Flower & Garden Festival Tours

[elena05]

Hi all, we are headed down May 4-10, and I was hoping to book some sort of flower tour in Epcot for my mom for Mother's day. Do they offer a special one during the Flower and Garden Fest? I swear I remember reading something on the boards, but I can't find it! I was almost positive I read something about either a DVC discount or an AP discount and it was offered the Tuesday or Wednesday we were going to be there. Can anyone help me please? When I mentioned it to my mom she seemed so happy. Thanks, Elena

 

[CarolMN]

Do you still have your Spring 2008 Disney Files magazine?

On page 3 there is a description of a 3 hour tour called "Gardens of the World". It's scheduled on various days throughout the Flower & Garden Festival, including May 6, 8 & 10. DVC members get a 15% discount off the regular price of $59.

For more info or to book the tour, it says to call (407) 939-8687

 

[BroganMc]

Do you still have your Spring 2008 Disney Files magazine?

I didn't get mine. Could you please tell me what the dates are for April?

 

[elena05]

Aha! That's where I saw it, i knew I wasn't losing my mind. Thanks you so much

 

[CarolMN]

I didn't get mine. Could you please tell me what the dates are for April?

Sure - April 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 & 29

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm thinking of doing that! Has anyone done it before? Is May 1 on the list?

Bobbi

 

[CarolMN]

I'm thinking of doing that! Has anyone done it before? Is May 1 on the list?

Bobbi

Haven't done it before - this is our first F&G visit.

May 1 is on the list.

After I posted back to elena05, I showed it to DH - he said it sounded OK. (For him that's like anyone else jumping up and down and shouting Yes)! So I'm thinking of booking it. Our trip is 4/26 - May 2, so May 1 might be a good day for us, too. Think I'll call and find out the time. Kind of hoping it's 7:30 or 8 in the morning so we can have the World Showcase to ourselves.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We did it last Spring and it was good, not great. The tour guide was part of the gardening department and the best information she gave us came from stories from her real job, such as what happens when a freeze is threatened for central Florida. Unfortunately, there wasn't as much of this as we would have liked. Of course, if you are really into gardening and need to have each plant at EPCOT identified, then this is the tour for you! We also got a souvenir poster from the Festival, which was very nice.

We took the same tour back in 1995 when they used someone from the tour staff as the guide. We felt like we still got very good information (the trial and error involved in finding plants that looked like they were from Norway but would actually grow in Florida), but the whole presentation was better. Also, back then, the whole tour focused on World Showcase; last year, all of EPCOT is included, so it feels more rushed.

Also, the best discount on the tour usually is given if you charge it to your Disney Visa.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[dgaston]

I would agree with Suzanne that this tour is best for serious gardeners. Our tour guide (I think 2006) was from the gardening staff and had planted several of the F & G topiaries. He had started out in pest control and one of the things I remember was that they lure alligators with marshmallows! Most of the tour participants were accomplished gardeners -- when else do you talk about your planting zone? We did learn some interesting things, about the palm tree they spent a million on near Mexico, mimicking native plants in the countries with ones that tolerate heat better, etc, but I really loved the Undiscovered Future World tour we took a lot more.

(little bit of a tour junkie here --KTTK, Hidden Treasures of Epcot, Undiscovered Future World, Gardens of Epcot, Yuletide Fantasy, Backstage Safari X2, Segway Epcot, and Segway FW) Remember discounts -- Visa, AAA, AP, and DVC. Visa is often the deepest at 20%.