10 Dates to AVOID the 2026 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

It’s spring, and that can only mean one thing at EPCOT!

Flower and Garden Festival

The 2026 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 4th to May 31st, and we love this festival! There are so many food booths you can try, exclusive merchandise to grab, and even concerts you can go see. While there is a LOT to do, there might be a few dates you should avoid heading to the festival if you can!

March 4th

I know, I know — March 4th is opening day of the festival. If you really want to be some of the first people to experience the event, then you’re going to be there on opening day. But, if you don’t want huge crowds and long booth lines, we suggest waiting! Opening day can cause long lines, limited spaces for seating, and even long standby wait times.

2025 booth

March 7th

Opening day might be packed, but honestly, so is the first Saturday of a festival! This is when a lot of locals come to check out the festival, which can cause long lines for food, rides, and even bathrooms. If you can, try hitting EPCOT on a weekday to avoid big crowds during a festival.

2025 Swirled Showcase

April 3rd to 6th

April 5th is Easter this year, and holidays bring big crowds to the Disney parks. Many guests have time off from school and work around Easter, making this a busy weekend in all of the Disney World parks. EPCOT is not an exception to this. While we know many guests will be traveling during this time, if you have flexibility, we suggest waiting until after this Spring Break period to visit.

2025 Flower and Garden crowds

May 23rd to 25th

Again, another holiday weekend that falls during this festival is Memorial Day. May 23rd to 25th is Memorial Day weekend, and a lot of guests from out of town, as well as locals, will visit Disney World during this time.

EPCOT Festival Crowds

May 30th

Finally, May 30th is the last Saturday before the festival ends. This means a lot of guests will be hitting EPCOT one more time to grab that one last favorite snack or one last chance to take in the topiaries while they can!

Heavy crowds trying to get in!

The DFB team will be there on the opening day of the festival to review everything there is to do, so be sure to stay tuned! We’ll bring you everything you need to know about this year’s festival.

A Longtime Staple is MISSING From This Year’s EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival!

DON’T WASTE A BITE
AT FLOWER & GARDEN

The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is gorgeous — and overwhelming. Our DFB Guide shows you exactly what’s worth your time, money, and stomach space (and what to skip).