Everyone loves a good EPCOT festival. What’s a good festival without the food? We stopped at three quick service locations during a short visit to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. PopEats! was by far our favorite. Here’s a review of our tastings.
Pop Eats!
Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese:A simple grilled cheese sandwich made with buttery Texas toast with a side of creamy, cheese-topped tomato soup. Yum!$5.25
Tomato Soup with Bacon, Apple, and Brie Grilled Cheese:The soup was creamy and topped with cheese. The grilled cheese brie, bacon, and apple was a surprisingly delicious combination.$6.25
Pop’t Art: A “modern-designed sugar cookie with chocolate-hazelnut filling”. This is your basic iced sugar cookie with a tasty chocolate-hazelnut filling. This cookie is similar to the Lunch Box Tart found at Woody’s Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios. $4.50
Refreshment Port
Gnocchi Poutine with Red Wine-braised Beef, Cheese Curds, Basil, and Burrata:The flavor of the beef was delicious. The burrata was a nice light cheese and also a nice addition. The gnocchi was an interesting substitute for the french fries found in the traditional poutine. $9.00
Deco Delights
Orange Mousse with Lemon Cake and Raspberry Meringues: The orange mousse and the cookie it sits on was good. The lemon cake was generic, but not bad. The raspberry meringues were hard and crunchy and while the raspberry flavor was distinct, the taste and texture was not something to be desired.$4.50
Decadent Valrhona Chocolate with Dark Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Brownie, and Cassis Mousse: It’s a little hard to tell what all is going on here. First off, I’ll start with the chocolate ice cream which came on the side and melted very quickly. The ice cream was of course yummy and the crunchy, cookie crumb-like pieces under it was a nice texture combination.The brownie was good, as was the chocolate mouse on top, yet it was very rich. Cassis mousse is made with blackcurrant, therefore giving it a purple tint. The purple is visible, but the taste was not quite there, unless the blackcurrant was in the smear on the bottom which I was unable to taste due to the thin layer being dried to the plate. This was by far the best dish from Deco Delights. $5.00
Dulce Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Crémeux and Dark Chocolate Truffle: The chocolate crémeux was rich and tasty as was the dark chocolate truffle. The dulce chocolate mousse was a big a disappointment. The flavor, or the lack there of, was not what I hoped for. The cookie the cake and mousse sat upon was good. The ornamental chocolate side piece tasted like it was covered in paper.$5.25
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 25, 2019) – Walt Disney once said Epcot “would always be in a state of becoming” – it is a place that changes with the times. Over the next several years, the Walt Disney World Resort theme park will live up to that promise in a whole new way as it continues the biggest transformation of any Disney park in history, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences.
Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery. These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation that take guests to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.
In 2020, the new “HarmonioUS” will debut at Epcot as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more. (Disney)
World Showcase
World Showcase will continue to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and traditions – infused with new magic.
The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. Guests will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where their adventure will begin.
In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS”will debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more.
In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for guests to discover, including the much-anticipatedattraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure,where guests will shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild adventure. Summer 2020 will also see the debut of a delicious new restaurant in the France pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.
Also in the France pavilion, the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 and directed by Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as time.
“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360”will debut in January 2020 in the Canada pavilion with new scenes and a new story.
In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital format.
Epcot’s United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. Guests will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where their adventure will begin. (Disney)
World Celebration
World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect guests to one another and the world around them.
The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that define the story of humanity. Guests will follow a magical “story light” that brings the entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties the entire journey together.
A new pavilion will be the perfect place for live events, and the home base for Epcot’s signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This beautiful three-level structure will have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.
Epcot’s entrance plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect guests with the world around them, welcoming them with a reimagined fountain, new pathways and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. The design will pay homage to the origins of Epcot.
As guests exit Spaceship Earth, they will discover a breathtaking new view of World Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises, including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot will be the first attraction inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. (Disney)
World Nature
World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world. It will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions.
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like Moana’s friend, the ocean – and guests will learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.
The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” which showcases the beauty, diversity and dynamic story of the planet, will begin welcoming guests in January 2020.
The PLAY! pavilion at Epcot will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. In this digital metropolis, guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games, activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney characters – both real and virtual – like never before. (Disney)
World Discovery
In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come to life.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. Guests will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will be a culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. Guests will board a special elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience. Along the way, viewports will give guests real-time perspective as they travel high above the planet. Once they arrive, guests will enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group.
The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In this digital metropolis, guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games, activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, guests will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.
Guests will be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the park’s futurethroughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
For more on Epcot and Walt Disney World Resort, visit WDWNews.com and DisneyParksBlog.com.
For me, fall is the most magical time of the year at Walt Disney World thanks to my favorite event: The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!
You probably know all about the Marketplace Booths and Eat to The Beat Concerts at the festival. But how familiar are you with all the ways to “plus” your experience at Food & Wine?
In this post, I’ll highlight three different types of special experiences you can have at the Festival: Low-Cost Seminars, Special Events, and Dining Packages. All of these require advance reservations, so I’ll show you how to make reservations and even how to get discounts and priority booking if you are a DVC Member!
The festival runs a record 75 days this year, from August 31st to November 13th, so you’ll have lots of opportunities to try something new.
Low-Cost Seminars
The easiest way to get beyond the booths at Food & Wine is to attend a low-cost seminar. These 45-minute seminars take place in the Festival Center every day during the festival and cost $17 each. If you are a DVC Member who qualifies for Membership Extras (i.e. bought directly from Disney or resale prior to April 4, 2016) you’ll get a $2 discount on seminars held Mondays through Thursdays. You also qualify for this discount if you are a Annual Passholder, Table in Wonderland member, or Golden Oak Resident (no discounts for Chase Visa Cardholders this year, though).
You can learn some kitchen wisdom straight from a chef and get treated to a special dish at a Culinary Demonstration. These take place at 2:30 pm every day of the festival, with an additional seminar at 12:15 on Fridays through Sunday. Get the full schedule here once it is live.
Or you can enjoy samples of your favorite adult beverage while you learn from an expert at a Beverage Seminar. Topics include wine, beer, and spirits, and the seminars take place at 1:30 and 3:30 pm daily, with an additional seminar at 5:00 pm Fridays through Sundays. Get the full schedule of Beverage Seminars here once it is live.
DVC Members, along with Annual Passholders and Table in Wonderland members, have access to a special early booking window for these seminars. Some fill up VERY quickly so I suggest making your reservation as soon as possible!
Early booking starts Tuesday, July 18th at 9:00 am. Call DVC Member Services at 800-800-9800 if you want to get your DVC discount. If you are an Annual Passholder, you can call 800-WDW-FEST to book. General booking starts Thursday, July 20th at 7:00 am and you can book both online (on the Disney Dining Reservations page and in the My Disney Experience App) and over the phone – but if you want your $2 per seminar discount, you’ll have to call.
Special Events
Looking for something a little more involved than a Culinary Demonstration? There are MANY Special Events offered as part of Food & Wine Festival, both in Epcot and around Disney property. These events are costly but will likely be the highlight of your Food & Wine Festival experience!
And, in years past DVC Members (along with Annual Passholders, Tables in Wonderland members, and Golden Oak residents) only got the early booking window for Low-Cost Seminars and Party For The Senses. But this year, early booking is available for ALL of the events listed below! Thanks for the heads up, Disney Food Blog! This means you can book any of these events starting at 9:00 am on July 18th with a call to Member Services.
I’ve summarized all of the Special Events below, ranked in order from least to most expensive. They run from $40 all the way up to $650, with most event $99 and under. Click the event title to get all of the details.
What’s Cooking With… $129 per person, Festival Center on select Fridays and Saturdays
Party For The Senses: $179 – $329 per person, World ShowPlace Event Pavilion (between Canada and UK pavilions) on select Saturdays from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Ultimate VIP Tour Experience: $399 per person ($339 if you are a DVC Member, Annual Passholder, or Disney Visa Cardholder), from 9:00 am on select Fridays
This year there is a special block of 50 seats reserved just for DVC Members at the September 23rd and October 21st Party for the Senses! DVC Members who book from the reserved seating block will also receive a complimentary wine glass specially designed for the event. Call DVC Member Service (800-800-9800) to book starting at 9:00 am on July 18th.
Eat to the Beat Dining Packages
I got to experience an Eat to the Beat Concert at last year’s festival and it was so much fun! You can view the full line-up of the Eat to the Beat Concerts over at the Disney Food Blog. There are three concerts every night of the festival at 5:30, 6:45, and 8:00 pm. Seating is first-come, first-served, and sometimes there are people lined up all the way to Italy waiting for a seat at these concerts!
One final way to plus your experience at Food & Wine is to purchase an Eat to the Beat Dining Package, which includes preferred seating for the concert. If there is an act that you really want to see (which would be The Pointer Sisters for me, by the way), I suggest booking a package to avoid potentially missing out on a seat after a long wait.
Eat to the beat Dining Packages are offered at 15 restaurants around Epcot and you can choose from lunch or dinner (and even breakfast at The Garden Grill). The cost for these packages ranges from $43 per adult for breakfast at The Garden Grill up to $80 per adult for dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel. Dining reservations must be at least 2.5 hours before the concert start time.
The cost of the package at some of these locations is only slightly more than the meal itself, so they can be a great deal if you want to check out the evening concert as well. You can book a Dining Package online, in the My Disney Experience app, or over the phone at 800-WDW-FEST. You can also use the Disney Dining Plan for these packages, all of which are two Table Service credits on the plan.
I hope this post helped summarize all of the ways you can go beyond the booths at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message on The Frugal South Facebook page and I’ll get back to you right away!
Start planning your 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival experience today! Menus were just released for this year’s festival which starts August 31st and runs through November 13th — a full 75 days of fun!
Food and beverage booths will be set up along the World Showcase Lagoon as well as areas of Future World. Here’s a rundown of offerings at the Festival Marketplaces so you can start dreaming and planning ahead for your trip.
Epcot Legacy Showplace
Chilled Scotch Egg wrapped in Sausage with Mustard Sauce
Zesty Cheeseburger and Cheddar Cheese Macaroni Handwich
L’Orange Cotton Candy: A mixture of Lime and Orange Cotton Candy (vegetarian)
Bright Horizons: Sprite® with Multi-flavored Boba Pearls (non-alcoholic)
M.I.A Beer Company 305 Golden Ale, Doral, FL
Playalinda Brewing Company Blonde Ale, Titusville, FL
Eastern Florida Flight: M.I.A. Beer Company 305 Golden Ale, Playalinda Brewing Company Blonde Ale, Florida Beer Company Passport 35 Triple Chocolate Milk Stout
Western Florida Flight: JDub’s Passion Wheat, Central 28 Trekkerbier Farmhouse Ale, Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale
NEW! Flavors from Fire
Piggy Wings: Roasted Pork Wings with Korean BBQ Sauce and Sesame Seeds
Smoked Corned Beef with Warm Crispy Potatoes, Pickled Onions, and Blonde Ale Beer Fondue featuring BelGioioso Romano and American Grana Cheeses
Sweet Pancake with Spicy Chipotle Chicken Sausage, Onion Jam, and Maple Butter Syrup
Chocolate Picante: Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Raspberry Dust
Orlando Brewery Smokin’ Blackwater Porter
Ravenswood Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Swine Brine featuring Evan Williams Bourbon
NEW! – Light Lab (Beverages)
T=C2: Tonic Water and Cotton Candy (non-alcoholic)
RGB: Citrus Apple Freeze (non-alcoholic)
Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with Boba Pearls
Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner, Longmont, CO
Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale, Titusville, FL
Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Seattle, WA
Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radiant Flux, Brooklyn, NY
Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale, Grand Rapids, MI
Blue Point Brewing Company Hoptical Illusion IPA, Patchogue, NY
Space Flight: Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner, Playalinda Brewing Company Robonaut Red Ale, Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA
Light Flight: Sixpoint Brewery Mad Scientist Radiant Flux, Founders Brewing Company Green Zebra Watermelon Gose Ale, Blue Point Brewing Company Hoptical Illusion IPA
Earth Eats Inspired by ABC’s “The Chew”
Ricotta and Zucchini Ravioli with Rustic Tomato Sauce (vegetarian)
Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots, and Feta Cheese
Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Drizzle (gluten friendly)
Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Chardonnay “Goldie,” California
Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines Pinot Noir, California
Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Mead
NEW! – Active Eats
Loaded Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Nueske’s® Pepper Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Peppers, and Green Onions
Roasted Verlasso® Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri (gluten friendly)
Sweet Avocado Crema with Strawberries, Yellow Cake, and Tortilla Streusel (vegetarian)
M.I.A. Beer Company HRD WTR Cucumber & Lemon Lime Hard Sparkling Water, Doral, FL
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling, Washington
Evolution by Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
NEW! – Coastal Eats
Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream
Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip with Sourdough Baguette
Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn and Butterbean Succotash and Chili-chipotle Butter Sauce
Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon
Soter Planet Pinot Noir, Oregon
The Chocolate Studio
Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel (gluten friendly)
Sweet Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte with Whipped Cream and Raspberry Dust (vegetarian)
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Banfi Rosa Regale, Piedmont
Lenotti Recioto della Valpolicella, Italy
RL Buller Fine Muscat
The Cheese Studio Hosted by Boursin® Cheese
Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushroom, and Boursin® Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce
Savory Caramelized Onion Boursin® Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic (vegetarian)
Cheese Trio: Profiterole topped with Boursin® Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese and Orange Apricot Jam; Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Boursin® Shallot and Chive Cheese and Everything Seasoning; Strawberry Macaroon with Boursin Pepper Cheese
Leth Steinagrund Gruner Veltliner, Austria
Liberated Pinot Noir, California
The Wine & Dine Studio
Seared Scallops, Truffled Celery Root Purée, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Mushrooms featuring Melissa’s Produce
Pulled Duck Confit with Cannellini Bean Ragoût and Zinfandel Reduction
Trio of Artisan Cheese (vegetarian): Fromager d’Affinois de Excellence with Toasted Baguette; Point Reyes Original Blue with Apricot Jam; Point Reyes Toma with Honey
Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese: Trio of Artisan Cheese Paired with Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, St. Francis Chardonnay and Recuerdo Malbec
Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford
St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Recuerdo Malbec, Argentina
Eden Canyon “Jolie” Red Blend, California
Meiomi Rosé, California
Islands of the Caribbean
Jamaican Beef Patty with Mango Salsa
Mojo Pork with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Pickled Red Onions (gluten friendly)
Quesito: Puff Pastry with Sweetened Cream Cheese and Guava Sauce (vegetarian)
Carib Lager
Caribbean White Sangria
Frozen Mojito
New Zealand
Steamed Green Lip Mussels with Garlic Butter and Toasted Breadcrumbs
Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney
Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce and Kumara Purée
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Frozen Wine Cocktail featuring Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Australia
Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pineapple, Pepper, Onion, and Snap Peas (gluten friendly)
Grilled Lamb T-Bone with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies (gluten friendly)
Lamington: Yellow Cake Dipped in Chocolate and Shredded Coconut (vegetarian)
Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale
Robert Oatley McLaren Vale Shiraz
Hope Estate “Wollombi Brook” Semillon, Hunter Valley
NEW! The Almond Orchard Hosted by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®
Cauliflower Risotto with Pulled Chicken, Artichokes, Spinach and Parmesan Cheese with Aged Balsamic
Fire-roasted Tomato Hummus topped with Blue Diamond® Salt & Vinegar Almonds served with Blue Diamond Nut Thins®
Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Crunchy Chocolate Oats
Patagonia
Beef Empanada
Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée (gluten friendly)
Verum Pinot Noir, Rio Negro
Bodega Noemía de Patagonia “A Lisa” Malbec, Rio Negro
Hawai’i
Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour DOLE® Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise
Grilled Tuna Tataki with Seaweed Salad, Pickled Cucumbers, and Wasabi Cream
Teriyaki-glazed SPAM® Hash with Potatoes, Peppers, Onions, and Spicy Mayonnaise
Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts
Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Lager
Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine
Mai Tai featuring Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum
Farm Fresh
Crispy Chicken with Griddled Cornbread and Red Eye Gravy
Roasted Beet Salad with Green Beans, Feta Cheese, Minus 8 Vinaigrette, and Toasted Walnuts (vegetarian and gluten friendly)
Gumption Citrus Freak Hard Cider, Middlebury, VT
Woodchuck Raspberry Hard Cider, Middlebury, VT
Two Henrys Elderberry Cream Hard Cider, Plant City, FL
If you are lucky enough to visit Walt Disney World from now until the end of May, you’ll get treated to an immersive spring experience at Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival! I had the pleasure of visiting the festival with my four-year-old daughter this year, and I came away with the impression that Flower & Garden is a much more kid-friendly event that it’s autumn counterpart, Food & Wine. In this article, I’ll share five reasons why I think your kids (or grandkids) will love Flower & Garden Festival, and pass on some useful tips from our recent trip.
1) The Interactive Playgrounds
There’s not one, not two, but THREE play areas set up around Epcot just for Flower & Garden festival. All three are excellent, and will likely surpass anything you’d find at a neighborhood park.
The largest one – Music Garden Melodies Playground – is found on the Imagination walkway that connects Future World and the World Showcase. It features hands-on music making play and even lights up after dark! There is plenty of shaded seating for adults (bless you, Disney) and lots for the kiddos to do. We spent over 45 minutes here and my daughter begged to stay longer. I saw kids from age one to twelve playing here and having a blast.
Road to the Florida 500 is an interactive play area located near Test Track in Future World. It is smaller but really fun and is right next to the new Cars topiaries. This one closes at dusk.
The smallest of the playgrounds is the Florida Fresh Garden & Backyard Habitat. It is located between Morocco and France and is geared for a younger crowd, I’d say four and under. It is illuminated after dark.
TIP: Kids will love the chance to let loose and have some unstructured time during the day. Just plan for a little down time for everyone, and be prepared for possibly having a hard time pulling them away!
2) The Butterfly Garden
The “Butterflies on the Go” garden is found near the back of Innoventions West. It’s a walk-through exhibit (strollers are allowed in) that is home to hundreds of butterflies and the plants they depend on for food.
Kiddos love “hunting” for butterflies, and many adults love the chance to grab some gorgeous pictures of them. I’ve even turned pictures I’ve taken here into blank greeting cards once we were back home!
TIP: There are some interactive features at just the right height for the little ones. They can learn about the butterfly life cycle and what different colors mean on butterfly wings. I suggest visiting the butterfly garden in the morning or evening, since the heat can be oppressive in the middle of the day.
3) The Egg-Stravanganza Scavenger Hunt
The Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt is a low-cost activity that has lots of kid appeal. You can buy a map and sticker set at many places around Epcot for $5.99 (plus tax). As you make your way around World Showcase, look for large eggs painted as a Disney characters hidden in each country. Place the stickers on the map and turn it in at the World Travelers store (found at the entrance to World Showcase) and you’ll get to pick a prize.
The map doesn’t even have to be filled in correctly, so if your kids lose interest half way through the day you can still get your prize (which is a small Disney character egg to take home). We found that cast members in the pavilions are happy to give you a clue and point you in the right direction. In years past the egg hunt was only available the week of Easter, but it is being offered throughout the entire festival this year!
TIP: If they aren’t into the egg hunt, kids ages six and up might like to complete the Kidcot Garden Stop Field Guide. They’ll learn about an edible plant that is native to each country and get a stamp from a cast member at each Kidcot stop in World Showcase. This is a nice free activity that I would have loved as a kid.
4) The Kid-Friendly Food
A few years back Flower & Garden Festival began featuring “outdoor kitchens” which sell tasting-sized portions of food and beverages (yep, these are the Food & Wine booths “re-purposed” for the spring festival). This year there are 15 booths, and you’ll find kid-friendly options at many of the booths.
Our favorite drink was the Frozen Violet Lemonade ($3.50) from The Pineapple Promenade near the entrance to World Showcase. You can actually order a non-alcoholic version of any of the “slushie” drinks at the outdoor kitchens, even if they aren’t shown on the menu.
Also found at the Pineapple Promenade are “Foodles” ($3.75) which contain mini pretzels, cheese, carrots and ranch. It was a convenient way to get some nutrition to my daughter while I tried some more adventurous items.
I think the “Frushi” ($5.75) found at the Japan booth would be a hit with most kiddos. The coconut rice and fresh fruit were really nice, though I only got to enjoy a few bites because my daughter gobbled them up.
You’ll find lots of berry-inspired dishes at the festival, and we loved both the Field Greens with Strawberries ($4.75) from The Berry Basket and the Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries ($4.00) at the Bauernmarkt in Germany. We tried the Potato Pancakes with Applesauce at Bauernmarkt but it wasn’t to our liking.
The Smoked Pork Ribs with Black Bean and Corn Salad ($6.75) from The Smokehouse in the American Adventure pavilion was another good option for kids. No overpowering flavors, though the salad did have a tiny kick to it. I suggest steering clear of the Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw, which was so spicy it made my eyes water!
And last, a surprise hit was the Jamaican-Braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice ($6.00) from the Isla Fresca booth near the Mexico pavilion. It was super tender and flavorful without being spicy, perfect for little ones.
TIP: If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, you can use snack credits to purchase many of the items at the Outdoor Kitchens. You can get very good value from snack credits if you use them on the more expensive items at the booths. We found that, unlike Food & Wine, there were no long lines at the booths – even on a weekend during spring break.
5) The Character Topiaries
There are more than 70 topiaries at this year’s festival, including lots of favorite characters from Disney and Pixar movies. Some of the princesses have topiary facial features, such as Elsa, which make them look incredibly lifelike!
Figment looked fantastic behind Spaceship Earth. I’m so glad he appeared at the festival in topiary form this year.
I think Tinkerbell and Peter Pan were my favorites, probably because of Peter Pan’s location (no hints – you’ll have to find him yourself).
TIP: I have to mention that we both loved the adorable fairy houses that fill the garden surrounding Tinkerbell. If you have any little ones into fairies, be sure to plan on spending some time checking them out.
A Few More Tips
Be sure to grab a Garden Passport, which serves as a guide to the festival and a free souvenir. It containers stickers that you can use to mark which gardens and outdoor kitchens you have visited. My daughter completed ours after we got back home, which was a fun way to reflect on everything we saw at the festival.
The Garden Rocks concert series features shows at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 pm every Friday through Monday during the festival. The kids likely won’t recognize the bands (which had hits in the 70’s through 90’s), but you’ll probably be able to sing along!
The Festival Center is located in the old Wonders of Life pavilion and is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 Friday through Sunday. There isn’t much for kids there, but there are free presentations on gardening and crafts offered throughout the day.
With all that the Flower & Garden Festival has to offer families, I would argue that it alone could be a reason to visit Walt Disney World. We spent the entire day enjoying all the festival had to offer and felt like we could have used more time! I hope this post helps you enjoy and make the most of your spring-time visit to Epcot.
Everyone’s favorite little Orange Bird.
Start planning your 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival experience today! Menus were just released for this year’s festival which starts August 31st and runs through November 13th — a full 75 days of fun!
