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When does EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival Run in 2024?
It runs between February 28 and May 27, 2024 at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT in Orlando, Florida.
What is EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival?
EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival is a celebration of all things bright, beautiful, and in bloom that takes place during Spring.
Large topiaries are scattered around the park of your favorite Disney characters (Groot (!!!), Snow White, Tigger, Pluto, and more) with beautifully blossomed and curated flowers.
In essence, EPCOT turns into a botanists theme park dream or … well a botanical garden of sorts. There’s over 150 items and 22 outdoor kitchens there’s a plethora of items to try across all food categories.
Aside from that there are also concerts, festival merchandise, and times for you to sit back, relax, and watch nature all around you.
Things to Do Around the Flower & Garden Festival
There’s lots to do around Flower & Garden Festival 2024. Starting off with the topiaries and gardens –
Topiaries & Gardens
There are 24 locations filled with topiaries with classics like Figment, Bambi and Friends, and the cast of Peter Pan, but you’ll also find some new characters on display like Asha, Valentino and Star from Wish, Miguel and Dante from Coco, and probably the crowd favorite (already!) Groot!
But if you’re not into that and want to see some flowers there are 17 locations filled with beautiful blooms of an amazing variety.
So far, my favorite little garden is the Bonsai Collection in Japan (although it’s simple, there’s a calmness in that area and that’s probably why I like it considering how busy the park can get).
Butterfly Landing
Into butterflies? Out in World Nature near Imagination! you can observe varying butterfly species. This section of the parks closes at dusk.
Scavenger Hunts
You have a choice of two! Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration or Egg-Stravaganza Hunt (this one is only available for a limited time due to the Easter holiday).
This is not a free activity, you’ll purchase a scavenger hunt map for $9.99 plus tax and at the end of your hunt you’ll be rewarded with prize at one of three locations – Disney Traders, Creations Shop or World Traveler.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
If you plan to stay toward the end of the day, you can catch a concert in front of The American Adventure at America Gardens Theater. Some performers include Blue October, Monsieur Periné, Chowder, Plain White T’s and Casting Crowns.
I’d check out the monthly schedule to see if there’s a concert you’d be happy to attend during your time there.
However, if you’re looking for something else in conjunction, Disney has a dinner and concert package guaranteeing seats.
Check for availability and be aware of the participating restaurants: Spice Road Table, Biergarten Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Garden Grill Restaurant, Rose & Crown Dining Room.
Packages sell out quickly (as of initial writing (February 20) the second half of April and all of May were already spoken for and the festival hadn’t even started!), so book if you know you want in on the experience.
Garden Graze Food Stroll
If you’re looking for pointers on foods to try, look at the back of your passport for some sound advice. Get your food stamped (in the passport) and when you’ve got 5 of 8 completed you’ll receive a special treat that you can pick up over at Pineapple Promenade.
This year’s menu items are:
- Florida Strawberry Shortcake at Florida Fresh
- Impossible Farmhouse Meatball at Trowel & Trellis
- Plant-based Buffalo Chicken Tender Poutine at Refreshment Port
- Avocado Toast at BRUNCHOT
- Coconut Tres Leches at La Isla Fresca
- Grilled Street Corn on the Cob at EPCOT Farmers Feast
- Potato Pancakes at Bauernmarkt: Farmers Market
- Seasonal Fruit Parfait at Refreshment Outpost
Other Activities
- PB&J Garden (New!)
- Blossoms of Fragrance
- Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Garden (closes at dusk)
- Purple Martins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays @ 1:00 PM) – an up close look at bird nests in the purple martin resorts
Looking for other festivals? The Complete List of Theme Park Festivals: A Journey Across the USA
Or are you looking for a Flower & Garden Festival Food Review?
? = food items you can expect to find on the food review!
The Flower & Garden Festival’s Outdoor Kitchens Menus
You’ll find all of the prices for all of the outdoor kitchens below!
The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board
Near Port of Entry
Food Items:
- Chicken and Waffles ▸ $6.75 ?
Crispy chicken and a honey sweet cornbread waffle with whipped honey butter and spicy honey - Honey-glazed Cauliflower ▸ $5.00
with honey-roasted carrot purée, wild rice pilaf, spring vegetables, honey-blistered grapes, and sunflower brittle
Beverages:
- Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $5.00
with streusel - Copperpoint Brewing Co. Bee’s Squeeze Blonde Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine ▸ $6.50
- Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze ▸ $13.00
with blueberry vodka and streusel
Pineapple Promenade
Near Port of Entry
Food Items:
- Spicy Hot Dog ▸ $8.00
with pineapple chutney and plantain chips - DOLE Whip Pineapple (Vegan) ▸ $6.50 ?
Beverages:
- Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $4.75 ?
- DOLE Whip Pineapple with Fanta Pineapple (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $6.75
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine ▸ $12.00
- DOLE Whip Pineapple ▸ $12.50
topped with Sōmrus Mango Cream Liqueur - Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- 3 Daughters Brewing Tropical Hefe ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Copperpoint Brewing Co. Tropical Hibiscus Blonde Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Wicked Weed Brewing Perni Haze Hazy IPA ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Beer Flight ▸ $10.25
Florida Fresh
Walkway between World Showcase and Imagination!
Food Items:
- Grilled Warm Water Lobster Tail ▸ $11.25 ?
with key lime butter - Cubanito ▸ $6.50
with mojo-marinated pork belly, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and stone ground mustard sauce - Florida Strawberry Shortcake (Vegan)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $5.00
Beverages:
- Cucumber-Watermelon Slushy (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $5.00
- Cucumber-Watermelon Slushy with Gin ▸ $13.00
Swirled Showcase
Walkway between World Showcase and Imagination!
Food Items:
- Soft-serve in a Waffle Cone ▸ $6.50
- Vanilla
- Peanut Butter
- Grape Jelly
- Strawberry Basil Sorbet in a Waffle Cone ▸ $6.50 ?
- Ice Cream Float ▸ $6.75
Vanilla Soft-serve and Barq’s Red Creme Soda - Liquid Nitro Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake ▸ $5.25
with fresh honey, granulated honey, honey mead blueberry compote
Beverages:
- Boulevard Brewing Co. Quirk Strawberry Banana Whip Hard Seltzer ▸ $12.00
- Vanilla Soft-serve ▸ $12.50
with Cantaloupe Liqueur - Strawberry Basil Sorbet ▸ $12.50
with Hard Seltzer
Refreshment Port
Near Canada
Food Item:
- Plant-based Buffalo Chicken Tender Poutine (Vegan)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $10.00 ?
on crispy potato barrels with “ranch”, and plant-based blue “cheese” crumbles
Beverages:
- Frozen Mojito with Boyd & Blair Rum ▸ $13.00
- Villa Maria Earth Garden Sauvignon Blanc ▸ $6.50
- Bud Light Lager Draft ▸ $10.00
- Country Boy Brewing Orange Cream Hard Cider ▸ $12.00
Northern Bloom
Canada
Food Items:
- Seared Scallops ▸ $7.75 ?
with french green beans, marble potatoes, and bacon vinaigrette - Beef Tenderloin Tips ▸ $7.25 ?
with mushroom bordelaise sauce, whipped potatoes, and garden vegetables - Chocolate Maple Whisky Cake ▸ $4.50
Beverages:
- Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Blackberry Wine ▸ $12.00
- Collective Arts Brewing Beyond Reason Micro Pale Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Glutenberg Blonde Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Collective Arts Brewing Grapefruit Lime Sour ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Beer Flight ▸ $10.25
La Isla Fresca
Between France and Morocco
Food Items:
- IMPOSSIBLE Jamaican Beef Patty (Vegan) ▸ $6.50
with spicy papaya syrup - Coconut Tres Leches (Vegetarian)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $5.00 ?
Vanilla cake soaked with oat, almond, and coconut milks topped with toasted coconut
Beverages:
- Tropical Slush ▸ $4.50 ?
Lemonade, grapefruit, and simple syrup (Non-alcoholic beverage) - Tropical Breeze ▸ $11.50
with Don Q Límon Rum - Florida Orange Groves Winery Tropical Perception White Sangria ▸ $11.50
- Wicked Weed Brewing Mango Wowie Hazy IPA ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
with mango
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
Morocco
Food Items:
- Grilled Kebabs ▸ $6.25
with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli- Lamb Kefta or Chermoula Chicken
- Mediterranean Flatbread ▸ $6.00
with chermoula, roasted vegetables, artichoke, olives, feta cheese - Orange Blossom-Saffron Cake ▸ $5.00
Beverages:
- Pomegranate Mimosa ▸ $11.50
- Keel Farms Pear Honeysuckle Hard Cider ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Woodchuck Imperial Sippin’ Citrus Hard Cider ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- 3 Daughters Brewing Pomegranate Hard Cider ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Cider Flight ▸ $10.25 ?
Magnolia Terrace
The American Adventure
Food Items:
- Muffuletta Panini ▸ $6.25 ?
with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss with olive salad - Spicy Chicken Gumbo ▸ $6.25
with andouille sausage and long grain & wild rice - Bananas Foster Bread Pudding ▸ $4.75
Beverages:
- Bayou Cocktail ▸ $12.50
Spiced rum, coconut rum, fruit punch, and orange juice - Urban Artifact Capy Snacks Fruit Punch Fruit Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Schneider Weisse LoveBeer Weissbier ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine Double IPA ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Beer Flight ▸ $10.25
Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market
Germany
Food Items:
- Potato Pancakes (Vegan)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $5.25 ?
with house-made apple sauce - Toasted Pretzel Bread ▸ $6.00
topped with black forest ham and melted cheese - Warm Cheese Strudel ▸ $4.75
with berry compote
Beverages:
- Apfelschaumwein ▸ $10.50
Apple sparkling wine and apple liqueur - Bitburger Premium Pils ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Stiegl Brewery Raspberry Radler ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Beer Flight ▸ $10.25
Refreshment Outpost
Outpost (Africa)
Food Items:
- Seasonal Fruit Parfait (Vegan)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $7.00
with sweet chili sauce and DOLE Whip Mango - Tangerine Soft-serve ▸ $6.50
- Ice Cream Float ▸ $6.75 ?
Tangerine soft-serve and Barq’s Red Creme Soda
Beverages:
- Lavender Martini ▸ $12.00
Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka with lavender and lemon - Crooked Can Brewing Sorpresa Picante Pale Ale Winter Garden ▸ $12.00
- Woodchuck 802 Barrel-Aged Hard Cider ▸ $12.00
- SweetWater Brewing Co. Fruit Punch IPA ▸ $12.00
Trowel & Trellis
Near Disney Traders
Food Items:
- IMPOSSIBLE Farmhouse Meatball (Vegetarian)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $6.00 ?
with lentil bread, spinach, marinated vegetables, and creamy herb aïoli - Soy-glazed Sticky Ribs ▸ $7.00 ?
with green onions and peanuts - Chocolate Mousse Terrarium ▸ $5.50
with matcha crumble, and chocolate soil
Beverages:
- Raspberry and Lemon Herbal Tea (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $4.50
Twinings Raspberry & Lemon Herbal Tea, and Simply Limeade - Surreal Brewing Co. Natural Bridges Kolsch Style (Non-Alcoholic Beer) ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Raspberry and Lemon Herbal Tea with Gin ▸ $12.00
Twinings Raspberry & Lemon Herbal Tea, Simply Limeade, and Conniption Kinship Gin - Brew Hub Strawberry Heatwave Berliner ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
The Citrus Blossom
At the Odyssey
Food Items:
- Orange Sesame Tempura Shrimp ▸ $7.00 ?
with orange-chile sauce - Lemon Meringue Pie ▸ $4.75 ?
Lemon curd, lemon mousse, and toasted meringue
Beverages:
- Orange-Lemon Smoothie in a souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $15.00
- Southern Tier Brewing Company Orange Twist Imperial Ale ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Left Hand Brewing Lemon Drop Shandy ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Stone Brewing Tangerine Express Hazy IPA ▸ $5.75 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Key Lime Wine Slush ▸ $12.00
- Beer Flight ▸ $10.25
BRUNCHCOT
World Discovery near Test Track
Food Items:
- Avocado Toast (Vegan)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $6.00
with marinated tomatoes and plant-based cheese crumbles on toasted ciabatta - Biscuit and Gravy (Vegan) ▸ $6.75 ?
with IMPOSSIBLE Chicken Fried Steak and IMPOSSIBLE Sausage Gravy - Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites ▸ $5.00 ?
with cream cheese frosting and candied bacon
Beverages:
- Froot Loops Shake (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $5.00
- Peach Bellini ▸ $11.50
- Coffee Cocktail ▸ $11.00
Joffrey’s Coffee with milk, vanilla vodka, and Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur
EPCOT Farmers Feast
World Discovery – Test Track
Food Items:
Early Bloom Menu (Available Feb. 28 through March 30):
- Veal Tenderloin ▸ $8.50 ?
with spring pea risotto featuring BEN’S® Arborio Rice and red wine syrup - Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-down Cake ▸ $4.75
with crème fraîche whipped cream
Springtime Menu (Available March 31 through April 27):
- Seared Scallop ▸ $7.75 ?
with tomato risotto featuring BEN’S® Arborio Rice and tomato beurre blanc - Blueberry Buckle ▸ $4.75
with lemon crème fraîche
Summer Solstice (Available April 28 through May 27):
- Seared Pork Tenderloin ▸ $7.50 ?
with corn risotto featuring BEN’S® Arborio Rice and roasted red pepper sauce - Peach Galette with ginger-vanilla whipped cream ▸ $4.75 ?
Food Item (Available throughout entire festival):
- Grilled Street Corn on the Cob (Vegan)(Garden Graze Stroll) ▸ $5.75 ?
with savory garlic spread and plant-based cheese
Beverages (Available throughout entire festival):
- Hibiscus Lemonade Cocktail ▸ $12.00
featuring Islamorada Brewery & Distillery Hibiscus Gin - Frozen Lemon Tea Cocktail ▸ $12.00
with Bärenjäger Honey & Bourbon
The Land Cart hosted by AdventHealth
World Nature
Food Items:
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (Vegan) ▸ $5.00
with cucumbers, olives, and multigrain crackers - Açaí Parfait ▸ $4.75
with Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and granola - Strawberry Fruit Bar (Vegan) ▸ $6.00 ?
Beverage:
- Florida Smoothie ▸ $6.25
Pineapple, orange, and mango
Connections Eatery
World Celebration
Food Items:
- Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich ▸ $12.49 ?
Southern-fried chicken sandwich with hot honey and pickles on a brioche bun - Orange Bird Liege Waffle ▸ $4.19
Beverage:
- Blood Orange Hibiscus Margarita ▸ $15.00
Teremana Tequila with hibiscus and blood orange syrup, and orange juice
Canada Popcorn Cart
Beverage:
- Peach Smash ▸ $11.50 ?
Canadian Club Whiskey with lemon, peach purée, and ginger
United Kingdom Beer Cart
Near to Rose & Crown Dining Room
Beverage:
- Scottish Thistle ▸ $9.75
Fords Gin with lemon and blackcurrant-cucumber syrup garnished with cucumber
Jardin de Fiestas
Mexico
Food Item:
- Sope de Chilorio ▸ $8.50 ?
Guajillo pepper-braised pork on fried corn shells with black beans, shredded cabbage, crema Mexicana, queso fresco, and chives - Tamale de Rajas ▸ $8.75
Poblano peppers, corn, and cheese in masa topped with poblano cream sauce, crema mexicana, pickled carrots and onions with chives - Flan de Guayaba ▸ $6.50
Vanilla flan with guava coulis, whipped cream, and fresh fruit
Beverages:
- Lychee Margarita ▸ $3.75
Centinela Blanco Tequila, lychee liqueur, citrus juice, and agave nectar - Floral Margarita ▸ $14.00
Cherry liqueur, mezcal, hibiscus tea, and lime juice - Craft Mexican Draft Beer ▸ $6.00 (6 oz.) | $11.00 (12 oz.)
Lotus House
China
Food Items:
- Spicy Mala Chicken Skewer ▸ $6.75
with creamy peanut sauce - House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons ▸ $8.25 ?
- Pan-fried Vegetable Dumplings ▸ $5.50
Beverages:
- Mango Bubble Tea (Non-alcoholic beverage) ▸ $7.75 ?
- Brew Hub Honey Jasmine Lager Draft Beer ▸ $5.50 (6 oz.) | $9.75 (12 oz.)
- Dragon Dynasty ▸ $14.50
Baijiu spirit, light rum, dragon fruit syrup, piña colada mix, and soda water - Lucky Peach ▸ $14.25
Peach whiskey, oolong tea, honey, lemon juice, and soda water - Tropical Moon ▸ $14.00
Vodka, triple sec, passion fruit syrup, soda water, and white boba pearls
Primavera Kitchen
Italy
Food Items:
- Bocconcini ▸ $7.50
Mozzarella bocconcini, grape tomatoes, and pesto sauce - Arrabbiata ▸ $9.25
Pennette pasta, spicy tomato sauce, and buttery shrimp - Quattro Formaggi ▸ $6.75
Pennette pasta and four-cheese sauce - Chocolate Cannoli ▸ $5.75
Chocolate-covered cannoli shell with peanut butter-ricotta filling
Beverages:
- Sauvignon Blanc ▸ $14.00
- Prosecco ▸ $11.75
- Italian Sangria (red or white) ▸ $12.00
- Italian Margarita ▸ $12.00
with limoncello and tequila - Peroni Pilsner ▸ $6.50 (6 oz.) | $11.00 (12 oz.)
Hanami
Japan
Food Items:
- Frushi ▸ $7.75 ?
Strawberry, pineapple, and lychee wrapped in coconut rice and pink soy wrap served with whipped cream, drizzled raspberry sauce, and toasted coconut - Steam Bun ▸ $8.50
filled with vegetables and plant-based soy meat - Ramen Cup ▸ $8.50 ?
Ramen salad shaken in a cup with fresh vegetables, grilled chicken, and dashi broth with chili oil and yuzu
Beverages:
- Watermelon-Strawberry Lemonade ▸ $6.75
- Ichigo Breeze Cocktail ▸ $7.75
Sake with strawberry and watermelon - Ozeki Pineapple Nigori Sake ▸ $9.75
- Orange Blossom Brewing Co. Cherry Blossom Green Tea Pilsner ▸ $5.00 (6 oz.) | $9.50 (12 oz.)
Fleur de Lys
France
Food Items:
- Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre, Herbes et Ail Rôtie ▸ $6.95 ?
Croissant with goat cheese, herbs, and roasted garlic - Parmentier de Canard A L’Orange ▸ $7.95
Pulled duck confit with orange sauce and garlic-rosemary mashed potatoes - Gâteau au Crémeux Citron, Lavende et Thym, Compote de Fruits Rouges ▸ $6.95
Warm cake filled with lemon, lavender, and thyme-infused cream served with berry compote - Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Sel ▸ $6.50 ?
Caramelized beignet filled with vanilla cream and glazed with caramel fleur de sel
Beverages:
- Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 ▸ $5.50 (6 oz.) | $9.95 (12 oz.)
Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes - Sparkling Raspberry Cocktail ▸ $6.50
Sparkling Wine with Raspberry Flavor - Jean Bojour Val de Loire ▸ $7.00
Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley - La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush ▸ $14.50
Vodka, Grey Goose L’Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juices
The American Adventure
Funnel Cake
- Funnel Cake ▸ $12.00
with powdered sugar, vanilla ice cream, strawberries, whipped cream, strawberry glaze, and strawberry crunch
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
For every location on property you’ll find a different drink to try. Can you drink them all? Cause I think I might! Even though the other Joffrey locations may not have specifically been featured in the booklet you can find some of these drinks at other locations, too, but each only offers one.
- Iced Honey Jasmine Latte (between Connections Eatery and Guardians of the Galaxy) ▸ $6.49 ?
Espresso, honey jasmine syrup, milk, whipped cream, and graham cracker crumbles (alcoholic version available with Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur) - Citrus Frosted Iced Tea (near Canada) ▸ $6.49
Frozen lemonade, Minute Maid Lemonade, Iced Tea, and orange-tangerine syrup garnished with a glazed orange peel (alcoholic version available with Grey Goose Vodka) - Iced Berry Chai Latte (beside Disney Traders) ▸ $6.49
Chai tea, blueberry syrup, and milk topped with whipped cream and cinnamon (alcoholic version available with Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur) - Tropical Frosted Iced Tea (by The American Adventure) ▸ $6.49 ?
Frozen lemon, Minute Maid Lemonade, iced tea, and Hawaiian Island Syrup garnished with a glazed orange peel (alcoholic version available with Grey Goose Vodka)
Must-Try Dishes and Beverages
Usually at festivals there are some must-try dishes (and beverages) to get through. The first one is the Garden Graze Stroll and some popular items from last year’s menu.
Garden Graze Stroll
If you haven’t already been to a Disney World festival, there are festival passports. At the back of the booklet you’ll find a food adventure called the Garden Graze Stroll.
It’s a great way to try items that Disney deems as the most popular or on trend with a theme (in this case, plant-based items). If you complete the buying of 5 of the 8 items then you get a free festival treat.
You don’t have to do everything in one go, but you have to remember to bring the passport in with you to get it stamped.
Popular 2023 Items
I did a little bit of sleuthing through popular blogs and Reddit to figure out some of the best of last year that reappear this year. So, here goes!
- Chicken and Waffles at The Honey Bee-stro
- Orange Blossom Saffron Cake at Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina
- Coconut Tres Leches at La Isla Fresca
- La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush at Fleur de Lys
- Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade at Pineapple Promenade
My 2024 Favorites
Now that I’ve had some time to eat around, I’d say my favorites are as follows:
- Lemon Meringue Pie at The Citrus Blossom
- Coconut Tres Leches at La Isla Fresca
- Peach Smash at Canada Popcorn Cart
- Chicken and Waffles at The Honey Bee-stro
- Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade at Pineapple Promenade
- Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich at Connections Eatery
Foodie Tips to Have the Best Time at Flower and Garden
I want you to have the best time possible, so check out these tips below before making your way to the festival. But first, check out our food review for the festival. I’d hate for you to waste money on food you may not even like.
- Take the time to smell the roses and admire the level of skill and artistry that goes into the topiaries. I get it, you want to take pictures and move on and get the full day out of Epcot by doing everything, but if you’re in the parks for several days, it’s OK to slow down.
- Check out the map (there are QR codes around property) and make it a point to truly explore sections that appeal to you.
- As the weather is now starting to heat up in Central Florida, don’t forget to get indoors every once in awhile, re-up on sunscreen and drink water. Take a breather and let your body relax. Your body will thank you.
- There’s over 60 new items on this year’s menu (most of which are beverages), if you’re a regular: don’t be afraid to try something new, if you’re new to this festival (like me!): don’t be afraid to try something new, and if you’re a picky eater: challenge yourself and don’t be afraid to try something new. As a food review blogger this can be daunting for me as I do like to stay within my comfort zone, but the more things I have eaten since starting this blog, the more I realize I may like something more than I ever gave myself the opportunity to do so.
- There’s a lot of alcohol on the menu – take your time and don’t forget to include water into your day to keep you hydrated.
- The earlier you arrive to a booth the better. The middle of the festival is when booths get increasingly busier (and they start off busy even before they open). You run the risk at the end of the evening for items to run out, plus, older ingredients compared to fresher ones earlier in the day.
- If you’re not going alone, split your food if it’s a shareable dish (most are tapas-style dishes, so really snack sized). You’ll save money and be able to try more things throughout the festival.
- Looking to find lower crowd days? There’s a higher chance of that on days with a circle around it. If you’re a passholder you’ll notice this since you’ll have to reserve a day to go into the parks, however, day tickets no longer need to reserve so take a look online and see if you’ve gotta rearrange a day or two in your itinerary.
- And if there’s one tip I think you should be aware of, it’s checking out the menu prior to arrival (which I’m sure you’ve done already here on this post). Whether you do it beforehand or inside of the park it can help you identify items of interest you may be happy to try.
For any other information you can check out the passport in Epcot provided at all of the food kiosks and Guest Experience Team stands, The Disney Eats Foodie Guide, or the Theme Park Bites website.
Critique of the Festival
As of right now, I don’t have too many to complain about since I’ve never been and the festival just started, however, I do have a couple:
- Not enough vegan and vegetarian options. Still. (Although there’s roughly 15 at this festival, whereas at Festival of the Arts had only 2!) I think I am starting to understand why though? The US is comprised of roughly 4-6% of this demographic, to Disney they don’t need to provide much more than that. However, I still think there could be at least 10% of the festival dedicated to this dietary preference as it just adds extra options for everyone to try something new.
- At the beginning of this festival there were a couple of hiccups (that is something that simply happens) but because of those hiccups parkgoers were confused or irritated due to them. I am referring to signage – Florida Fresh was inside of the Odyssey where The Citrus Blossom resides for the festival and I couldn’t tell where I could actually find drinks at Joffrey’s because of lack of signage. However, once those hiccups are gone the festival runs very smoothly.
- I’m going to be burned at the stake for this, but I do not care for Italian food, mainly due to dishes always being excessive in tomato bases, and the offerings during this festival has solidified that for me. Didn’t try any of the offerings but I heard a lot of people actually dislike the offerings that Italy always has to offer anyway, so I feel vindicated.
Until then, that’s all I’ve got.
Planting Seeds of Inspiration
While this may be an incomplete guide, I do hope that it helps you in any way to get the best out of this festival that you can. It’s a fun and interesting festival that’s far more laid back than Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts, but it’s an opportunity to see flowers in bloom, plants that you may have never seen before, and beautiful topiaries of your favorite Disney characters.
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