Kids can have fun, too, at 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

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At first glance, you might think the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is something only for adult guests to experience. After all, how many children are really thrilled by the slow-paced joys of gardening? Yet children actually can enjoy plenty of activities at the festival, making it a great day for families to spend time together.

During the festival, two fun playground-type areas are installed at the theme park. This is the only time these play structures are available at Epcot. The largest is Mike & Sully’s Monstrous Garden, which debuted last year and is virtually unchanged this year. It is located along Imagination Walkway between Future World and World Showcase. Inside the “garden,” families will find play equipment from Landscape Structures. This company has been providing — and customizing — the large play structures for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival for years.

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On one side, younger kids will find a “Monsters University”-themed play structure just for them, complete with monster footprints leading up ramps, interactive games and tunnels to explore, and slides to make a quick getaway. The set is intended for children for ages 2 to 5.

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At the other end of the nearly one-third-acre garden is a net climber for older kids ages 5 to 12, and even adults. Be aware: The monsters have an eye (or several) on you from above, and parents can watch from shaded chairs along the perimeter.

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In addition to the unique play areas, this garden features monstrous-size Mike and Sully topiaries. Sully is one of Walt Disney’s World’s largest, weighing in at 4,300 pounds. It took almost 4,000 small plants to fill his frame. Although Mike is lighter at about 1,000 pounds, engineers had to incorporate the stack of books behind him to balance that weight. In addition, groups of monsters formed from plants guard the entrance to the playground.

Mike & Sully’s Monstrous Garden is one of the illuminated gardens, meaning it is lit up for nighttime playing.

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The “Cars 2″ play area with Mater and Lightning McQueen topiaries has been re-imagined this year as the Cactus Road Rally. It is in the same location on the walkway near Test Track, and the play equipment from Landscape Structures also is the same. Cactus Road Rally is a smaller play area designed for kids ages 5 to 12, but there is a lot for visitors of all ages to enjoy visually.

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What’s different about the “Cars” area this year is the array of plants. The gardens showcase cactus plants in various shapes and sizes as well as other succulents that live in the desert, which is the setting for the “Cars” movies. It’s fun to spot the car parts and accessories that are interspersed in the playful flower beds.

Cactus Road Rally closes at dusk.

Although the play areas certainly are the highlight for elementary-school-age children, there are other experiences at Epcot’s Flower and Garden festival designed with kids in mind. Guests who are young and young-at-heart will enjoy the Butterflies on the Go! Exhibit. Inside the enclosure, visitors can see 10 species of butterflies up close and might get the opportunity to see them emerge from their chrysalises.

In addition, scavenger hunts are always popular with families, as evidenced by the many different types of quests in each Disney park. For the festival, however, there is a game for young children to find where five character topiaries are located. Parents can see the hunt and print the instructions in Black and White HERE!

And although it is not a scavenger hunt per se, many kids (and adults) enjoy collecting stamps from the Outdoor Kitchens and other festival-specific locations for their Garden Passports. These booklets are available in the festival center, festival merchandise locations and the Outdoor Kitchens for free.

Epcot Executive Chef Gregg Hannon recommends that children try these dishes:

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** Cachapa con Queso Sweet Corn Pancake with Farmers Cheese (Botanas Botánico)

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** Veggie Quesadilla — Flour tortilla filled with Monterrey Jack cheese and mixed vegetables (Jardin de Fiestas, Mexico)

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** Watermelon Salad with onions, B&W Gourmet Farms baby arugula, feta cheese and balsamic reduction (Florida Fresh, Germany)

** Pineapple Soft-Serve (Pineapple Promenade, World Showcase Plaza)

My 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son have enjoyed sampling foods and beverages at the Outdoor Kitchens the last two years. Here are their tried-and-true recommendations:

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** Beijing Style Candied Strawberries (Lotus House, China) The large strawberries are very ripe and juicy, and the crunchy, sweet coating makes them even more delicious.

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** Dessert Frushi — Pineapple, Strawberries and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, served with Raspberry Sauce, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream. (Hanami, Japan)

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** Harissa Chicken Kebab with Sweet Couscous Salad (Taste of Marrakesh, Morocco) They both enjoyed the spicy flavor of the chicken but weren’t as adventurous with the cold couscous salad.

And The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews kitchen at the The American Adventure also is a good bet for children. My husband and I tasted the four menu items being served there during the 2015 opening weekend, and they are likely to appeal to kids.

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The Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw and the Smoked Debreziner Sausage with house-made kraut and mustard weren’t my favorites, but they certainly were plain enough to appeal to picky palates. The Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with white cheddar fondue and pickled jalapenos was especially good. The beef, potatoes and cheese are flavorful and likely will give this dish wide appeal. Be warned, though, that some might want the jalapenos on the side. Finally, the “Piggylicious” Bacon Cupcake with Maple Frosting and Pretzel Crunch is just as good as it was last year. The combination of the three flavors is delicious.

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Do you have tips for enjoying the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival with children? Please share them in the comments.


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One Reply to “Kids can have fun, too, at 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival”

  1. My 10 year old daughter and I will be there the last week of April. We read this article and she is looking forward to trying the recommended dishes. Thanks.

    KRISTIN: Thanks, Veronica! I hope she has as much fun tasting her way around the world as my daughter does!