Your guide to the 2018 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

The 2018 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off Feb. 28, 2018, for 90 days showcasing millions of blossoms, Disney topiaries, a rock concerts, outdoor kitchens, a couple of scavenger hunts and, of course, merchandise.

Here’s what you need to know about the event that is in its 25th year:

• Time, dates and cost: The festival lasts from Feb. 28 to May 28. Admission to Epcot is required. Much of the festival is happening around and free. Some experiences, and of course food, are extra. There will be a free official guide map when you enter.

• New front entrance: A new Epcot front-entrance topiary garden will set the milestone anniversary scene with a kaleidoscope of blooming color where topiary icons Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy will greet festival guests.

• Festival food: There are 15 Outdoor Kitchens encircling the World Showcase Promenade. Each Outdoor Kitchen will feature its own raised-bed or in-ground garden of herbs and produce that can inspire the growing numbers of guests who want to learn to grow what they eat. Here are the complete menus for the kitchens. 

• Place to play:  A new Future World interactive play garden and a revved-up Road to Florida 500 garden feature new games and play challenges. The interactive area in Future World will feature a play maze, a sensory garden, an activity zone and a covered seating area. The redesigned “Cars”-themed garden based on the Disney•Pixar sequel, “Cars 3,” will add more activities like highway bingo for families.

• Topiaries, topiaries, topiaries: Disney character topiaries, including classic-character favorites Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and many others, will play a starring festival role. Returning this year, Belle will be featured in France along with Beast, Snow White in Germany with the Seven Dwarfs, and Anna and Elsa in Norway. The pandas and Bromeliad dragon at the China pavilion will return, the Three Caballeros at the Mexico pavilion, Disney-Pixar’s Woody at the American Adventure pavilion and Buzz Lightyear in Future World will also return.

• Gardens, gardens, gardens: There are 16 different gardens around Epcot ranging from bamboo to urban spice.  Here’s the complete list. 

• Rock n Roll: The Garden Rocks Concert Series will feature hit makers of the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Three evening concerts each Friday through Monday. Here’s the complete schedule of acts. 

• Dining packages: Garden Rocks Dining Packages are available as well here.

• Tours: There are a variety ot tours available. The biggest one is the three-hour Gardens of the World Tour – Spring Edition.  Guests join Disney horticulture experts for a tour around the World Showcase Pavilions and get some behind-the-scenes tales about the topiaries and gardens that make up the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. There is also a 20-minute English Tea Garden tour, a 45-minute Royal Tea Garden Tour and the Behind the Seeds tour at the Land Pavilion.

• Scavenger hunts: A new hunt focusing on the flower and garden theme following Spike the Honey Bee around the World Showcase. The return for the Egg-stravaanza scavenger hunt from March 16 through April 1 for Easter.

• Annual passholder freebie: Two free special spring-themed magnets will be available for Disney World passholders during the 2018 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Here are the particulars.

• Merchandise: More than 75 new items are being released for the ranging from apparel to home decor. There are also new Dooney & Bourke bags.