7 Important Rules To Avoid Wasting Money at EPCOT's Flower & Garden Festival

EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival has officially kicked off, and if you’re going to the festival, there are a few rules to follow to help you avoid wasting money!

Yacht Grub Full Spread

This year’s festival runs until June 1st, and our DFB team was there on opening day to hit every Outdoor Kitchen, see all of the merchandise, and take in every part of this festival. We’ve learned a few lessons so far about this year’s festival, and trust us, you can spend a lot of money here! To make sure you don’t waste any of your money, here are 7 rules you need to follow on your upcoming trip to EPCOT.

Not Using Our Map and Ebook

The DFB team has created some great resources for you to use for planning out your EPCOT festival day this spring. Above, you can get our downloadable Flower and Garden Festival map and checklist so you can easily see where each booth is before you get all turned around in the park looking for Beach Grub. We also have our DFB Guide to this year’s festival, updated with everything you need to know. Using these two resources can help save you time, which is money when we’re talking Disney World!

Do Your Research

There are a LOT of Outdoor Kitchens (aka Food Booths) at this festival, and each booth offers a lot of items, so it can start to feel overwhelming. We recommend doing some research before you go to see what’s worth your money! We were there on opening day and tried a ton of dishes to review to let you know our thoughts on who would like it and who should skip it. What sounds good on paper might have been a miss for our reporters. This can help you decide between dishes.

ALL of the DFB Outdoor Kitchen Food Booth 2026 REVIEWS

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Be Realistic

Let’s be real, I think we might have all had a time at EPCOT where our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, and suddenly we’ve ordered one of everything on the menu. Realistically, between the heat of Florida, the thrill rides, and the heavy dishes, you might not be able to eat as much as you thought. Try to be conservative when ordering. If you’re still hungry, you can hit the booth back up for round 2!

BRUNCHCOT Full Spread

Sharing is Caring

Speaking of not wasting food and money, a great idea is to share dishes if you’re going with others. While a few portions are on the smaller side, many dishes can easily be shared. Sharing will save you money, and it will give you more of an appetite to try more dishes.

Captain’s Board

Use a Disney Giftcard

One way to avoid overspending is to use a Disney Giftcard with a set limit. Once the money is gone, that is an easy way to know it’s time to move on to rides or admire the topiaries. There is even a special Flower and Garden festival gift card you can add money to, and it comes on a handy bracelet, making it easy to keep up with.

Flower and Garden Gift Card!

Use Your DDP Snack Credits Wisely

If you have the Disney Dining Plan, you can actually use your snack credits at food booths for the festival! This is a great use of your snack credits, as many of these items can run $7-$9. However, not all snacks are equal in value. You aren’t going to want to waste that snack credit on a $5 that is pretty small in portion; instead, opt for a snack that is greater than $7, and bonus points if you can share it! We’ve made a handy list of the best ways to use those credits this year!

CONFIRMED: These 10 EPCOT Festival Snacks Are the BEST Ways to Spend Your Dining Plan Credits

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Bring Your Own Water

With the heat and all of those snacks, you’re going to get thirsty quick! Be sure to bring a refillable water bottle to keep yourself not only hydrated, but also to keep yourself from buying $4 bottled water at every few booths. There are several water refill stations around EPCOT, and you can grab free ice water from any quick-service restaurant.

Water fountain and refill station in EPCOT

We have reviewed everything there is to do at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival to help you know what’s worth your time and money. For more tips, follow us at DFB!

This NEW Map Shows What EPCOT Looks Like During the 2026 Flower and Garden Festival

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What is a Flower and Garden Festival booth you’re excited to try this year? Tell us in the comments below!