It’s that time of year again to start looking towards springtime with longing. Well Walt Disney World does it up right with the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival starting March 6 and ending May 19. There is everything here to get you ready for spring, beautiful gardens, DIY and HGTV personalities presenting home improvement seminars, spring inspired food and drinks and outdoor concerts.

I can’t wait to go (though I am in it for the food and drinks more than the DIY)! Here is the schedule of events for the Festival.

UPDATE:  Here is a review of the festival food and drinks from The Disney Food Blog! Also this year, they are giving passports when you enter the festival as well. In these you can check off what you have tried on the menu and notes on your food and drink. You can also collect stamps at each booth you visit.I think it is a fun addition to make it more interactive!

UPDATE: If you traveling on the Disney Dining Plan, I have also noted which of the food items are available as a snack credit!

The HGTV and DIY Network Personalities:

NEW! Chris Lambton of HGTV’s Going Yard March 8 – 10                                          NEW! Chris Grundy of DIY Network’s Cool Tools March 15 – 17                              NEW! Egypt Sherrod of HGTV’s Property Virgins March 22 – 24                         Brandon Johnson of HGTV’s My Yard Goes Disney March 29 – 31                            Meg Caswell of HGTV’s Meg’s Great Rooms April 5 – 7                                            Jason Cameron of DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and Man Caves                April 12 – 14                                                                                                                NEW! Sara Peterson of Editor-in-Chief, HGTV Magazine April 19 – 21                    Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV’s Million Dollar Rooms April 26 – 28                           NEW! Casey Noble of HGTV’s Design on a Dime May 3 – 5                                        Dan Faires of HGTV’s Design Star and HGTV.com’s DanMade May 10 – 12            NEW! David Bromstad of HGTV Design Star, Color Splash, Design Star All-Stars      May 17 – 19

Flower Power Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre,                               Friday – Sunday: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, 8:00 PM

Micky Dolenz of The Monkeez March 8 – March 10                                           Chubby Checker & The Wildcats March 15 – March 17                                             The Guess Who March 22 – March 24                                                                  Nelson March 29 – March 31                                                                                       The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie April 5 – April 7                                                    Paul Revere & The Raiders April 12 – April 14                                                           The Village People April 19 – April 21                                                                          The Orchestra Starring Former Members of ELO and ELO II April 26 – April 28 Tommy Roe May 3 – May 5                                                                                    Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone May 10 – May 12                              Starship Starring Mickey Thomas May 17 – May 19

The Garden Marketplaces will be serving up delicious food and drinks while you enjoy the Festival. Some items will be a snack credit as well, if you are traveling on the dining plan. There are also items that are part of the new “TRY IT” menu as part of Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living initiative, to encourage children (and adults) to try come common foods in a new way.

UPDATE: If you traveling on the Disney Dining Plan, I have now noted which of the food items are available as a snack credit with a asterisks **

FRUITS BY THE GLASS – World Showcase Plaza

Watermelon Passion Fruit Cocktail Wild Berry Slush – Non Alcoholic**                         Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry                                                                                New Planet™ 3R Raspberry Ale (Gluten Free)                                                         Florida Orange Groves, Mango Mama, Mango Wine , Blueberry Blue, Blueberry Wine DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Chardonnay & Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir

FLORIDA FRESH – World Showcase Promenade, near Mexico

Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese**                                                               Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Zellwood Corn, Tomatoes, & Cilantro**                           Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries        Florida Orange Groves, Hot Sun, Tomato Wine & 40 Karat, Carrot Wine Orange Blossom Pilsner Strawberry Slush** – Non Alcoholic

JARDIN DE FIESTAS – Mexico

Pork Tacos topped with Tamarindo salsa, served on a flour tortilla with Chicharrón **   Crab tostada served with Chipotle Mayo and Valentina Salsa**                                       Guava Flan**                                                                                                                Conga Fruit Punch – Non Alcoholic**                                                                          Corona Light Draft Beer                                                                                             Rosita Margarita Organic Tequila Flight

LOTUS HOUSE – China

Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries**                                                                         Spring Pancake with Grilled Chicken and Green Apple**                                                 Pan-Fried Vegetable Bun**                                                                                           Peach-Oolong Bubble Tea**                                                                                          Kung Fu Punch (Vodka and Triple Sec with Mango and Orange Juice)                     South Sea Storm (Guava with Light and Dark Rum)                                                    Plum Wine                                                                                                                     Tsing – Tao Beer                                                                                                      Lychee Aerated Water Peach Aerated Water**

BAUERNMARKT: Farmer’s Market – Adjacent to Germany

Savory Bread Pudding with Spring Peas and Wild Mushroom Ragout**                   German Meatloaf Sandwich with Sweet Mustard and Fried Shallots**                        Potato Pancakes with house made Apple Sauce**                                                      Florida Avenue American Wheat Ale                                                                Krombacher Hefeweizen                                                                                           Goose Island Brewing Company’s Honker Ale                                                                  Blue Point’s Toasted Lager Beer Flight                                                                       Hugo – Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint                  Krombacher Hefeweizen

PRIMAVERA KITCHEN – Italy

Asparagi con Aragosta all’Ortolana** (Green asparagus, lobster, garden cocktail sauce) Lasagna Primavera** (Spinach Lasagna, green peas, zucchini, mushrooms, broccolini, béchamel and fresh tomatoes, with garlic and basil leaves)                                      Panna Cotta al Limoncello** (Limoncello flavored Panna Cotta, wild berries)           Fontana Candida                                                                                                         Pinot Grigio Castello di Querceto                                                                                 Chianti Bosco del Merlo                                                                                              Prosecco                                                                                                                    White Peach Bellini                                                                                             Strawberry Rossini                                                                                                     Italian Primavera                                                                                                       Birrificio Del Ducato – Nuova Mattina (Spring Saison Ale)                                            Birrificio Le Baladin – Nora (Specialty Ale)                                                                  Birra Del Borgo – Rubus Lamponi (Specialty Wild Fruit Ale)                                        Beer Flight

THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews – The American Adventure Courtyard

Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw**                                                                           Smoked Beef Brisket with Collard Greens and Jalapeño Corn Bread **                     Rocky Road Brownie Mousse**                                                                                    Mama’s Little Yella Pils (Czech style Pilsner)                                                             Liberty Ale from Anchor Brewing Company                                                                   Red Ale from Orlando Brewing                                                                           Blackwater Porter                                                                                                          The Original Rib Shack                                                                                                 Red Wine & Beer Flight

HANAMI – Japan

Frushi** (Fresh strawberries, pineapple and cantaloupe rolled with coconut rice, atop a raspberry sauce sprinkled with toasted coconut and whipped cream)                    Chirashi Hanazushi** (Grilled Salmon, cooked shrimp and crab stick served over a bed of fragrant ginger rice with Volcano and Dynamite sauce)                                                                                                                  YakiSoba Pan** (Fresh grilled carrots, onions and cabbage with Japanese noodles and teriyaki sauce served on a bun with mayonnaise and Beni Shoga)                          Green Tea Flan** (Silky custard with macha green tea and caramel glaze)                  Yuzu Rita                                                                                                                       Fruit Sake                                                                                                                    Hana Awaka                                                                                                              Frozen Kirin Ichiban

TASTE OF MARRAKESH – Morocco

Spiced Lamb Kebab with Vegetable Couscous Salad**                                                 Harissa and Lamb Confit Chicken Drumettes with Chermoula and Cucumber Salad** Baghrir** (Moroccan pancake with honey, almonds and Argan Oil)                             Desert Rose White Sangria                                                                                          Guerrouane Red Casa Beer                                                                                          Mint Iced Tea

L’ORANGERIE – France

Tarte a la ratatouille**                                                                                                 Country style pâté served with baguette and cherry compote**                                  Caramelized peaches and rosemary and light vanilla cream**                                      Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain liquor with White and Red Cranberry Juice Muscat Pétillant, Sparkling Muscat Charles de Fère Chardonnay, White Burgundy, Macon Village Georges Duboeuf Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Beau-Rivage Kronenbourg Blanc 1664, (Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes)

THE COTTAGE: Savories, Trifles and Tea – United Kingdom

Potato, Chive and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare and Sour Cream**                                                                                                                         Baked Goat’s Brie with Kumquat Chutney**                                                            Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar and Basil**                                                                                                                Chocolate Trifle**                                                                                                           Berry Trifle**                                                                                                                Ginger and Tea Trifle**                                                                                                     Trio of Trifles**                                                                                                                   Hot Teas** (Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Lemon Green Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Spiced Apple Chai, Pumpkin Chai, Mixed Berry Black Tea, Pomegranate and Raspberry, Camomile Honey & Vanilla, Honeybush, Mandarin and Orange, Pure Peppermint, Lemon & Ginger)                                                                                   Peach Cold Brewed Iced Tea Mixed Berries Cold Brewed Iced Tea**                               Poema Cava Brut Rosé                                                                                            Chilled Rose Blush Lemonade

PINEAPPLE PROMENADE – World Showcase Promenade – near Canada

Dole® Whip Dole® Whip with Siesta Key Spiced Rum                                                     Pineapple Upside Down Cake featuring Dole® Pineapple Dole®**                          Dole® Whip Dole® Whip**                                                                                      Pineapple Fruit Cup**                                                                                                   Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade                                                                              Samuel Adams® Cream Stout

INTERMISSIONS CAFE — Festival Center                                                                Beet Lollipop                                                                                                            Grapes                                                                                                                          Fruit & Cheese Plate                                                                                                         Vegan Trio                                                                                                            Southwest Chicken Wrap                                                                                              Tuna Salad with Pita                                                                                                     Italian Salad                                                                                                                Asian Tuna Salad with Noodles                                                                                    New Planet™ 3R Raspberry Ale                                                                                  Blue Point’s Spring Fling                                                                                              Florida Orange Groves: Mango Mama, Mango Wine, Blueberry Blue, Blueberry Wine DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Chardonnay, Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir Poema Cava Brut Rosé