Exploring Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival: Food, Flowers, and Fun!
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It’s that time of year again when the world starts to bloom, and for me, that means one thing: a trip to the Sunshine State to soak in the sights, sounds, and flavors of Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival.
Every spring, Epcot transforms into a paradise for plant lovers and food enthusiasts alike, with vibrant floral displays, creative garden sculptures, and a menu that highlights the best of seasonal ingredients. As someone who adores both gardening and gourmet experiences, this festival has become an annual tradition that I look forward to all year.
Epcot has always been one of my favorite Disney parks, and the International Flower and Garden Festival only adds to its charm. There’s something incredibly satisfying about wandering through meticulously designed gardens, spotting Hidden Mickeys among the flowers, and tasting dishes inspired by global cuisine. This trip was all about rediscovering the joy of Epcot, indulging in delicious bites, and taking in the vibrant atmosphere that only Disney can create. So, let’s jump into the highlights of this year’s festival and see what made this visit truly unforgettable.
Disney’s Best Festivals and Celebrations!
This year’s visit was even more special, as it coincided with Disney’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. The park was decked out in all its festive glory, with extra touches of magic sprinkled throughout.
After the ups and downs of the past year, I felt it was the perfect time to revisit Epcot, especially after my last trip didn’t quite go as planned.
With the excitement of new experiences ahead and the promise of Disney’s legendary hospitality, I couldn’t wait to dive back into the magic.
I was joined once again by my go-to travel buddy, Disney travel agent Karli Keene. We’ve shared many adventures at Disney, and she’s the expert at making every trip feel like a perfectly orchestrated dream.
This time, we opted to stay at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, a budget-friendly option that still offered plenty of fun and comfort.
Armed with our Magic Bands and a well-crafted plan, we were ready to explore everything Epcot had to offer—from the stunning flower displays to the mouthwatering food booths scattered throughout the park.
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort and First Stop: Living with the Land
We started our morning with a quick ride on Living with the Land, a floating ride that takes you behind the scenes of Disney’s flora and fauna that supply the parks with food and flowers. I don’t want to spoil too much because it is genuinely a fascinating ride, but you first float through several scenes depicting how farming has developed throughout the centuries before coming to Epcot’s modern hydroponics.
The ride takes you through various greenhouses that showcase everything Disney grows, with plenty of hidden Mickeys to find throughout. I’m a huge lover of plants and gardening, so this was an absolute treat to experience.
The food grown here can be found in the actual restaurants throughout Disney properties. Real research is done at the Epcot facility—and funnily enough, my husband is also an engineer who occasionally works with Disney’s energy engineers on power functionality.
A Morning at Sunshine Griddle and Citrus Blossom
Afterwards, to work up our hunger, we meandered over to the aquarium after riding the Finding Nemo ride, which shows not only the sea creatures seen in the movie but a variety of other water-dwelling critters as well. I could stand and watch the manatees all day.
For our first meal of the day, we stopped at the Sunshine Griddle, where we loaded up with pretty much one of everything available.
The avocado toast had watermelon radishes, marinated tomatoes, and edible flowers on top of mashed avocado on a toasted slice of ciabatta.
This was followed by fried cinnamon roll bites with cream cheese frosting and candied bacon, and corned beef brisket hash with a perfectly poached egg on top. Talk about some yolk-pour porn.
Of course, I had to try the mysterious pink drink I kept seeing everyone carrying, which turned out to be a Fruit Loop-infused milkshake.
And there’s no better way to start off your day than with an alcoholic coffee. Caffeine and alcohol—two of my favorite things.
To build our appetite back up, we decided to explore the flower sculptures found throughout the park before we found ourselves in front of the Citrus Blossom, where we knew we had to stop for another bite to eat.
For a lighter fare, I went with the tuna tataki bowl with spicy yuzu, sweet mango, and avocado, topped with a pappadam crisp.
For my drink, of course, I tried the classic orange sunshine wine slushy—which hit the spot on a hot Florida afternoon.
Karli popped to a different stand that I can’t quite remember the name of to grab this brisket and mashed potatoes—it was so good! If someone recognizes where she grabbed it, let me know in the comments!
Afternoon Safari at Animal Kingdom
Since our bellies were full, we decided to park hop and take a quick bus ride over to Animal Kingdom for a safari ride. Safari rides are always a fun way to cool off, and if you are lucky like we were, you’ll get to see a variety of African animals.
Take the safari in the early afternoon before the animals start taking naps for the best ride! Another tip is to try to time the safari right after a heavy rain, when it’s cooled off a bit, but if you can’t make it, if it starts raining, run to go see the otters—the rain is their favorite time!
After a ride on the Flight of Passage, we headed back to Epcot for our dinner and evening activities.
Dinner at Farmer’s Feast and a Magical Evening in Epcot
At the Farmer’s Feast, we got to try the early spring menu, featuring the award-winning goat cheese creamsicle pop—absolutely heaven and deliciously creamy smooth in texture.
The char-grilled bison ribeye with a port wine goat cheese butter sauce on top was also absolutely phenomenal.
The only dish that I didn’t really love was the chilled leek soup. In theory, it was tasty, but it should have been served in a much, much smaller bowl because it was just way too much liquid to consume.
To end the night, I grabbed a cheesy stuffed arepa in Mexico so I could live out my Encanto dreams to the fullest.
Karli grabbed a bruschetta scone, and then we split a raspberry chocolate cake to wrap up the day in a chocolaty bow.
Epcot has always held a special place in my heart, and this trip reaffirmed why it’s one of my favorite Disney parks. The combination of vibrant gardens, creative dishes, and the ability to eat—and drink—around the world makes it a standout destination.
And if you stay until after dark, the new light show on the Spaceship Earth geosphere is a perfect way to cap off your day.
Epcot always feels like a new experience with every visit, and this trip was no exception. From indulging in some of the best bites the festival had to offer to enjoying the breathtaking garden displays, it was a day well spent. The magic of Disney’s 50th Anniversary added an extra layer of charm to the whole experience. I can’t wait to return and try even more of the delicious offerings and maybe even revisit some of my favorites. Until next time, thanks for joining me on this journey, and I’ll see you at the next festival!
