Must-Do’s at This Year’s EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has arrived with all new events, character topiaries around the park, photo ops, outdoor kitchens, shopping, and more, running now through July 4, 2022! With so many new and favorite events offered at this year’s festival, here is everything happening this season at EPCOT that you will not want to miss.

Character Topiaries

Each topiary of a Disney character is created by Disney’s expert horticulture department. These Disney character topiaries take over the theme park for each Flower and Garden Festival. From classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, to EPCOT favorites like Figment, and others like the Three Caballeros, and characters from films like Peter Pan (1953), Toy Story (1995), The Lion King (1994), Frozen (2013), and more, there are characters to see all over! There are also topiaries of everything from a troll in the Norway pavilion to a set of pandas in the China pavilion.

Use this guide to make sure you spot all of this year’s topiaries around the park and be sure to pack your camera or charge your phone to capture photos of your favorites.

Gardens

It is Flower and Garden Festival after all, and while the Disney character topiaries are probably the most notable part of the festival for many Guests, there are plenty of gardens around the park that you should not miss. Some favorites include the English Tea Garden and the Shakespeare Garden in the United Kingdom Pavilion of World Showcase. (The Shakespeare Garden is a favorite for fans of the writer’s work as this garden shows off plants and florals alongside quotes from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets that mention them.)

A recent addition to the garden lineup is the Prehistoric Garden in World Discovery which shows Guests plantlife that has survived on Earth since the age of the dinosaurs. As you walk toward World Showcase, don’t forget to pass through the Butterfly House, and at this year’s festival, the Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy will offer Guests an all-new scent-inspired garden by the World Showcase Bridge.

Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor Kitchens have become a popular part of every EPCOT festival, and some of the offerings at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival are simply delicious! From outdoor kitchen classics like lavender lemonades, to orange smoothies served in an adorable orange bird sipper, there are so many booths to check out if you are hoping to experience the foodie side of EPCOT’s freshest festival. The Garden Graze is also back, allowing Guests to sample different snacks around the Disney Park.

Pro-tip: Pick up a festival passport, or browse menus on the My Disney Experience app ahead of your visit. This will help you plan which booths have your must-try items, ensuring you can save time (and valuable stomach space!) while you make your way around the park.

Garden Rocks Concert Series

This year’s EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is only the second EPCOT festival to offer the full return of its traditional live music series since the parks reopened in 2020. Popular bands will be taking over the stage at the America Gardens Theatre throughout the festival (find the full lineup here), and the best part is that these performances are included in the cost of admission to the park!

If there is a band or artist you are especially interested in, however, you may want to purchase a Garden Rocks Dining Package. The packages come at an added fee for lunch or dinner in the park, and give you earlier access to seating for the concert.

PhotoPass

Disney PhotoPass always comes in with new and interesting Magic Shots during EPCOT festivals. From simple photo ops in front of fresh floral displays, to stops by favorite character topiaries, and perhaps even visits by Orange Bird, a trip to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is not the time to skimp on taking PhotoPass pictures.

If photos are important to you during your next visit, you may want to purchase Memory Maker. This service allows you to pay one price ($169 if purchased in advance, $199 during your trip) to download all of your PhotoPass pictures (including ride photos.) If you are only interested in Memory Maker for your trip to Flower and Garden Festival, you could always purchase the one-day option for $69.

Merchandise

Disney fans typically love the merchandise offerings that come with EPCOT festivals, and this year’s Flower and Garden Festival has some real must-haves. From Orange Bird mugs and accessories to floral spirit jerseys and tees, plus gardening gifts (that could be a great Mother’s Day gift if your mom likes to spend time in the garden) there are a lot of fun and unique items in this year’s merchandise lineup.

We have a guide to this year’s merchandise here and are expecting new items to be released at EPCOT throughout the festival with some eventually making an appearance on shopDisney so you can order from home, too.

As with any EPCOT event, valid theme park admission and a Disney Park Pass reservation is required to enter the park. For lower crowds, plan your visit on a weekday if possible, and have a blast experiencing this annual EPCOT festival this spring!