summer camp guide - Orlando Family Magazine

8FamilyFUNWant to get your kids excitedabout gardening this spring?“No way” you say, that is unlessyou plan to visit the Epcot InternationalFlower & Garden Festival, where specialgardens, events, and children’s playareas engage young gardeners-to-be inimaginative activities designed to makea lasting impression. This popular event,now in its 18th year, is not only a great wayfor the family to spend time together, butMom and Dad will come away with usefulinformation and tips for the home gardenas well.When asked about the Festival’spotential impact on future gardeners, EricDarden, Festival Horticulture Manager,comments that their goal was to createa 75-day Festival that would appeal toguests of all ages. “With multiple play andhands-on activities daily, we feel there isplenty to keep kids happy and engaged,” hesays. “More importantly, we provide manyvenues where children can learn about theimportance of nature and better understandthat, through responsible gardening, theycan help improve their environment in afun and rewarding way.”ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE APRIL 2011Children “Dig” theEpcot International Flower & Garden FestivalYour children’s adventure begins as soonas they step inside Epcot’s turnstiles. Thisyear, their favorite Disney-Pixar characterscome to life as playful topiaries – In thefront entrance flower bed, Woody, Buzz,and Lotso from “Toy Story” play amid asand castle, a strawberry-scented field, andplayground toys. The elaborate topiarydisplay is a great memory-making photoop, but certainly not the only one. TheFestival showcases nearly one hundredexpertly crafted topiaries and millionsof colorful blooms, including a “Cars2” display at the World Showcase plaza,featuring Mater and Lightning McQueen,parked beneath a black-and-whitecheckered arch. Completing the scene isfloral flags representing Japan, France, Italy,and the United Kingdom – all destinationsof the car characters in the movie sequeldue in theaters June 24th.Epcot aficionado, Samantha McNesby,says that she and her husband took theirthree young children to the Festival becauseBy: Dawn Henthornthe Living with the Land boat ride is a hugehit with their family. “Visiting all of thedifferent areas at the Flower and GardenFestival really appeals to us. My husbandparticularly enjoys the bonsai display inJapan, and I love picking up somethingnew for the garden each year,” she says.“Our kids love the butterfly pavilion areaand the Tinker Bell topiaries. We were ableto spot both butterflies and caterpillars, andeven caught a few glimpses of Monarchbutterflies coming out of their cocoons.I think we took more pictures here thananywhere else in Disney World!”The 18th Annual Epcot InternationalFlower & Garden Festival continuesthrough May 15, 2011. The festival,including all gardening programs andexhibits, is included in the regular Epcotadmission. For more informationcall 407-W-DISNEY or visitwww.disneyworld.com/flower.