Spend a Day at EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival with Share the Magic Travel

EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival started last week and Share the Magic Travel went for a day to check out some of the topiaries, merch, and dining options that are located across EPCOT while the festival is running through May 27th, 2024!

2024 Flower & Garden Dining Options

This year, Flower & Garden Festival has over 60 specially crafted dishes, snacks, and drinks to enjoy while taking in the beautiful sights of EPCOT. While you can find an overview of every option over at the official Foodie Guide, here are just a few festival specific dishes that Share the Magic Travel tried on the first day of EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival.

Lotus House Dining Options

Cheesy Crab Wontons

The house-made Cheesy Crab Wontons from Lotus House can be found in the China Pavilion. These delicious delicacies are a staple when it comes to Flower & Garden snacking and also happen to be a favorite of Brandon’s, co-owner of Share the Magic Travel. 

Spicy Mala Skewer with Creamy Peanut Sauce

Lotus House also features the Spicy Mala Skewer with creamy peanut sauce.

Pan-fried Vegetable Dumplings

If you’re looking to round out your Lotus House lineup with some veggies, they also offer Pan-fried Vegetable Dumplings.

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market Dining Options

Toasted Pretzel Bread

The Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with black forest ham and melted cheese can be found at Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market in the Germany Pavilion. This was almost like a croque monsieur, with soft pretzel bread and melty cheese throughout. If you’re looking for a savory option in World Showcase, this is a great option.

Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce

If you’re looking for another savory option at Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market, the Potato Pancakes with house-made apple sauce are sure to please, but don’t forget to save room for their dessert!

Warm Cheese Strudel with Berry Compote

Overall the strudel was tart, but extremely delicious, and the fruit tasted great. It paired well with the Toasted Pretzel Bread. 

Primavera Kitchen Dining Options

Quattro Formaggi

Quattro Formaggi is a Pennette pasta with a four-cheese sauce. With this dish being new this year, it seems to be inspired by the pizza of the same name served at Via Napoli, a table-service restaurant in the Italy Pavilion. Lindsey, co-owner of Share the Magic Travel, is a huge fan of the pizza, and loved the pasta version. If you’re wanting some cheesy goodness, you don’t have to make a reservation for the pasta version of this EPCOT favorite.

Bocconcini

A new offering at Primavera Kitchen, Bocconcini is Mozzarella pearls, grape tomatoes, and pesto sauce served in a small flower pot.

Arrabbiata

Another new offering, Arrabbiata is Pennette pasta covered in spicy tomato sauce and topped with buttery shrimp

Chocolate Cannoli

The last, but certainly not least, new menu item is the Chocolate Cannoli. You’re given a chocolate covered cannoli shell filled with a peanut butter-ricotta filling. This may be one you don’t want to share.

Northern Bloom Dining Options

Beef Tenderloin Tips

Northern Bloom has two offerings on top of the already stellar dining selections located in the Canada Pavilion in World Showcase. First off, you have the Beef Tenderloin Tips with mushroom bordelaise sauce, whipped potatoes, and garden vegetables. This one was a hearty, heavy-handed portion that had a lot of flavor. If you’re wanting some comfort food, this is a great dish for that.

Chocolate Maple Whisky Cake

A dense chocolate cake with a hint of maple whisky, this sweet treat is best shared, and maybe even paired with some ice cream.

 

The Citrus Blossom Dining Options

Orange Sesame Tempura Shrimp with Orange-chile Sauce

Much like the Beef Tenderloin from Northern Bloom, the Orange Sesame Tempura Shrimp is a large portion for a “snack” and is full of delicious flavor. This is a great dish to order and share with friends while you stay out of the heat in The Citrus Blossom.

Drinks offerings at The Citrus Blossom

The Citrus Blossom is the place to go get out of the heat of EPCOT, grab a drink, and rest up for a few minutes. Their drink options here range from non-alcoholic, to beer, and even a wine slush. They offer an Orange-lemon smoothie in an Orange Bird Sipper Cup, Southern Tier Brewing Company Orange Twist Imperial Ale, Left Hand Brewing Lemon Drop Shandy, Stone Brewing Tangerine Express Hazy IPA, a Key Lime Wine Slush, and even a Beer Flight so you can sample their excellent beer options.

Topiaries

Every year, the marquee feature of EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival are the topiaries that bring Disney characters to life around the park. Disney horticulturists cultivate these pieces and showcase just how magical the world around us can be. Here are just some of the topiaries that are are located around EPCOT through May 27th, 2024!

New to EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 

Asha, Valentino, and Star from Wish are located near the Main Entrance and introduce you to EPCOT in a beautifully grand fashion. This is an especially great topiary to see at night.

Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy is holding up a mixtape and plays songs from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies throughout the day. Groot is located near Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and is a perfect addition to the Flower & Garden theme.

Miguel and Dante from Coco are a vibrant, fun addition to the topiaries around World Showcase and located at the Mexico Pavilion

Returning Topiaries to EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 

Mirabel, Antonio, Isabella, and Luisa from Encanto make up for a huge topiary in World Showcase between Port of Entry and Disney Traders. Each character looks like they’ve jumped straight from the screen to a garden and you’ll notice new details every time you walk by.

The unofficial mascot of EPCOT, Figment, is no longer near his attraction, but is located with an absolutely stunning view of Spaceship Earth behind him in World Celebration Plaza among some additional flower topiaries and flower towers.

You can’t have EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival without the classics, so Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Chip, and Dale are near the bridge to World Showcase. They’re enjoying a picnic and make for an amazing photo spot no matter what side you snap a picture of them on.

Merchandise

While Walt Disney World Resort has been putting on EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival since 1994 (yes, that means this is the 30th year!), they make sure to put out new and exciting merch every year. Here are some of Share the Magic Travel’s favorites from this year’s lineup of goods to take home with you to remember your time there!

 

Whether you’re looking for a new way to eat around World Showcase, jam out to one of the different bands coming to play the Garden Rocks Concert Series, or just take in the beauty and magic of the world around us with Disney’s beautiful topiaries and over two dozen Global Gardens, the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival holds a great time to be had and we at Share the Magic Travel couldn’t be more excited to help you plan a trip to experience it all for yourself. 

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