Flower and Garden Festival

[Deb & Bill]

I was just in Orlando for the week at a meeting. I had a rental car, so I got to spend evenings and even a few mornings at WDW (ah, the joys of a PAP). Wednesday was the start of the F&G Festival and I just told Bill we need to head back to WDW next Spring for our 30th anniversary. I loved seeing all the topiaries and gardens. Not all the flowers were full in bloom, but the azaleas were gorgeous. The Fairy Garden area was lots of fun for the kids.

I know BCV would be the best location, but we may try something different. We'll book OKW or VWL with whatever points we have left for our 2011 UY (we borrowed a bunch for our GV trip this coming June at OKW). And then see what we can change to at seven months out.

We're not that big of fans of BWV, so that one is out. We might try AKV-KV or SSR (another favorite). We'll just have to see what is available.

While I was there I had some nice meals - ate dinner one night at Chefs de France and had the tenderloin (with the green beans and au gratin potatoes - both excellent) and a bowl of lobster bisque (heaven in a bowl). Too full for dessert - which was a shame. Also ate breakfast at GF Cafe - Eggs Benedict that were just perfect. Had a nice chicken wrap at Seasons in the Land one evening for dinner. Plus two taco salads - first meal of the trip and last - at the Tall Tales Saloon.

So we are planning on Chefs de France for our next trip, too.

 

[arthur06]

We will be leaving 5 weeks from today for BWV. We originally had BCV, but a work conflict came up. We knew that the main focus of our trip was F&G so we wanted BCV/BWV.

We are hoping that in mid April that F&G will be in full bloom, and 2 weeks before Easter will have lighter crowds!

Thanks for sharing and glad you had a great time!

 

[chepic]

Thanks for sharing...we are going in May...will be there for the last week of the show. My sister and I are going in alone, leaving the men and children back at the ranch, so we can meander and explore. Can't wait.

Cheryl

 

[Deb & Bill]

Make sure you pick up a copy of the F&G Festival booklet. It shows you were all the topiaries are located in the World Showcase and in Future World. I missed the troll topiary, but saw all the rest. They should have had something for Cars right at the entrance to the World Showcase from Future World, but I didn't see any Cars topiaries. Maybe they are still coming. There was a display set up, but nothing in it except for a backdrop.

The rose garden looked a little weak right now, but the flowers around the lagoon near the rose garden were beautiful.

 

[Tiger926]

Make sure you pick up a copy of the F&G Festival booklet. It shows you were all the topiaries are located in the World Showcase and in Future World. I missed the troll topiary, but saw all the rest. They should have had something for Cars right at the entrance to the World Showcase from Future World, but I didn't see any Cars topiaries. Maybe they are still coming. There was a display set up, but nothing in it except for a backdrop.

The rose garden looked a little weak right now, but the flowers around the lagoon near the rose garden were beautiful.

Glad you had a nice time.

I noticed the lack of Cars topiaries too, after viewing the photos this week. We are very disappointed, as the kids are highly looking forward to that. I so hope the display is put up this weekend, as we arrive next weekend.

Loved seeing the Toy Story topiaries, although again, it looks like Lotso Bear is missing too?

Thanks for sharing - only 7 more sleeps for us! Tiger

 

[Rest&Relax]

We will be leaving in 34 days, can't wait! We love going in April for the F&G festival and seeing all the flowers and topiaries. We usually stay at BWV just to be close to Epcot.

Glad you had a good time and thanks for reminding me how close we are of leaving.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Lucky you, that you had to go to Orlando on business! I love the F&G and we have one night, in just 2 weeksat BWV before our 7 night Princess CL cruise out of Port Everglades. We have a lunch ADR at Chefs, we love their onion soup and mac and cheese, and we hope to see Remy while we're there. I can't wait to see Rapunzels tower in Germany as well as the other topiaries.

I'm lucky to have a 4 night AKV concierge trip next month with DSis when we'll really be doing F&G things. I think we're going to do the Tour of the gardens. I've done it in the past, but DSis hasn't.

Have fun planning your anniversary trip for next year! Where are the azaleas? We don't have the right soil in Ohio for them to thrive, that's one flower that I miss in the spring. Has anyone been to the Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, during their Garden days?

Bobbi

 

[Deb & Bill]

Rapunzel's tower was an "eh" moment. I was less than impressed. Maybe I missed something there, too.

The azalea's are here and there in the parks. But they mostly had the pink ones, my favorites.

 

[lsutigger2]

I'll be there in 10 days I'm going with two friends. one of them hasn't been in 16 years I know she is going to love the F&G festival. She is a real gardener.

thanks for the update.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Did you see Rapunzels tower at night? I understand you can hear her singing.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40154505&postcount=28

That's a post that describes what happens.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It wasn't quite dark yet when I saw it.

It's about six or seven feet high. And I didn't hear any singing. But the place is pretty noisy.

 

[AKLFan3]

That's great you were able to go. I am flying down on Monday. Thanks for the advice about picking up the booklet, I don't want to miss anything!

 

[granmanh603]

I was there as well on Wed and compared to last year I was underwhelmed...Maybe they just weren't finished...They had Buzz and Woody at the entrance and they look lost and the flower bed looked limp and weedy? the topiaries of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy were great. The had these dull awful square brown/ green things at the entrance to World Showcase and the flowers around the water there were vibrant colors and look great.. the new butterfly house was great and the pixie garden was lovely but alot of the topiaries had no eyes and looked to me unfinished. Looks like the flower budget was cut back .goodvibes

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was there as well on Wed and compared to last year I was underwhelmed...Maybe they just weren't finished...They had Buzz and Woody at the entrance and they look lost and the flower bed looked limp and weedy? the topiaries of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy were great. The had these dull awful square brown/ green things at the entrance to World Showcase and the flowers around the water there were vibrant colors and look great.. the new butterfly house was great and the pixie garden was lovely but alot of the topiaries had no eyes and looked to me unfinished. Looks like the flower budget was cut back .goodvibes

I think it is still a work in progress. I did notice a lot of pansies in the flower beds. Pansies are normally a winter flower. I wonder if they are going to be changed out later on during the festival with spring flowers.

Those dull green/brown things are where the Cars display is supposed to be. They just might not be finished yet.

 

[Sammy]

We were there for 4 days last week and I was so disappointed that the Cars display wasn't finished! We tease DH about it being his favorite movie (he's a NASCAR fan), so he was looking forward to seeing the topiaries.

We usually hit the F&G in late April, and like a previous poster, we were underwhelmed this time. Maybe it's because not everything has had a chance to settle in and bloom yet...? But I also noticed there were much less flowers than I've seen in previous years. Still lots of topiaries, but less floral displays scattered around.

We loved the Pixie garden and the butterfly tent, and the flowers around the lagoon were gorgeous!

I would love to go back again in late April/early May to see if there's any difference.

 

[CarolMN]

The F&G Festival is one of our favorite times to go. It's an every other year time for us.

Since you enjoyed Chefs and are going for your anniversary, consider Bistro de France for a special meal. We tried it last year for the first time and it is now my absolute favorite WDW restaurant! Wonderful service and food and a quiet, elegant atmosphere. We lucked out and got a table for two by a window which overlooked the World Showcase Lagoon and the walkway in front of the French Pavilion.

Can't wait to go there again. They do NOT accept the DP but they do take TiW.

Happy 29th.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The F&G Festival is one of our favorite times to go. It's an every other year time for us.

Since you enjoyed Chefs and are going for your anniversary, consider Bistro de France for a special meal. We tried it last year for the first time and it is now my absolute favorite WDW restaurant! Wonderful service and food and a quiet, elegant atmosphere. We lucked out and got a table for two by a window which overlooked the World Showcase Lagoon and the walkway in front of the French Pavilion.

Can't wait to go there again. They do NOT accept the DP but they do take TiW.

Happy 29th.

We did go to Bistro de Paris last summer. It was good, but I think I like Chefs better. Go figure.

 

[granmanh603]

We were there for 4 days last week and I was so disappointed that the Cars display wasn't finished! We tease DH about it being his favorite movie (he's a NASCAR fan), so he was looking forward to seeing the topiaries.

We usually hit the F&G in late April, and like a previous poster, we were underwhelmed this time. Maybe it's because not everything has had a chance to settle in and bloom yet...? But I also noticed there were much less flowers than I've seen in previous years. Still lots of topiaries, but less floral displays scattered around.

We loved the Pixie garden and the butterfly tent, and the flowers around the lagoon were gorgeous!

I would love to go back again in late April/early May to see if there's any difference.

I agree totally but on a side note I was here for opening day last year too. I feel there were less flowers and not that well placed or arranged or combined. The topiaries looked unfinished and untrimed or just something seemed different, maybe the greens they used ...with the exception on Mickey, Minnie , Donald and Daisy, they should have been in the front by the entrance. they were super. I wonder if just the flower budget in general was cut...did you notice the baskets at the bus stops at MK. Wilted looking green things...maybe it had to do with the bad weather they had in Jan and had to spend to replace those flowers.. but like you said the flowers around the lagoon were gorgeous, just the floating basket were underwhelming too and I love those. Oh well.

 

[Chellymouse]

Lucky you, that you had to go to Orlando on business! I love the F&G and we have one night, in just 2 weeksat BWV before our 7 night Princess CL cruise out of Port Everglades. We have a lunch ADR at Chefs, we love their onion soup and mac and cheese, and we hope to see Remy while we're there. I can't wait to see Rapunzels tower in Germany as well as the other topiaries.

I'm lucky to have a 4 night AKV concierge trip next month with DSis when we'll really be doing F&G things. I think we're going to do the Tour of the gardens. I've done it in the past, but DSis hasn't.

Have fun planning your anniversary trip for next year! Where are the azaleas? We don't have the right soil in Ohio for them to thrive, that's one flower that I miss in the spring. Has anyone been to the Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, during their Garden days?

Bobbi

We live in NE OH and you should my azaleas in the spring! Beautiful! You most certainly can grow them!