On Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, Doctor Disney got the privilege of going on a tour of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival gardens with a Walt Disney Imagineer. Not only did I learn a good bit more about Epcot and the Food & Wine Festival, but I found out some information about next year’s Flower & Garden Festival.
We already know the dates for the 2014 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival as it was revealed that it will begin on March 5, 2014, and run through May 18, 2014.
During the tour, the Imagineer revealed some great information around World Showcase and some of it had to do with next year’s great event and other awesome info.
~ Canada: The main tree that sits in front of Le Cellier is quite old as it was brought over and replanted there. It originally stood where Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa now stands.
~ United Kingdom: The giant teacups that sit in the garden during F&G Fest are actually photographer props that have lasted for years.
Two new topiaries will appear at this year’s Flower & Garden Festival…he wouldn’t tell us, but gave us a hint about one of them and said that “One is green and plays the banjo.”
~ International Gateway: There will be an island for the 2014 Flower & Garden Festival placed right inside the Epcot back entrance with topiaries. There never have been topiaries in that location before.
~ France: The Beauty and the Beast topiaries will return, but they will move around a bit and could be placed in the center fountain location.
Topiaries this year could end up getting a “face-lift” as computer technology will be used to make their faces look even more like their counterparts.
~ America: There are currently negotiations going on to bring the BBQ kiosk back and two new additions could be a chicken dish and yes…a bacon cupcake.
Lotso and Woody topiaries will return.
~ Italy: There are apparently entirely new plans for this pavilion during the 2014 Flower & Garden Festival. Lady and the Tramp topiaries will return, but a giant plate of spaghetti will be between them this time.
~ Germany: Instead of a Germany booth in the big area next to the pavilion, a Florida booth with an agriculture garden will be placed there.
~ Topiaries used to cost between $5-10K. Now, they cost between $35-50K. Some of the favorite topiaries of guests have always been those inspired by Walt Disney’s personal ideas.
~ The most popular topiary is that of Pumbaa, but he has been noticeably absent because “Disney Law” states that he can not be shown with Timon.
The problem is that the Timon topiary was not in proper scale with Pumbaa so he couldn’t be placed out either.
A new Timon topiary is being created which means the duo from “The Lion King” will return next year.
