New topiaries, more than 50 new dishes and flowery produce collections welcome visitors to this beloved celebration of spring

By: Editorial

• 03/06/2023
• 6:43 pm

Spring is blooming at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival ! Starting March 1 and running through July 5, 2023, EPCOT will flourish with innovative topiaries, fresh flavors and shows for the whole family to enjoy.

For 127 days, visitors can explore lush gardens, sample different sweet and savory treats with refreshing drinks and shop new product collections featuring Orange Bird, Snow White and Figment. Starting at sunset, festival visitors can enjoy a vibrant light show on Spaceship Earth, complete with a fun new soundtrack.

Charming topiaries and bright flowers

Debuting this year, topiaries of Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela and Luisa, from Disney’s Oscar-winning animated film “ Encanto ,” greet guests at EPCOT’s main entrance. Each topiary features details inspired by each character, including Isabela creating beautiful flowers between her hands and a light-up butterfly for Mirabel.

A new topiary of Princess Tiana from the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic “The Princess and the Frog” graces The American Adventure at World Showcase with a dazzling ball gown and illuminated fireflies. In the France pavilion, Lumiere and Cogsworth topiaries return with innovative new elements, including burning candles for Lumiere and a working clock for Cogsworth.

More than 200,000 plants are added to EPCOT’s gardens for the festival, including an additional 60,000 plants that create the iconic floral designs that make up the World Celebration East & West lakes. The Dragon topiary , located in the Japan pavilion, is made up of succulents, adding bursts of color to the nearly 20-foot-long display.

As this year’s festival will be celebrated across two seasons, the plant displays will also evolve with the weather, creating true seasonal beauty and detail. Visitors visiting during the spring and summer months can see new selections as the season changes.Advertising

Find fresh flavors in outdoor kitchens

With more than 15 outdoor kitchens located throughout the park, guests can enjoy the freshest flavors as spring gives way to summer, including more than 50 new food and drink items.

There are citrus flavors galore at The Citrus Blossom , now located in Odyssey, including orange sesame tempura shrimp with orange sauce; Citrus Baked Brie with preserved lemon marmalade, limoncello macerated blueberries and spiced almonds; and a light lemon meringue pie.

Befitting Princess Tiana’s residence nearby, Magnolia Terrace in the American Adventure pavilion features a Louisiana-inspired menu including Muffuletta Panini with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone and Swiss cheese with olive salad; Crawfish Pie, Bananas Foster Bread Pudding and Bayou Cocktail, with coconut rum, fruit punch and orange juice. Spicy Chicken Gumbo with andouille sausage and BEN’S ORIGINAL™ Long Grain & Wild Rice return to round out the menu.

To showcase the season’s freshest flavors, the EPCOT Farmers Feast near Test Track ^® , presented by Chevrolet ^® , will offer a rotating menu, changing three times throughout the festival, featuring the finest local ingredients. Highlights include Spice Cake with cream cheese and candied pecans on the Early Bloom menu; Grilled Swordfish with smashed potato, pea and mint purée, grilled asparagus and lemon beurre blanc on the Springtime Menu; and Sweet Corn Crème Brûlée with corn biscuits on the Summer Solstice Menu.

Guests can also take a tasty stroll through the gardens and explore EPCOT with Garden Graze , a fresh food trail that highlights 11 delicious plant-based sweet and savory offerings – all listed on the Festival Passport.