17th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival for 2010
March 3 - May 16, 2010
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival to Start Earlier Then Ever Before
While the festival will still run 75 days, the earlier start date will allow for more brilliantly colored blooms and give guests the opportunity to put what they learn into practice before spring planting.
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The 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off March 3 – earlier than ever – and continues for 75 days through May 16, 2010, with bold strokes of seasonal color and brand-new topiary whimsy. Last year’s festival began March 18; now Walt Disney World guests get a head start on the gardening season as they explore exhibits and activities geared toward discovery and outdoor fun.
Even before spring has sprung, Donald Duck and his topiary pals set up camp in full floral color to celebrate the Great Outdoors at the Epcot front entrance. The elaborate topiary with a North American theme, live waterfall and pond features Goofy in a fly-fishing misadventure, Daisy Duck roasting marshmallows over a campfire and Pluto in his “pup tent.” It’s a must-stop photo op for guests as soon as they pass through the park turnstiles. Packing more floral punch this year, the festival showcases nearly 100 expertly crafted topiaries -- including a new American Gothic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
“The advantage of starting earlier is that we’ll be able to feature more brilliant color than ever, with richly hued petunias, violas, snapdragons and other hardy flowers,” says festival horticulture manager Eric Darden. “By starting earlier and going through mid-May, it allows more guests than ever to experience the festival and to plan ahead for their spring and summer gardening.”
New Epcot Flower and Garden Festival App
For iPhone and iPod Touch owners there's a new Epcot Flower and Garden Festival app. Pixie Flower offers a quick and easy way to locate all of the great attractions, concerts, presentations and features of this years event. Available for iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later and costs 99¢. To see screen shots or puchase, click here.
New 2010 Flower & Garden Festival pins available at Walt Disney World Resort
Annunal Passholders can get a special Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2010 pin (pictured below) at Pin Central in Epcot beginning March 3. To purchase this pin, Passholders must present a valid Annual Passport and request the pin at the merchandise location's counter. Cost is $11.95.
New This Year!
Special gardens, events and children’s play areas throughout the park offer more reasons to visit the 17th annual festival:
New Community Garden – Come see Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy topiaries gardening in the special community garden. This garden represents the 2010 celebration "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day." The "Fab Five" gather at American Adventure to tend tomatoes, beans, peppers, herbs and other edibles in their first Community Garden for a salute to the many community gardens being planted across the country.
Newly Expanded Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden – Colorful topiaries of Tinker Bell and friends from Walt Disney Pictures’ latest DVD release “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure” will sprinkle pixie dust over this playful, expanded garden for kids. New characters on display with returning fairy favorites are fast-flying, sharp-tongued Vidia and charming Terence, dispenser of pixie dust. Tinker Bell’s Nook has hands-on activities. In a synergistic turn, the Lost Treasure DVD includes a bonus feature on “The Making of the Fairy Garden,” featuring Disney cast members who designed and built Pixie Hollow, along with the movie’s producer and director, who helped plan the garden.
Fawn’s Butterfly House at Pixie Hollow – Formerly known as Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly House, the butterfly garden this year is part of the Expanded Pixie Hollow and named after fairy Fawn from the popular Tinker Bell films. Hundreds of butterflies will flit among the lush foliage, and guests can wander and watch as winged beauties of multiple species light on flowers filled with nectar and as caterpillars emerge from their chrysalis in a special discovery exhibit.
First-Ever American Gothic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse – Topiary experts pull out all the stops to create an American Gothic Mickey and Minnie topiary scene based on the 1930 Grant Wood painting. At World Showcase Plaza.
Watch For These!
Pirates Adventure Zone – Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Croc topiaries will lure young swashbucklers to this interactive space designed for exploration and adventure. Next to the Germany pavilion.
Herbs and Vegetables Home Grown - Canada Pavilion - presented by Rainbird Corporation. Learn how to conserve water wisely.
Green Garden – Learn how to create an environmentally friendly garden that doesn't use much water. Use native plants and recycle.
Cinderellabration - Cinderella's coronation day. Celebrate with the royal court in topiaries.
Throughout the festival, nearly 100 topiaries plus sweeping floral beds and exhibits will decorate the park landscape and showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship of Disney gardeners. A Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion will tell the “love story” of plants and perfume, and the art of bonsai will “wow” guests at the Japan showcase.
Festival highlights also include:
Flower Power concerts – Popular bands will rock the open-air America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. Jose Feliciano is scheduled to kick off the concert series March 5-7. On subsequent weekends, the lineup is slated to feature pop favorites like Davy Jones, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Tony Orlando, former Boston lead singer Fran Cosmo, and other top acts.
Disney Gardening at Home presentations – Disney horticulturists will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity.
The Great American Gardeners series – Gardening celebrities and authors from across the country will reveal their gardening secrets. Opening weekend, Robert Bowden, author and director of lush Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, kicks off the series.
The Garden Town Festival Center – Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend speaker presentations and demonstrations and ask gardening questions of the experts.
Special Festival Celebrations – An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 26-28; a Florida Farmer’s Market celebration is April 23-25, and the popular I Dig Bugs event is set for April 30-May 2.
This photo was taken of the Germany pavilion's miniature train village during Epcot's 2006 International Flower & Garden Festival. As you can see, even it's garden gets a miniature topiary of Snow White.
2010 Flower Power Concert Line-up:
Popular bands will rock the open-air America Gardens Theatre every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m.
To date, this line-up is incomplete and subject to change. Please consult Disney's official web site for the latest up-to-date information.
March 5-7: Jose Feliciano (Light My Fire)
March 12-14: Paul Revere & The Raiders (Good Thing)
March 19-21: David Cassidy (I Think I Love You)
March 26-28: Starship Starring Mickey Thomas (We Built This City)
April 2-4: Tony Orlando (Tie a Yellow Ribbon)
April 9-11: Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone ('m Henry the 8th, I Am)
April 16-18: Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons (Can't Live Without You)
April 23-25: Atlanta Rhythm Section (So Into You)
April 30-May 2: Fran Cosmo (lead singer from Boston; Don't Look Back)
May 7-9: Davy Jones (Daydream Believer)
May 14-16: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (The Twist)
Especially for Kids - Daily Events:
Let's Get Moving – Featuring Evos & Weevos play systems
Find some of your favorite characters from Fantasia, captured in topiary, doing their favorite outdoor activities. Interact in this fun garden where you can climb and explore on these unique play structures for both younger and older children. Evos designed for ages 6 and older and Weevos designed for ages 2 – 5 years old.
Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden – Test Track Walkway – Presented by Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue. See some of your favorite fairies presented in topiary. Play structures designed for kids ages 2 -5. Also found in the garden will be a re-creation of a fairy home as designed by a Pixie Hollow Online fan from a recent contest.
The Princess and the Frog Wedding Bayou – Test Track Walkway – Presented by The Princess and the Frog on Blu-ray and DVD
Kids Activities - Find special hands-on activities for children
Fawn's Butterfly House
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Schedule:
The Making of the Flower & Garden Festival
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Get a "behind the scenes" look at how Disney's Horticulture brings the Festival to life!
Planting Pointers
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm
Join the gardening experts from IFAS at the University of Florida as they present great gardening ideas for everyone.
Great American Gardeners
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm
See informative and entertaining presentations from nationally recognized garden personalities.
March
5-7: Robert Bowden
12-14: Jeff Gillman
19-21: Lynn Coulter
26-28: Maureen Gilmer April
2-4: Douglas Tallamy
9-11: Debra Prinzing
16-18: Susan Belsinger
23-25: Tom & Joani MacCubbin
30: Lee Reich May
1-2: Lee Reich
7-9: Matt Henderson
14-16: Ahmed Hassan
Ask an Expert
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Get your gardening questions answered! "Master Gardeners" from IFAS at the University of Florida will be available to answer your gardening questions.
Disney Gardening at Home
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11:00 am & 2:00 pm
Meet Disney gardening experts as they share tips and secrets you can plant in your own garden. To spread the excitement each demonstration will include hands–on discoveries you'll get to take home. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start of the presentation; seating is based on a first come, first served basis and seating is limited.
March 5, 6, 7: Easy to do Water Features
March 12, 13, 14: Fun Family Gardening Projects
March 19, 20, 21: What's Old is New
March 26, 27, 28: Butterfly House How To-Creating a Pollinator Garden
April 2, 3, 4: Disney's Horticulture Past Festival Favorites
April 9, 10, 11: Irrigation How To
April 16, 17, 18: Creating Backyard Garden Retreats
April 23, 24, 25: Disney's Top Picks for Mixed Containers
April 30 May 1, 2: Tough Plants for Extreme Gardeners
May 7, 8, 9: Growing it Yourself
May 14, 15, 16: Stars of the Show- Must Have Plants with Unique Characteristics
Garden Town Breakfast - Wonders of Life pavilion - March 21, April 18 & May 16
Enjoy a welcome breakfast prepared by chefs that will include a special selection of fresh ingredients from the Land Pavilion. You'll also have the opportunity to learn some garden and culinary techniques from professional horticulturists and chefs. Time is 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Cost is $60 per person plus tax; gratuity is included. Theme park admission required. Call 407-WDW-FEST for reservations.
Special Celebrations
March 26 - 28: Art in the Garden Celebration - Get a unique look at nature through the eyes of “Plein Air” artists and see one-of-a-kind works of art.
April 23 - 25: Fresh From Florida - Visit the ultimate Florida’s Farmer Market in Garden Town.
May 1 -2: I Dig Bugs - Meet experts from Disney’s Animal Kingdom as they share some of their wiggly, wonderful creatures.
* Speakers, presentations and guests are subject to change without notice.
Festival Merchandise:
Take some of the beauty of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival home with you! Find an array of decorative and practical items including:
Posters, T-shirts and limited-edition Disney Trading Pins emblazoned with 2010 Epcot
International Flower & Garden Festival art.
Statuary depicting your favorite Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Bambi, Thumper, Flower and Owl.
Gardening essentials from wide-brimmed hats and professional gardening tools to tote bags and accessories.
Handcrafted wares that celebrate the beauty of the great outdoors.
More information about the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission. Availability is limited for some events. Events may be cancelled at any time.
Click here to see a fun behind the scenes 360° view of the backstage area where topiaries car being created visit the link below (you will have to log into Disney's web site with your sign in ID and password to use the link).
For iPhone and iPod Touch owners there's a new Epcot Flower and Garden Festival app. Pixie Flower offers a quick and easy way to locate all of the great attractions, concerts, presentations and features of this years event. Available for iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later and costs 99¢. To see screen shots or puchase, click 
