Posts Tagged ‘EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival’
Magic by the Month – May
May storms in with Star Wars weekends, an annual event that attracts thousands to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meetings, motorcades, and lots of fun activities featuring the heroes and villains of Star Wars fame. Typically scheduled during the last weeks of May and the first part of June, the weekends begin just as EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival is winding down.
Although Disney’s Hollywood Studios is packed for the special weekend events, overall, May crowds are moderate until the Memorial Day weekend when the numbers ramp up for the summer and remain high through August. While not yet at summer levels, both the temperature and humidity begin to climb. The average rainfall, although nearly double April’s precipitation at almost 4”, is far lower than that of June and July, the rainiest months of the year.
Fast Facts
Special Events: Star Wars Weekends
Attendance levels: With the exception of Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Star Wars Weekends, crowds are moderate until the Memorial Day weekend
Weather: It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer; the Florida sun is hot bringing temperatures ranging from the high eighties to low nineties dropping to mid- and upper-sixties, with more humidity and rainfall
Packing: Warmer weather invariably means more rain, so be prepared for showers and hot weather
Magic by the Month – April
Walt Disney World is blooming by the beginning of April. EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing with the floral displays and topiaries at their most beautiful and a full roster of Flower Power Concerts, gardening presentations, and special events.
Each year, the Magic Kingdom is closed to the general public on several evenings for Disney Grad Nite celebrations. On these Friday and Saturday nights, high school seniors take over the park to mark their graduation with special parties and performances.
Historically the most popular time for annual spring breaks at schools around the country, April ushers in some of the heaviest crowds of the year, particularly around Easter. Happily, the high attendance is accompanied by beautiful weather, making wait times much less stressful. April is an exceptionally dry month with rainfall dropping back to a bit more than 2 inches. Take advantage of the balmy temperatures and low humidity while managing the crowds by following our fav5 tips!
Fast Facts
Special Events: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival; Disney Grad Nites
Attendance Levels: Expect very high crowd levels throughout the month as school vacations and spring breaks free up families to vacation with their children. Since Easter typically falls in April rather than March, numbers will soar during at least one week of the month, reaching near annual peaks for park attendance
Weather: Beautiful central Florida weather with highs in the low eighties and lows generally dropping to the low sixties. April is a drier month and boasts the lowest humidity of the year, making it a great time for some serious park-hopping
Packing: Bring your summer favorites for strolling the parks and swimming in the pools. Something with long sleeves is handy for cooler evenings
Magic by the Month – March
In March, we begin to see the glimmers of great water-park weather and real crowds. This month heralds the start of spring break season around the country and ushers in a period of heavy attendance beginning mid-March and continuing until late April.
It’s important to keep track of Easter from year to year as the crowd levels around this holiday are second only to the week between Christmas and New Year. March also features the opening of EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival which began very early in 2010, on March 3rd. This annual event draws thousands of visitors to Walt Disney World during its 2½-month run and although it takes place in EPCOT, it boosts the numbers represented by families traveling during school vacations with the additional demographic of gardening enthusiasts.
In both 2009 and 2010, Walt Disney World hosted the Princess Half-Marathon Weekend early in the month. This will no doubt become an annual event.
The weather during March is more temperate with highs climbing to the high seventies and even low eighties towards to the end of the month, but typically only dropping about ten degrees lower during the evening, making packing a bit less challenging. There is an increase in rainfall, however, so don’t forget to arrive prepared for showers.
Fast Facts
Special Events: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, Princess Half-Marathon Weekend
Attendance Levels: Moderate at the beginning of the month, becoming very heavy as spring breaks begin; extremely high attendance over the Easter holiday whether it falls in March or April
Weather: Warm and pleasant with average temperatures only fluctuating about ten degrees, from the low sixties to low seventies up to high seventies low eighties; March falls between two drier months with expected rainfall of more than three inches
Packing: Plan for brief showers and warm weather with a light jacket for slightly cooler evenings
Contemplating a Visit?
It’s almost here – the 17th annual EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival! The topiary have never been more beautiful, the butterflies are fluttering, and the roses are blooming. From March 3 until May 16, 2010, EPCOT is dressed in her fanciest florals for this colorful event.
This year, guests are greeted by Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and friends, enjoying the pleasures of the outdoor life in a spectacular display at the front entrance. The popular butterfly house and Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden have been expanded and new additions to the Festival include Classic Disney Couples and A Salute to Community Gardens.
Of note is a new dining opportunity at the Wonders of Life pavilion. On March 21, April 18, and May 16, guests can pick up some gardening and culinary techniques from horticulturists and chefs as they enjoy a Garden Town Breakfast from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Wonders Retreat, located on the second floor of the pavilion is a whimsical private venue seldom seen by the general public. The breakfast buffet will include an array of fresh ingredients from the Land Pavilion.
The Festival Guide lists the dates and times for a series of special presentations that feature gardening tips, expert advice, and well-known speakers. There are plenty of kid-friendly exhibits and a return of the Flower Power Concert schedule showcasing the groovy sounds of the past from such favorites as Paul Revere and the Raiders, Herman’s Hermits, and Davy Jones.
The weather is beautiful, the sun is shining, and the World’s in bloom – contact a concierge to make your plans!
Whistle Stop
Small cottages nestle in the trees; a policeman stands watchful as busy villagers go about their errands; trains move smoothly over bridges, through tunnels, and chug past rural railway stations; a joyful wedding party makes its way down the hillside while a solitary deer surveys the forest from a mountaintop. It’s a world recreated in exquisite detail – the miniature village and railway at the Germany pavilion in EPCOT.
There’s always something new to see and marvel at as the Disney gardeners landscape, replant, and embellish for the changing seasons, holidays, and special events at Walt Disney World. Hidden Mickeys come and go; buildings are “erected” for special events like the little greenhouse for EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Show, complete with tiny signage.
During the Christmas season, guests are treated to a holiday wonderland. Decorations spring up all over “town.” Christmas trees are decorated, lampposts sport holiday bows, and buildings are outlined in lights. Even the railway cars are reconfigured for important holiday activities.
Originally conceived for the Flower and Garden Festival, this extraordinary installation has become a permanent and much-loved fixture of the World Showcase.
A Blossoming Idea
The dates have been announced for the 17th annual EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. From March 3 through May 16, 2010, EPCOT will once again come into full bloom. Whether you’re a fan of the Flower Power concerts which feature music from the time of peace and love, or you enjoy the gardening advice from celebrity guest speakers, the Festival months are a great time to visit Walt Disney World.
There are wonderful demonstrations, seminars, and exhibits, and the park is bursting with more than 30 million blossoms. Future World and the World Showcase are transformed with spectacular topiary, expansive flowering carpets, floating floral islands, bonsai installations, and exquisite gardens.
Visit the lovely fragrance garden at the France Pavilion to learn more about the connection between posy and perfume. And, don’t miss Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden where hundreds of beautiful creatures fly free.
We’re planting the seeds early for a 2010 visit to Walt Disney World. Let us help make those vacation plans grow!
Hiding in the Bushes
What do dwarves, dinosaurs, and Dumbo have in common? They’re all topiaries at Walt Disney World. This fanciful foliage is found throughout the parks and resorts all year round, but each spring, EPCOT becomes a gallery for this leafy art during the International Flower and Garden Festival.
Look for Mary Poppins over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and don’t miss the wonderful Bison gracing Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Mickey and Minnie are there to welcome you to the Magic Kingdom, and elephants march along the walkway that leads from the park entrance to the Contemporary Resort.
During the holidays there are characters dressed for the season and each Flower and Garden Festival features amazing new installations. Guests never know if they’ll see perfume, Pluto, a panda, or Pooh. From a fluffy Lion King fashioned of long grasses, to an extraordinary dragon bristling with bromeliads, these charming creations are some of our favorite Disney Details.
