Epcot Flower And Garden Festival 2016 – The Best Time To Visit Epcot With The Family

It is time once again for Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival 2016. Known for its elaborate topiary displays, the 23rd Flower and Garden Festival has so much to offer visiting families that the Festival has been expanded from 75 to 90 days for 2016.

I attended a sneak preview of the Flower and Garden Festival 2016 just before the event opened where I had a chance to learn behind the scenes details and taste some of the delicious offerings of the event. Led by festival horticulture manager Eric Darden, we learned about everything new for the festival and how adding another 15 days would impact the horticulture team. 

“Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival is the best time of year to bring the family to Epcot, ” Eric Darden.

I wasn’t sure when Darden first said the Flower and Garden Festival is the best time to bring the family, but the more I thought about it the more I realized just how right he is. 

5 Reasons The Flower And Garden Festival Is The Best Time To Visit Epcot 

The Weather

After being stuck inside all winter, there is nothing like being outside surrounded by nature and fun in the spring. With its sprawling lawns and beautiful lake, Epcot is marvelous in the spring. Add in the Festival’s flowers, and it is perfection. Not too hot, not too cold — spring is the time to be at Epcot enjoying the weather and the family.

The Flowers

Epcot’s grounds are always impeccable, but during Flower and Garden they are downright amazing. And the Festival’s signature topiaries are like living works of art. The Flower and Garden Festival 2016 boasts more than 70 topiaries featuring favorite Disney characters all over the park, each more unique than the last. But it isn’t just topiaries, there are colorful blooms of flowers everywhere you look.

The Food

Gardening isn’t just for pretty flowers, gardening includes fresh fruits and vegetables and the food offerings during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival continue to grow. At 13 outdoor kitchens located throughout the park guests can enjoy more than 50 featured beverages and 30 featured foods.

There are many tasty and unique treats, but my absolute favorite was the Watermelon, Cucumber, Lemonade Slushie — garnished with an edible flower. So fresh and light, I think I drank three glasses. (An adult option is available too, but I was happy drinking the unleaded version.) This passholder wants to go back just for a slushie!

The Playgrounds

Need to let the kids run around for a bit? The Music Gardens Melodies playground is just the place. My favorite part about the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival play structures is that there is a side for big kids and a side for little kids. Everyone has a chance to play, and the littles don’t get run over. This year’s playground features a musical element with chimes, chimes and xylophones for the children to play. The cactus Road Rally and Butterfly House are also big fun for the kids.

Everything Epcot

In addition to unique offerings of the Flower and Garden Festival 2016, guests still have the opportunity to enjoy everything Epcot and the World Showcase have to offer. It’s like any other day at Epcot but with even more special fun. 

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2016 will run through May 30, 2016. Find more information about the event including the concert lineups from Fresh Epcot.