adapted to a wide variety of light levels and water conditions.
• Urban Spice – At the Morocco Pavilion, learn how in many eastern cultures, ancient spices were considered more valuable than gold. Even today, many cultures are defined by their signature spices and herb blends, created from plant leaves, stems, roots, seeds and flowers.

Interactive Play Areas

Make a beeline for our whimsical play gardens—little ones will love worming their way through these must-see destinations!

Imagination Play Garden – NEW! 

Location: Imagination Walkway 

On your mark, get set, play! Kids can test their reflexes on a net climber, discover different sounds through a musical maze and put all 5 senses to work while surrounded by lush natural landscapes.

The How-To Garden – NEW! 

Location: Future World West 

Garner innovative gardening tips and bring the Flower & Garden Festival home—from building your own butterfly house to botanical crafts and other sustainable ideas.

Road to the Florida 500 

Location: Along the Test Track Walkway 

Cross the finish line with topiary pals Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez! Sit back, relax and recharge while your kids zip around a race-track-themed garden inspired by the Disney•Pixar’s Cars. Put the pedal to the metal in a fun, innovative and interactive area for kids of all ages!

Food & Beverage Offerings:

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market
Venture to Germany for Bavarian bites sure to sate foodies of all ages—every dish is köstlich!

Food

• Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (V)
• Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream
• Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese
• Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries

Beverages

• Hugo-Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint
• Paulaner Original Munich Lager
• Ayinger Bräu Weisse Hefeweizen, Munich, Germany
• Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager
• Beer Flight

Cider House
Behold buzz-worthy ciders and artisanal provisions perfect for a farm-fresh picnic near the United Kingdom Pavilion!

Food

• Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Branston Dressing with Pears
• House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
• Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries (V) (GF)

Beverages

• McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY
• Florida Beer Company Caribé Pineapple Tropical Hard Cider, Cape Canaveral, FL
• Ciderboys Grand Mimosa Apple Orange Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
• Cider Flight
• Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, California (Non-alcoholic)

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

• Tarte à la Tomate Provençale: Provencal Tomato Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Pastry Crust (V)
• Canard Confit Aux Gnocchi à la Parisienne: Braised Duck Confit with Parisian Gnocchi
• Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop (GF)

Beverages

• La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice
• Kir Pomegranate: Sparkling Wine, Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Village de France
• Kronenbourg Blanc 1664

Florida Fresh
Enjoy sweet ‘n’ tangy treats from our own Sunshine State-station, nestled between the France and Morocco Pavilions.

Food

• Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro Lime Sour Cream
• Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Stone-ground Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish
• Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue

Beverages

• Florida Orange Groves Winery Key Lime Sparkling Wine, St Petersburg, FL
• Tampa Bay Brewing Company Quat Seasonal Fruit Ale
• Big Top Brewing Company Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat, Sarasota, FL
• First Magnitude Brewing Co. Monarch Milk Stout, Gainesville, FL
• Watermelon Cucumber Slushy with Tamiami Florida Gin
• Watermelon Cucumber Slushy (Non-alcoholic)
• Beer Flight

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

Food

• Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream with Raspberry Sauce on the side (V)
• Ginger Beef Yaki Udon: Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger
• Teriyaki Salmon with Furikake Seasoned Brown Rice (GF)

Beverages

• Pineapple Momo Sake Cocktail
• Kara Super Dry Sake
• Sapporo Premium Black Lager

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

Food

• Pork Taco: Slow-braised Pork Taco served with Apple Relish, Goat Cheese and Chile de Árbol Sauce
• Chilaquiles: Chilaquiles served with Chorizo, Mexican Cream and Cotija Cheese
• Capirotada: Bread Pudding served with Rompope

Beverages

• Tiger Lily Sangria
• Rose Margarita
• Violet Cassis Punch
• Daisy Spicy Beer

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

Food

• Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro
• Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce
• Caribbean Conch Salad with Mango, Papaya and Pickled Red Onions
• Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple

Beverages

• Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA
• Tropical Freeze with Cruzan Mango Rum
• Tropical Freeze (Non-alcoholic)

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

Food

• Spicy Meatballs with Crispy Tofu
• Fried Chicken Dumplings with Peanut Sauce
• Vegetable Spring Rolls (V)

Beverages

• Oolong Peach Bubble Tea (Non-alcoholic)
• Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice
• BaiJoe Punch: Chinese Bai Jiu Spirit, Lychee, Coconut and Pineapple Juice
• Plum Wine Cooler
• Tsingtao Lager

Northern Bloom
Please discriminating palates with fantastic fare from our Great White North neighbor… O Canada!

Food

• Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple-wood Smoked Bacon (GF)
• Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables
• Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato

Beverages

• Maple Popcorn Shake with Crown Royal Maple Whisky
• Maple Popcorn Shake (non-alcoholic)
• Unibroue Maudite Amber Ale, Chambly, Québec
• Unibroue À Tout Le Monde Saison, Chambly, Québec
• Unibroue Éphémère White Ale, Chambly, Québec
• Beer Flight

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
• Pineapple Soft-Serve (V)

Beverages

• Coastal Empire Beer Co. Coco Piña Gose, Savannah, GA
• Maui Brewing Co. Pineapple Mana Wheat, Kihei, HI
• SweetWater Brewing Company Goin’ Coastal IPA with Pineapple, Atlanta, GA
• Pineapple Beer Flight
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
• Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL
• Pineapple Soft-serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
• Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)
• Pineapple Soft-serve with Fanta (Non-alcoholic)

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

Food

• Frittata di Asparagi: Asparagus Frittata, Mixed Greens and Citrus Dressing (GF) (V)
• Firtto Misto: Crispy Shrimps, Zucchini and Spicy Sauces
• Ravioli: Maine Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce
• Panna Cotta al Melone: Cantaloupe Panna Cotta (GF) (V)

Beverages

• Pinot Grigio
• Chianti
• Prosecco
• Corbinello
• Moscato
• Bellini: Sparking Wine and Peach Purée
• Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
• Moretti Lager L’Autentica
• Moretti La Rossa

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

Food

• Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad
• Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley and Chili Ranch Sauce
• Walnut Honey Baklava

Beverages

• Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur
• White Sangria
• Casa Beer

The Berry Basket
Sweeten your feast with an assortment of berry-licious dishes sure to hit the spot!

Food

• Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique
• Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Crisp Quinoa, Strawberry Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans (V)
• Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepper Berry Gelato (V)

Beverage

• JDub’s Brewing Company Blueberry IPA, Sarasota, FL
• Island Grove Blueberry Moscato, Hawthorne, FL
• Twinings Green Tea Berry Mint Julep
• Twinings Green Tea Berry Mint Julep (Non-alcoholic)

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews
Saddle up for slow-cooked specialties and a mighty fine selection of craft beer—at the American Adventure Pavilion!

Food

• Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw
• Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue and House-made Pickle
• Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
• Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V)

Beverage

• Zen of Zin Old Vine, California
• Central 28 Brewing Company Sunshine Greetings Orange Hibiscus Wheat Ale, DeBary, FL
• 3 Daughters Brewing Phantasmas Spicy Double IPA, St. Petersburg, FL
• Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL
• Beer Flight
• Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine
• Frozen Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)

The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board – NEW!
Quell cravings with an incredible menu of all-natural food and drink infused with the nectar of the gods!

Food

• Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Puree, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey Blistered Grapes and Sunflower Brittle (GF) (V)
• Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese, charred vegetables, Clover Honey Sour Cream and Micro Watercress
• Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses

Beverages

• Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
• Orange Blossom Brewing Co. Orange Blossom Pilsner, Orlando, FL
• Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with Blueberry Vodka
• Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze (Non-alcoholic)

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!

1) Future World Coffee Cart Hosted by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• The Final Lap: Iced Tea topped with Frozen Passion Fruit with Vodka

2) Port of Entry Coffee Cart Hosted by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• Garden of Guava: Frozen Pink Guava topped with Rum or Vodka

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

• Strawberry Piña Colada: Frozen Piña Colada and Strawberry with Rum

4) Showcase Coffee Cart Hosted by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• Orange Blossom Twist: Frozen Orange Pineapple topped with Vodka

Garden Rocks Concert Series
Guests will be working their way back through five decades of hit tunes during the Garden Rocks Concert Series.

Fan favorites Night Ranger (“Sister Christian”) will open the series March 2-5, and The Spinners, known for “Working My Way Back To You,” will wrap the concert schedule May 25-28.  Several new bands will perform at Epcot for the first time: Foghat (“Slow Ride”); Smash Mouth (“All Star”); Lonestar (“Amazed”); and Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles (“Hotel California”). Other bands new to the Garden Rocks series will be Rick Springfield (“Jessie’s Girl”), Survivor (“Eye of the Tiger”) and Jo Dee Messina (“Stand Beside Me”).

Guests can dance in their seats each festival weekend to classic tunes at the park’s outdoor America Gardens Theatre overlooking the World Showcase Lagoon.  An eclectic mix of fan favorites includes 1960s icons Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, ’70s-’80s chart-toppers The Village People and new-millennium hit-makers Simple Plan.

Performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and are included with Epcot admission. Here is this year’s lineup (subject to change without notice):

• March 2-5: Night Ranger “Sister Christian”
• March 9-12: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
• March 16-19: Simple Plan “Welcome to My Life”
• March 23-26: Little River Band “Reminiscing”
• March 30-April 2: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
• April 6-7: Foghat (NEW!) “Slow Ride”
• April 8-9: Survivor (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “Eye of the Tiger”
• April 13-14: Smash Mouth (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “All Star”
• April 15-16: Rick Springfield (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “Jessie’s Girl”
• April 20-21: Jo Dee Messina (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “Stand Beside Me”
• April 22-23: Lonestar (NEW!) “Amazed”
• April 27-30: Blood, Sweat and Tears featuring Bo Bice “Spinning Wheel”
• May 4-7: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”
• May 11-12: Village People “Y.M.C.A.”
• May 13-14: Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles (NEW!) “Hotel California”
• May 18-21: The Guess Who “American Woman”
• May 25-28: The Spinners “Working My Way Back to You”

For more information about the 25th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Guests can call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639). As the festival nears, more details will be available at EpcotInSpring.com. The festival, including all gardens and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

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