Flower and Garden outdoor kitchens

[eeyoreandtink]

We just started planning an early march trip, and discovered that we will be in the World the first weekend of flower and garden. We have been doing Disney for almost a decade, but have never had our dates line up with flower and garden. What do we need to know? Are the outdoor kitchens similar to the food and wine booths?

 

[china mom]

The outdoor kitchens are very similar to F&W but fewer in number. I felt like about half as many.

 

[mckennarose]

Yes, the booths are similar but there are not as many. We LOVE F&G and will be going again in May 2017. The topiary displays are very pretty and the weather is perfect. We like F&W also, but prefer visiting in Spring.

 

[Alice777]

We went in April for F&G and will be there in November for F&W. I've looked at the food list and menu seem different. So disappointed there's no grits/shrimp I loved so much in April.Food I had F&G is not listed in F&W and as mentioned booths at F&G seem fewer.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

thanks for the info!!

 

[loves to dive]

F&G tends to not have the additional countries like F&W does, the booths are more Florida related and less emphasis on wine and beer. The festival center is only open on weekends and some silly time like 9 - 5. They don't have the little culinary demos with chefs or wine tastings at the center and don't have the special events like pairing meals that F&W does. There are beautiful topiaries around and the non-food booths are dedicated to gardening type stuff. They do still have concerts, more 70s type bands. More family friendly with kids areas. I go to both events and love both for different reasons.

 

[Elleshoodat]

As previous posters stated, Flower & Garden offers fewer booths than Food & Wine. But in our experience, the lines are much shorter (often non-existent) and the weather is much more pleasant. In the last couple of years, I've come to prefer it over Food & Wine.

 

[Hikergirl]

I just went to my first F&W and loved it, I am hoping to go back with my BF for F&G. Dh and I ended up cancelling some dinner ADRs because we ate so much at the booths. During F&G is it possible to only eat at the booths and be satisfied?
Sorry to hijack OP

 

[loves to dive]

I just went to my first F&W and loved it, I am hoping to go back with my BF for F&G. Dh and I ended up cancelling some dinner ADRs because we ate so much at the booths. During F&G is it possible to only eat at the booths and be satisfied?
Sorry to hijack OP

According to how long you are going to be there. We (grown son and I) ate most of our meals there over a 5 night trip last March. From memory (which is bad) we had the following TS meals, the only one booked in advance was tea at GF. Tea at GF, early lunch at Skipper's Canteen (we shared and appetizer and an entre) supper at Chef de France, supper at Brown Derby. We had a full breakfast a couple of mornings at the Med. market at Dolphin and otherwise it was either QS breakfasts or a muffin somewhere. We were able to sit down at La Cava in Mexico and had chips and guac. as a meal one day. He had a migraine one night and I went to MK and had Pecos Bills, he went to the Shusi place at Dolphin later on. We dropped in Spice Roads one late afternoon and had small plates there. That was it, otherwise it was all booths. In comparison, I was at F&W a couple of weeks ago and the only ADR I had was tea. I had a food and wine pairing meal. Ate kid's QS breakfast every morning and all other meals came from booths or culinary demos at the festival center.

 

[Hikergirl]

Thanks loves to dive. I am trying to make this a very budget friendly trip for my friend so I wasn't planning on alot of TS meals. Hoping have a couple days there at least.

 

[loves to dive]

Thanks loves to dive. I am trying to make this a very budget friendly trip for my friend so I wasn't planning on alot of TS meals. Hoping have a couple days there at least.

Should be o.k. with the booths for a couple of days, there aren't as many as F&W but I would think enough for 2 days.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

All this is good to know. We loved F&W when we went, and this sounds like its going to be fun too!

I am loving that the dining plans now come with 2 snack credits per day. (I am assuming the kitchens will take snack credits??)

 

[mckennarose]

I just went to my first F&W and loved it, I am hoping to go back with my BF for F&G. Dh and I ended up cancelling some dinner ADRs because we ate so much at the booths. During F&G is it possible to only eat at the booths and be satisfied?
Sorry to hijack OP

I just went through the F&G passport from this year and there were 13 outdoor kitchens to visit, each with several offerings of food and drink. (not including Sunshine Seasons, which was offering 2 dishes for F&G and a few other beverage only places)

Also, there were 17 topiary displays, 19 Garden Destinations, 13 bands for the Garden Rocks concert series, and Fun fresh weekend events.

 

[Mousetopia]

We went in April for F&G and will be there in November for F&W. I've looked at the food list and menu seem different. So disappointed there's so grits/shrimp I loved so much in April.Food I had F&G is not listed in F&W and as mentioned booths at F&G seem fewer.

The shrimp and grits at Boatwrights at POR are OUT OF THIS WORLD ..a possible alternative!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can check out the Disney Food Blog for reports on Flower & Garden food kiosks from past years. There aren't as many kiosks and they tend to be plant based.