Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival returns for 12th
year in 2005
Walt Disney World event becomes part of Disneyland's 50th anniversary
celebration
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The forecast is sunnier than ever for this
year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which opens
with a floral flourish April 15 as a prelude to the Disneyland's 50th
anniversary celebration, the "Happiest Celebration on Earth."
For seven weeks beginning April 15, Epcot will bloom with bouquets
of custom displays themed to the "Happiest Celebration on Earth,"
Disney's global jubilee celebrating 50 years of magic at Disney parks
and resorts. Intricately detailed topiaries, multi-colored beds of flowers,
a lush rose garden, meticulously crafted bonsai trees and other wonders
of the plant world will complement thousands of other varieties of flowers
and trees at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The
show will add living color to the largest celebration in Walt Disney
Parks and Resorts history. And with the innovative new ticket plan "Magic
Your Way," guests can customize their vacations for plenty of festival
and theme park fun time.
The "Happiest Celebration on Earth," launching May 5, 2005,
and lasting well into 2006, will be the biggest bash in Disney history.
Disney parks now span the globe and continue to offer the most visited
attractions in the world, drawing 100 million visitors on three continents
every year -- and still growing.
The 12th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival showcases
topiary displays themed to the "Happiest Celebration on Earth"
from the park entrance to World Showcase Lagoon, including the signature
Spaceship Earth garden, which will feature the "Fab Five"
-- Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. Last year's
entrance display, themed to Magical Gatherings, won an Award of Excellence
from the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, and the
festival's "Power of Flowers" display won the FNGLA's Floriculture
Award.
Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden and Farmer Mickey's Maze are
new in Future World, and Flower Power concerts return to America Gardens
Theatre in World Showcase with nightly musical entertainment of top
acts from the 1960s and '70s including Davy Jones, Paul Revere &
the Raiders and Arlo Guthrie. Throughout the park, guests can attend
gardening seminars and demonstrations. They also can browse among colorful
displays that include The Ultimate Backyard Garden, presented by The
Home Depot, and a Fragrance Garden presented by Guerlain.
Guests will again discover the hub of program activity at the Festival
Center, located inside Innoventions West behind Fountain View Café.
Guest speakers and demonstrations will be scheduled daily. Festival
merchandise, program guides and information also will be available in
this one-stop welcome shop.
Other festival highlights include:
* A WaterFULL World Garden focusing on the importance of water conservation
and wetlands restoration via a meandering water display lush with native
Florida plants.
* Dozens of fragrant rose varieties developed through the centuries
in a display that touches on the history of roses.
* A "see and sniff" Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion
highlighting flowers in several perfumes.
* The Ultimate Backyard Garden display, presented by The Home Depot,
exploring the trend of gardeners enjoying their home gardens as a retreat
or entertainment venue.
"More and more people are spending time in their backyards, and
we'll focus on the latest ways to enjoy your home's great outdoors beyond
puttering in the garden," says Eric Darden, horticulture manager
of the festival. "This year, there are more creative ways than
ever to enhance outdoor living spaces, and we're looking forward to
helping guests develop ideas and plan inviting garden retreats."
Each festival weekend will be themed with special speakers and events.
"Themed weekends allow us to give our guests special treats by
focusing on one aspect of the garden experience," Darden said.
"The I Dig Bugs and Art in the Garden weekends are huge favorites.
Mother's Day is also a huge weekend for us, with mothers and kids spending
all day together among the flowers at Epcot."
Epcot guests who can't get enough of the park's exotic floral displays,
gardening tips and other festival activities can make plans for multiple
visits to the 12th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639). The festival is included in regular
Epcot admission.
