The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Disney’s International Flower & Garden Festival is HANDS-DOWN the best festival of the year. Walt Disney World is known for their fantastic festivals, held throughout the seasons in Epcot. The International Food & Wine Festival, Festival of the Holidays, Festival of the Arts, and the International Flower & Garden Festival are each unique.
If you’ve never been to this festival before, here is some helpful information about F&G:
- You do not need an additional admission or ticket to access the festival
- You will need to pay for the food, drinks & extras you decide to sample
- Most foods & drinks count as a snack if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan
- In addition to food, the Garden Rocks concert series has classic rock stars jamming out in the American Gardens Theatre
- PLUS flowers, topiaries and play gardens, including a butterfly house cover the park
- Special merchandise is available to commemorate your trip to the festival
Out of them all, F&G Festival is my favorite because of the bright flowers, imaginative topiaries, and over-the-top, delicious food from the outdoor kitchens. This guide will serve as a master review of the food from the 2018 festival! Use it to salivate and plan until the festival is back again in the Spring of 2019.
Stars of the Show
I have a rule when it comes to festivals- I can’t get anything more than once, until every item on my festival list has been eaten. My goal is always to try one thing from every stand. While everything is good, if I eat a snack or sip a drink more than once, it’s the best of the best.
The fried chicken dumplings with peanut sauce from the Lotus House kitchen in the China pavilion were my favorite snack this year! They were crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and the peanut sauce was simply UNREAL.
The watermelon cucumber slushy from the Florida Fresh booth was my favorite drink this year. This outdoor kitchen was located in-between the Morocco and France pavilions.
Outdoor Kitchens
The Honey Bee-stro
New in 2018 & I’m already hoping it makes it back for next year! I tried every snack at this booth and they were all delicious! My favorite snack was the honey tandoori chicken flatbread. I also sampled the roasted cauliflower, which I would suggest to someone who eats vegan, gluten-free, or just wants something healthy, light and good! The local wildflower honey-mascarpone cheesecake was also a fan favorite. I liked the cheesecake part, but there was a lot of honey on top! I would get everything from this booth again!
Pineapple Promenade
The iconic violet lemonade– need I say more? This drink is a festival must-have, as it’s what the festival is more known for. As you can see from above, it’s not my favorite slush, but it sure is delicious (and pretty!) I haven’t personally had anything else from this stand, but the spicy hot dog comes highly recommended by my step-dad!
La Isla Fresca
The sugar cane shrimp from this booth is my most improved snack of the festival. Last year I wasn’t a fan, but this year, I ate this dish THREE times! I loved the coconut-lime sauce and I thought the portion was more than generous for the price!
The Berry Basket
It’s a sunny day and you’re eating a fresh & fruity salad. The day could not be better. If you want that feeling, you need to try the field greens the next time the festival rolls around.
Jardin de Fiestas
The pork taco here was everything a taco should be. Adventurous and bursting with fresh flavors from the additions of apple and goat cheese. Yet, somehow, still a comfort food.
Lotus House
This outdoor kitchen was already mentioned for creating my favorite dish, the fried chicken dumplings. The vegetable spring rolls were also wonderful- as I find most of the foods are from the kitchens in the China pavilion are!
Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market
This is another booth where I tasted every. single. snack. Both variations of the potato pancakes were comforting and yummy. The toasted pretzel bread was great if you love soft pretzels (I do!) and the warm cheese strudel is always a favorite! Fresh berries, warm cheese, and pastry will never be bad.
Primavera Kitchen
I really expected to be in love with the ravioli, which was stuffed with lobster and topped with roe, but I didn’t love it- and it was a rare dish that I thought was not worth the price. The stand out from this kitchen was the panna cotta al melone, which I found to be one of the most unique dishes at the festival!
The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews
America, I’m sorry, you’re never my favorite. I am not #loyal to my home pavilion, and I cannot claim to be. The pulled pig slider was my #1 snack from this stand, but my good friend Paris would tell you to get the beef brisket burnt ends and smoked pork slider. Matt loved the beef brisket burnt ends hash and everyone on the planet besides me loves the warm chocolate cake. This is mainly because I don’t drink alcohol, so the bourbon-salted caramel sauce is lost on me. In a rare turn of events, the frozen lemonade with firefly blackberry moonshine was my favorite from this stand (the one sip I had!)
Hanami
Japan broke my heart this year by getting rid of my favorite from 2017, an incredible tuna poke. However, they kept it beating by giving me the ginger beef yakiudon. I don’t eat salmon, which is why I was so sad to see the tuna go, but my brother said that the teriyaki salmon from this kitchen was the best part of his whole trip to Walt Disney World. Another festival icon served here, the frushi, isn’t my favorite snack, but I have to have it once each year- it’s a classic!
Taste of Marrakesh
Morocco STAYS having the hidden gems. At the 2017 International Food & Wine Festival, they had a snack that shocked as a favorite, and this festival was no different. The fried cauliflower was crisp and the dipping sauce was perfect.
Florida Fresh
This stand is my MVP for the year. Two favorites from one stand means it’s a must-visit on your loop around the world showcase. The watermelon cucumber slushy was found here, along with the carne guisada, which was pretty tasty. Also, I already know I will be dreaming about the spicy blackened shrimp and cheddar cheese grits until I can have them again.
Fleur de Lys
Little known fact, also the symbol of my favorite city on Earth- Florence, Italy. Anyway! The snacks here were delicious- the French pavilion, much like the real country, is known for its exceptional food. The confit de canard aux gnocchi a la Parisienne was an instant favorite because I’m a sucker from gnocchi. The macaron au chocolat en sucette was super chocolatey and cute, but not as good as the raspberry/fudge macaron they had at the 2017 festival.
Cider House
Another outdoor kitchen I was pleasantly surprised by. I love pear, so I had to try the pear cider-brined shredded corned beef, which was a fresh take on a classic dish. The freshly baked lemon scone is a fan-favorite that lived up to the hype! Plus, this baked good is gluten-free, which is huge for people who have to avoid gluten! Super bright flavors, and somehow still rich.
Northern Bloom
Canada always has the goods (honestly, 99.9% of the stands do, you rarely can go wrong). The seared scallops are always fresh with the perfect crust and the bacon vinaigrette adds an incredible umami flavor. The beef tenderloin tips are flavorful but could please even the pickiest eaters and the corn gelato on the griddled maple pound cake alone makes it fantastic. It’s not too sweet and has warm peaches and cool gelato.
Counting the days
Until next year? I 100% am and I am not ashamed! This festival is one of the best events to bring family and friends to, because it always leaves them impressed and it makes me happy that Walt Disney World is my home park! Sorry, Disneyland- you may have Pixar Fest, but you will never take the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival!
Until the Next Adventure,
Josie
