Topiaries Spring Up in Advance of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Including Ranger Mickey for National Park Service Centennial

February 25, 2016 Denise

Hi everyone!

Topiaries are springing up around Epcot in preparation for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. By far, this is my favorite time of year and I’ll have many more articles about the Festival leading up to it and then coverage from the first day on March 2nd, 2016. We didn’t have much of a winter here, but there is still something about spring and the beauty that the Festival brings to my favorite Walt Disney World park. Here is a look at many of the topiaries that have arrived so far, along with photos of flower quilts, Outdoor Kitchens and more. We will link this article to the big opening day article when that is posted on March 3rd, which will be much more exhaustive! Topiaries traditionally start appearing in mid-February. Our first article about this year’s Festival is here. (This article was updated February 25th after being first published February 19th).

Ranger Mickey is in place, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service!

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Here are some details of Mickey – belt, binoculars and satchel!

And here is a closer look at Mickey!

Chip and Dale debuted last year, and are in the breezeway area on the way to World Showcase.

Here is our video of Ranger Mickey and Chip & Dale! We will have much more video coming, as well as photos after opening day (and maybe before).

Chip reaches for a sandwich.

Phineas and Ferb are back near their game.

Minnie and Pluto are at the entrance to World Showcase.

Pluto wears a collar of sunflowers.

Since our last article, the flower quilt at Future World East has been added (I always remember East/West by thinking of which side Electric Umbrella is on, that it starts with an E).

A Hidden Mickey is growing in with Spaceship Earth in the background.

The reflections here are lovely in the morning.

The other flower quilt already has filled in quite a bit in the week or so since it has been added.

A monorail passes by Mickey’s floral head.

The butterfly tent is going up pretty quickly now as well.

So this was new to me, and I found it really interesting. It is like a bird house but appears to be for lizards (since they were the only ones using it). I looked online and haven’t yet found anything similar.

A lizard pokes his head out of one of the openings, the one on the left had gone back inside and is hard to see.

Both playgrounds at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival are taking shape.

Lightning McQueen is in place:

This week has been gorgeous as far as weather, perfect to enjoy the flowers and topiaries!

Here is the butterfly house from another angle.

Mickey is again the Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Future World West. This side of the park used to see very little Flower & Garden love, it’s nice to see Mickey back.

Mushroom topiaries are also back in their same place.

The Fantasia ostriches stand with Spaceship Earth in the background.

On the other side of Mickey is an alligator and hippo.

The Fantasia display here is not far from the Imagination pavilion.

One look back at the flower quilt.

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival shops have been added to World Showcase.

Bambi, Thumper and Flower are back at Canada.

Outdoor Kitchens are showing up as well.

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival runs through May 30th this year, a full three months.

Winnie the Pooh and other friends are in the UK, but in a different location (actually, locations).

Captain Hook is again in the UK. Many of the topiaries out now are in the same locations as in other years.

Tick Tock Croc is in his location as well, with the Tea Caddy behind him.

The Tea Garden is coming along.

The butterfly at the International Gateway is becoming more colorful each day.

The France Outdoor Kitchen is up. Last year, it had been updated to a much more French look.

World Showcase is one of my favorite places to be in the morning.

Cogworth and Lumiere are back in their same location as last year.

Here is another one of the shops. Merchandise at each location can be a little different. These shops, along with the Outdoor Kitchens and everything else, will open on March 2nd.

In the America pavilion, there was already a menu out for the Hops & Barley Market. It looks about the same as last year.

Spaceship Earth from next to the America Gardens Theater.

Lady and the Tramp have been in this location for about 5 years now (I’m still hoping they’ll get moved again someday!) The staircase behind them already has its flowers, which is usually not the case.

It’s nice to see the flowers in front of and behind them looking complete.

The ears on Lady are always particularly interesting to me – I’m not sure how those are done.

Here is a look up the staircase, with flowers climbing it.

Flower pots in Italy look lovely.

Snow White is back in Germany with the Seven Dwarfs.

Like with the staircase flowers, often the Dwarfs aren’t quite finished – usually you won’t see the lanterns in particular this early on. But Doc has his specs and the lanterns are here, with the whole display ready.