Epcot to Host 2009 Flower & Garden Festival

With world-class flower and horticultural displays, specially themed weekends and the Flower Power concert series, the 2009 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever! The 16th-annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival offers something for everyone and is included in Epcot’s regular admission price. And spring is a great time to visit Orlando since the weather is ideal and you don’t have to cope with the summer crowds.

Enjoy endless displays of colorful roses, wildflowers and topiary displays of your favorite Disney characters, as well as gardening seminars, workshops, demonstrations and more than 500 native butterflies in Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden at this immensely popular annual Walt Disney World® Resort festival, which runs 75 days this year - from March 18 through May, 2009.

Plenty of children’s activities will be available at the 2009 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival such as the all-new daily Fairy & Princess Procession, Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden (hands-on activities, play structure and colorful topiaries of Disney characters), Pirates Adventure Zone, Let’s Get Moving recreational garden, Green Garden playground area, Character Topiary Scavenger Hunt and Earth Station.

One of the highlights of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is the Great American Gardener Series that will take place at the new Garden Town Festival Center in Future World East (next to Universe of Energy). Presented in partnership with the American Horticultural Society, the 2009 Great American Gardner Series features some of the most respected gardeners and nature experts in the United States such as Jon Carloftis (March 20-22, 2009), Shirley Bovshow (March 27-29, 2009), Susan Belsinger (April 3-5, 2009), Felder Rushing (April 10-12, 2009), Joe Lamp’l (April 17-19, 2009), Jeff Lowenfels (April 24-26, 2009), Joe Washington (May 1-3, 2009), Tom MacCubbin (May 8-10, 2009), Raymond Western (May 8-10, 2009), Melinda Myers (May 15-17, 2009), Robert Bowden (May 22-24, 2009) and Rita Randolph (May 29-31, 2009). Seminars will take place at 12 PM and 3 PM during the days listed above (schedule subject to change without notice).

In addition, the 2009 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will feature a stellar lineup of live entertainment through the Flower Power Concert Series such as Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Davy Jones, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone and Jose Feliciano. All concerts will take place at the America Gardens Theatre at 5:15 PM, 6:30 PM and 7:45 PM during the dates specified below. Concerts are included with regular Epcot admission.

2009 Flower Power Concert Series
March 20-22, 2009 - Davy Jones (”Daydream Believer”)
March 27-29, 2009 - Paul Revere & The Raiders (”Good Thing”)
April 3-5, 2009 - The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie (”Happy Together”)
April 10-12, 2009 - Herman’s Hermit’s starring Peter Noone (”I’m Henry the VIII, I Am”)
April 17-19, 2009 - The Ventures (”Hawaii Five-O”)
April 24-26, 2009 - Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes (”If You Don’t Know Me By Now”)
May 1-3, 2009 - Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (”The Twist”)
May 8-10, 2009 - Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons (”Love and Affection”)
May 15-17, 2009 - Jose Feliciano (”Light My Fire”)
May 22-24, 2009 - The 5th Dimension (”Up, Up and Away”)
May 29-31, 2009 - Tony Orlando “(Tie a Yellow Ribbon”)
Note: Concerts and show times are subject to change without notice.

Seeking spacious and affordable accommodations during your stay in Orlando to attend the 2009 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival? Look no farther than Westgate Resorts, which offers spacious villas, first-class amenities and convenient access to Disney World theme parks and area attractions. Choose from Westgate Resorts properties such as Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Vacation Villas. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.orlando-florida.net/hotels.