Can you do Epcot Flower and Garden Festival in only one day? Absolutely! You just need the perfect itinerary.
Springtime in Florida is one of the best moments to be in such a magical place.
Disney knows this and has made the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival a must do event of the spring.
The 2024 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is just as good as the years before with even more topiary displays and food items to experience.
If you can only do this Epcot festival in one day, then I’m here to help you plan the perfect Epcot Flower and Garden Festival itinerary.
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Visiting the 2024 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival at a Glance:
- This Epcot Festival will take place daily from February 28, 2024 through May 27, 2024!
- Epcot opens daily at 9 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.; however, the food booths (also known as the Outdoor Kitchens) don’t open until 11 a.m.
- Witness the brand-new fireworks show called Luminous the Symphony of Us
- Explore all of the magnificent topiaries
- Capture the most incredible photos with a group of your beloved Disney Hipster Friends
- Listen to the wonderful artists as they bring you classic tunes from Gardens Rocks Concert Series.
- Eat your way through the festival with the colorful cuisine (my favorite thing to do)!
Keep reading to get a full guide on how to conquer this Disney event like a pro!
What is Disney’s Epcot Flower and Garden Festival?
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is one of Disney’s annual events aimed at teaching you how to appreciate the natural resources that we have on this planet through seminars, dining adventures, and topiary displays.
How long is the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival?
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is from February 28, 2024 through May 27, 2024!
In order for you to make the May 27th closing date of the festival, I’ve put together a great way to explore the floral celebration in only one day.
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What time does Flower and Garden Festival open?
Epcot opens daily at 9 a.m. You’ll be able to see all of the topiaries in World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery (the former Future World area) before heading over to World Showcase which opens at 11 a.m.
Hipster Power Tip: Start Early! Coming early to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival will give you a chance to pace yourself by allowing you to enjoy the festival attractions in both Future World and World Showcase. You will want to be at the gates before 9 a.m.
What do you do at the Flower and Garden Festival?
At the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, you learn how to incorporate flowers, vegetables, and other natural elements into your everyday life.
Either through food, gardening, beverage making and more!
Examples are shown through special tours and “Kitchens” around World Showcase.
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Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Itinerary: 5 Steps to the Perfect Day
Now that you know what to expect at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, let’s go through the 5 simple steps for your trip.
Step 1: Get Your Epcot Genie+/Lightning Lane Reservations Now
Book your Genie+/Lightning Lane Reservations for the must do attractions for Epcot prior to your visit.
These passes will allow you to skip select attractions for a fee.
Make sure they’re all timed before 1:30 p.m. so that you can just take your time exploring the Kitchens of the festival.
Genie+/Lightning Lane Reservations to the hottest attractions for any of the newest rides such as Frozen Ever After and Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot need to be booked like yesterday!
Trust me, you will thank me later for this!
In addition to booking your skip-the-line passes, you’ll want to make other reservations early too.
Walt Disney World is the top tourist destinations in the world.
Getting the passes is an advantage for you, because you will never have to think of what to do while taking your trip.
This is super helpful when trying to conquer the Flower and Garden Festival in only one day!
Hipster Power Tip: When choosing your Genie+ Passes for Epcot, be sure to choose at least one of the following attractions due to popularity: Frozen Ever After, Guardians of the Galaxy, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Soarin or Test Track.
Best rides at Epcot for Adults
- Soarin Around the World
- Living with the Land
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- Mission Space
- Frozen Ever After
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Must do Entertainment and Shows at Epcot
- Impressions de France
- Canada Far and Wide
- Mariachi Cobre
- Epcot Fireworks Show
The Must Do Epcot Dining Experiences
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Step 2: Explore the Epcot Neighborhoods
In between your Epcot attractions, visit the neighborhoods in the park such as World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery and take lots of photos.
Walk around and check out the beautiful topiary displays created by the talented Disney staff.
Be sure to Grab a Passport at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival!
The passport is a pamphlet that allows you to personalize it with your name, country, date issued, and date of completion.
It also includes the locations of the topiaries, the outdoor kitchen offerings, merchandise options, and concert information.
Take a peek inside the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Passport below.
Don’t forget to mark off which kitchen you’ve visited while at the festival.
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Step 3 Explore and Eat Your Way Around Epcot World Showcase
Around 11:30 a.m., begin making your way over to the World Showcase to start your amazing global cuisine tour.
You should start at The Honey Bee-stro kitchen, then walk-through the countries of World Showcase counter clockwise to experience all the food and unique culture.
Best Food on the Menu at the 2024 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
- Chicken and Waffles: Crispy Honey-brined Chicken and Honey Sweet Corn Bread Waffle with Whipped Honey Butter and Spicy Honey (The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board™)
- Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Bacon (BRUNCHCOT)
- Lemon Meringue Pie: Lemon Curd, Lemon Mousse and Toasted Meringue (The Citrus Blossom)
- Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple and Lychee wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap served with Whipped Cream, Drizzled Berry Sauce and Toasted Coconut (Hanami)
- Pineapple Beer Flight and Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips (Pineapple Promenade)
Hipster Power Tip: Consider doing the Egg-stravaganza hunt around Epcot World Showcase.
Step 4: Grab Your Perfect Fireworks Spot
Because you’ve followed my advice, you were able to do the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival in one with this itinerary!
Now you have plenty of time to find a nice spot for the Epcot fireworks show.
Don’t forget your Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Merchandise!
Hipster Power Tip: Before you grab your seat for the fireworks show, be sure to make any Epcot Flower and Garden Festival merchandise purchases that way you have nice souvenirs to take home.
Step 5: Take Your Last Photo of Spaceship Earth
Now it’s time to head out of the park and relax from a full day at Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.
Don’t forget to get that epic shot of the majestic Spaceship Earth as you head out of Epcot.
The gigantic golf ball-like centerpiece will be lit with so many hues of purples and pinks that sums up the magic of the day you just had at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.
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My Final Thoughts on the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Itinerary
Remember that you’re really going to have a great time. Try not to stress too much if you find yourself spending too much time at the Kitchens.
There’s always something going on at Epcot that will make your day memorable.
Keep in mind that this Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 1-Day Itinerary is my own little recommendation.
Feel free to choose dishes and drinks that appeal to you and that will make your day special.
Let me know what your favorite thing to do at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in the comment section below.
If you like this article, then check the links below for more Epcot Festivals Tips:
- Pro Tips for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
- The Ultimate Epcot for Adults Complete Guide
- Epcot Flower and Garden Festival MENU
- The Food and Wine Garden Rocks Concert Schedule
- Epcot Festival of the Arts Complete Guide
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Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
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(Original Article Date: March 9, 2019/Updated on February 18, 2024)