If you like to inspire your kids to appreciate nature and the outdoors, then the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is a must-do. This festival runs from March 5 to June 2, 2025, giving you three whole months to plan a great time together.

This festival at EPCOT is loved by locals and visitors alike. There is a lot to see and do, so let’s dive into the best things for families to experience while at the festival. As an Orlando mom, I love helping parents have a great time at Disney – so let’s get to it!

This Parent’s Guide to EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is built to help you plan ahead and find the best things to do with kids. We’ve also got the 2025 Topiary Lineup and Locations – keep reading!

A Parent’s Guide to EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival 2025 — Epcot Flower And Garden Festival 2024 – Image by Dani Meyering

NEW for 2025:

Get ready to explore vibrant gardens, savor delectable dishes at the Outdoor Kitchens, and groove to the tunes of the Garden Rocks Concert Series. With exciting additions and returning favorites, the 2025 festival promises a blooming good time for all ages.

An all-new topiary display at the main entrance featuring Moana, Maui, Heihei and Pua.
Two new Outdoor Kitchens, Yacht Grub and Beach Grub.
A sprawling, nautically inspired play garden, Playalong Bay presented by Smuckers Uncrustables.
New garden destinations, like the “Inside Out 2” garden.
And a new activation showcasing the storytelling of Disney Horticulture inside CommuniCore Hall.

Some of our TOP Picks for the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival with kids:

Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt: Pick up the card for $9.99 at the gift shops and search for Spike the Bee in the different gardens around the park! There will be an Easter egg theme hunt for a limited time too.
Butterfly Landing presented by AdventHealth – near Imagination!: This festival favorite is back and now located near Imagination! Butterflies are everywhere. Enough said.
The Topiaries: Challenge yourself to spot as many of the 100+ topiaries scattered throughout the park that are snipped to look just like your favorite Disney characters including Groot and characters from “Coco”.
Cool Gardens: There’s something inspirational about each of the 20+ gardens in the park. The Miniature Garden near Germany features a mini village and the Prehistoric Plants garden near Mission: Space is pretty cool to see!

Pro-parenting tip: don’t miss the Family Friendly Play Zone near the Creations Shop in World Discovery. Before my son and I left Epcot for the day, we enjoyed playtime. I love that this is completely fenced in and I could find some shade. During the festival this area is called Camp Get Out and Play, presented by OFF.

But that's not all, the NEW Playalong Bay playground is awesome kids ages 5-12. Located between the new Yacht Grub and Beach Grub kitchens, this new playground is perfect for climbing and balancing. My son LOVED it!

Best EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Foods For Kids

Be sure to check Disney's official Foodie Guide to the 2025 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival to see all the menus including the dates of the menu changes at this booth.

Below are our picks for 2025:

Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with cream cheese frosting and candied bacon – BRUNCHCOT (Near Test Track)
Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with savory garlic spread – Beach Grub
- My son preferred this corn once I nibbled off the topping

Salmon-and-Street-Corn-Epcot-Flower-and-Garden — Salmon and Street Corn – image by Dani Meyering

Potato Pancakes with house-made applesauce (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) – Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with black forest ham and melted Gruyère cheese – Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
Orange Sesame Tempura Shrimp with orange chile sauce – Citrus Blossom Odyssey Building
Florida Strawberry Shortcake (plant-based) – Florida Fresh near Disney Traders
Chicken and Waffles: Crispy honey-brined chicken and honey sweet cornbread waffle with whipped honey butter and spicy honey – The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board (Near Port of Entry)

At Connections Eatery you can mobile order and enjoy a quick bite served on plastic plates for a more relaxed lunch or dinner. This year's festival offerings at Connections Eatery are:

Lemon-Lavender Baumkuchen with lavender anglaise (New)
Carrot Cake Liege Waffle with candied pecans and cream cheese icing (New)
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich: Southern fried chicken sandwich with hot honey and pickles on a brioche bun

I loved being able to mobile order a kids' meal for my son while I ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich and I can't resist anything carrot cake so I added on the Carrot Cake Liege Waffle. Being able to mobile order rather than wait in line enabled us to sit and relax while our food was prepared.

The Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich hit the spot and was not overly spicy. And as a hefty portion, I left feeling satisfied, but not weighed down. The Carrot Cake Liege Waffle is a pass for me. It is prepackaged, dry, and not very flavorful. I wished I had tried the Lemon-Lavender Baumkuchen instead.

Carrot Cake Liege Waffle and Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Connections Eatery - image by Dani Meyering — Connections Eatery – image by Dani Meyering

Topiaries at EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival 2025

The Flower and Garden Festival topiaries are sure to be a hit with everyone, especially your kid(s). Each section of EPCOT has at least one topiary display. So, no matter where you roam, you’ll find delightful Disney springtime magic. My kindergarten son loved the Toy Story topiaries, with Buzz Lightyear near Mission: SPACE and Woody with Bo Peep near The Land Pavilion.

Buzz-Lightyear-Topiary-Epcot-Flower-and-Garden-2022 — Buzz Lightyear Topiary – image by Dani Meyering

NEW for 2025: Discover a new Moana-themed topiary display—as well as new gardens that celebrate fashion, playtime and Inside Out 2. Plus, Phineas and Ferb topiaries make a grand return!

2025 Disney Character Topiary Lineup and Locations

Moan, Maui, and Poa from “Moana 2” – Main Entrance
Figment – World Celebration Gardens
Phineas & Ferb, Bridge to World Showcase
Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy – World Discovery – Near Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Buzz Lightyear, World Discovery – Near Mission: SPACE
Woody, Bo Peep and Her Sheep, World Nature – Near Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
Simba and Friends (Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa and Sarabi), World Nature – Near The Land Pavilion
Asha, Valentino and Star from “Wish” – near The Land
Goofy (new display), Rosewalk
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale and Pluto, Bridge to World Showcase
Encanto (Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela and Luisa), World Showcase
Coco (Miguel and Dante) – World Showcase – Mexico Pavilion
Tiana, World Showcase – The American Adventure Pavilion
Beauty and the Beast, World Showcase – France Pavilion
Lumiere and Cogsworth, World Showcase – France Pavilion
Winnie the Pooh and Friends (Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger), World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Tinker Bell’s Fairy House Garden, World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc, World Showcase – Between United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions

Moana characters topiaries EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival 2025 - image by Dani Meyering — Moana characters topiaries 2025 – image by Dani Meyering

Global Gardens Throughout Epcot

Besides the adorable topiaries, make time to explore the Global Gardens. These garden displays throughout Epcot are beautiful and inspiring. I personally do not have a green thumb, at all, but it is nice to dream what I could create if I did.

My young son loved looking at some of these gardens. A huge hit for us is the new Inside Out 2 Garden near the Imagination Pavilion. Each Emotion character has corresponding plants that match its color with a sign describing plants that can evoke that particular emotion. The original characters are in the center, and the new characters from “Inside Out 2” are along the water, overlooking the upside-down waterfall of the Imagination Pavilion.

young boy enjoys Inside Out 2 Garden at EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival 2025 - image by Meghan Roth — Inside Out 2 Garden – image by Meghan Roth

Here are the new and returning favorites for 2025:

China Zodiac Garden – China Pavilion
Discover your favorite zodiac with while visiting clever creations.
Bamboo Garden – China Pavilion
Visit this garden to see bamboo in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes.
Miniature Garden – Germany Pavilion
Appreciate the little things in this showcase of diminutive dwellings nestled in a forest of fine shrubs.
Garden Italiano – Italy Pavilion
From fresh spaghetti sauce to pizza toppings, this Tuscan kitchen garden features all the produce and herbs needed to create a classic Italian feast.
Bonsai Collection – Japan Pavilion
Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating peace and balance with the earth.
English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings – United Kingdom Pavilion
Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea garden––featuring plants used in some of Twinings’ finest blends.
China Penjing Garden – World Showcase – China Pavilion – NEW! Discover ancient Chinese art that recreates miniature landscapes.
Gnome Garden – World Showcase – Germany Pavilion – NEW! Discover topiary versions of magical garden gnomes, originating from German folk tales.

EPCOT Gardens in World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration

Songbird Meadow Presented by Wild Birds Unlimited – World Discovery Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your own backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.
PB&J Garden presented by Smucker’s Uncrustables® – World Showcase Bridge – NEW! Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
The Community Garden – World Celebration
Connect with the earth and each other at this celebration of a diverse and thriving communal garden plot.
Family-Friendly Garden Presented by OFF!
Explore a camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.
Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy – World Showcase Bridge
Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
Butterfly Landing Presented by AdventHealth – World Nature Near Imagination!
View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, in all their extraordinary color. Learn about butterfly lifecycles and maybe even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Closes at dusk.
Prehistoric Garden – World Discovery near Mission: SPACE
Imagine life on Earth 65 million years ago with astounding plant life that’s thrived since the age of the dinosaurs.

Garden Rocks Concert Lineup and Tips

The Garden Rocks concert series probably won’t interest your kid(s). Quite honestly, not many of the performers interest me either. But, each family is different. Maybe you and your kid(s) just love music of any kind and will enjoy experiencing a concert together.

You’ll need to be in the American Gardens Theater at least 15 minutes before showtime to at least get a seat.

2025 Epcot Garden Rocks Lineup

March 7 – 8: Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of Boston
March 9 – 10: Air Supply – 50th Anniversary Celebration
March 14 – 15: Blue October
March 16 – 17: Rick Springfield
March 21 – 22: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
March 23 – 24: 38 Special
March 28 – 29: Jason Scheff, longtime lead vocalist of Chicago
March 30 – 31: Queensrÿche – NEW!
April 4 – 5: THE ORCHESTRA Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members
April 6 – 7: Sugar Ray
April 11 – 12: Simple Plan
April 13 – 14: Jo Dee Messina
April 18 – 19: Mike DelGuidice
April 20 – 21: A Flock of Seagulls
April 25 – 26: Taylor Dayne
April 27 – 28: 98 Degrees
May 2 – 5: Plain White T’s
May 9 – 10: Jon Secada
May 11 – 12: Maverick City Music – NEW!
May 16 – 17: The Spinners
May 18 – 19: The Pointer Sisters
May 23 – 24: The Outlaws – NEW!
May 25 – 26: Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
May 30 – 31: The Cat Empire – NEW!
June 1 – 2: We the Kingdom – NEW!

Garden Rocks Dining Packages

There is a dining package available in which you purchase a meal at a participating Epcot restaurant and then enjoy reserved seating for the performance. If you see a performer or band in the lineup above that is a must-see for you, then I recommend booking the dining package.

Choose from a variety of EPCOT eateries that offer Garden Rocks Dining Packages. Here’s what’s included with your meal:

At Spice Road Table: 2 small plates, a shared tagine, a shared dessert platter and a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Guests 21 and older)
At Other Participating Restaurants: An entrée and dessert, or one full buffet (where applicable)—as well as a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage for Guests 21 and older)

Plus, you’ll get one (1) guaranteed seat per person to one Garden Rocks concert on the same day.

Tips and Reminders

EPCOT is typically open 9am – 9pm during the Flower and Garden Festival
Most of the festival-related activities start at 11am
Hours vary so please check Disney’s calendar before making plans
Weekends are especially busy and crowds build as the day goes on
Pack a tray or plastic plate that’s flat to help you carry food and drinks as you search for a spot, and corral your kid(s)

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A Parent’s Guide to EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival 2025