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Florida Warms For Flower & Garden Fest

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

As if Disney had some magical control over the seasons, this weekend kicked off the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival and the weather was finally great.

It’s been a rough winter everywhere, so the colors of spring are a welcome sight. Of course the Disney gardens always look amazing but they go way over the top for this event every year. The fan favorite topiaries, butterfly garden and “Flower Power” musical acts are back. There is also a special food event weekends in Garden Town at the former Wonders of Life. You can read all about it by downloading your own 2010 Festival Guide here.

The weather should be ideal through the closing on May 14th. If it isn’t we can all recall when the original concept called for a dome over EPCOT.

Tags: Flower & Garden Festival
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See The Wonders of EPCOT Flower Festival Life

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

The former Wonders of Life pavilion is open weekends during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. It features presentations by a variety of horticulture experts. Oddly enough they set up seating areas for those while closing of the stage areas built into the pavilion with potted plants. There are also specialty items, art and books for sale that seem to be duplicated elsewhere in the park.

The best thing is a very complete video in the former “Making of Me” theater where they are showing “The Making of The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival”.  It details what it takes to do such a massive undertaking like this festival. Things you never get to see like the many greenhouses Disney operates, how they make the topiaries, and the military precision of installing the entrance area landscape in a single night. It’s a long presentation that is narrated by the cast members who actually do the work. The only negative was that the music toward the end repeats way too often. On the other hand the bulk of the music track uses familiar themes found around the park that set a nice pace for the editing. A lot of the footage is from this year, but some archive scenes are evident as well. Including a few of the dreaded Mickey Wand on Spaceship Earth.

It’s well worth walking over to the “Wonders” area. Then when you’re inside wonder if all of the Body Wars and Cranum Command stuff is still behind the temporary walls.

Tags: Flower & Garden Festival, How they do it at EPCOT, New EPCOT Attractions
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EPCOT International Flower, Garden & Playground Festival

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

The amazing array of flowers, topiaries and landscape enhancements is perhaps eclipsed in the eyes of many families with small children by the array of playground equipment installed throughout EPCOT this year. The other amazing thing is that they are not just for looking at. Kids are all over them. Considering that the installations also include “jungle gym” type play areas, I’m surprised that the potential liability didn’t squelch this idea. My youngest son broke his arm when he was in grade school on one of these, and the orthopedist joked that “jungle gyms” were his biggest source of business.

There is no doubt that these are popular areas. I guess I’m just jealous that they didn’t have things like this when I was a kid. Of course if they would let me on there for a while I’d still enjoy it… until the next morning.

Tags: EPCOT World Showcase, Flower & Garden Festival
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The ’09 EPCOT Planting Is Nearly Complete

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

New Flowers Get Watered at EPCOT

The gardens and landscapes at EPCOT have always been amazing. But when this time of year rolls around Disney takes it up to a whole new level. The Flower & Garden Festival starts this week and runs till June. Nearly every large grassy area has been planted with awe inspiring fields of floral finery. Just a week ago this area around the lake was not planted. Toipiaries are in place, and demonstration gardens, outdoor areas and playscapes have sprung up all over. The many specialty kiosks are being stocked and it looks like there will be a lot of garden items available so we can go home and try to imitate what the Disney magicians do.

Of course the “Flower Power” concert series will be in full bloom too.

• Mar. 20 – 22: Davy Jones
• Mar. 27 – 29: Paul Revere and the Raiders
• Apr. 3 – 5: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
• Apr. 10 – 12: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
• Apr. 17 – 19: The Ventures
• Apr. 24 – 26: Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes NEW!
• May 1 – 3: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
• May 8 – 10: Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons
• May 15 – 17: Jose Feliciano
• May 22 – 24: The 5th Dimension
• May 29 – 31: Tony Orlando

Tags: Flower & Garden Festival
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