The Flower & Garden Festival is one of the most beautiful times to visit EPCOT each year. In addition to all of the gorgeous plants, gardens, and topiaries, the Festival offers a great concert series that you can enjoy as you travel around the World Showcase.
Beginning March 4th, guests will be able to hear musical talent ranging from internationally recognized artists to local Orlando bands. Best of all, this is included with admission! Who are you most excited to see?
Here is the schedule per Disney:
March 4-5 – The Guess Who
March 6-7 – Rick Springfield
March 11-12 – Melina Leon – NEW to Garden Rocks
March 18-19 – Mike DelGuidice, currently on tour with Billy Joel – NEW
March 20-21 – Kool & The Gang – NEW to Garden Rocks
March 25-28 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
April 1-2 – The Spinners
April 3-4 – The Pointer Sisters
April 8-9 – Blue October – NEW to Garden Rocks
April 15-16 – Tommy DeCarlo, singer of the band Boston – NEW
April 17-18 – Don Felder, Formerly of The Eagles
April 22-23 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
April 24-25 – Claudia Leitte – NEW
April 29-30 – Berlin
May 1-2 – TobyMac
May 6-7 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
May 8-9 – The Commodores – NEW to Garden Rocks
May 13-14 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett – NEW
May 20-21 – A Flock Of Seagulls
May 22-23 – Collin Raye – NEW
May 27-28 – Thelma Houston – NEW
May 29-30 – Little River Band
June 3-6 – Simple Plan
June 10-13 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
June 17-20 – Plain White T’s
If you would like to guarantee your spot, you can reserve a Dining Package that will gain you entrance to the show. All others will be first come, first served and as long as you get there early enough, there are usually seats.
The music can also be heard through many of the surrounding countries.
If you are interested in visiting during the Flower & Garden Festival, contact me today! I am happy to offer my complimentary planning services and we can start planning your Spring getaway!
The International Festival of the Arts is now in full swing at Epcot. There are several events & exhibits that returned from 2019 and there are also many new things to look forward to!
New this year are Life-sizes frames of VanGogh’s Café Terrace at Night and Sunflowers paintings that you can step right into for an amazing photo opportunity.
There are 12 Food Studios that present artful bites & sips that may be too beautiful to consume. Some favorites that are set to return include The Artist’s Table Studio for the Sipping Chocolate Flight of white, milk and dark chocolate as well as the BLT from The Deconstructed Dish Studio. There are lots of new items that have been added to these menu’s this year so stay tuned for some favorites!
If music is one of your favorite forms of art, definitely check out the amazing talent nightly at the American Gardens Theater. The Disney on Broadway concert series is comprised of wonderful arts that have been featured in Disney films:
Jan. 17, 20, 21 and 24 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
Jan. 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”)
Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5 and 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
Jan. 27, 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7 and 8 – Liana Hunt (“Newsies”) and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
Feb. 9 – Special performance featuring Lindsay, Massey, Hunt and Jacobs
Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22 and 23 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
Feb. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21 – Syndee Winters (“The Lion King”) and Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
Feb. 24 – Special performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Winters and Scott
To secure seats to these performances in advance, you can reserve a Disney on Broadway Dining Package. This will guarantee you a seat on the day you dine in one of several Epcot restaurants and there is no additional cost for it.
Guests that are visiting the festival with little artists will want to check out the Green Landing Family Play Zone. This is a great area for littles to expend some energy while you sit back and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Festival.
Another neat artistic addition to World Showcase for the Festival that the whole family can enjoy are images of Disney Characters that are hidden throughout the countries. Can you find Remy & Emile in France? What about Mushu in China? What other favorite Characters can you spot?
I will be visiting this festival in early February and cannot wait to come back with my experiences and photos. If you have any questions or would like to visit the International Festival of the Arts, contact me today! My planning services are free for my guests and it will save you time, stress, and possibly even money. See ya Real Soon!
This year’s Festival looks to be even bigger and better than last years. I wish I was heading there this season to join in the festivities and try all the bites and sips but it is not in the cards since I will be going in February and just left Disneyland last week. Someone will have to report back and share all the wonderful things they did and tried.
Here is a foodie guide direct from Disney:
“Feast of the Three Kings (Near the Mexico Pavilion):
Food Items:
Pastelón: Sofrito-marinated Beef with Sweet Plantains and Olives (GF)
Queso Fresco-stuffed Arepa topped with Shrimp, Crushed Avocado Aji and Tomato Sauce (GF)
Arepas topped with Melted Queso Fresco (GF, KA)
Tres Leches Rice Pudding with Pumpkin Seeds (GF)
Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
Beverages:
Coquito: Tropical Eggnog (non-alcoholic, KA)
M.I.A. Beer Company Tres Reyes Mango Golden, Doral, FL
Coquito: Tropical Eggnog with a Bacardi Gold Dark Rum Floater
Celebration Barbecue Pork with Steamed Rice and a Fortune Cookie
Chengdu Spicy Street Fries
Beverage Items:
Tsingtao Beer
Firework: Jose Cuervo Tequila Gold, Vodka, Mango Syrup, Orange Juice and Soda Water
Marco Boba: Amaretto, Iced Coffee, Milk and Boba
The Lucky Mo: Peach Schnapps, Peach Syrup, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice and Coconut Milk
Norway- Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe (Norway Pavilion):
Traditional Holiday Rice Cream
Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico Pavilion):
Food Items:
Giant Tostada de Puerco: Braised Pork served on a Giant Tostada with
Chipotle Black Bean Spread, Guajillo Sauce, Queso Fresco, Crema
Mexicana, Pickled Onion, and topped with Chicharrón Dust (GF)
Tamal de Pollo: Braised Chipotle Chicken served in a Corn Masa with
Yellow Mole and topped with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Queso Cotija and
Crema Mexicana (GF, KA)
Horchata Cheesecake: Creamy Rice Cheesecake served with Cajeta Sauce
Beverages:
Holiday Cider: Hard Apple Cider with Cinnamon-infused Tequila
Mexican Fruit Punch: Mezcal, Red Wine, and Blackcurrant Liqueur
infused with Star Anise, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger and Orange Peel (served
warm)
Horchata Margarita: Tequila, Horchata Rum, Cinnamon Whisky, and Agua de Horchata served on the rocks
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company:
Future World East: Choco-Latte: Latte with Chocolate Sauce and Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
Canada: Ginger Chai Madness: Chai Latte with Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur and Gingerbread Syrup
Showcase Plaza: Coconut Snowstorm: Latte with RumChata and Coconut Syrup
If you would like to schedule a last minute trip down there for a nice long weekend, let me know! We can set you up with a great vacation package and some wonderful tips to make the most of this great festival. Happy Holidays!
Epcot International Festival of the Arts is set to return for 2020. It will kick off on January 17 and run through February 24. This festival is a celebration of Art and how different cultures celebrate it through many different expressions including visual, culinary, and performing arts.
During this event, guests can experience art through the Broadway Concert Series, different culinary kiosks where food seems to jump right off the painters palate, view many different Disney artist’s work, as well as let their inner artist show. It is a fun event and entrance is included with your admission.
Disney on Broadway
The Disney on Broadway Concert series starts off with the beautiful music from “The Lion King”. The talent for this year is bountiful. Here is the schedule:
Jan. 17, 20, 21, 24 and 25 – Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”)
Jan. 18, 19, 22, 23 and 25 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“The Little Mermaid”; “Freaky Friday”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”) Jan. 25 – Special performance featuring Simmons, White, Blickenstaff and Lee
Jan. 26, 28, 29; Feb. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”)
Feb. 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”; “Beauty and the Beast”) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan)
Additional dates & artists still to be announced so stay tuned!
New for 2020
A new Brunch will be offered at Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion. Reservations are required.
Purchase beautiful art throughout World Showcase
Visit and observe artists that are creating right in front of you
Family Fun
The “Green Landing” Family play zone where guests of all ages can explore an area dedicated to Wall-E & Eve
Several different photo opportunities where guests can “jump right in” to some of their favorite stories
Add color to a beautiful wall mural located along World Showcase Plaza
Take part in a fun scavenger hunt featuring my favorite; Figment! Travel through World Showcase and find Figment. Hint: He has painted himself into some very famous paintings
Create your own artwork!
If you are interested in visiting Disney World and any of Epcot’s wonderful festivals, contact me today! I would be happy to assist in planning your amazing vacation and my services are always free. See ya real soon!
Details announced for the 24th International Food & Wine Festival!!
This is one of my favorite festivals all year at Epcot and I am so glad I will be able to check it out once again! This year, the Festival will run from August 29-November 23. This is the longest running Food & Wine Festival yet. It tops out at 87 days and each one will be packed with tasty bites and delicious sips.
With all the returning favorites and all of the new wonderful experiences being added, now is definitely the time to book for this fall and take full advantage. Grab your spouse, best friend, or a group of buddies and let’s get you reserved to eat & sip around the world!
I feel that Epcot deserves its own separate #Adulting post. There are multiple things to do in Epcot that are either not kid-friendly or are easier and maybe even more fun when traveling without children.
Epcot has four great seasonal celebrations. There is rarely a time when there is not a Festival going on. These festivals are immersive and teach us about ours and other cultures. There is themed entertainment, merchandise, performances, food & beverages, and more. Admission to these festivals are included with your park admission!
The four Festivals are:
Epcot International Festival of the Arts
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
Many couples and groups love to travel to Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival. It is a great time and a perfect #Adulting opportunity. However, here is a little secret – all of these festivals have delicious bites & sips from around the world and often they are far less crowded than the Food & Wine Festival – especially on the weekends!!
In addition to the festivals, Epcot has some great restaurants that I personally find more for #Adulting. Within each country are table service restaurants. Each restaurant will serve delicious food from their native country and I find the menus and decor much more appealing for adults.
Epcot has the Wine Walk that we spoke about in #Adulting at Disney Parks. Guests can purchase a passport and have it stamped around the countries as they sample wine.
The shops in the World Showcase have beautiful merchandise from the native countries. If you enjoy shopping, shopping here is almost like a treasure hunt!
And Ohhhhh the entertainment! I love listening to the British Revolution (British Rock Band) in the United Kingdom, listening to the Rose & Crown Pub Musicians, or watching the Serveur Amusant in France – a French acrobat with some amazing talent!
There are also several tours that are geared for adults and have a minimum age requirement. Some of these look really great, especially the tour of The UnDISCOVERed Future World Tour. You get to go behind the scenes, head into cast lounges, hear about Walt’s original vision for EPCOT and even go “backstage” – like under the outside portion of test track where the SIM cars whiz by! What an amazing and informative adventure!
Regardless of how much time I have in a given trip to Walt Disney World, I go to Epcot. There are so many wonderful things to see, do, eat, and drink! This park is the perfect balance of #Adulting with Disney Magic and for that is one of my favorites!
Turning Dreams Into Memories 