Springtime has come to Disney World!
The birds twittering, flowers blooming and one of our favorite festivals delighting guests at Walt Disney World! Yes. If you haven’t noticed, EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has been in full swing since February 28th, 2024, and it runs until May 27th, so you still have time to hop on the floral train.
Today we want to share with you some interesting facts and a cool activity that you can enjoy during your visit. Let’s take a look.
A look behind the magical masterpieces
One thing that we love the most about it is the perfect merge between creativity and nature which can be seen in every corner of the park. You know what we are talking or about... or maybe you can see it, by staring at the beautiful pictures. Yeah, their famous and wonderful Topiaries are the center of attention during this wonderful event.
This year, we have THREE new Topiaries that stand out from the rest. On one side we have Asha, Valentino, and Star from one of our favorite movies, “Wish”. Then on the other side, there is Miguel and Dante on their way to another adventure. And in another spot the adorable Groot, ready to say hi to everyone passing by... and no, he doesn't say "I am Groot". I think.
Innovation at its peak
Lots of guests are blown away by the lifelike art you can find among the natural scenery. From flowers to weeds, all of them are important elements when it comes to creating these masterpieces. However, there is so much work behind the scenes that needs to be done to bring these sculptures to life! And this year, the innovations they've added are sure to leave everyone in awe as they stroll by.
For example, at the Wish-inspired topiaries, Disney Imagineers decided to dazzle guests with the incorporation of lighting and textures. If you look closely at Asha’s braids, you can notice their uniqueness and perfection, almost like a doll! This is thanks to the hand-wove work done by the team all over dear Asha. How impressive, right?
Brittany Smith, Production Designer for Senior Specialty Design with Walt Disney Imagineering, says, “The new focus on hair texture stemmed from the team continuing to find new ways to tell stories and create the ‘illusion of life’ much as we do with Audio-Animatronics figures.”
Music and colors are also present
Speaking of innovation, have you ever imagined a topiary that could play music? Yes, literally! Well, Disney is proving that the sky's the limit by integrating it into the 3D model of Groot, with the "Green House Mix Vol.1" mixtape. Now, you can even groove to the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack while saying hi to Groot. How cool is that?
On the other hand, do you want to see a lot of colors? I mean, a lot. For the very first time, Disney has created a projection-mapped topiary. As the sun sets, Dante embarks on a journey to the other world, surrounded by a dazzling display of vibrant colors and figures projected all over his body. It's a sight that's bound to capture the attention of everyone passing through Mexico.
Steven Montalvo, Industrial Designer with Disney Live Entertainment, said “With the bright and vibrant colors we see from this realm in ‘Coco,’ it seemed like an obvious choice when Josh and Brittany proposed the idea of using projection mapping technology to enhance Dante’s look during the evening hours,” And we couldn’t agree more.
Maybe your whole family has fun with this...
If you're a frequent visitor to this wonderful festival, here's a simple and entertaining activity to add some extra fun to your day.
As you stroll through the park, whenever you come across a topiary, pause and gather the whole crew to see if there's any new innovation incorporated into that particular figure. If you can't spot anything new, try to uncover any interesting details about it or speculate on what might have inspired Disney Imagineers when they created it.
It's a playful way to spark curiosity and enhance observation skills, especially for the little ones in the family!
Ready for a floral visit?
Contact our team, and we will help you get the most out of your next Disney experience. Our team will be more than happy to assist you in any possible way.
Until the next one, friend!
