Epcot Flower & Garden Festival???

[loveDmouse]

Is it fun to go to? Do any of you guys go just for it?
I see it runs for several months. We normally go in December but I would love to get in two trips to the Fort a year and am trying to find another good time of the year to go. My husband really likes gardening stuff. Thinking about next year.
Thanks guys.

 

[2goofycampers]

we did it 8 years ago it was very beautiful we enjoy the topiary collection. the floating flowers on the lake were pretty too...

 

[des1954]

We live close enough that we pop over to Epcot for this a few times each year. They have amazing topiaries, the gardens are gorgeous & they ususally have great entertainment at the America Pavillion. They also have some gardening workshops and lots of crafts for the kids to do. Last year we met and spoke with Paul James from HGTV. He's definitely a WYSIWYG kinda guy!! We greatly enjoyed his "lecture" & also speaking with him.

WARNING - a lot of booths are set up by independent vendors who sell their wares for a lot more $$$ than what you could get it for elsewhere. Just be a very saavy buyer before putting out your hard earned cash.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

We probably wouldn't go just for it, but since we like to go during this time of the year we do visit some of the attractions. Epcot is beautiful during the festival. There are flowers everywhere; I love the floating flower pots. Last year, Minnie's Butterfly Garden was really neat. I know they have lots of presentations and entertainment scheduled too.

Happy Camping!

 

[Colson39]

We almost always go "just for the festival" each year (although this year we won't be because of the upcoming baby). It is one of my favorite trips of the year, I come from a long line of farmers/gardeners, and I definitely was born with a green thumb. It is one of the best shows of it's kind, at least as far as looking at all the different flowers/herbs/topiaries.

Heck, last year they had an entire section set up just for water gardens and waterfalls for you gardens, I really enjoyed seeing that section.

I'm upset we can't go this year, as it will be the first year we've missed it in a long time, but next year I guess I'll be passing on the green thumb to Reilly. I hope they still have the butterfly tent next year (big tent just filled with butterflies), he would get a kick out of that.

 

[loveDmouse]

It sounds really nice. We might have to try it.

Colson39--My husband has a green thumb too. When he was a kid his grandparents had a huge greenhouse that was open year round and he loved it. Was there all the time. I bet the butterflys were nice. (we went to the Butterfly House in Key West a few years back and I loved it!)
I think Reilly would enjoy that. Won't be long now before he is here. I hope all goes well for you and your wife.

des1954-- I would like to see Paul James. He is a nut. BTW- what is WYSIWYG kinda guy???

Thanks to all of you. I think it would be beautiful. Their flowers and plants are already so beautiful. I love what they do at Christmas.

 

[Colson39]

BTW- what is WYSIWYG kinda guy???

WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get (so he's not some kind of fake TV personality I assume was the meaning)

If you do go, hope you have fun, actually, I know you will have fun! And thanks for the good wishes!

 

[Colson39]

By the way, if you want to see VIDEO of this years Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, the DIS has a great video service on Youtube.

If you go here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmjV4JLbsyM

That is a video that one of the DIS Unplugged hosts, Bob Varley, took of this years 2008 Flower and Garden Festival. He rides in an ECV, and it's about a 9 minute video. This is only Part One, I'm assuming there will be a Part Two, but he hasn't uploaded it yet. Some of the parts where he's zooming around you can't see much, but you do get some nice shots of the larger garden setups from this year. Last year was a Pirates and Princess' theme, this year the theme is "Fun In the Sun", so it looks like they're going with a beach kind of them. I have to admit, from what I've seen so far, I liked the Pirates and Princess' theme much better, but it's still awesome to see what they do. Plus, going to see all the different classes and shows they do is a lot of fun if you're into that kind of stuff.

If you really want to get a feel for what the Flower and Garden Festival is all about, I highly suggest you watch this video

 

[loveDmouse]

WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get (so he's not some kind of fake TV personality I assume was the meaning)

Thanks. I had no idea. Those are the TV personalities I like.

By the way, if you want to see VIDEO of this years Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, the DIS has a great video service on Youtube.

If you go here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmjV4JLbsyM

That is a video that one of the DIS Unplugged hosts, Bob Varley, took of this years 2008 Flower and Garden Festival. He rides in an ECV, and it's about a 9 minute video. This is only Part One, I'm assuming there will be a Part Two, but he hasn't uploaded it yet. Some of the parts where he's zooming around you can't see much, but you do get some nice shots of the larger garden setups from this year. Last year was a Pirates and Princess' theme, this year the theme is "Fun In the Sun", so it looks like they're going with a beach kind of them. I have to admit, from what I've seen so far, I liked the Pirates and Princess' theme much better, but it's still awesome to see what they do. Plus, going to see all the different classes and shows they do is a lot of fun if you're into that kind of stuff.

If you really want to get a feel for what the Flower and Garden Festival is all about, I highly suggest you watch this video

I will check out that video. Thanks for posting that.
It will be much more fun to get to plan to trips to the Fort then just one.

 

[2goofycampers]

Personally I loved it . It was one of the few trips alone with my beautiful bride ,,it made for a leisurely and romantic time for us. The whole flower fest.was beautiful...Mr.

 

[AG CASWELL]

I am here now and was at Epcot yesterday. The festival is great if you like flowers and gardening and it is beautiful. I am the son of a florist so you could say flowers are in my blood.

 

[auntie]

Our last few visits to Disney have been during this time period. We love the weather in general during this time. We have been visiting during the 3rd week in May. It's wonderful..the flower and garden displays in Epcot are just beautiful. I can spend hours just walking through and taking pictures...which my kids hated of course..so needles to say..we split up, and met for dinner later. I love the topiaries..and have many photos with them, and the floating flowers are especially festive...it amazes me that they are able to have everything look so perfect..not one wilted leaf out of place! Really nice..you'll have fun!


__________________

 

[Us3]

it amazes me that they are able to have everything look so perfect..not one wilted leaf out of place! Really nice..you'll have fun!

Phyllis, its so funny that you mention this. I'm always so amazed at how "perfect" every flower looks. I actually look around and try to find any imperfections, haha.

 

[loveDmouse]

I printed off some info yesterday to let my husband look over. Looks like we will try and plan that for next year just not sure exactly when yet but I will enjoy planning the particulars. I will let you guys know.

Thanks to all of you for your input.

Is any time better then another??? I will avoid spring break time at all costs. Maybe the end of March would be good.
I will have to check when Easter is next year.

 

[Colson39]

End of March is good, although I do believe some schools have spring break at the end of March. If you can get a week before easter maybe, that might be good. May isn't too bad as far as weather, it can still be pretty mild, you're not in the opressive heat yet (although there is a chance).

We went for the Flower and Garden festival last year in April, it was around April 10th or 15th, like mid April. Actually had a really late season cold front come through Florida, and it was in the mid 70's all day Saturday, 50's at night. That was quite a pleasant surprise

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

I would say that if you do find any imperfections in the flowers, then it's going to be at the end of the day. They have the floral dept at Disney go through every night replacing the not-so-perfect flowers, so that everything looks perfect, in every DISNEY way, every day!!

 

[loveDmouse]

End of March is good, although I do believe some schools have spring break at the end of March. If you can get a week before easter maybe, that might be good. May isn't too bad as far as weather, it can still be pretty mild, you're not in the opressive heat yet (although there is a chance).

We went for the Flower and Garden festival last year in April, it was around April 10th or 15th, like mid April. Actually had a really late season cold front come through Florida, and it was in the mid 70's all day Saturday, 50's at night. That was quite a pleasant surprise

I guess it will be impossible to avoid all spring breaks because they vary so much. I would like to try and go when it isn't crazy hot although I know you never know about the weather sometimes.

70s and 50s at night. That was a nice suprise. That would be perfect weather to me.

 

[loveDmouse]

I would say that if you do find any imperfections in the flowers, then it's going to be at the end of the day. They have the floral dept at Disney go through every night replacing the not-so-perfect flowers, so that everything looks perfect, in every DISNEY way, every day!!

Isn't Disney wonderful.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We were there the beginning of May last year. The weather was perfect, crowds reletively low...perfect! We loved all the topiaries, especially the ones that looked like princesses!

 

[wdwbound]

DH and I leave in 23 days to head down to the Keys and then do 3 days at FW to take advantage of the Flower and Garden Festival which we have done the past 4 years. The butterfly garden is great and I got some great shots and DH took one of a butterfly on my back.
Colson you are right about the waterfall features, took pics of them too to give us ideas for our backyard redo this summer.
2 years ago Home Depot had a tiki hut set up and I swear it was bamboo poles but it was steel painted to look like bamboo, they did a great job.
The only thing I absolutely hated is that each year I buy (not this year) a Plumeria shoot and the darn thing dies on my...must be this Maine weather.

Nancy