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Epcot Flower and Garden 2013

Nightime Magic at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival

12 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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The 20th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has really outdone itself this year with the addition of dining and drinking options at 12 booths around the World Showcase. In addition, there are some special nighttime effects for many of the topiaries, making the Festival a must-visit, day and night. I was so enchanted by a few of these displays, I had to create a special post to share the photos I took at night. I hope you enjoy the gallery of nighttime magic at the Flower and Garden Festival!

Fab 5 topiaries at night

 

Click to enter a slideshow of the images below:

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at night
The monorail station has projections of the Flower & Garden logo, flowers, and butterflies on the monorail track
Fab 5 topiaries at night
The fab 5 still look great at night
Mickey topiary at night
Mickey is ready for a BBQ
Pluto topiary at night
…and so is Pluto!
Phineas and Ferb topiary at night
Phineas and Ferb have color-changing LED lights around them
Tow Mater topiary at night
Tow Mater
Lightning McQueen topiary at night
Lightning McQueen
Epcot's Garden Retreat at night
The Garden Retreat is a lovely seating area, day or night
Tinker Bell topiary at night
Tinker Bell and Periwinkle are the hit of the nighttime gardens
Tinker Bell topiary at night
Color-changing LED lights at the base accent the green laser lights on the fairies
Tinker Bell topiary at night
I could spend all night here!
Tinker Bell topiary at night
Close-up of sparkly Tink
Oz the Great and Powerful Garden
The Oz garden sign looks wonderful at night
Monsters University topiary
The Monsters University scene looks just as great at night
Monsters University topiary
Mike Wazowski, with braces!
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Monsters University topiary
Sully’s back spikes
Monsters University topiary
I love the shadows cast by the Monsters University gate
Monsters University topiary
Close-up of monster hands
Moose in Canada pavilion at night
Lit up moose in the Canada gardens
Beauty and the Beast topiaries at night
Beauty and the Beast
Beast topiary at night
Beast is a little scary as a close-up!
Lotso topiary at night
Lotso looks very happy, but I’d watch out for him…
Lady and the Tramp topiary at night
Lady and the Tramp
China dragon topiary at night
The dragon in China spits mist
China dragon topiary at night
I think the dragon in China should be there year-round
Norway troll topiary at night
A friendly troll?

 

Oz garden poppies
Hand-blown glass poppies in the Oz garden are beautiful at night!

 

Which display is your favorite at night? Mine is definitely Tinker Bell and Periwinkle – the fairy music playing in the background is the perfect touch!

Make sure you see our other posts on the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival!

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Filed Under: Disney Special Events, Photos From the Parks, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: China pavilion, Chinese dragon, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Epcot, Epcot at night, EPCOT Center, Epcot Flower and Garden 2013, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot in Spring, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Goofy, Italy pavilion, Lady and the Tramp, Lotso, Mickey Mouse, Mickey topiary, Mike Wazowski, Minnie Mouse, Monsters University, Night gardens, Norway pavilion, Norway troll, Periwinkle, Phineas and Ferb, pluto, Sully, tinker bell, topiaries, topiary, World Showcase

Epcot’s 20th Flower & Garden Festival in Full, Delicious Bloom!

12 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Epcot International Flower & Garden FestivalThis year marks the 20th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, held in both Future World and World Showcase around Epcot, and known for its larger-than-life topiaries of our favorite Disney characters and scenes. This year is a little different, however, because the creators of the festival have added a big bonus this year, in the form of 12 booths featuring Spring-inspired culinary dishes and fruit-infused beers, wines and other adult beverages, as well as some non-alcoholic options. As a fan of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, I think this is a wonderful addition. With 12 booths, it’s not overwhelming to World Showcase, and the offerings are completely unique and new to the Flower & Garden Festival. This addition of food and wine was 5 years in the making, and I think worth every minute of planning. The items offered are focused on fresh, light flavors, or those reminiscent of the coming summer – as found in the Smokehouse area of the American pavilion. I haven’t had a chance to try all the options yet, but so far my favorite was the “Frushi” or fruit sushi – fresh fruit rolled inside coconut rice. It’s not too sweet, it’s just perfect!

As far as the drink options, the biggest buzz is for the Dole Whip with a shot of Siesta Key spiced rum. I gave this a try – for research purposes of course – and it was a very unique experience. Unless you are a huge fan of rum by itself, I recommend mixing it all up so it’s like a frozen drink vs. trying to drink the rum alone. My favorite adult offering of the festival is the sparkling brut with elderflower syrup, found in the German booth. It was so yummy! I’ll let you discover your own favorites as you stroll around the World Showcase promenade – but don’t forget to visit the Festival Center where the Intermissions Cafe has its own set of drinks and snacks to try.

Dole Whip with Rum

With the addition of the food and wine selections, the Flower & Garden Festival also borrows the passport which is so popular during the Food & Wine Festival. Guests can pick up a Garden Passport at the Festival Center (make sure to get your first stamp there!) and then get a stamp at each garden location and food booth around the festival. It’s a fun activity for adults and kids alike!

Speaking of kids, my 4 year-old tested out all of the kids play areas and gave his thumbs up for the Radiator Springs garden and the Oz garden, both featuring some really fun playground equipment to climb, jump, and explore, as well as comfy seating for parents to supervise. The Tinker Bell and Friends Butterfly House is a perfect theme for the butterfly gardens, and a great learning opportunity with chrysalis collections and new butterflies emerging daily.

Radiator Springs garden

Also be sure to check out the Festival Center over in the former Wonders of Life pavilion, for some great hands-on demonstrations and seminars from the festival sponsor, HGTV. I got to see a sneak peek of some of the seminars from HGTV stars, and guests were learning about some great planting tips and even getting to plant their own little garden starter. The Festival Center also features the fun new Epcot Flower and Garden merchandise for the 2013 – including the Vera Bradley and Disney handbag preview.

Later today I’ll be featuring some of the amazing nighttime gardens, which are another plus this year at the festival and gives some areas an entirely different look than in the day. Until then, because of the sheer number of topiaries, food, play areas, and more at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, I made a flickr set to share all the photos I took. I didn’t include photos of everything…you’ll need to get over to Epcot and check out all the delicious fun in person! Right now there over 200 photos in the see. Enjoy!

 

Monsters University topiary
Here’s a sneak peek at the topiaries at night!

And don’t forget the Flower Power concert series, featuring some classic acts which are the perfect accompaniment to the flowers and food found around Epcot. I got a chance to meet Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, and he was thrilled to be a part of the concert series, and hopes to return each year. I hope to see you around the World Showcase lagoon and all of Epcot, enjoying all there is to see at the 20th International Flower and Garden Festival!

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

 

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Filed Under: Disney Dining, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney characters, Dole Whip, Dole whip with rum, Epcot Flower and Garden 2013, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Festival, fresh fruit, frushi, Future World, kids play areas, Oz garden, Radiator Springs Garden, smokehouse, Tinker Bell butterfly house, topiaries, World Showcase

NEW Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Merchandise!

7 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Flower and Garden Festival

This Wednesday was the first day of Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2013 and I was, of course, very excited to check out the new merchandise! Every year the festival features some newly designed merchandise while also bringing back old favorites. Even though our weather here in Orlando has been on the cooler side lately the festival merchandise really gives you that spring feeling!

Flower and Garden Festival
Strawberry Mickey Mouse Ears $19.95
Flower and Garden Festival
Ladybug Minne Mouse Ears Headband $22.95
Flower and Garden Festival
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Women’s Minnie T-shirt
Flower and Garden Festival
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Kid’s T-shirt $21.95
Flower and Garden Festival
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Adult T-shirt $24.95
Flower and Garden Festival
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Mickey “Mow and Grow” T-shirt
Garden Festival Bag
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Mickey Tote $4.95
Garden Festival Bag
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Minnie Drawstring Bag $21.95
Garden Festival Mug
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Mickey/Minnie Coffee Mug $12.95
Garden Festival
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 decanter $16.95
Garden Festival Print
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Official Print $39.95
Garden Festival Magnet
Flower and Garden Festival 2013 Magnet
Garden Festival stone
Mickey Mouse “Welcome” Garden Stone
Garden Festival statue Grumpy
Flower and Garden Festival Grumpy Garden Statues $29.95
Garden Festival statue Dopey
Flower and Garden Festival Dopey Garden Statues $29.95
Garden Festival statue Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell Garden Stepping Stone $34.95
Garden Festival statue Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell Garden Statue $49.95
Garden Festival statue Pin
Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival 2013 Jumbo Pin LE 500 $54.95
Garden Festival statue Pin
Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival 2013 Minnie Mouse Pin LE 5000 $15.95
Garden Festival statue Pin
Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival 20th Anniversary Pin $14.95
Garden Festival statue Pin
Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival 2013 Lady & Tramp Pin LE 5000 $14.95

 

 

 

 

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will be held from March 6 – May 19. The place with the best selection of Flower & Garden merchandise is the Festival Center, but you can also find some merchandise around World Showcase and inside Mouse Gear. We’ll be featuring an upcoming post in the next few days covering all the beautiful topiaries and the new food and drink booths added this year, so stay tuned!

So which Flower and Garden merchandise are you most excited to purchase? I will definitely be picking up a pair of LadyBug Minnie Mouse Ears!

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Disney, Disney Merchandise, Disney News, Disney parks, Disney Special Events, Epcot, Epcot Flower and Garden 2013, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, flower and garden, Flower and Garden Festival, flower and garden festival 2013, flowers, garden, gardening, Mickey ears, Minnie Mouse, shopping, special event, Walt Disney World, World Showcase

Vera Bradley Partners With Disney for New Handbags and Accessories

5 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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That’s right, Disney has done it again, partnering with an extremely popular fashion brand to make a winning combination of style and whimsy. With the incredible success of the Disney Dooney & Bourke collaboration, it’s no surprise that Vera Bradley was next in line for a Disney twist. I know as I walked through the parks, Vera Bradley is what I see most aside from the Disney Dooneys. Now, I think the parks will be a colorful, floral explosion of Disney fun!

For those unfamiliar with Vera Bradley, the designs are known for floral and bold, colorful prints in a soft fabric style. Each bag usually has as much function as it does form, with pockets for cell phones, strap options, and, best of all – they are machine washable! I know that is a big concern with accessories you take on a vacation, especially to Disney Parks where bags can take a beating getting put in and out of attractions. I think the Vera Bradley and Disney partnership will be a long and successful one!

Vera Bradley Disney Prints
Photo ©Disney

Here is some more information from Steven Miller’s Disney Parks Blog post today:

Disney Theme Park Merchandise worked closely with Vera Bradley to develop two new patterns that will appear on items this fall. I spoke with Cathy Dawson, merchandiser for accessories at Disney Parks, about these colorful additions. “We are thrilled to introduce Vera Bradley to our accessories assortment,” exclaimed Cathy.

“In recent years, we’ve seen several guests in our parks and resorts sporting fun, colorful bags by Vera Bradley. Even our Disney Cruise Line team recently added some items by Vera Bradley to the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. We thought it would be wonderful to add a splash of Disney to these popular and colorful accessory items.”

The new Disney-inspired patterns have names, which is something Vera Bradley does for all of their patterns. Cathy said the black pattern is called “Midnight with Mickey,” while the pink pattern is named “Just Mousing Around.” These patterns will be seen on duffel bags, totes, cosmetic bags and more.

Vera Bradley Disney Prints
“Mousing Around” and “Midnight with Mickey” patterns – photo ©Disney

When released this fall, guests will find these items at select locations in Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. They will also be sold via the Disney Parks online store at a future date.

What do you think of the new collaboration? Are you a current Vera Bradley fan or will this make you a convert?

 

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Filed Under: Disney Merchandise, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: accessories, colorful bags, colorful prints, Disney Cruise Line, Disney designer bags, Disney Merchandise, Disney merchandise news, Disney parks, Disney purses, Disney Vera bags, Disney Vera Bradley, Epcot Flower and Garden 2013, handbags, Midnight With Mickey, Mousing Around, soft fabric, Steven Miller, vera bradley, Vera Bradley Disney prints, Vera Bradley handbags, Vera Bradley Mickey Mouse

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