10 Reasons to Love EPCOT This Spring

If it’s the Spring, it’s time for a garden adventure in Walt Disney World, with all the trimmings of an entertainment extravaganza. Yes, it’s the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, and one of our favourite times of the year in Orlando.

First of all, we have to offer our commiserations to all our UK-bound guests this month. Spring has definitely not sprung for everyone in dear old Blighty just yet, and Orlando is definitely ahead of the curve, which makes it doubly galling that they are basking in gorgeous temperatures and sunshine just now.

But, fear not! We know we have a lot of guests all poised for the big Easter exodus across the Atlantic, and this latest blog is especially for them, and anyone heading Stateside through April and May. Because the big annual treat of the Flower & Garden Festival is now in full swing this month, and continuing until June 1, which means the EPCOT park is absolutely at its very best for the gorgeous panorama of plants, gardens and topiaries. Lots of topiaries!

What IS the Flower & Garden Festival?

For anyone who has never been in Orlando at this time of year, or those new to the Disney scene, it’s worth explaining what this three-month event is all about. In simple terms, it is a scenic overlay for the park that involves a huge array of newly-planted flower beds and other floral arrangements, alongside an array of Outdoor Kitchens and nightly concerts from big-name acts. While many elements are revived each year, there are also new scenes and food offerings to reward those regular visitors who return year after year for this panorama of ornamental delights.

This year, there are more than 60 topiaries throughout the park, notably new ones for Lightning McQueen & Mater, plus those Monsters Inc stars Mike Wazowski and Sulley. The main entrance topiary also changes annually, and this year’s creation features those adorable toys from the Toy Story films. When it comes to the food and drinks, there are more than 20 Kitchens boasting 75 all-new menu items for 2026, from appetisers and desserts to charcuterie boards and fresh seafood, and from beers and wines to smoothies and cocktails.

So, with no further do, here are our top 10 highlights to look out for during this season’s garden extravaganza:

10. Butterfly Landing – There are a series of specially themed gardens around the World Showcase area of EPCOT, but one that sits just outside this array, and is among the most captivating, is the one devoted to the kaleidoscopic world of the butterfly. Located near the Imagination! pavilion in the World Nature area, it offers a chance to see multiple species up close and personal in this tented natural attraction.

9. Children’s Gardens – Each year, EPCOT pays special attention to its youngest visitors with a pair of special garden-themed playgrounds just for them. This year, young ’uns have the choice of Camp Get Out ’N’ Play, adjacent to the big Creations Shop in World Celebration, and the return of the larger Playalong Bay, located next to the Beach Grub outdoor kitchen. Here, children can swing, climb and explore while mum and dad take a back seat for a while.

8. Classic Bands – Remember the likes of The Commodores, Plain White T’s, Queensryche, Berlin and Air Supply? They can all be found, along with a host of other big-name performers, on the America Gardens stage in World Showcase each evening. There are also the solo artists like Billy Ocean, Sugar Ray, Rick Springfield and others, and it all happens under the umbrella of the Garden Rocks concert series, taking place three times each evening, at 5.30, 6.45 and 8pm.

7. Magical Merch – No Disney festival or special event is complete without its own dedicated supply of gifts and souvenirs, and this year is no exception. In fact, it is some of the sharpest merch we’ve seen in a while, including backpacks, collectible pins and mugs, as well as collections featuring Orange Bird and Spike the Bee. They are all on sale at the various Festival Markets around the park, plus the Creations shop and the Odyssey Center between World Discovery and World Showcase.

6. Garden Graze – Get set for a foodie adventure in this fun food stroll around World Showcase. Be sure to pick up a Festival Passport when you enter the park for the chance to enjoy this tasty exercise in snacking as you wander. This super-tasty event features nine different treats from the Outdoor Kitchens. Collect stamps at the various Kitchens and, once you have five, you can receive another exclusive treat from the Pineapple Promenade.

5. New Brews – If you’re looking for something crisp, original and thirst-quenching, pay attention to the Festival’s expanded beer and wine selection. This is definitely the place to sample some delicious and surprising flavours, with the likes of the Hibiscus Tangelo Hard Seltzer from Florida’s Playalinda Brewing Company and our own favourite of Winter Garden brewery the Crooked Can with its fab Fiori di Limone lager. The UK pavilion may have the best cocktail this year, though, with their new English Garden, a concoction of Fords Gin, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, Minute Maid Apple Juice, and lemon juice topped with a cucumber.

4. Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration – Here’s another one for the kids, a clever scavenger hunt (at a cost of $11.99 for the official map to locate each Pollen spot along the way) that takes children around Epcot in search of Spike the Bee, with a sticker to be earned at each location. At the end of the hunt, a surprise is on offer at either the Disney Traders or World Traveler shops. Look for the maps at all the Market merchandise locations.

3. Global Gardens – Take on a horticultural expedition among the 24 different garden settings around World Showcase and World Nature that make up the heart of the Festival. From the UK’s Topiary Heritage Garden to the Spice Garden in Morocco and the splendid traditional bamboo water fountain in Japan, this is an exercise in gardening glory, and the skill of Epcot’s horticultural team is on full display.

2. Magnolia Terrace – For one over-riding flavour of this year’s Festival, head to the American Adventure pavilion, where the Magnolia Terrace Kitchen continues to serve up some terrific tastes. Start with the Grilled Gulf Oysters (a Floridian speciality), then go on to the Spicy Chicken Gumbo, for a sample of good cooking, New Orleans style. Finish off with the classic Bananas Foster Bread Pudding, and you will have had an outstanding sampling of the dishes on offer. Wash it down with one of the three beers or the Spiced Rum Cocktail for good measure.

1. The EPCOT Topiaries – The Festival’s array of 60-plus set-piece topiaries remains a real work of art. Traditional favourites such as Peter Pan, Anna and Elsa, The Lion King, and Minnie, Mickey and the gang are all back again, while Princess Tiana is one of the stars at the American Adventure pavilion and Stitch makes a welcome return at the Mission: SPACE ride in World Discovery. It is a magnificent presentation that adds a real hallmark of quality to the EPCOT scene.

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