2025 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival celebrates its 30^th Anniversary this year. We attended opening weekend and oh what a treat!  This year’s festival runs from March 5^th to June 2^nd, 2025.  The festival offers something for everyone; beautifully themed gardens and topiaries, delicious food and beverages, as well as live entertainment while you travel around World Showcase.

This year’s floral craftsmanship includes some new character topiaries which incorporate Moana, Maui, Pua, and Heihei just inside the main entrance to EPCOT.  This particular display has lighting additions that give off a magical ambience in the evening.  Particularly, a light that runs up Moana’s oar.  Other new topiary additions include characters from Disney’s “Wish” movie, Asha, and her adorable young goat companion, Valentino.  Returning character topiaries include Mickey, Donald Duck, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tinker Belle, and many other favorites. Although they may be returning, they are featured in a different fashion. Bringing new life to each arrangement.

We enjoyed walking amongst the butterflies at Butterfly Landing. This interactive stroll through the butterfly garden is located next to the Land Pavilion.  Butterflies fly free while you walk around and learn about the different species and their habitats.  It was a bit cooler while we were there and were told that the butterflies were more active during warmer times of the day.  Nonetheless, it is a beautiful location to snap some eye-catching photos with the colorful flowers and free-flying butterflies.

One of our must-do rides at EPCOT is Living with the Land. During this year’s Flower and Garden Festival, they have added a few additional features to the greenhouse tour.  Moana’s canoe and oar are showcased, as well as some elements from Tangled, and Mardi Gras pieces representing Tiana. It was a delightful surprise as we rode past the festival enhancements throughout the attraction.

There are 18 outdoor kitchens with over 20 new items that offer seasonal food and beverage selections at the Festival this year. We had the opportunity to try some of the new offerings and were able to complete the festival’s Garden Graze tour.  The Garden Graze is a self-guided food stroll where you choose five or more items from a specific list found in your Festival Passport. Festival Passports are your guide to the festival offerings and can be found at the front of the park or at most of the outdoor kitchens. This year’s Garden Graze features ten plant-based menu items. In order to complete the Graze, you must receive five or more stamps by purchasing the qualifying featured items.  Items that we were excited to try on the Graze included the Street Corn on the Cob at Beach Grub, the Farmhouse Meatball with Impossible Beef at Trowel & Trellis, the Avocado Toast at Brunchcot, the Potato Pancakes in Germany at Bauernmarkt – Farmers Market, and at the Refreshment Outpost the Jamaican Beef Patty with Impossible Beef and Seasonal Fruit Parfait with sweet chili sauce and Dole Whip. All items were delicious (even to my carnivore-loving husband); although, I will say the sweet chili sauce on the seasonal fruit parfait was different.  An unexpected pleasant combination. The portion size was also quite large.  Once we completed the Garden Graze Stroll and had five stamps, we handed our Festival Passport in for a free delicious Dole Whip treat in a take home souvenir cup.

While strolling around the World Showcase you’ll be sure to overhear the unique live entertainment at various pavilions. Authentic music featuring performances by musicians from the specific countries.  We enjoyed watching the traditional Japanese drums by Japan, as well as the British band playing in the United Kingdom gazebo. The energy and atmosphere are something you don’t want to miss during a visit to EPCOT.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series also offers live musical performances on the large American Gardens Theatre stage.  Throughout the festival you can catch nightly performances during three different show times (5:30 pm, 6:45 pm, and 8:00 pm). There are usually a mix of well-known artists and local bands who grace the theatre stage.  While we were there, we had the opportunity to see Air Supply.  They put on a great show with high energy. Lines to get into the theatre started approximately an hour prior to show times. Seating is limited and available first-come, first-served.  We strolled up fifteen minutes before the last show and were able to get a great seat in the middle towards the back of the Theatre. There are dining packages that can be reserved at select EPCOT restaurants if you would like guaranteed seating in the theatre.  Following the show, we were able to catch “Luminous, The Symphony of Us” fireworks display.  We quickly walked over to Japan from the American pavilion, following Air Supply, and had the perfect view.

If you love gardening, food or simply the lively atmosphere EPCOT embodies, you will certainly enjoy the 2025 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival celebrating their 30^th year.  For more information on the Flower and Garden Festival, please be sure to check out their full list of events on the Walt Disney World Website.

EPCOT Flower and Garden Events

Thanks for spending time with us today.  Send any questions to Questions@thedisneynerdspodcast.com.