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Jump into the Spring season at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival 2015 with topiaries, lively entertainment and enjoyable food starting March 4.
For the first time in forever, Anna and Elsa from the movie “Frozen” appear as topiaries as a new addition to the already nearly 100 topiaries that can be found around World Showcase.
We had an opportunity to preview the event a few days ago before its official debut this week.
The “Frozen” topiary is new for this year. Our favorite snowman Olaf is not a part of it this year, but will more than likely show up next year together with his “Frozen” friends. Two flower towers that will change colors will soon be added.
The flower beds around Anna and Elsa represent different seasons. On Elsa’s side you can see colors representing winter and on Anna’s side are the more vibrant colors of the summer season.
For the third year of the Flower and Garden Festival, outdoor kitchens return with some new tastes to tempt your taste buds. The new Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen located between France and Morocco will feature Venezuelan food such the Cachapas with Farmer’s Cheese, a sweet yellow corn pancake while The Smokehouse: Barbecue Brews, Beef brisket: Burnt ends hash with white cheddar fondue and pickled Jalapeños.
Beef brisket burnt ends hash with white cheddar fondue, Cachapa con Queso sweet corn pancake with farmers cheese, or a Smoked debreziner sausage with homemade kraut and mustard. Hungry yet? That is just some of the new offerings you can look forward to tasting at this year’s festival. A strong recommendation is to try the brisket burnt ends hash with white cheddar fondue. It was flavorful with a nice amount of brisket. And skip the Quinoa Vegetable “Naanwich” and spend your money elsewhere as this dish was not up to par. Lacking taste and a soft consistency made this my least favorite dish.
And for the people who like deserts out there, you should really try the new “Large Strawberry Marshmallow Macaron” featured in the Fleur De Lys booth is France. This macaron has a wonderful strawberry jam filling surrounded by marshmallows.
Throughout the World Showcase and Future World, character topiaries once again fill the park with familiar faces grown just for the event.
Children of all ages can play around in the Mike & Sulley’s Monstrous Playground area or race down to the Cactus Road Rally Garden with the Mater and Lightning McQueen topiaries.
The festival will have 10 gardens focusing on urban gardening such as growing herbs and vegetables in yard, yet each is designed with a storytelling element like a dinosaur-plant garden or a pepper garden. Walt Disney World horticulture manager Eric Darden says that there is no better way to get your kids to eat vegetables than making them grow it themselves.
Returning this year as expected is the very popular butterfly house where you can see butterflies emerge from their chrysalises to flit from plant to plant at the Butterflies On the Go exhibit in Future World.
The Garden Rocks Concert Series will feature live music from bands like the Little River Band, Pablo Cruise, Gin Blossoms and Village People. The village people were a particularly fun band and is highly recommended. Just make sure to get there early if you want to get a seat, because it usually fills up fast with long lines to get in.
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival begins this week, running for 75 days through May 17. 2015.