The 2018 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
By Dave Shute
(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)
DISNEY’S 2018 INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL AT EPCOT
Every year from roughly early March into May, Walt Disney World presents the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.
In 2018, the Flower and Garden Festival is scheduled for February 28 -May 28.
The gardens at Epcot are almost always lovely, and they are at their loveliest during this period.
Disney’s own wonderful landscaping is supplemented by additional plantings, topiary, and specially themed gardens.
Also presented are special programs presenting gardening tips, and weekend concerts.
See the official Walt Disney World web page for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival here.
FIRST TIME VISITORS AND THE FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL
Returning adults often plan their entire trip around the Flower and Garden Festival–though it’s not as big a draw as the autumn Food and Wine Festival.
For first-time family visitors, with 8 year olds in tow, it is a good bit less relevant.
The festival adds to the loveliness and pageantry of World Showcase, but in general does not increase World Showcase’s appeal to kids.
Because of this, my material on when to go to Walt Disney World ignores the dates of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival as either a positive or a negative influence.
That said, I rank highly several weeks that happen to occur during the period it runs.
High ranking 2018 weeks that occur during the festival include (week ranking comes first):
- 6: 3/3/18
- 8: 4/14/18
- 9: 4/21/18
- 10: 4/28/18
- 11: 5/5/18
- 12: 5/12/18
- 14: 4/7/18
For more, see the official Walt Disney World web page for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival here.
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10 comments
We’re going 5th April to the 19th April do you think this will have a negative effect on our stay? I’m not sure what you mean by high ranking weeks? Do you think it will be very busy… Thanks
Hi Mandy, it never has an impact on crowds. “Highly ranked” means “good.” See this.
hello,me and my partner are coming over from the uk april 2016,and are wondering on any news on the line up of the epcot garden rocks concert series
Martin, for 2015 the lineup was announced in mid-January.
Hi, I have an important question. I know for certain that the band called “The Orchestra” – former members of ELO and ELO Part2, will be performing at the Flower and Garden Festival sometime in March, 2016. Please tell me the dates they are scheduled to play so I can make arrangements to be there. Thank you.
Joyce, I don’t know if they are playing or not, but it seems like a couple of March dates are already booked–so I guess it won’t be those weeks. Page down a bit on this page to see the current schedule http://wdwent.com/schedule.htm
How many “outdoor kitchens” are usually setup? What is the usual price range for the food they have and can you use the DDP?
Mary, see this.
We plan on going to the concert during the festival on March 5 this year – how bad are the crowds and how early should we go over to the stage? Do I need one of those dining packages? I know there are shows at 3 times. If I go to the 8:00 show, will it be hard to see if I arrive around 7:15 ish?
Sorry, Jennifer, I don’t have a point of view on this as I don’t track it closely. Suggest you post this question in Josh’s forum.
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