I have been lucky enough to visit EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival three of the last four years, and it is (potentially) my favorite time of the year at this theme park. From the bright, vibrant colors to the delicate floral aromas, EPCOT is absolutely gorgeous throughout this festival. With dozens of Outdoor Kitchens to sample from and a Garden Rocks Concert Series line up to make you feel extra nostalgic, there is so much to do, see, and eat at this festival.

Running from March 5 through June 2, 2025, this year marks the 30^th anniversary of the International Flower and Garden Festival, and I think that shows how much the festivals in general have grown over the years in size and popularity. I was fortunate to travel to Walt Disney World on many family vacations in the 90’s and 00’s, and frankly don’t remember there being food booths everywhere with winding lines – but maybe I was just focused on my next Mickey Bar at that age.

I’ve put down some thoughts on a few of my personal favorite things about this botanical event. As you’ll quickly tell, I think it’s important to, well… stop and smell the roses. So, grab your Festival Passport and let’s start exploring!

#1. Festival Gardens, obviously!

An easy choice, these themed gardens are one of my favorite seasonal changes at EPCOT. With gardens unique to each country represented in the World Showcase pavilions, as well as fun and creative gardens spread around World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature, there are flowers everywhere at this festival.  Some of the featured gardens this year are Prehistoric Plants, The Community Garden, the “Inside Out 2” Emotion Garden (NEW this year!), the Tropical Rainforest Garden, and the Spice Garden.

A few of my personal favorites are:

• Shishi Odoshi Garden in the Japan Pavilion: Made of bamboo, these features of many Japanese gardens create a relaxing sound when they tap together as water flows through them. They also have a practical gardening purpose – shishi odoshi translates to “deer scaring,” and these beautiful fountains are actually used to scare away pest animals from the garden. I just love having a little Zen moment watching the peaceful kinetic energy of the shishi odoshi, and afterwards taking a stroll through the Bonsai Collection Garden.
• Blossoms of Fragrance (Presented by Scentsy): Located along the walkway to the World Showcase, you might smell this garden before you see it. Populated with pungent blooms, the scent of these flowers carries along the light breeze coming off the waterways and it’s impossible not to notice. I love this garden because the strong florals bring you into the “Flower and Garden Festival” frame of mind, and it is the perfect entry into the World Showcase, where many of the other gardens, topiaries, and Outdoor Kitchens are located.
• Festival Blooms and Floating Gardens: These are, without a doubt, my favorite gardens at this festival year after year. Drifting on the waterways along the bridge to the World Showcase, more than 170 mini gardens create a beautiful floating rainbow of flowers. I frequently say that I wish these gardens could stick around year-round. The view of the Imagination Pavilion with the gardens in the foreground creates a feeling of whimsy and inspiration that encompasses what that pavilion is all about. The panoramic Festival Blooms turn this expanse into one of the must-have photo ops in EPCOT.

#2. Edutainment

Scatted throughout the gardens you’ll find facts about the plants featured, and why they’re located where they are. You’ll also get a chance to learn about the pollinators that are vital to healthy plant life, and our food system.

I am sure lots of people bypass Butterfly Landing (presented by AdventHealth) unless they have kids who are into bugs and butterflies, but this is a personal favorite activity. Take a few minutes to visit the Butterfly Landing tent, and learn about several species of butterfly – including malachite and the recognizable monarch. Crucial for pollination and evidence of a biodiverse ecosystem, we should take every opportunity we have to protect and promote a healthy butterfly population and I love that Disney hosts this experience every year.

If you’re ready for a snack, you can head over to The Honey Bee-stro (Hosted by National Honey Board) and learn about helpful bee pollinators while you nosh on a bite from the Outdoor Kitchen next door. The food and drink items on this menu feature (you guessed it) honey! And it’s fun to read a couple factoids while you enjoy some Chicken & Waffles with spicy honey drizzle or a Honey Lager. If you have a kiddo or kid-at-heart with you, you can purchase the festival’s scavenger hunt game, Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration ($9.99 +tax), and search for Spike around the World Showcase, adding a sticker to each location on the map. Once complete, return to one of the participating merchandise locations to claim your prize.

3. Edible Flowers featured at the Outdoor Kitchens

Spring has some of the best, fresh food items. The Outdoor Kitchen are a big draw for guests, with small-to-mid-sized shareable plates of themed dishes spread around the World Showcase. I have spent many a dinner hour hopping from kitchen to kitchen, sampling different bites and sips from around the world.

For this list of personal favorites in particular, I am looking specifically at food items with edible flowers featured. This year, the Refreshment Port is serving up fresh lavender atop Provence Poutine, and BRUNCHCOT serves edible flowers atop a classic Avocado Toast item. We eat with our eyes first, and the pops of color and texture that little blossoms add to a dish genuinely make me excited to eat. (Or maybe I just love eating flowers!)

4. Topiaries

See some of your favorite characters come alive in a whole new way in these living topiaries spread around the park. Each year we get to enjoy some returning favorites, and also welcome new characters to the event. A few of my personal favorites are Lumiere & Cogsworth, Goofy Blowing Dandelions, Buzz Lightyear near Mission Space, Isabella from Encanto (it’s a family ensemble scene but she’s by far my favorite!), and Captain Hook vs. Peter Pan. Regardless of which characters top your list, the sheer size and detail of these topiaries is breathtaking, and it’s often hard to believe they are made of living flowers and succulents.

5. Springtime Overlay on Living with the Land

One of my must-do rides each time I visit Walt Disney World is Living with the Land, and it gets one of its many beautiful overlays and theming during the International Flower and Garden Festival. Take a luxurious boat ride through various ecosystems, culminating in everyone’s favorite greenhouse tour. The sets throughout the greenhouses are updated each season, and this year you can catch scenes inspired by Moana, Tangled, and Princess and the Frog, as well as decorations celebrating the festival.

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.” – Oscar Wilde

Nothing beats a springtime trip to Walt Disney World after a long, cold winter, and EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival is a highlight of these visits. While there’s so much to do, see, and eat at this event, it really is the flowers themselves that bring the festival to life for me.

Have the Walt Disney World seeds been planted? There’s still time to squeeze in a visit to this year’s International Flower and Garden Festival, or look ahead to 2026! Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!