Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at EPCOT!

And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right on in!

EPCOT Entertainment Update

Flower and Garden Festival

We can’t believe that the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is already kicking off later this week! We already know there’s going to be amazing entertainment and even BETTER food booths this year. As we were walking through the park, we noticed that the tent for the Butterfly Garden near The Land had already started to be set up ahead of the festival.

When it opens to guests, they will be able to admire plants as well look at the butterflies having free-roam inside the tent during their visit!

There have been plenty of topiaries practically popping up overnight in EPCOT for the festival as well (some more creepy than cute). And, we couldn’t help but stop and admire the Three Caballeros Topiaries singing their little plant hearts out!

We’ve especially been missing José, Panchito, and Donald as they take a hiatus from their stage show on the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion (we’ll swing back around to that).

But, those aren’t the ONLY topiaries you can find for the Flower and Garden Festival! Check out the full list below!

Take a look at the rest of the topiaries you can find in EPCOT right now!

Gran Fiesta Tour

It’s been quite the journey for the Gran Fiesta Tour recently. At one point, the the Donald Duck animatronic from the final scene of the ride had been replaced a plant, which was then updated to a sombrero.

He was eventually removed altogether before ALL of the Three Caballeros animatronics were switched out for cardboard cutouts. We were hoping that maybe our beloved trio had return to the Gran Fiesta Tour, but it appears as though they’re taking a prolonged break from the limelight for now.

Maybe they’re vacationing in Disney World too? Or, they could even be posing as those EPCOT Flower and Garden topiaries… .

Nothing to See Here, Move Along! This EPCOT Ride is Missing Something…AGAIN

Cool Wash

If you’re on the lookout for a place to get off your feet or have your afternoon snack, you’ll want to head over to the latest seating area near Cool Wash!

In honor of the Flower and Garden Festival, there is gorgeous greenery surrounding the area with tables, benches, and more for a scenic spot.

There are also umbrellas so you can pop out of the Florida sun for a moment before you continue to make your way around EPCOT!

Yes, This Disney World Refreshment Stand Still Exists!

EPCOT Construction Update

Spaceship Earth

When we walked over to Spaceship Earth, we noticed something was looking a little bit different in front of the EPCOT centerpiece. It wasn’t the entryway fountains and pylons or the colorful Leave a Legacy displays, but instead there was a more subtle change.

Previously, the flagpoles in front of Spaceship Earth were only on the left-hand side of the attraction. Now, though, you can find them installed on the right side as well!

Since Disney is still moving forward with its huge EPCOT Transformation, the entrance continues to receive changes ahead of its finished product.

Learn more about the EPCOT Transformation!

Harmonious

Each time we’ve made our way over to EPCOT, we’ve kept our eye on the Harmonious barges on the World Showcase Lagoon. As new barges continue to pop up as part of the nighttime spectacular, Disney’s latest addition to the construction is the BIGGEST yet!

We’ve continued to learn all about what Harmonious will bring to EPCOT when it debuts, but we’ve also seen the six-story-tall centerpiece arrive in the World Showcase Lagoon! The centerpiece will support a high-density water curtain, fountains, and more during the day and as part of the nighttime spectacular.

Since the centerpiece is so massive, you can spot it from a distance walking towards the World Showcase. You can see how big the ring is compared to Spaceship Earth behind it!

We’ll have to keep an eye and ear out for any other news about Harmonious (especially about its possible debut date during Disney World’s 50th anniversary)!

Take a look at the latest details on Harmonious here!

EPCOT Crowd Update

Crowds and Lines

It was a BUSY weekend in EPCOT as crowds made their way around Future World and the World Showcase!

Yet, the crowds started to disperse a bit outside around 1PM-2PM when it was the peak heat of the day. Most people went inside to find shade, which did affect the queues we saw heading into buildings.

Over at the Mexico Pavilion, the backstage line for La Cava del Tequila’s margaritas was extra long…

…while many of the other quick-service food locations also had extended queues throughout the park.

(Caramels at Karamell-Küche are worth waiting for, though.)

Spring Break Crowds Are ALREADY in Disney World

Wait Times

Even when the crowds were heavy during our visit to the park, we did find a few lower wait times throughout the day! Guests could take a trip under the sea at The Seas with Nemo and Friends with only a 10 minute wait…

…go on a high-speed adventure in one of the Test Track cars with a 35 minute wait…

…or journey through space and time on Spaceship Earth with a 20 minute wait.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on crowds as Spring Break approaches!

Take a look at the average wait times in Disney World this week!

Well, that’s all for this What’s New at EPCOT! We’ll catch you next time for more updates. And, if you have any questions about your Disney vacation, let us know so we can help you find the answers!

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What are you looking forward to seeing the most in EPCOT? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Hmm…There’s Something DIFFERENT About EPCOT’s Entrance! first appeared on the disney food blog.