Disney Releases In-Depth Behind the Scenes Video of EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Installation

Mar 13, 2026 in "Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival"

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2026 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival topiaries and gardens

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Posted: Friday March 13, 2026 6:40am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has released a detailed behind-the-scenes look at how the 2026 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival was built during the coldest Florida winter in 16 years.

The new 20-minute long Disney Unscripted video on YouTube shows the Walt Disney World Horticulture team preparing, protecting, and planting thousands of blooms across EPCOT under record cold conditions. The team faced unexpected freezes and had to safeguard plants while installing the festival's topiaries, gardens, and displays.

Installation Highlights

The video reveals several major installation moments from this year's festival:

Topiary Construction - Watch the team carefully build and install topiaries including Figment, Cars characters, and Toy Story favorites at the main entrance.

China Pavilion Dragon - A never-before-seen installation shows a dragon topiary being lifted directly into the center of the China Pavilion pond.

UK Pavilion Challenges - The team navigates last-minute installation challenges at the United Kingdom Pavilion.

Butterfly Landing - Hundreds of butterflies are released in The Butterfly Landing presented by AdventHealth.

Precision Planting - Horticulture cast members use dibble tools for precision planting of thousands of individual flowers throughout the park.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip ‘n’ Dale and Pluto in World Celebration

Record Cold Conditions

Central Florida experienced its coldest winter in 16 years during the festival's installation period. Temperatures dropped into the 30s with wind chills in the 20s, requiring the team to protect cold-sensitive plants and adjust installation schedules.

EPCOT Topiaries and Flower Beds Protected from Freezing Temperatures

Disney covered flower beds and wrapped topiaries in frost blankets to protect them from freezing temperatures.

The 2026 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs through June 1, 2026, featuring more than 60 character topiaries, 31 gardens and floral displays, the Garden Rocks Concert Series, and outdoor kitchens..

Seven Dwarfs at the Germany Pavilion

Discuss on the Forums

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tpoly8817 days ago

was just there this past weekend and they do a nice job with the topiaries. The butterfly tent was bustling with Butterflies this year!! Most ive ever seen. I would say for a Saturday there really was not a lot of people at a lot of the kiosks. I was very surprised and in the country's that have wine bars, no one was there. They got rid of the wine bar in Canada, which was a great place to get a glass of white. Food and drinks at the kiosks were disappointing. i was a little let down by how mediocre this year's festival was. In the past they had some workshops and cast members talking about the different plants and flowers. I guess they are cutting back. I would normally go 2-3 times to F&G to hit all the kiosks and see everything but not sure if ill go back this year as there is nothing to really go back for. That's the double edge sword, cut back on the quality and quantity and you risk lower numbers of people coming to the festival. Im one person and mean nothing to Disney but i wonder how many other people feel the same?

DCBakerMar 12, 2026

Disney has shared a new behind-the-scenes video showcasing the Walt Disney World Horticulture team bringing the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival to life during the recent cold snap: From the video: Go behind the scenes with the Walt Disney World Horticulture team as they prepare, protect, and plant thousands of blooms across EPCOT under record‑cold conditions. From safeguarding delicate plants against unexpected freezes to precision planting with dibble tools, this episode reveals the care, craftsmanship, and creativity behind one of EPCOT’s most beloved festivals. Watch The Teams: Carefully build and install iconic topiaries, including Figment, Cars, and Toy Story favorites Navigate last‑minute challenges at the UK Pavilion Welcome and release hundreds of butterflies in The Butterfly Landing presented by AdventHealth Take on a never‑before‑seen installation of a stunning dragon topiary lifted directly into the center of the China Pavilion pond Through long nights, cold mornings, and constant problem‑solving, these horticulture experts transform EPCOT into a vibrant springtime spectacle—no matter what the weather brings.

MisterPenguinMar 10, 2026

Mossiaries? Chia Statuaries? Over the Topiaries?

Jambo DadMar 09, 2026

Thx for the info!

JABMar 09, 2026

I'd say they're somewhat in-between but closer to topiary than float. They do have wire frame and/or sculpted supports, but they are live plants that are still trimmed a bit and continue growing throughout the festival, requiring regular trimming and maintenance - unlike Rose Bowl floats which are cut flowers/plants that die after a few days.

TrainsOfDisneyMar 09, 2026

They are not traditional topiary. There are some actual Topiary at Epcot in the jumping fountain garden at the Imagination Pavilion. The characters are “wire frame topiary sculptures” Still in the topiary family so using that term isn’t “wrong” - but not the traditional or purist definition.

Jambo DadMar 09, 2026

That wasn’t even the reason I came to the comment section today. I was curious from those in the know whether these displays are really correctly called “topiary”. They are attractive and do have plants in them, but it doesn’t look like they are pruned and shaped to get their form. They feel more like Rose Bowl floats. I may be wrong - glad to be informed.

TrainsOfDisneyMar 09, 2026

Noah is absolutely sincere about his love for Disney and retro Disney music.

Jambo DadMar 09, 2026

Ok I started this sub-thread and admit to being a little torn. I was not familiar with Bob Moline so I love the call back. I like the presence of more traditional music. I was a little caught off guard the first time I watched the video. The presentation of the singer felt awkward and almost so deliberately retro I wasn’t sure if it was sincere. I think it’s the fake hair. So I have since come to just accept it and leave it alone.

TrainsOfDisneyMar 09, 2026

Ok. That’s your opinion. This is literally everything I want from Disney haha. Fun, quirky, based on nostalgia, etc.

JohnDMar 09, 2026

My point exactly.

JohnDMar 09, 2026

I didn't say otherwise. But it's so inside baseball that the dude is just cringe to me. Sorry, but he is.

JABMar 09, 2026

Oh it's definitely very inside baseball. It's nice they included the reference, though; but I can absolutely see how the wig might be very distracting for the 99.99% of viewers who don't get the reference.

TrainsOfDisneyMar 09, 2026

Isn’t that exactly what we want? All these little winks and nods to the history of Disney. Having locomotives named Roger Broggie and Ward Kimball is very inside baseball too.