The backyard of the Disney Play House Experience was completely furnished by Disney Store. One of the hallmarks of the original store design was a centralized mountain of plush, known as Plush Mountain. But since this is a backyard, it became a Plush Pool! Take a cuddly (and dry) swim of your own when you bring […]
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Welcome to the Super Heroes Assemble Lounge, part of the Disney Play House Experience, a showcase of ways to bring your Marvel fandom home by Disney Consumer Products. The lounge offered boundless opportunities to spend time with your favorite Marvel heroes, from roleplay items for kids and kidults, to home decor and ways to fuel your […]
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Disney has promoted Danyel Mendoza to vice president of Programming Strategy & Content Planning for Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney XD.
Mendoza has worked for Disney for 27 years, working her way up from senior manager in Broadcast Services to director of Multiplatform Programming Strategy & Content Planning for Disney Channels and National Geographic. In her last position, she was responsible for directing brand, content, and platform strategies across nonlinear platforms for kids’ television networks. She also helped strategize the relaunch of National Geographic Kids on YouTube and implemented short-form strategy for Disney Television Animation original anthology shorts.
Mendoza will continue to report to Christian Drobnyk, executive VP of Programming FX, National Geographic, Freeform & Disney Branded Television.
Danyel has exceptional expertise in our kid-targeted content, platforms and franchise business, and is a true team player working collaboratively across the company to develop, launch and grow key multi-platform priorities.
Christian Drobnyk
Mendova’s purview has expanded to both nonlinear and linear platforms, aligning the planning and strategy teams into one. She will work with the Direct-to-Consumer Programming teams on mitigating content from branded networks to Disney+ and Hulu.
In other recent The Walt Disney Company shakeups, we learned that Sean Bailey was stepping down as President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production after 15 years. Searchlight co-president David Greenbaum is replacing him as the new President of Live Action and 20th Century Studios.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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The 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is underway, and global gardens have arrived at EPCOT, filling the park with beautiful blooms.
New for this year are the PB&J Garden presented by Smucker’s Uncrustables, China Penjing Garden, and Gnome Garden.
Connect with the earth and each other at this celebration of a diverse and thriving communal garden plot.
The Community Garden is located in World Discovery, behind Connections Eatery. The Donald Duck topiary is in this garden, which showcases how a community can come together to cultivate the land.
Perfect for growing a wide range of plants, these ingenious gardens can be found in areas as different as a blacktop parking lot or an open field.
Next to the Donald topiary is a pot labeled as growing tomatoes.
Admire thousands of flowers that form colorful, living panoramas.
The festival blooms are large flowerbeds along World Showcase lagoon. Flowers are arranged to look like a tapestry of giant florals and butterflies.
Settle into this thoughtful garden full of floral inspirations for your indoor spaces.
These indoor flower arrangements can be found near Connections Eatery.
They feature a blend of tropical plants and flowers.
Guests can sit inside and relax among the vegetation.
Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your own backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.
Songbird Meadow can be found in World Discovery.
This garden highlights different birds and the plants that can act as both their food and shelter.
One of the birds featured in the garden is the Eastern Bluebird.
The Northern Cardinal is also highlighted with a sign detailing facts about the bird.
Other fun facts are sprinkled throughout the garden area.
Guests are encouraged to grow native plants near their homes to help the wildlife in their area.
One of the flowers you can spot in this garden is the strawflower.
A collection of bird feeders has been installed to attract local birds.
Here, you can see saw palmetto plants.
Bright orange cosmos are also planted in the garden.
Guests can learn about Purple Martins, a bird with a rich history at EPCOT.
Songbirds aren’t nature’s virtuosos! Bats also have their own unique sound, which is ultrasonic and much too high for humans to hear.
By inviting songbirds into your garden, you can ensure their music will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Bring the entire family to explore this camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.
Located near Creations Shop in World Discovery, the garden of Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play! features a canoe filled with flowers.
The garden welcomes guests into an interactive playground area.
Imagine life on Earth 65 million years ago with astounding plant life that’s thrived since the age of the dinosaurs.
At Prehistoric Garden, guests can experience plants that were around when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It can be found near Mission: SPACE in World Discovery.
This collection includes the Norfolk Island Pine. Throughout the garden, you can also spot metal dinosaurs. Before the festival’s start, tiny plastic dinosaurs roamed the planters, but were promptly removed.
Here, we have the Crocodile Fern and Eyelash Fern.
Next up is the Sundew and Spike Moss.
A group of Venus Fly Traps are at the front of one planter.
King Sago and Rabbit Foot Fern are planted among the dinosaurs.
Peer upon more than 170 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase.
The floating plants can be found in all of the bodies of water around the bridge to World Showcase.
Together with the Festival Blooms, they add a great deal of color to EPCOT.
Observe a variety of unique and colorful plants that can adapt to a wide range of climates and conditions.
Look out for this garden right behind The Land Pavilion sign in World Nature.
Bromeliads can be found in an astounding variety of locations from dry, rocky hillsides to tall trees in the rainforest.
The tropical plants stand tall.
Bromeliads grow in several bright colors, like purple and red.
View a kaleidoscope of butterflies up close, in all their extraordinary color. Learn about butterfly lifecycles and maybe even see one emerge from its chrysalis. Closes at dusk.
Guests enter into an enclosed, tent-like structure to experience Butterfly Landing, located near the Imagination! Pavilion in World Nature.
Butterflies of all types can be found inside.
Guests are asked not to touch the butterflies they find.
The winged insects fly freely in the enclosed space.
Plants that attract butterflies, like the Blanket Flower, can be found inside.
Walt Disney World is breeding Atala butterflies, once believed to be extinct in Florida, and releasing them to their native habitat.
Guests are advised on how to plant their own butterfly habitat through diagrams inside the exhibit.
One display shows caterpillars that have grown their chrysalises, waiting to emerge as butterflies.
Learn about honeybees’ critical role in the environment, and delight in sweet and savory treats made possible by their hard work.
Found at the Rosewalk near the Imagination! Pavilion, in The Honey Bee-stro Garden, guests can develop a deeper understanding of our relationship with bees.
Here, you can compare your height with various amounts of bees.
Guests can test their bee knowledge with lift-the-flap quizzes on this display.
This photo opportunity allows guests to become flowers themselves.
There are tables for guests to enjoy their festival foods within the garden.
The Canna flower is part of Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration.
Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
On World Showcase Bridge, you’ll find a collection of flowers known for their scents in Blossoms of Fragrance.
The signs are scented with opportunities to smell fragrances created with the planted flowers.
Three butterfly topiaries can be found here, as well.
Follow your nose and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances.
Also on the World Showcase Bridge is the PB&J Garden, new for this year’s festival.
There are fun facts related to the flavors of Smucker’s Uncrustables, who sponsor the garden.
Uncover the rich biodiversity of the Mexican rainforest and learn about its highly adaptive species.
Outside of the Mexico Pavilion, guests can learn all about the tropical rainforest.
Warm, wet regions around the equator are optimal for plant growth.
The garden breaks down the different layers of the rainforest, starting with the forest floor.
Next is the understory layer, which is home to orchids and bromeliads.
This area is filled with colorful orchids.
The canopy area is considered the roof of the rainforest.
Guests can look up for a taste of the canopy layer.
The garden is right next to the main building of the pavilion.
Discover the special adaptations that allow plants in arid climates to adjust to the harshest of growing conditions.
Also at the Mexico Pavilion is the Desert Garden, which focuses on the succulents and cacti that grow in the driest of areas.
The garden is made up of plants that can survive in those desert climates.
Another one of Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration plants can be found here.
Visit this garden to see bamboo in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes.
At the China Pavilion, you can find a small Bamboo Garden.
Discover ancient Chinese art that recreates miniature landscapes.
New to the festival this year is the China Pavilion’s China Penjing Garden.
Each of the plants displayed is its own miniature landscape.
Discover topiary versions of magical garden gnomes, originating from German folk tales.
Also new to Flower & Garden this year is the Gnome Garden in the Germany Pavilion.
Each one of the three gnomes wears a hat covered in different greenery.
Appreciate the little things in this showcase of diminutive dwellings nestled in a forest of fine shrubs.
The Germany Pavilion is also home to the Miniature Garden, which is inspired by the nearby Garden Railway.
Miniature cottages on display are made of all sorts of items found in nature.
This one utilizes pinecones and small twigs.
On this cottage, you can spot acorns and pebbles.
Here, pieces of wood and twigs have been used for assembly.
From fresh spaghetti sauce to pizza toppings, this Tuscan kitchen garden features all the produce and herbs needed to create a classic Italian feast.
In the Italy Pavilion, Garden Italiano is filled with herbs used in Italian cuisine.
The herbs are not labeled, but it is noted that it’s a Tuscan garden.
Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating peace and balance with the earth.
The Bonsai Collection can be found in the Japan Pavilion.
In the ancient Japanese art of bonsai, trees and shrubs are cultivated with exquisite care to create miniature likenesses of much larger trees.
This is a 22-year-old Pithecellobuim tortum.
A 60-year-old Plinia caulifora is also on display.
More bonsai can be found deeper in the pavilion.
There is another bonsai garden outside of Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya.
Admire fresh expressions of an ancient Japanese art at this tranquil garden.
Kokedama Garden shares the art of kokedama, or ornamental plants made using string and moss, and no planter.
The flowers in this area are shades of pink and blue.
Guests can learn to make their own kokedama, which translates to “moss ball.”
Guests can keep an eye out for a hidden Mickey and Minnie within the kokedama.
Contemplate the methodical movement and soothing rhythm of this traditional Japanese bamboo water fountain.
The third garden in Japan is Shishi-odoshi, which translates to “scare deer.”
The water fountains were originally made to scare off any wildlife attempting to graze in the gardens.
The tubes are made of bamboo that slowly fill with water. When there’s enough water for the tubes to tip, they’ll make a thumping sound, alarming any nearby animals.
This garden also has bamboo wind chimes.
Discover how Eastern cultures flourished, trading signature spices and herb blends once considered more valuable than gold.
The Morocco Pavilion’s Spice Garden is a collection of different spices.
Parsley is growing in one planter.
Another planter grows ginger.
See bountiful blooms perfect for a bouquet of cut flowers.
France’s Bouquet Garden celebrates the flowers used to make decorative arrangements.
There is a wide array of flowers you could put in a bouquet, like Fern Leaf Lavender.
The colorful garden continues with Gerbera Daisies.
There are rows of different flowers to be found in the pavilion.
Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea garden—featuring plants used in some of Twinings’ finest blends.
Over at the United Kingdom Pavilion, the English Tea Garden gives guests a look at the plants that go into making their favorite tea flavors.
Each plant is in a teacup-shaped planter, complete with its own “tea bag.” This display is for Lady Grey Flavoured Black Tea.
This teacup holds Peach & Orange.
Guests can learn about how tea leaves are produced.
Explore the works of Shakespeare in this idyllic garden featuring excerpts from some of the bard’s most famous sonnets—and the dazzling flowers that influenced them.
Also in the United Kingdom Pavilion is the Shakespeare Garden, which honors the works of William Shakespeare, and the plants that inspired him.
A bust of Shakespeare sits at the center of the garden, which can be found next to the pavilion’s recently renovated restrooms.
“Hamlet” includes quite a few flowers with significant meanings.
This passage from “Hamlet” mentions rosemary.
A potted rosemary can be found nearby.
This passage from “Hamlet” mentions a willow.
A weeping willow stands nearby.
Perhaps Shakespeare’s most famous use of flowers comes in “Romeo and Juliet,” with the mention of the rose.
The “What’s in a name?” passage from “Romeo and Juliet” is quoted on this sign in the garden.
Marvel at the intricate and varied techniques employed by the Walt Disney World Horticulture team to create the festival’s fantastically shaped topiaries.
The Topiary Heritage Garden highlights three styles of topiary: Free-form, standard, and shrub.
Topiaries have a long history in the Disney Parks, thanks to Walt Disney’s vision. Landscape architect Bill Evans’ quotes are found throughout this area, to give guests a deeper understanding of the art form.
A shrub topiary of Mickey Mouse stands at the center of the garden.
A single shrub topiary can take up to ten years to produce.
There is an elephant topiary as an example of the shrub style.
This tree is an example of a standard topiary style.
“It’s not only necessary to find new plants; you have to preserve the older ones. If they’re not written up, they’re not grown.”
Bill Evans
Another sculpted tree can be found in the pavilion.
“A building doesn’t yield to the breeze. I can see the life in the trees by the way they move.”
Bill Evans
Which of the Global Gardens is your favorite from this year’s festival? Let us know in the comments below.
Check out all of the topiaries on display for the 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs now through May 27, 2024.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post PHOTOS: All Global Gardens at 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival appeared first on WDW News Today.
Electronic Arts, the video game publisher better known simply as EA, has reportedly laid off 5% of its workforce and canceled a planned Star Wars game, according to The Wrap. EA is laying off 670 staffers, which CEO Andrew Wilson wrote in a memo to staff on Wednesday: “As a company full of creators and storytellers, […]
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Connections Cafe & Eatery is a standard quick service location in EPCOT, but they have something special for this year’s 2024 Flower & Garden Festival.
Connections Cafe & Eatery
Come with us to see what Connections Cafe & Eatery has to offer for the park’s springtime celebration! Come by here while enjoying the Festival’s famous Disney topiaries, garden displays, and entertainment. Are these festival eats worth the stop? Let’s find out.
Let’s take a look at what’s new this year and what’s returning to Connections Cafe & Eatery for the Flower & Garden Festival!
At Connections Cafe & Eatery, we spy a cute returning treat and two new items! If you’ve got an appetite, Connections Cafe has you covered with its Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich.
Connections Menu
Looking for a new sip? Try the Blood Orange-Hibiscus Margarita!
Connections Menu
The Orange Bird Liege Waffle is back!
Connections Menu
Let’s dig in!
Did you think an EPCOT festival would pass without a new liege waffle? You can find the Orange Bird Liege Waffle at Connections Cafe! There’s also the:
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich: Southern-fried chicken sandwich with hot honey and pickles
Blood Orange Hibiscus Margarita pic.twitter.com/S7YhQGmMuh
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 28, 2024
First up, we grabbed a new item, the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich.
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
This is a Southern-fried chicken sandwich with hot honey and pickles on a brioche bun and served with fries.
Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
The chicken sandwich is really good, but there is a catch — it’s not hot! Not even “Disney-hot”! When we tried it, we didn’t taste even the slightest amount of heat, which could be a benefit for some risk-averse eaters.
Looking for that promised heat…
Our chicken could’ve been a little crispier in some parts, but overall, we thought it was very tasty! The sandwich is dripping in honey which makes it super sweet and incredibly flavorful. The pickles on the bottom and the mix of veggies and slaw on top provide delightful flavors as well as an excellent crunch texture, all while giving the sandwich a nice freshness.
Yum!
Overall, we thought this was one of the better options on the Connections menu and is a full meal in a festival where full meals are hard to find. You can grab this tasty dish for $12.49.
Next up, we grabbed the adorable returning Orange Bird Liege Waffle.
Orange Bird Liege Waffle
The Liege Waffle is a staple at this location, but for the Flower and Garden Festival, it gets an Orange Bird makeover! The Orange Bird Liege Waffle is back from last year’s festival.
Last year, we thought it deserved points for style because it is CUTE, but in terms of flavor — it’s…well…kinda just your regular Liege waffle. That’s not necessarily a “bad” thing because the liege waffle is one of our favorite breakfast-y treats in EPCOT, thanks to that yummy brioche dough.
Orange Bird Liege Waffle
We actually enjoyed this little guy a bit more this year! The treat is pretty sweet but the waffle is incredibly light and fluffy — like eating a cloud! The icing was also sweet but not overwhelming and the sprinkles texture are fine, but neither help nor harm the treat overall. We would still recommend the Liege waffle with starwberries over this one, but it’s still pretty good.
You can grab it for $4.19.
And to go along with your dishes…
In terms of drinks on this menu, we’ve got one new item to sip on! We’re trying the Blood Orange Hibiscus Margarita.
Blood Orange Hibiscus Margarita
This cocktail is made with Teremana Tequila with hibiscus, blood orange syrup, and orange juice.
Blood Orange Hibiscus Margarita
The margarita is a mix of interesting flavors (in a good way) and hides the alcohol well enough to make it more accessible to people who don’t want to be overwhelmed with the taste of alcohol in their drinks. It’s very light and refreshing, but does some have tartness due to the blood orange. It still has that taste of alcohol, but this could be one of the lighter drinks you find at the festival.
You can grab this margarita for $15.
Connections Cafe & Eatery does just enough with its festival offerings this year to satisfy both the appetite and the palate. While nothing is standout, these Flower & Garden offerings are tasty and made even better by the fact that they are readily available via mobile order. If you stop by Connections to give these new (and returning) snacks a try, leave your review in the comments below!
Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know:
And don’t forget to pick up our EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival e-book! See more details about the book below.
DFB’s Guide to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget and stomach space! Know what’s worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB’s Best of the Fest.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating this one of the most BEAUTIFUL festivals at Disney World, including:
Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB’s exclusive recommendations!
The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don’t have to go hunting for all the dates!)
All the details on special events, topiaries, festival exclusive merchandise, and more!See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival
Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages
Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival
CONFIRMED: These 6 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival
What do you think about the Connections Cafe & Eatery? Tell us in the comments.
The post REVIEW: A Popular EPCOT Restaurant Has 2 NEW Menu Items for the Flower & Garden Festival! first appeared on the disney food blog.
The fun at the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival doesn’t end when the sun goes down!
Spaceship Earth
Not only can you rock out to the Garden Rocks concert series but you’ll also want to check out this year’s nighttime show on Spaceship Earth!
Disney debuted the Beacons of Magic shows for the 50th Anniversary celebrations, and even though that celebration has ended, the beautiful lights on Spaceship Earth remain! Each time a new festival rolls around, the Spaceship Earth show gets a bit of a makeover.
So pretty!
We’ve seen Muppets-themed shows, Beauty and the Beast-themed shows, and more. For the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival, there’s an Encanto show! The song “What Else Can I Do?” plays while floral patterns and other shapes light up Spaceship Earth. (Encanto was also featured at the Spaceship Earth show for this festival last year!)
“What Else Can I Do?”
The lights in the World Celebration Gardens coordinate with the show, too, including the pretty lights on the ground!
Spaceship Earth is putting on a show in the World Celebration Gardens area to help close out the first day of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival!
(Figgy really does have the best seat in the house) pic.twitter.com/O22qPqUvNL
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 28, 2024
We caught the show on the festival’s first night, and are still amazed by these glowing lights every time we see them!
<3
Make sure you add the Spaceship Earth show to your festival to-do list if you want to catch this incredible display of music and lights. The show happens nightly once it gets dark and generally runs continuously throughout the evening. The regular Beacons of Magic show and the Colors of the Wind show also play each evening.
Just imagine you’re sitting here with your family, you’re full on all of your favorite snacks, you’re enjoying one last DOLE whip, and Colors of the Wind plays on Spaceship Earth before you head out of the park.
What. A. Day.
pic.twitter.com/WrzLAWPEYe
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 28, 2024
We’ve been making our way around the festival all day and you can see every single food review and more entertainment at the link below.
Stay tuned to DFB for all your Flower & Garden Festival needs!
DFB’s Guide to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget and stomach space! Know what’s worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB’s Best of the Fest.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating this one of the most BEAUTIFUL festivals at Disney World, including:
Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB’s exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don’t have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, topiaries, festival exclusive merchandise, and more!See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival
Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages
Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival
CONFIRMED: These 6 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival
What are you looking forward to at the Flower & Garden Festival? Let us know in the comments.
The post Don’t Miss the ‘Encanto’-Themed Spaceship Earth Show at the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! first appeared on the disney food blog.
The 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is HERE, and from now until May 27th, you can check out the topiaries, gardens, and most importantly THE FOOD!
Hi Tink!
From February 28th through May 27th, you can enjoy new eats, specialty merchandise, all kinds of entertainment, and SO much more. We’ve been making our way through all of the food booths and sharing detailed reviews with you. But what are the very BEST dishes and drinks at the Festival this year? We’ve got the list you need right here!
Here’s our list of the very BEST eats and drinks at the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival!
The Soy-glazed Sticky Ribs with green onions and peanuts are returning to EPCOT (coming from a previous Food & Wine Festival) for $7. This is the first time we’ve seen this dish as part of the Flower and Garden Festival — how exciting!
Soy-glazed Sticky Ribs
These ribs are PHENOMENAL. We were obsessed with these ribs. They were very savory. They were sticky. You can taste that signature soy flavor, and the jalapeños and peppers that topped our dish weren’t listed on the menu, but we were happy they were there. Sticky, sweet meat with a bright jalapeño topping? YES!
Three words: Toasted. Pretzel. Bread. You can try it for $6. For the sake of reviewing, we’ll go ahead and tell you all about this dish, but really, all you need to know is that this is cheesy bread that tastes as good as it sounds.
Toasted Pretzel Bread
OK, it’s no secret we LOVE cheese here at DFB. This pretzel bread has a combination of melted shredded cheese and gooey fondue. There’s also a black forest ham in the bread, and rest assured, the ham is moist and flavorful. To round it all out, we’re happy to report that the bread is perfectly baked, too. Yeah, this is a TOTAL winner in our book!
Meet the Chocolate Mousse Terrarium, which is made with matcha crumble and chocolate “soil.” You can pick it up for $5.50, and the adorable pictures you’ll get are a free BONUS. 
Chocolate Mousse Terrarium
If this sounds somewhat familiar, you deserve a gold star for a GREAT memory! This dessert appears to be an updated version of what was previously the Chocolate Pudding Terrarium. This year, though, we were SUPER pleased with the taste! Of course, the decorations — including the little flower — were adorable. But the matcha crumble on top was very light and quite subtle. The chocolate filling was creamy, smooth, and rich. It’s sweet but not too sweet. Looking for a fun (PRETTY) chocolate dish? Look no further!
We NEED to talk about the Liquid Nitro Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake. This Fro-Zone style chilled cheesecake comes with fresh honey, granulated honey, honey mead blueberry compote Presented by National Honey Board. You can get it for $5.25.
Liquid Nitro Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake
The first thing we noticed about this dish was the fact that it had a really interesting crystalized thing going on up top. Like a crystalized sugar coating! Underneath that, there was the sweet cheesecake, and then at the bottom, you have a thicker bit of cheesecake that also sort of feels crystalized. We LOVE this dish because of all of those rich flavors and textures.
Don’t sleep on the Honey-glazed Cauliflower for $5! This is made with honey-roasted carrot purée, wild rice pilaf, spring vegetables, honey-blistered grapes, and sunflower brittle. You might be wondering how honey AND cauliflower work together, but we’re here to tell you it’s GREAT!
Honey-glazed Cauliflower
This is such a pretty, hearty plate of food. There was so much here, so in terms of value, this one is automatically a win. It was so warm and hearty with all the cruciferous veggies, and the sunflower brittle added an earthy seediness to the overall dish that made it all work. The honey-roasted carrot purée was sweet and savory at the same time. Overall, this was another NEW hit. Cauliflower for the WIN!
The Sope de Chilorio features Guajillo pepper-braised pork on fried corn shells. The dish, which costs $8.50, is complete with black beans, shredded cabbage, crema Mexicana, queso fresco, and chives.
Sope de Chilorio
Prepare for a bean-forward dish here. It’s nicely spiced without being too spicy, and the cabbage provides a nice crunch. The sope was lightly fried and crunchy while still being soft, and the braised pork had a rich, complex flavor from the peppers but wasn’t spicy. It was pretty tender, too!
Next up is the NEW Ramen Cup for $8.50 — it’s Ramen salad shaken in a cup with fresh vegetables, grilled chicken, and dashi broth with chili oil and yuzu. This is NOT the ramen you ate in college! (Thank GOODNESS!)
Ramen Cup
The Ramen is served cold, which that is EXACTLY how we think it should be served. The vegetables are light and bright. We thought the grilled chicken was just fine, but you don’t get a lot of it. The Dashi broth is savory and very robust. We didn’t get much of the chili oil and yuzu flavors, but this is EXACTLY what we needed to eat on a hot Florida day. Talk about a SURPRISE winner!
Behold the IMPOSSIBLE Jamaican Beef Patty with a Spicy Papaya Syrup.
IMPOSSIBLE Jamaican Beef Patty
It costs $6.50, and as you may have guessed, this is a plant-based item at this year’s Festival. Since this is a plant-based item, we noticed it had a meat patty inside instead of loose, ground meat. It had a texture similar to that of a meatball, but the non-traditional aspect of this was offset by the great spices. The crust is nice and flaky. The sauce on top makes this a sweet and spicy dish, but more like a medium spice level. If you like a little amount of spice, we think you’ll enjoy this.
We are thrilled to see the dessert has returned in 2024! What makes this treat especially unique is that it is plant-based. It features a vanilla cake soaked in oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk with toasted coconut. Try it for $5.
Coconut Tres Leches
The coconut flavor, while certainly present, isn’t too overwhelming (though we did find it to be a little more coconut-y this year than before). Plus, the cake is super moist but not to the point of being overly soaked. It was one of our favorite desserts in the entire Festival last year, and we think it could become one of your favorites, too. Plus, it’s part of the Garden Graze food challenge, so you can have a delicious treat AND work your way up to get a prize.
Brunchcot returned to the Festival this year. One particular favorite here is the Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites (formerly at The Sunshine Griddle booth). These lovely little beauties come with cream cheese frosting and candied bacon, and they are EVERYTHING.
Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites
The filling is generous; they’re loaded with cinnamon and sugar, and the cream cheese icing pairs well with all of the flavors. In the past, we’ve felt that the candied bacon didn’t really mix well with the icing, but that didn’t really bother our reporter this year. The flaky pastry combined with the cinnamon sugar was fantastic. We’d happily order a dozen of these in a heartbeat! Try them for yourself for just $5.
Yes, there’s ANOTHER favorite at Brunchcot — the Avocado Toast! Again, this might sound like a dish you can make or get anywhere but believe us when we say this one is worth a try. The dish is made with marinated toybox tomatoes on toasted ciabatta, and it is delicious.
Avocado Toast
We wish that the portion size was bigger for the price, but the avocado is seasoned well, the toppings are wonderful, and the dish is absolutely beautiful. Plus, those fresh tomatoes add an amazing zing. And this is another one on the Garden Graze challenge, so it’s a win/win. Get it this year for $6.
If you didn’t get an Orange Bird Sipper, did you really go to the Flower & Garden Festival? Really, the drink and sipper combo here is a great way to get a delicious drink that’ll cool you down as you walk around EPCOT AND a souvenir that’ll keep you thinking sunny thoughts all day long.
Orange-Lemon Smoothie in a souvenir Orange Bird sipper cup
The Orange-Lemon Smoothie is non-alcoholic (making it again a good pick for the whole family), and it is literally like drinking an orange sherbet or a creamsicle in the BEST way possible. Grab this combo for $15.
You’ve had a classic Mickey beignet. Maybe you’ve even had beignets covered in special toppings. But now there’s another beignet you’ve got to try — the returning Beignet Caramélisé! This amazing dish is made with a caramelized beignet filled with vanilla cream and glazed with caramel fleur de sel, and yes, it’s every bit as good as it sounds (and looks).
Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Se
This treat is thicker than your typical beignet, and the crystallized caramel glaze is INCREDIBLE. Just be warned — that topping can be extra hard and might just chip a tooth, so consider breaking it with your hands or a knife before you bite into it! Still, the risk is worth it because the bread is fluffy, and the filling is wonderfully creamy. If you haven’t tried this already, add it to your must-get list — you can thank us later! Grab it for $6.50.
La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush is a returning drink at the France booth, and it is one you shouldn’t miss! Made with Vodka, Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and white and red cranberry juices, the drink is $14.50, making it pricey but well worth it.
La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush
It’s light, sweet (but not overly so), and incredibly refreshing. Seriously, this is an ideal drink for a hot day in EPCOT, and its pink color makes it great for photos, too.
WOAHHHH. This returning gumbo is one you will not want to miss! The Spicy Chicken Gumbo is made with chicken, andouille sausage, and BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain & Wild Rice and is $6.25. It really surprised us this year.
Spicy Chicken Gumbo
It’s not super spicy, but there is definitely a kick here (which we really enjoyed but could see as being a bit too much for some people). The rice was wonderfully chewy, and the chicken was soft. Overall, the flavors were fiery in a great way. It might be a heavy dish on a super hot day, but it really impressed us!
The Strawberry Rhubarb Upside Down Cake is served with crème fraîche whipped cream for $4.75 and has been one of our favorites for several festivals, now. Luckily, this year, we’re happy to report this dish is STILL a festival fav.
Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-down Cake
Ah, where to start? The strawberry and rhubarb topping tasted light and fresh, all while balancing a nice sweetness that complements the fruit. This treat features a pleasant combination of soft, moist, crunchy textures. Can you tell we’re BIG fans of this treat? We highly recommend you give it a try!
Ah, France. We love you! Our reporter gave the NEW dishes, like the Gâteau au Crémeux Citron, Lavende et Thym, Compote de Fruits Rouges, AND the returning treats, like the Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre RAVE reviews this year, so it’s no surprise this booth made the Best of the Fest list.
2024 Fleur de Lys Outdoor Kitchen
If you see a LONG line over in the France Pavilion, now you know why. From the strong, flavorful goat cheese to the crystallized caramel glaze on the beignet, Disney did NOT disappoint with ANY of the menu items. We’ll be dreaming about that Parmentier de Canard A L’Orange for days. Sigh. We loved it here.
If you’ve got a kiddo who simply loves Froot Loops, add Brunchcot to your MUST-VISIT list! The Froot Loops Shake is a returning favorite here for little ones, and it’s definitely earned that spot.
Froot Loops Shake
It tastes like drinking cereal milk but with an even stronger Froot Loops flavor (in a good way). The cereal on top adds a nice crunch, it’s not overly sweet, and the drink as a whole is just delightful. It’s like having breakfast and dessert all at once (and we don’t mind!). Get one for the kiddo in your life (or yourself!) for $5.
Frushi is an iconic returning dish at the Festival and one that kiddos (and adults) could really enjoy! Basically, it’s what it sounds like — a fruit-focused sushi with strawberry, pineapple, and lychee wrapped in sweet rice and pink soy wrap served with whipped cream, drizzled raspberry sauce, and toasted coconut.
Frushi
It gives you the fun shape of sushi and the adventure of a pink soy wrap and sweet rice, with the familiarity of fruits and whipped cream. To us, it tasted just like strawberry milk. Fruity, sweet, light, and refreshing, it’s a snack that’s pretty, fun to eat, and delicious — win, win…win! Get it for $7.75.
This year, EPCOT tried something NEW with its Plant-based Buffalo Chicken Tender Poutine. This is plant-based buffalo chicken bites served on top of crispy potato barrels (tater tots) with ranch and plant-based blue cheese crumbles. You can grab this tasty dish for $10.
Plant-based Buffalo Chicken Tender Poutine
YAY! We LOVED this dish. We think it is one of the best plant-based dishes that the festival has to offer. The potato barrels were super crispy and helped with the texture of the dish. We also liked that it came with both ranch and blue cheese crumble. Both the ranch and the blue cheese balanced each other’s flavors. To be fair, note that the buffalo sauce was not super spicy, but the ranch helped cool that buffalo flavor off. OK, Disney! We see you with the plant-based WINS this year!
IMPOSSIBLE meat for the WIN! This plant-based dish is plated with lentil bread, spinach, marinated vegetables, and creamy herb aïoli. It’s one of the items available with the Garden Graze this year, and it costs $6.
IMPOSSIBLE Farmhouse Meatball
Don’t let the IMPOSSIBLE name scare you away! This one is seriously good. The meat is heavily spiced, but not in a bad way. The vegetables here add a nice, juicy crunch, and the aioli on top provides a nice, earthy addition to the meat. Even the soft lentil bread was a winner for us. Give this a try if you’re feeling adventurous!
And that’s it for our BEST of the FEST picks! What items would YOU add to your personal best-of-the-fest list? Tell us in the comments! And stay tuned for more Festival news.
DFB’s Guide to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget and stomach space! Know what’s worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB’s Best of the Fest.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating this one of the most BEAUTIFUL festivals at Disney World, including:
Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB’s exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don’t have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, topiaries, festival exclusive merchandise, and more!See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival
Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages
Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival
CONFIRMED: These 6 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival
What do you think is the BEST item at the Festival? Tell us in the comments!
The post Everything You NEED To Eat and Drink at Disney’s 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival first appeared on the disney food blog.
The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs from February 28th through May 27th, celebrating all things SPRING with food booths serving up fresh eats, topiaries and gardens adorning EPCOT, and a ton of fun entertainment options!
Say ‘hi!’ to Buzz!
Yep, that’s right — there’s more than just food to enjoy at the Flower & Garden Festival, so let’s check out ALL of the entertainment at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival!
The Garden Rocks Concert Series is returning to the festival this year! The concerts are free with EPCOT admission and take place at the America Gardens Theater. Internationally known artists will perform Friday through Monday; local bands will rock the house Tuesday through Thursday. Show times are 5:30PM, 6:45PM & 8PM.
The Vybe at Garden Rocks
Here’s a full list of the artists performing at the Flower and Garden Festival:
You can also get a Garden Rocks Dining Package, which pairs lunch or dinner at a participating EPCOT restaurant with guaranteed seating for a Garden Rocks performance for that evening! Learn more about that here.
Flowers are a HUGE part of the Flower & Garden Festival of course, and you can see a variety of different Disney characters made up of plants and flowers.
Topiaries
Here is the COMPLETE LIST of 2024 Disney-themed topiaries and their locations:
Wish topiary
Groot!
Coco Topiary
There are also beautiful gardens around the park for you to explore! All are listed in your Festival Passport, but we also have the COMPLETE LIST of Global Gardens and their locations for 2024:
2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Passport
Butterfly Landing
English Tea Garden
Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration is a scavenger hunt that you can participate in throughout the park! You can pick up your scavenger hunt for $9.99 at select EPCOT merchandise locations, then come back to redeem your completed hunt for a special prize.
Scavenger hunt
There are 12 places throughout the park where you can search for Spike the Bee. He’s hiding though, so you might have to look hard! But here’s a hint: he’s usually hiding amongst some plants and flowers. Spike is a bee, after all!
If you’re looking to earn a prize just for eating some food, then you gotta check out the Garden Graze! The Garden Graze is a returning activity that can be found in your Festival Passport.
2024 Garden Graze
To participate, you’ll need to buy five of the qualifying food items from festival booths around EPCOT. When you get one of the items, make sure to get your Passport stamped. Although you only need to eat five of those items, this year’s list includes eight options, so you’ll be able to pick those things that sound best to you. This year’s prize is a Dole Whip Lime with Minute Maid Lemonade and Mango Smoothie Mix and a Packet of Wildflower Seeds.
The prize!
Once you have all 5 stamps, you can go grab your prize over at Pineapple Promenade!
Here are the options for Garden Graze eats:
Farmhouse Meatball with Lentil Bread, Spinach, Marinated Vegetables and Creamy Herb AioliThe Jammin Gardeners are performing rhythmic beats with inspired backyard percussion over near World Celebration Gardens.
The Jammin’ Gardeners
You’ll also find other bands playing around World Showcase. We had a chance to check out a band called Atlas Fusion in Morocco.
Atlas Fusion in Morocco
That’s ALL of the entertainment that we know about so far at this year’s EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! We’ll keep updating this post with more entertainment as we see it, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
DFB’s Guide to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget and stomach space! Know what’s worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB’s Best of the Fest.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating this one of the most BEAUTIFUL festivals at Disney World, including:
Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB’s exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don’t have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, topiaries, festival exclusive merchandise, and more!See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival
Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages
Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival
CONFIRMED: These 6 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival
What are you the most excited for at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival? Tell us in the comments!
The post COMPLETE Guide to Entertainment at the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival first appeared on the disney food blog.
There’s something special — and often overlooked — in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion, and today we’re taking you on a little tour to see what’s happening in the tiny train village!
EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion train
This tiny train town is fun to check out each time you’re in EPCOT since you never know what might be happening! And now that the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival has started, we’re back for another visit!
The tiny village loves to celebrate all the EPCOT Festivals and right now, it’s all about Flower & Garden.
Tiny Town in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion
If you look closely, you can see special banners have been added to its street lamps! These pop up for every festival, and now the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival banners have arrived.
So cute!
For the next few months, all the little tiny citizens of this village can look forward to celebrating spring with flowers and fresh eats, too! So be sure to stop by Germany to check out how the tiny village is celebrating the festival!
If you’re heading to the Flower and Garden Festival soon, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news!
DFB’s Guide to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget and stomach space! Know what’s worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB’s Best of the Fest.
It includes all the must-have information for navigating this one of the most BEAUTIFUL festivals at Disney World, including:
Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB’s exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don’t have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, topiaries, festival exclusive merchandise, and more!See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival
Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages
Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival
CONFIRMED: These 6 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival
Are you visiting the Flower and Garden Festival in EPCOT this year? Let us know in the comments.
The post There’s a NEW Addition in EPCOT’s Tiny Train Town! first appeared on the disney food blog.
