We had some work to do in Tampa this weekend. Epcot was on our way home, so we decided to stop in for dinner.
I feel so fortunate that my husband got this beautiful photo of Mary Poppins in front of the UK pavilion – so that I could share it with you today.
The weather was beautiful and I have a feeling she came in, umbrella open, on that gentle breeze.
Do you have any favorite Mary Poppins memories?
For the first time in history, Epcot’s 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival will include some food and beverage marketplaces throughout World Showcase. March 06 – May 19, 2013, Disney welcomes you to savor a taste of spring with sophisticated small plates and harvest-derived beverages that deliver a world of flavor. Each pavilion in world showcase features its own nation-themed Garden Marketplace.
I am pretty excited about the addition of the food and drink samples available for purchase Are you ready to pick your favorite foods and plan your snack attack?
This list should help embark on a whirlwind culinary adventure! You can even click here to see a World Showcace map in advance.
No worries however, if you don’t feel like planning ahead, all this information will be available at the park once you arrive.
FRUITS BY THE GLASS will be located in the World Showcase Plaza:
“Toast to Spring with mango and blueberry wines, nonalcoholic wild berry slush and gluten-free raspberry ale, among others.”
Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail
Wild Berry Slush – Non Alcoholic
Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry
New Planet™ 3R Raspberry Ale (this one is gluten free!)
Florida Orange Groves, Mango Mama, Mango Wine
Florida Orange Groves, Blueberry Blue, Blueberry Wine
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Chardonnay
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir
FLORIDA FRESH loated in World Showcase Promenade, on the Mexico side:
“Taste the Sunshine State with watermelon and feta salad, shrimp and grits, and tomato and carrot wines!”
Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction
Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes and Cilantro
Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries
Florida Orange Groves, Hot Sun, Tomato Wine
Florida Orange Groves, 40 Karat, Carrot Wine
Orange Blossom Pilsner
Strawberry Slush (Non Alcoholic)
JARDIN DE FIESTAS – Mexico
Tacos de Carnitas (Pork Tacos topped with Tamarindo salsa, served on a flour tortilla with Chicharrón)
Tostada (Crab tostada served with Chipotle Mayo and Valentina Salsa)
Flan de Guayaba (Guava Custard)
Conga Fruit Punch – Non Alcoholic
Corona Light Draft Beer
Rosita Margarita
Organic Tequila Flight
LOTUS HOUSE – China
Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries
Spring Pancake with Grilled Chicken and Green Apple
Pan-Fried Vegetable Bun
Peach-Oolong Bubble Tea
Kung Fu Punch (Vodka and Triple Sec with Mango and Orange Juice)
South Sea Storm (Guava with Light and Dark Rum)
Plum Wine
Tsing – Tao Beer
Lychee Aerated Water
Peach Aerated Water
BAUERNMARKT: Farmer’s Market – Adjacent to Germany
Savory Bread Pudding with Spring Peas and Wild Mushroom Ragout
German Meatloaf Sandwich with Sweet Mustard and Fried Shallots
Potato Pancakes with house made Apple Sauce**
Florida Avenue American Wheat Ale
Krombacher Hefeweizen
Goose Island Brewing Company’s Honker Ale
Blue Point’s Toasted Lager
Beer Flight
Hugo – Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint
Krombacher Hefeweizen
PRIMAVERA KITCHEN – Italy
“Italy will be serving lobster with asparagus, spring vegetable lasagna, panna cotta, fruity cocktails and Italian wines.”
Asparagi con Aragosta all’Ortolana (Green asparagus, lobster, garden cocktail sauce)
Lasagna Primavera (Spinach Lasagna, green peas, zucchini, mushrooms, broccolini, béchamel and fresh tomatoes, with garlic and basil leaves)
Panna Cotta al Limoncello (Limoncello flavored Panna Cotta, wild berries)
Fontana Candida, Pinot Grigio
Castello di Querceto, Chianti
Bosco del Merlo, Prosecco
White Peach Bellini
Strawberry Rossini
Italian Primavera
Birrificio Del Ducato – Nuova Mattina (Spring Saison Ale)
Birrificio Le Baladin – Nora (Specialty Ale)
Birra Del Borgo – Rubus Lamponi (Specialty Wild Fruit Ale)
Beer Flight
THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews – The American Adventure Courtyard
“Get into some finger-lickin’ barbecue—pulled pork and smoked brisket—and ice-cold craft beers at The American Adventure.”
Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw
Smoked Beef Brisket with Collard Greens and Jalapeño Corn Bread
Rocky Road Brownie Mousse
Mama’s Little Yella Pils (Czech style Pilsner)
Liberty Ale from Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, Ca. (India Pale Ale)
Red Ale from Orlando Brewing, Orlando, Fla. (Red Ale- Organic)
Blackwater Porter from Orlando Brewing Company, Orlando, Fla. (Stout- Organic)
The Original Rib Shack Red Wine
Beer Flight
HANAMI – Japan
Frushi (Fresh strawberries, pineapple and cantaloupe rolled with coconut rice, atop a raspberry sauce sprinkled with toasted coconut and whipped cream)**
Chirashi Hanazushi (Grilled Salmon, cooked shrimp and crab stick served over a bed of fragrant ginger rice with Volcano and Dynamite sauce)
YakiSoba Pan (Fresh grilled carrots, onions and cabbage with Japanese noodles and teriyaki sauce served on a bun with mayonnaise and Beni Shoga)
Green Tea Flan (Silky custard with macha green tea and caramel glaze)
Yuzu Rita
Fruit Sake
Hana Awaka
Frozen Kirin Ichiban
TASTE OF MARRAKESH – Morocco
“Enjoy Morocco’s lamb kebabs and couscous, harissa chicken drumettes with chermoula, desert rose cocktail and more.”
Spiced Lamb Kebab with Vegetable Couscous Salad
Harissa and Lamb Confit Chicken Drumettes with Chermoula and Cucumber Salad
Baghrir (Moroccan pancake with honey, almonds and Argan Oil)**
Desert Rose
White Sangria
Guerrouane Red
Casa Beer
Mint Iced Tea
L’ORANGERIE – France
“France presents a rustic ratatouille tart, country pâté with cherry compote and, of course, a selection of French wines.”
Tarte à la ratatouille et fromage de chèvre (Zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, onions and tomato tart with goat cheese)
Terrine Campagnarde, baguette et compote de cerises (Country style pâté served with baguette and cherry compote)
Verrine charlotte au pèches (Caramelized peaches and rosemary and light vanilla cream)
La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush (Grey Goose Vodka Orange,
St. Germain liquor with White and Red Cranberry Juice)
Muscat Pétillant, Sparkling Muscat Charles de Fère
Chardonnay, White Burgundy, Macon Village Georges Duboeuf
Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Beau-Rivage
Kronenbourg Blanc 1664, (Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes)
THE COTTAGE: Savories, Trifles and Tea – United Kingdom
“Stop by the United Kingdom for tea and delectable dainties, including a salmon tartare-topped cheddar biscuit, an ultra-gourmet Caprese and a trio of trifles.”
Potato, Chive and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare and Sour Cream
Baked Goat’s Brie with Kumquat Chutney
Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and Basil
Chocolate Trifle
Berry Trifle
Ginger and Tea Trifle
Trio of Trifles
Hot Teas (Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Lemon Green Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Spiced Apple Chai, Pumpkin Chai, Mixed Berry Black Tea, Pomegranate and Raspberry, Camomile Honey & Vanilla, Honeybush, Mandarin and Orange, Pure Peppermint, Lemon & Ginger)
Peach Cold Brewed Iced Tea
Mixed Berries Cold Brewed Iced Tea
Poema Cava Brut Rosé
Chilled Rose Blush Lemonade – Non alcoholic
PINEAPPLE PROMENADE – World Showcase Promenade, Canada side.
“Take a delicious break in your day, indulging in spiced rum Dole Whip, pineapple upside down cake, fruit cups and more.”
Dole® Whip
Dole® Whip with Siesta Key Spiced Rum
Pineapple Upside Down Cake featuring Dole® Pineapple
Dole® Pineapple Fruit Cup
Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade – Non Alcoholic
Samuel Adams® Cream Stout
INTERMISSIONS CAFE — Festival Center
Beet Lollipop
Grapes
Fruit & Cheese Plate
Vegan Trio
Southwest Chicken Wrap
Tuna Salad with Pita
Italian Salad
Asian Tuna Salad with Noodles
New Planet™ 3R Raspberry Ale (Gluten Free) (12 oz.)
Blue Point’s Spring Fling (12 oz.)
Florida Orange Groves, Mango Mama, Mango Wine
Florida Orange Groves, Blueberry Blue, Blueberry Wine
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Chardonnay
DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir
Poema Cava Brut Rosé
Are you headed to the festival this year? Are you as excited as I am about these food and beverage tastings? Please let me know your thoughts!
One of the most welcome signs of spring is Epcot’s annual International Flower & Garden Festival. While the grounds at Epcot are always beautiful, the Flower and Garden Festival takes them to the next level. If you’ve never been to the festival – here is more about what we can expect. Below are are some Disneyways photos from last year.
Throughout Epcot over 100 topiaries will be on display. The Flower Power Concert Series will return as well as special kids’ activities and gardening workshops. An exciting addition to this year’s Festival is several presentations by HGTV stars at the Designers Stage.
Perennial Flower and Garden favorites such as the Flower Power Concert series, the English Tea Garden, and Ask An Expert will be returning. For the kids, there’s Bambi’s Butterfly House, GoGo on the Go Challenge, the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, and the Bee Scavenger Hunt.
Over at the France Pavilion, there will again be a “lift and sniff” Fragrance Garden focusing on some of the flowers used in making the Guerlain line of perfumes.
Throughout the event, Disney horticulturists and garden experts will conduct seminars, sharing tips and secrets for you to try at home.
Discover dazzling gardens, high-energy entertainment, family fun and more at this spectacular springtime event. The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV is brimming with special experiences for every age and interest.
Festival highlights include:
With so much to see and do, you can return to the festival again and again… and discover something new each time!
Musical entertainment pairs perfectly with brilliant botanicals during the nightly Flower Power Concert Series. Enjoy a diverse lineup of performers — popular musicians of the 1960s and 1970s — throughout the festival.
Fascinating designer presentations offer helpful information that you can use in your home or garden. Whether you wish to learn new gardening techniques or simply see a favorite television personality, you can look forward to an array of engaging seminars and demonstrations.
Special displays — like blossoming gardens and vibrant topiaries — add to the beauty of Epcot.
Epcot theme park admission is required. Most Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival events are included with admission to Epcot theme park. Availability is limited for some events. Events may be rescheduled or cancelled at any time.
The 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival begins on March 6th 2013! Official Disneyways Man on the Scene reporter Ramon Rodriguez captured some wonderful early photos of the Land of Oz Garden. This themed area is to help Disney promote their new movie Oz the Great and Powerful, coming to theaters on March 8th. The Land of Oz Garden will include a playground as well. I think my favorite feature however is the fantastical art-glass poppies “planted” among beds of real flowers, which will be updated through the festival’s end date of May 19. What do you think?
If you love the Flower and Garden Fest like I do, please check out our other posts on this wonderful event.
Can’t get enough Oz? Why not join us for or first ever Disneyways meetup on March 8th? You can read details on the meet here.
Happy Monday, everyone! This week we’ve got a couple of great questions that lead to lots of information about Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot, and a contest winner to announce. Let’s see what we can find.
I know there’s a Food and Wine Festival at Epcot in the Fall, but now I’m hearing about a Flower and Garden Festival.What and when is it? – Kelly from Colorado
Kelly, while Food and Wine is definitely an event, Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival is gearing up this year to really hold its own! From March 6 to May 19, Epcot will come alive with fantastic topiary displays and blossoming gardens for guests to tour as they sample delicious food from the new food-and-drink Garden Marketplaces. At night, a special treat for this year will debut in the illuminated gardens around the park. And just for kids, a fantastic Oz-themed playground has appeared almost overnight!
Maybe first on everyone’s list of things to try this year is the Dole Whip and spiced rum drink being served at the Festival. I know I’ll be lining up first thing before heading out to find the gigantic Fab Five topiary on this year’s festival slate.
Need more details? Check out the official press release here and have a great time!
What are the dates for the 2014 Flower and Garden Festival? – Elaine from New York
Elaine, that’s a planning question! Unfortunately, Disney hasn’t released those dates yet. If you’re attempting to plan a vacation, you can bet that the month of April will be a great time to catch the Festival at its peak. Check back at Disneyways.com and sign up to receive e-mail updates to get next year’s dates as soon as they come out!
Thanks again for your questions, everyone. Have a fantastic week!
(Note from Krista: Hi Elaine! You may have heard we were having a special contest this week for all our Ask Morgan Monday fans who submitted their question via the form. Congratulations on having your question chosen! You have won a Disney Vinylmation. Send your mailing address to Disneyways@Disneyways.com and I will get that shipped out to you right away. We really appreciate your participation, and hope to have more contests and winners again soon. Have a magical week!)
Do you have questions for Ask Morgan Mondays? Fill out the form below!
March 6 – May 19, 2013 is the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival where you can celebrate the great outdoors!
Every weekend during this special time you can catch a Festival tradition, the Flower Power Concert Series. Head over to the Festival Center, where you can experience a demonstration led by HGTV personalities or get tips from Epcot gardening experts. Be sure to visit Festival Center located in Innoventions East for all the details!
Don’t want to look at a map? Let someone else be your guide!
The Gardens of the World Tour is only offered on select days during Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival
Everywhere you look at the Walt Disney World Resort, the trees, shrubs and flowers play a vital role in setting the stage for recreation, entertainment and beauty. Disney landscaping has become a recognized show in itself, providing color and enjoyment throughout the year. Did you know that only during the Flower and Garden Festival – you can book a tour of all this beauty?
The Gardens of the World Tour gives participants the chance to study the various gardens of Epcot with one of the experts responsible for helping maintaining it all.
Your “horticultural instructor” will turn Epcot into a living classroom. Discover how seeds are planted and design ideas take root to produce extraordinary botanical backdrops, imaginative themed areas and topiaries of some of your favorite Disney characters. Your guide will describe the basic process of plant design and how it is incorporated in the landscape for the World Showcase pavilions. Find will even find out how you can design and theme your own home gardens.
Here’s more about what will happen on the tour.
You will:
The beauty of each country’s traditional landscaping makes this tour an extraordinary introduction to the World Showcase nations!
Prices are subject to change, but this year you can take the tour for $63.90 including tax. That price also includes a pin and a poster for you to take home.
Book online or call (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687 for exact schedule.
Please let us know if you will be taking this very special tour!
Yes, you read that right. Taking a hint from the huge success of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, food kiosks will be added in the World Showcase in 2013 during Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. What does this mean? Well, we will get to try some delicious new foods and beverages as we stroll around to see Disney characters in topiary, and rock out to the Flower Power Concert series (among other things!).
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about this – but if a picture speaks a thousand words…
This is how I feel.
Don’t worry - there are no squirrels on the menu.
Instead, Epcot chefs have some other things in mind.
Some highlights will include:
Menu items will include:
Specialty drinks will include:
Tip: Need a map so you can plan your snack attack? Click here for a link to all of them from WDWInfo.com
What are your thoughts on these menu items?
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2013 will feature some new topiary displays and bring back some old favorites!
Topiaries at the front entrance will welcome us to Epcot in a very special way. This fantastic first topiary “scene” will feature the Fab Five, plus one! A 14-foot-tall topiary Goofy will “goof-up” an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton. Mickey will fire up the grill, Pluto will swipe a link of hot dogs and Minnie will chill out on a colorful blanket of blossoms. Sounds like one of my family cook outs.
You will also want to look for Fawn’s Butterfly House. Eight fanciful fairy topiaries of Pixie Hollow, including Tinker Bell, Fawn, Vidia and Terrence will be located in the Butterfly House this year, and of course you’ll see real butterflies there too! I was lucky enough to get a picture of this guy last year – just as he was saying his first hello to the world.
An interactive play area on the Test Track walkway will be based on Radiator Springs. It will feature Lightning McQueen and Mater topiaries.
Here’s the photo of Lightning that I took last year.
A second interactive play area based on the new movie “OZ: The Great and Powerful. There will also be a ”Oz Movie Garden” full of unusual plants inspired by the Land of Oz.
Note: Don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with some of these locations. Epcot will have beautiful (free!) maps available at the very front of the park and in various places throughout.
While some of you up north are still fighting snow and freezing weather, here in Orlando the temperature is already starting to go back up, and with it – the flowers are starting to bloom. Warmer temperatures around here are a good reminder that the it’s almost time for the 20th Annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.
The festival runs from March 6th until May 19th this year and offers a wide range of special activities. For the last few years the Flower and Garden Festival has partnered with HGTV to bring in some of their top talent for special appearances at the festival. This year’s line-up is better than ever with a full calendar of home and garden experts.
Guests of the Festival can see their favorite HGTV and DIY stars on “The Designers’ Stage Presented by HGTV” at the Festival Center. In case this is your first visit – The Festival Center is located between Mission Space and Ellen’s Energy Adventure in Future World. Click here to see a map of the exact location. Here is a photo so you’ll know what to look for:
2013 HGTV Stars present at Festival Center
Are you like me – and perhaps a bit better at remembering faces than remembering names? I have to admit, when I saw the lists of designers all over the internet – it really didn’t mean much to me. In an effort to make this list a little different, I have hyper-linked each name. Click on the name and you will be taken to a site with the designer’s picture. That way, even if you are just a casual watcher of the HGTV and DIY channels, or maybe not much for TV at all – you will still know a bit about each designer. As a bonus – if you run into one of them shopping for souvenirs in Mouse Gear - you will know to take pictures – and you can brag to your friends later.
Presentations will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Festival at noon and 3 p.m. and no reservation is required. Keep in mind Disney reserves the right to change the schedule and the line-up at any time. You can always check Disneyworld.com for the latest information.
Here is the schedule made public as it stands today:
March 8-10: Chris Lambton, (Going Yard)
March 15-17: Chris Grundy, (DIY Network’s Cool Tools)
Marach 22-24: Egypt Sherrod, (Property Virgins)
March 29-31: Brandon Johnson, (My Yard Goes Disney)
Apri 5-7: Meg Caswell, (Meg’s Great Rooms)
April 12-14: Jason Cameron, (DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves)
April 19-21: Sara Peterson, (Editor-in-Chief, HGTV Magazine)
April 26-28: Carter Oosterhouse, (Million Dollar Rooms)
May 3-5: Casey Noble, (Design on a Dime)
May 10-12: Dan Faires, (HGTV.com’s DanMade)
May 17-19: David Bromstad, (HGTV Design Star, ColorSplash, Design Star All-Stars)
TIP: Sometimes each designer has cards available with their photo on it to ready to sign and give out on they day of their presentation – and even extra time designated to do so. When you are in the pavilion, you can ask a cast member about this, and they will usually have the day’s information for you.
Do you have a favorite celebrity listed here or are you glad we posted pictures?
Featuring music from the 60′s and 70′s (America Gardens Theatre):
Show times 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm & 7:45 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Schedule of Performers:
March 8-10: Micky Dolenz, formerly of The Monkees (I’m a Believer)
March 15-17: Chubby Checker and The Wildcats (The Twist)
March 22-24: The Guess Who (American Woman)
March 29-31: Nelson (Can’t Live Without Your Love and Affection)
April 5-7: The Turtles feat. Flo and Eddie (Happy Together)
April 12-14: Paul Revere and The Raiders (Good Thing)
April 19-21: The Village People (YMCA)
April 26-28: The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II
May 3-5: Tommy Roe (Dizzy)
May 10-12: Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone (I’m Henry VIII, I Am)
May 17-19: Starship Starring Mickey Thomas (We Built This City)
Epcot admission is required. Disney always reserves the right to change the schedule without notice – so feel free to check with me for the latest info!
Here’s some footage of Micky Dolenz performing last year.
Thanks to Shelley of Disneymanners.com for taking the footage!
