Spring is approaching…quickly! Going to Disney during Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is visually spectacular. So many colorful flowers, drinks, eats, merchandise, and plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy. Let’s dive in and discuss some of our favorite activities, food and drink options that we have enjoyed during previous festivals, as well as newer options that have piqued our interests…and our appetites!
The Monorail loop at Epcot
Once you scan your MagicBand to enter Epcot, you are greeted by many topiaries throughout the park. Usually the ‘Fab Five’ (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto) are some of the first ones you will come across. These topiaries are so beautiful and look amazing. All the colors of the flowers against the green base of the figures are picture perfect, so be sure to have a camera ready and plenty of storage space. Along with the ‘Fab Five’ you will come across some of your favorite character figures from Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Cars, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Three Caballeros, and many more! If you are able to visit a few times during the festival you will be able to see how the topiaries develop and grow - really neat stuff!
Also available during this festival are the Garden Rocks concert series located at the America Gardens Theatre in The American Adventure pavilion. This will be the first year that the concerts return to the festival since the pandemic started in 2020 and we couldn’t be more excited to have it back! This years concert lineup features so many artists that have had careers span across a few decades. A few that we are thrilled to try and see include_ Kool and the Gang, Tommy DeCarlo (formerly of Boston), The Commodores, and Little River Band. The best thing about these concerts is they are INCLUDED with your park ticket!
Now we arrive at our favorite talking point…FOOD. Once the menus were released you knew we had our nose deep inside the virtual pamphlet to see what the festival had to offer this year.
Ryan, in typical Ryan fashion, begins his menu selections at the Refreshment Port for some popsicles and some seasonal poutine offerings. Can’t blame him, honestly. What’s not to love about some unique, refreshing treats and poutine?! The popsicles had a trio of flavors including honeydew, raspberry mint, and coconut lime Ryan and his kids thoroughly enjoyed, the honeydew was the star of the show in his opinion. Another selection Ryan points out is the Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon Bread at The Honey Bee-stro. Based on his past experience, this dish hits the sweet and spicy category that impressed him.
Jordan highlights another offering at The Honey Bee-stro that I have also tried, the Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake. To enjoy this dish, you MUST like honey. A lot. This dish comes with orange blossom honey whipped cream, whipped honey, crystalized honey, honeycomb, dehydrated honey, and fennel pollen meringue kisses and is very tasty, goes great with the Honey-Peach Freeze (comes with souvenir Spike the Bee Sipper Cup) offered at the same location. Be warned, this dish is very filling and is best enjoyed toward the end of the night after you have tried other festival offerings.
As for my choice, I highly recommended the Frushi from Hanami. The item description says it all_ strawberry, pineapple, and cantaloupe wrapped in sweet rice and pink soy wrap served with whipped cream, berry sauce, and toasted coconut. Does that not sound absolutely delicious and refreshing?!
Frushi from Hanami
Due to the fact that there are so many offerings at Flower and Garden Festival, we have several dishes that have caught our eyes and have never tried. Jordan has a hankering to try the Boneless Impossible Korean Short Rib at Trowel and Trellis. This booth is all about using plant-based ingredients and creating incredible dishes. We have heard several reviews that this dish is very impressive and actually makes you question how they were able to pull off the taste of rib without using any meat. I think all three of us, and several of you all, are looking forward to giving this dish a try! The seasonal offerings of poutine at the Refreshment Port have created a poutine dish with House-made Italian Sausage and Peppers, and it sounds so dang good.
Food is best followed by an ice cold adult soda, known as beer. Epcot has a wide variety of ales that are calling our name, and we are prepared to try as many of them as possible. A few of the ones that stood out to us include the Coconut Key Lime Ale, the Watermelon Wheat Ale, and several beer flight options. The food and beer pairings allow guests to enjoy great flavors that complement each other and really make you explore your taste buds. The masterminds behind the menu developments always deliver and never disappoint. Its an experience like no other, so make sure to take the time to really savor that last bite and make the last sip count.
Epcot truly has everything going for them when it comes to the Spring and Summer season at Walt Disney World. The flowers bloom, the grass is greener, the blue skies, and the aroma of all the wonderful dishes awaiting in World Showcase for your enjoyment. As you make your way to the festival this year take it slow, take in the moment, take a stroll in the Butterfly Garden near The Land Pavilion, take in all of the great things happening around you. Its time for Flower and Garden, go and experience it and make it your own! Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.
-Justin