BAY LAKE, Fla. – The 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is officially in full bloom.

For 90 days, guests are treated to floral displays, food booths, entertainment, and special merchandise. The main attraction once again is the stunning Disney character topiaries. Over 70 sculptures are properly placed around the park making the perfect photo spots for guests.

There are some exciting new additions this year, including Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The flora colossus topiary stands over 13 feet tall with Groot himself at 5 feet tall. He is holding a cassette tape labeled “Green-House Mix: Vol. 1″ which is a nod to the Disney Horticulture team. It’s also the first time a musical component has been added to a topiary.

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Also making his big Flower & Garden debut is the EPCOT mascot. Guests can pose in front of Figment in the recently opened World Celebration Gardens. Other new topiaries include Miguel & Dante from “Coco” and Asha and Valentino from “Wish,” which will greet guests at the main entrance.

The Disney Horticulture team has made it possible to feel like you’ve stepped into the Land of the Dead from “Coco”. Not only do the Mexican marigolds capture authenticity to the film and Mexican culture, but there’s something new and enchanting that happens at night. As it gets darker, guests should start to see hints of the solar-charged paint beginning to glow on Dante. It’s the first-ever projection-mapped topiary.

Food to savor

It would not be an EPCOT festival without food offerings. This year, there are nearly 20 outdoor kitchens and over 60 new items to check off on the Festival Passport. You can check out the full budding menu by clicking here.

To kick their culinary experience up a notch, guests can take part in Garden Graze. Guests select five dishes from specified menu items – all listed in the Festival Passport. Upon purchase, guests receive a stamp in their passport. Once five stamps are collected, guests can bring their passports to the Pineapple Promenade for a special treat. Garden Graze can be completed at guests’ leisure over multiple visits and can redeem their completed passport anytime during the festival.

New merch alert

Guests can spread a little sunshine everywhere they go with adorable Orange Bird apparel available at Festival Markets and Creations Shop while supplies last. There’s also the Butterfly Collection, which stars Minnie Mouse in a flowery assortment.

Annual Passholders will also find an exclusive collection featuring Spike the Bee.

Entertainment & education

This year, there are more than 25 garden destinations found throughout the park. Most of them are labeled with information for guests to learn more about the plant world. Inspiring displays include Floating Gardens in World Nature, featuring more than 170 petite plots drifting on the serene waters that border the bridge to World Showcase. Also back this year, Butterfly Landing presented by AdventHealth. The whimsical walkthrough house highlights the life cycle of butterflies and contains pollinator gardens.

Guests can round out their day at the festival with a concert at the American Gardens Theatre. The Garden Rocks Concert series runs the entirety of the festival from Feb. 28 to May 27 and features local and globally recognized acts. For the full band lineup as well as booking information on dining packages, click here.

Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below:

Source: clickorlando.com