The 2025 EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition is Walt Disney World’s springtime pageant that includes topiaries, seasonal meals, merchandise & extra. This information covers information & 2025 dates, ideas & methods, live performance schedule, what to anticipate from crowds, and the right way to maximize your time & cash.
Walt Disney World has now introduced the dates of the 2025 EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition, and it’s principally in step with final yr’s pattern of decreased dates. We are saying principally as a result of the occasion is ‘borderline’ between two weeks. It usually begins on the final Wednesday in February (like final yr) or first Wednesday in March (just like the a number of earlier years).
For this coming yr, the EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition will run from March 5 to June 2, 2025 at Walt Disney World. That shifts barely later than final yr, however the period of the occasion is kind of unchanged. As with final yr, the even remains to be a full month shorter than the prior few years–however in step with historic precedent up till 2020.
Additionally price noting is that the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Competition is the thirtieth Anniversary of the annual occasion! Walt Disney World can be celebrating thirty years of gorgeous character topiaries, pleasant gardens, scrumptious menus and extra. How they’ll do this has not but been revealed, however we’re anticipating shows with nods to the anniversary and plenty of merchandise. Disney didn’t actually get the prospect to correctly have a good time the EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition’s thirtieth Anniversary, so we’re hoping that is an oblique do-over, of types.
With the announcement of 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Competition dates, Walt Disney World has additionally revealed the March lineup of performers:
- March 7, 8 – Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of Boston
- March 9, 10 – Air Provide – fiftieth 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 Particular
- March 28, 29 – Jason Scheff, Longtime singer of Chicago
The larger query, as soon as once more, is whether or not Walt Disney World would lastly add a fifth pageant to the calendar. We strongly suspected this could occur final yr, particularly with Flower & Backyard ending earlier and Meals & Wine beginning later. It actually appeared like Disney was setting the desk for one more occasion in between. The indicators had been there, after which…nothing.
A brand-new occasion to bridge the hole could be extremely savvy, particularly with the brand new Disney Starlight Night time Parade debuting at Magic Kingdom. Introducing a brand-new summer season pageant for June by August could be the neatest transfer of all, as it will present counter-programming for summer season to attract crowds to EPCOT.
We’ll preserve you posted as as to whether Walt Disney World declares one other pageant for June by August. For now, right here’s every little thing else it is advisable find out about EPCOT’s Flower & Backyard Competition…
Whereas we expect the topiaries and delightful floral shows are the spotlight of the Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition, many individuals go for the meals. For lots of Walt Disney World guests, it’s primarily a spring model of the favored Meals & Wine Competition. There are greater than one-dozen Outside Kitchens that supply specialty menus of delicious delicacies and drinks on the Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition.
For those who’re primarily involved with the Outside Kitchens, we have now handy evaluations for every of the meals cubicles from final yr:
These will all be up to date as soon as we have now an opportunity to graze our manner across the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Competition!
Because the parentheticals recommend, the highest 3 cubicles above are the most effective of the pageant. We’d extremely advocate prioritizing these Outside Kitchens, and people evaluations, when planning what you’re going to eat and drink on the Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition.
To make issues simpler, that trio of Outside Kitchens is all positioned conveniently close to each other in the direction of the entrance of the park. Whereas a lot of the meals cubicles are in World Showcase, these choices are far more hit and miss than BRUNCHCHOT, Farmers Feast, and Honey Bee-stro.
For those who’re on the lookout for technique to effectively expertise for navigating the parks amidst all of those adjustments, be sure you seek the advice of our Itineraries & Touring Plans for Walt Disney World. These have been up to date with all the newest adjustments (like Genie+ and Lightning Lanes) plus the latest additions, like Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Harmonious, and Disney Enchantment. As quickly as Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind opens, we’ll add it, too.
Right here’s what else we all know based mostly upon our previous experiences on the Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition…
Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition: Data & Ideas
We go to Epcot for Flower & Backyard Competition annually, and this information is predicated upon experiences attending the occasion yearly over the course of the final decade-plus. Yearly, the spotlight of Epcot’s Flower & Backyard Competition is the topiaries and wonderful backyard shows. These make Epcot pop with shade and sweetness, and are a beautiful enhancement to Epcot.
There’s no extra cost to see flowers and topiaries which are organized all through Epcot, but it surely needs to be famous that nearly every little thing other than the meals is included in regular Epcot admission. A lot of the occasion is a “plussing” of Epcot at no extra cost, and that is a part of why we extremely advocate it.
For foodies, the Outside Kitchen meals cubicles are one other extremely in style factor of Flower & Backyard Competition. These make the spring occasion like a mini Meals & Wine Competition, which is Epcot’s hottest pageant of the yr.
Other than the snacking and rocking, the occasion affords Walt Disney World visitors the flexibility to take pleasure in expert-designed flower and backyard shows, Disney character topiaries, playgrounds, and extra. Right here’s what else you possibly can anticipate…
When it comes to primary information concerning the horticulture on show at Epcot throughout Flower & Backyard Competition, let’s begin by hitting you with some fact-bombs. First, it takes a full yr and 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists to organize for the 90-day Flower and Backyard Competition.
The end result of these efforts are 30-million blooms, 240 floating flower planters, 700 gardens, almost 100 Disney character topiaries, 30 flower towers, and one lovely butterfly tapestry of flowers all culminate in an extremely vibrant time of yr for Epcot.
A few of you’re in all probability considering, “okay, however I detest gardening and I a lot desire barren concrete to vibrant flowers.” Effectively, if that’s the case, I can’t advocate visiting Epcot in the course of the Worldwide Flower and Backyard Competition. Nevertheless, in case your views on flowers and gardening aren’t fairly that excessive, it’s a good time to go to.
I groan when Sarah activates HGTV (simply what number of episodes of a present about adorning a home to resell it may well one particular person watch?!) and I’ve been recognized to (unintentionally, I swear!) run over parts of our personal backyard with the lawnmower, however I nonetheless love visiting throughout Flower & Backyard Competition.
It bears repeating: throughout Flower & Backyard Competition, Epcot is attractive, smells nice, and there are lots of distinctive issues to {photograph}. Very similar to the Behind the Seeds at Epcot Tour (which I extremely advocate), the basic substance of the shows at Flower & Backyard Competition doesn’t enchantment to me, however the total “really feel” and ambiance of the Competition does enchantment to me. It’s a extremely enjoyable time to be at Epcot.
Whereas we advocate visiting in the course of the Epcot Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition, but it surely’s not one thing round which you must plan a visit. The excellent news is that there are a number of low-crowd, nice-weather durations of time throughout Flower & Backyard Competition’s run, and focusing on these is a good suggestion.
Seek the advice of our 2025 Walt Disney World Crowd Calendars & When to Go to so you possibly can plan particular dates. As a common matter, the most effective occasions to go to are on weekdays initially of the occasion, earlier than the arrival of Spring Break Crowds at Walt Disney World. After these faculty breaks finish in April 2025 is one other good time to go to, as is the whole thing of Could 2025. Crowds will begin to choose up once more in June, rising progressively over the course of the summer season till the occasion ends.
Right here’s a rundown of every little thing you possibly can expertise in the course of the Epcot Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition…
Outside Kitchens – That is already talked about above, however these are primarily Meals & Wine Competition kiosks providing meals and drinks.
For those who’ve by no means attended Epcot’s Meals & Wine Competition, it’s price noting that grazing from these kiosks will value you significantly greater than consuming an precise meal. So when you’re trying to economize, keep away from these kiosks.
For those who’re seeking to have a good time and are keen to spend a bit of cash (we simply spend $40-60 in a day at meals kiosks), you must be capable of spend a day simply wandering these Outside Kitchens.
Particular Gardens & Reveals -There can be 20 completely different backyard areas all throughout EPCOT throughout Flower & Backyard. Weave by dazzling flowerbeds, come across unique gardens, study extra about sustainable meals and have a good time the methods we will dwell in concord with the pure world. Right here’s a full checklist of the wonderful gardens:
- The Neighborhood Backyard – World Celebration
Join with the earth and one another at this celebration of a various and thriving communal backyard plot. - Competition Blooms – World Celebration
Admire 1000’s of flowers that type colourful, dwelling panoramas. - Connections Conservatory Backyard – World Celebration Close to Connections Eatery
Settle into this considerate backyard stuffed with floral inspirations on your indoor areas. - Songbird Meadow Introduced by Wild Birds Limitless – World Discovery
Songbirds are an essential a part of many ecosystems—together with the one in your individual yard! Uncover easy steps you possibly can take at dwelling to assist these feathered buddies thrive. - Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Backyard – World Discovery
Convey your complete household to discover this camp-themed backyard the place little ones are invited to leap, play and climb. - Prehistoric Backyard – World Discovery Close to Mission: SPACE
Think about life on Earth 65 million years in the past with astounding flora that’s thrived for the reason that age of the dinosaurs. - Floating Gardens – World Nature
Peer upon greater than 170 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase. - Daring Bromeliads – World Nature in The Land Pavilion
Observe a wide range of distinctive and colourful crops that may adapt to a variety of climates and situations. - Butterfly Touchdown – World Nature Close to Creativeness!
View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up shut, in all their extraordinary shade. Study butterfly lifecycles and perhaps even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Closes at nightfall. - The Honey Bee-stro – Rosewalk Close to Creativeness!
Study honeybees’ essential position within the surroundings, and enjoyment of candy and savory treats made potential by their arduous work. - Blossoms of Perfume – World Showcase Bridge
Comply with your nostril and type lasting recollections with the assistance of recent, unforgettable fragrances. - Extraordinary Orchids – World Showcase – Mexico Pavilion
Set eyes on spectacular crops blooming in radiant shade. - Desert Backyard – World Showcase – Mexico Pavilion
Uncover the particular variations that permit crops in arid climates to regulate to the harshest of rising situations. - Bamboo Backyard – World Showcase – China Pavilion
Go to this backyard to see bamboo in a wide range of colours, patterns and sizes. - China Penjing Backyard – World Showcase – China Pavilion – NEW!
Uncover historic Chinese language artwork that recreates miniature landscapes. - Gnome Backyard – World Showcase – Germany Pavilion – NEW!
Uncover topiary variations of magical backyard gnomes, originating from German people tales. - Miniature Backyard – World Showcase – Germany Pavilion
Admire the little issues on this showcase of diminutive dwellings nestled in a forest of nice shrubs. - Backyard Italiano – World Showcase – Italy Pavilion
From recent spaghetti sauce to pizza toppings, this Tuscan kitchen backyard options all of the produce and herbs wanted to create a basic Italian feast. - Bonsai Assortment – World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Study concerning the artwork of bonsai, a few of the most interesting dwelling sculptures. Bonsai masters fastidiously form and have a tendency these miniature artistic endeavors, creating peace and steadiness with the earth. - Kokedema Backyard – World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Admire recent expressions of an historic Japanese artwork at this tranquil backyard. - Shishi Odoshi – World Showcase – Japan Pavilion
Ponder the methodical motion and soothing rhythm of this conventional Japanese bamboo water fountain. - Spice Backyard – World Showcase – Morocco Pavilion
Uncover how Japanese cultures flourished, buying and selling signature spices and herb blends as soon as thought of extra invaluable than gold. - Bouquet Backyard – World Showcase – France Pavilion
See bountiful blooms good for a bouquet of minimize flowers. - English Tea Backyard – World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Unearth the historical past and artwork of tea-blending at this elegant English tea backyard—that includes crops utilized in a few of Twinings’ most interesting blends. - Shakespeare Backyard – World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion
Discover the works of Shakespeare on this idyllic backyard that includes excerpts from a few of the bard’s most well-known sonnets—and the dazzling flowers that influenced them.
Our favorites are just about something in World Showcase, in addition to the floating gardens on the water in World Nature, and prehistoric backyard (gotta love dinosaurs). We’re additionally intrigued by the brand new gnome backyard.
Our favourite is Butterfly Touchdown, a home combining butterflies and fairies. This butterfly home is at all times actually cool, as butterflies fly in every single place and even land on visitors. We advocate spending about 10-Quarter-hour in right here to look at the butterflies and take photographs.
Beacons of Magic on Spaceship Earth – An addition for the Epcot Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition is a Pocahontas section in the course of the Beacons of Magic on Spaceship Earth. (Learn & see extra about this World’s Most Magical Celebration addition in Beacons of Magic at Epcot: Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary Spotlight!)
Per Disney, an orchestral model of the Academy-Award profitable music “Colours of the Wind” was chosen “for its message of intrinsic worth and respect for fantastic thing about nature and dwelling issues – with visible prospers that evoke the musical scene from the movie with strategies solely unique for Spaceship Earth.”
Character Topiaries – Greater than 70 topiaries will fill the park, that includes a pleasant array of Disney characters in addition to different figures and eccentric gadgets. Visitors may even look ahead to seeing the Figment topiary within the newly opened World Celebration Gardens.
Additionally new this yr, visitors can look ahead to viewing new topiaries from the Walt Disney Animation Studios movie “Want,” together with Asha, Valentino and the Wishing Star, on the park’s foremost entrance. In Mexico, Miguel and Dante from Disney Pixar’s “Coco” will take middle stage!
Disney Horticulture and Walt Disney Imagineering labored collectively to design, construct and develop numerous topiary shows. This course of started almost a yr in the past. Artists developed sketches, Imagineers designed 3D fashions, expert welders molded frames, and horticulture specialists selected plant supplies.
Right here’s the complete checklist of topiaries on the EPCOT Flower & Backyard Competition and the place yow will discover them:
- Disney Movie, Want (Asha, Valentino and the Wishing Star) – NEW!
Essential Entrance - Butterflies
Essential Entrance, Scentsy Backyard, Butterfly Home and World Showcase - Figment, Flower Topiaries and Flower Towers
World Celebration – World Celebration Plaza - Huey, Dewey and Louie
World Celebration – World Celebration Plaza - Donald Duck
World Celebration – Neighborhood Backyard Close to Connections Café in World Celebration - Bambi and Buddies
World Discovery – Close to Creativeness! and Refreshment Port - Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy – NEW!
World Discovery – Close to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind - Buzz Lightyear
World Discovery – Close to Mission: SPACE - Woody, Bo Peep and Her Sheep
World Nature – Between Creativeness! and The Land Pavilion - Simba and Buddies (Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa and Sarabi)
World Nature – Close to The Land Pavilion - Pumbaa and Timon
World Nature – Close to The Land Pavilion - Goofy
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) – NEW!
World Showcase – Mexico Pavilion - Anna and Elsa
World Showcase – Norway Pavilion - Troll
World Showcase – Norway Pavilion - Pandas
World Showcase – China Pavilion - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
World Showcase – Germany Pavilion - Woman and the Tramp
World Showcase – Italy Pavilion - Tiana
World Showcase – The American Journey Pavilion - Dragon
World Showcase – Japan Pavilion Close to Torii Gate - Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
World Showcase – Between France and Morocco Pavilions - Magnificence and the Beast
World Showcase – France Pavilion - Lumiere and Cogsworth
World Showcase – France Pavilion - Butterfly and Flower Towers
World Showcase – Worldwide Gateway - Winnie the Pooh and Buddies (Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger)
World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion - Tinker Bell’s Fairy Home Backyard
World Showcase – United Kingdom Pavilion - Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc
World Showcase – Between United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions - Geese
World Showcase – Canada Pavilion
For us, the topiaries needs to be the spotlight of Epcot’s Flower & Backyard Competition, however they very often disappoint. The topiaries are recycled from yr to yr and season to season (you possibly can see a few of the very same topiaries in several places at Christmas…we have now photographs of them from about 10 years in the past they usually look the identical) and are sometimes shoe-horned in locations they actually don’t belong.
It might be good to have new topiaries annually, particularly since within the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties, new topiaries commonly appeared when there wasn’t even a particular occasion (as mirrored in considered one of our favourite Walt Disney World books, Gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort). Nonetheless, there are some new topiaries annually, and it’s nice to see them added to boost the park.
Concert events – The Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition will function dwell music from the Nineteen Sixties, Seventies, and past because of the return of the Backyard Rocks Live performance Collection. Well-known artists rock the America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase each Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and eight p.m. every night.
Walt Disney World has launched extra particulars about this, which we cowl in Backyard Rocks Concert events at EPCOT Flower & Backyard Competition: Dates, Lineup & Eating Packages. That options the complete lineup, plus pricing and eligible eating places for the eating bundle–and why we do NOT advocate paying for that bundle.
In contrast to Candlelight Processional, we have now by no means discovered the eating packages to be vital for every other Epcot live shows. Nevertheless, if the perfect seats are a should so you possibly can actually admire the rad hairstyles sported by A Flock of Seagulls, the eating bundle will assist you there. Simply don’t really feel like it is advisable purchase it to be able to get a spot, as a result of there’s normally loads of seating for walk-ups.
Count on to listen to dwell music each night on the Epcot Flower & Backyard Competition. Along with the Backyard Rocks Live performance Collection, native Orlando bands step into the highlight Tuesday by Thursday, performing within the America Gardens Theatre.
There will even be different acts all through World Showcase, together with Mariachi Cobre, the Jammin’ Gardeners, and extra.
Different Stuff – Different displays embrace the Competition Heart (within the former Odyssey pavilion), that includes merchandise, one of many Outside Kitchens, and different actions.
One of many cooler points of the Flower & Backyard Competition is that you could go to a number of occasions and have a very completely different expertise every time. This isn’t solely as a result of the presenters and bands change, however as a result of midway by the pageant, Disney gardeners take away the blossoms that thrive in early-spring to plant a brand new crop of flowers that flourish in late-spring’s hotter temperatures.
That is nice for these visitors visiting in the course of the concluding weeks of the Competition, as they don’t have to fret about seeing a bunch of wilted flowers. It’s lovely in the course of the Competition’s complete run.
Though there are recent choices annually, typically not a ton differs from yr to yr. The identical character topiaries are used yr in and yr out (with a number of exceptions), and a lot of the new content material consists of thinly veiled promotional items for upcoming Disney movies.
Personally, we expect it will be good to see investments in altering the topiary designs that haven’t modified within the final 10 years or so, however when you’re a first-timer, these will clearly nonetheless be recent to you.
The Outside Kitchens are one other spotlight, and whereas these are an apparent try and capitalize on the colossal success of the Meals & Wine Competition, so what? Meals & Wine Competition is extremely in style with visitors, so why not incorporate components of it into different occasions of the yr?
The most effective issues Disney does are mutually helpful for it and visitors. We love the meals cubicles at Meals & Wine Competition, so we expect these are a strong addition to the Flower & Backyard Competition. For those who disagree with us, you possibly can merely ignore the meals cubicles. No hurt, no foul.
General, Epcot’s Flower & Backyard Competition is a extremely beautiful occasion. There’s an honest quantity to do on the Flower & Backyard Competition, and one thing that may enchantment to everybody. It’s our third favourite time of yr to go to Epcot, after the Competition of Holidays and newer Competition of the Arts (however forward of Meals & Wine Competition).
Whether or not you’re a primary time visitor or a seasoned veteran of Walt Disney World, visiting throughout Epcot’s Flower & Backyard Competition is lots of enjoyable. Epcot is at its most lovely throughout Flower & Backyard Competition, and you may take pleasure in a lot of what’s provided in the course of the occasion with out spending something further. Epcot smells and appears great, and there are lots of distinctive choices, shows, and photographic alternatives.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing it is advisable know!
Your Ideas
Have you ever ever been to Epcot Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition? What do you assume are the highlights? Are favourite meals, demonstrations, or different points of the occasion? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation for the occasion? Are you contemplating attending the 2025 EPCOT Worldwide Flower & Backyard Competition? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
