Visiting Disney World with kids for the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival? We’re sharing all the must-do activities for kids during the festival!
Do you love visiting the EPCOT festivals? While many may think that the festivals at EPCOT are just for adults, there are actually a variety of great activities at each for younger guests as well! There are a plethora of different activities that both you and your children can experience at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. To help you better plan your trip, we’re sharing our kid-friendly guide to the best EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival activities to enjoy.
Kid-Friendly Guide to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
Take in the Disney Character Topiaries
Photo by Laurie Sapp
One of the most popular parts of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is seeing the Disney character topiaries throughout the park. Created by the talented Disney horticulturists, the topiaries can be found throughout EPCOT during the festival. Each topiary portrays different characters from beloved Disney films. Examples of what you can find include Buzz Lightyear by Mission: SPACE and two new topiaries this year! The characters of Encanto are placed right outside of the entrance by Spaceship Earth, with a new Tiana topiary making its debut at the American Adventure Pavilion as well.
Here’s a tip: make it a game! Use your festival passport to keep track of the topiaries you’ve seen during your journey around EPCOT, and aim to find them all! It will keep your kids excited at the prospect of spotting them all!
Check Out the Festival Food Booths
Photo by Sara Dennis
One of the best parts of any EPCOT festival is the food booths located around the park. From Mexican cuisine to Italian and everything in between, there is something for every palette. While your kids might not find all of the options intriguing, there are some great, kid-friendly options if you look for them, whether they are picky or adventurous eaters.
Here are some of our favorite, kid-friendly dishes at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival:
- Bauernmarkt (Germany): Toasted Pretzel Bread with Black Forest Ham and Melted Cheese $5.75
- Brunchcot (Near Test Track): Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Bacon $4.75
- Refreshment Port (Near Port of Entry): Soft-Serve Waffle Cone with Peanut Butter, Jelly or Swirl $6.00
And you can find our COMPLETE list of menus and food booths below:
- Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
- BRUNCHCOT (Near Test Track) – NEW for 2023!
- The Citrus Blossom (The Odyssey)
- EPCOT Farmers Feast (Near Test Track)
- Fleur de Lys (France)
- Florida Fresh (Near Disney Traders) – NEW for 2023!
- Hanami (Japan)
- The Honey Bee-stro (Near Port of Entry)
- Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)
- La Isla Fresca (Between Morocco and France)
- Lotus House (China)
- Magnolia Terrace (America)
- Northern Bloom (Canada)
- Pineapple Promenade (Near Port of Entry)
- Primavera Kitchen (Italy)
- Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina (Morocco)
- Trowel & Trellis (Near Port of Entry)
- Funnel Cake
- Joffrey’s
- Refreshment Outpost
- Refreshment Port
Spike’s Pollen-nation Exploration
Spike at the Bambi Butterfly House. Photo by Julie de la Fe
As previously reported, Spike’s Pollen-nation Exploration is back for 2023! This fun scavenger hunt allows you and your family to search for Spike the Bee around the park, with the ability to redeem your completed map for a prize. To get started, you’ll want to pick up Spike’s Pollen-nation Exploration map, which you can purchase for $9.99 at a variety of locations, including Disney Traders, Creations Shop, World Traveler, and various festival booths around the World Showcase.
From there, you’ll want to find Spike the Bee in his designated hiding spots throughout EPCOT! Once completed, you can redeem your map for a festival-exclusive prize at Creations Shop, World Traveler, and Disney Traders. Getting your children involved in the hunt is a great way for them to not only take part in the fun but to stop and take a look at some of the amazing gardens and displays at EPCOT.
Butterfly Landing Presented by AdventHealth
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Located in the World Nature area of EPCOT near the Imagination Pavilion, you’ll find the Butterfly Landing. Home to a variety of butterflies, this exhibit features live plants and butterflies, along with a plethora of information on the life cycle of butterflies. Constructed as a tent-like structure, this garden allows guests to see beautiful, colorful butterflies up close and personal. Kids will love the interactive aspect of seeing the butterflies fly around them.
This provides an educational aspect for children to watch the butterflies emerge from their chrysalis to discover their wings and colors. You’ll want to keep in mind that this exhibit closes at dusk daily, so if you are interested in experiencing this, make sure to visit earlier in the day.
Outdoor Escapes Play Garden
While the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is home to food booths, topiaries, and more, there is another kid-friendly aspect to Flower and Garden — playgrounds! If they want to release some energy and run around a little, then you’re in luck.
Located in the World Discovery area of EPCOT, families can uncover a camp-themed garden where children are invited to jump around, play and climb about. Again, this is a great opportunity for parents to take a breather and maybe try some much-wanted food from the festival while kids have a chance to have their own fun.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
Photo by Laurie Sapp
A great way to have some fun as a whole family is to head to the America Gardens Theater located in the American Adventure Pavilion. Here, guests can enjoy major artists singing some of their most famous hits in the Garden Rocks concert series. While your kids might not know all of the famous acts that take the stage, they will surely be dancing and rocking along to these fantastic performances.
If you are worried about guaranteeing a seat at the concert with your children, try purchasing a concert dining package. These will ensure you get a great seat without waiting and include dinner at one of the table service restaurants around EPCOT. Want to learn more about these dining packages? We broke down all the festival dining packages to help make your planning a breeze.
Want more EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival tips and tricks? Make sure to check out our coverage on the festival below!
Our Favorite Merch Finds from the 2023 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
How to Find Spike the Bee: The Pollen-Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt at EPCOT
