May 2023 Archives - On the Go in MCO

2023 Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food and Wine Festival

Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival will offer guests a one-of-a-kind flavor and rhythm experience from various world latitudes.

Beginning today, the highly anticipated event will provide guests with an elevated culinary experience and the opportunity to enjoy live musical performances from some of the most popular artists in the entertainment industry.

The event runs through May 21, featuring a total of 20 food and beverage cabins for guests to sip and savor and 23 live concerts.

The Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival is included with park admission.

All-New Globally Inspired Culinary Offerings

Inspired by various cultures, guests will have the opportunity to explore more than 20 globally inspired culinary offerings.

For the perfect pairing, the choices range from 39 wines from regions near and far, 14 craft, domestic and international beers, bourbon tastings, and more.

From flavors of Asia to Busch Gardens’ own Xcursions store serving house-made coaster-themed sweets, there is a dish for every palate at the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival.

Guests can indulge in the following delights:

NEW! – Trek Through Africa Cabin – African Vegetable Curry & Naan Bread (Vegetarian)
NEW! – Twisted Egg Rolls Cabin – Buffalo Chicken Egg Roll with Ranch Dipping Sauce
NEW! – Moroccan Market Cabin – Berbere Spiced Chicken Batbout
NEW! – Greek Isles Cabin – Lamb Lollipop with Mint Demi-Glaze (Gluten Free)
NEW! – European Delight Cabin – Mushroom Ravioli with Truffle Cream Sauce (Vegetarian)
·NEW! – Asian Inspired Cabin – Spicy Pork Belly with Mandarin Orange Soy Glaze (Gluten Free)
NEW! – Springs Taproom Bar & Lounge – Traditional Tuna Poke
NEW! – Cocktails & Beer Cabin – Spicy Watermelon Margarita Craft Cocktail
NEW! – Xcursions Gift Shop – Signature Coaster Cupcake 4-Pack
NEW! – Latin Twist Cabin – Piña Colada Trifle

Headlining Concerts for Every Taste

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is dishing up a variety of headlining concerts for every taste as part of the Food and Wine Festival.

Twenty-three headlining acts spanning pop, rock, country, and more genres will take the Festival Field Stage for 11 weekends jam-packed with rhythm and flavor.

Kansas – March 11	+LIVE+ – April 8
Maddie & Tae – March 12	The Fab Four – April 9
SWV – March 18	38 Special – April 15
Dustin Lynch – March 19	Mitchell Tenpenny – April 16
Rodney Atkins – March 25	Air Supply – April 22
Flo Rida – March 26	Gabby Barrett – April 23
Jeremy Camp – April 1	Hoobastank – April 29
*Coming Soon!* – April 2	WALK THE MOON – April 30

All headlining concert performances are included with park admission and will take place on the Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival main stage located past the cabins on the Festival Pathway.

To view showtimes and purchase reserved seating and VIP packages, guests can visit BuschGardensTampa.com.

A Celebración with Latin Flare for Cinco de Mayo and Viva la Música

The Food and Wine Festival transforms into a melting pot of Latin cultures featuring world-renowned iconic dishes and live música from award-winning Latin artists.

For this Latin fiesta, guests can expect a complete transformation of the festival area and enjoy authentic Latin gastronomy and entertainment.

Cinco de Mayo and Viva La Música celebrate the diverse Latino heritage and culture with the authentic flavors and rhythms of Mexican, South American, and Caribbean countries in the mix.

Cinco de Mayo and Viva la Música occur every Saturday and Sunday from May 5 – 21 and are included with daily park admission, Annual Pass, or Fun Cards.

The full Latin artists’ lineup for 2023 is:

The Como La Flor Band – May 5
Celia Vive – A Tribute to Celia Cruz – May 6
El Gran Combo – May 7
Toño Rosario – May 13
Grupo Niche – May 14
Elvis Crespo – May 20
Luisito Ayala y la Puerto Rican Power – May 21

Sampler Lanyards Provide the Best Way to Experience the Food and Wine Festival

The best way to experience the Food & Wine Festival flavors at Busch Gardens is with a Food and Wine Sampler Lanyard.

Starting at $70 and redeemable at the numerous cabins located throughout the park, Sampler Lanyards offer the best value for guests and will be available in quantities of 10 and 15.

An exclusive 18-item sampler for the same price as a 15-item is available for all Pass Members. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food and Wine Festival 2020

Add More Flavor to Your Experience with a VIP Seating Package

Busch Gardens has the perfect ingredients for an exclusive experience at the Food and Wine Festival with VIP Seating packages.

Guests can get up close to their favorite artists, enjoy one complimentary beverage and gain access to a private VIP bar.

The package includes one entry per reservation to the VIP reserved seating area on the concert field and one beverage at the VIP Bar.

Reservation is only valid for the date and time purchased.

Annual Passes and Fun Cards Offer the Best Way to Play

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Annual Pass is the best way to enjoy a year of thrilling attractions and exciting seasonal events.

Categorized in easy-to-use tiers, options provide guests unlimited year-round admission and unbeatable benefits, including free parking, in-park discounts, and monthly rewards starting at $15.

Additionally, those interested in paying for a day and playing all year can use the current buy-one-get-one Fun Card offer.

For a limited time, guests purchasing a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Fun Card will receive an Adventure Island Fun Card for FREE.

Guests can visit BuschGardensTampa.com to purchase tickets and learn more about the Annual Pass program’s benefits and monthly rewards

Once Upon a Spring at the Gaylord Palms Resort

Once Upon a Spring Gaylord Palms Resort 2022

Once Upon a Spring, the annual celebration at the Gaylord Palms Resort has fun for the entire family blooming around every corner from March 3 to May 14, 2023.

The event features plenty of oversized pastel eggs, new Adventure Kids’ Clubhouse activities, an Easter Day Buffet, a pirate escape room, a themed scavenger hunt, and everyone’s favorite holiday hares, Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny.

Once Upon a Spring Event Highlights

Eggspress Yourself

Larger-than-life Easter eggs and thousands of spring blossoms highlight the Eggspression Garden, a themed walk-through experience in the atrium. A giant Easter egg archway greets guests on the self-guided trail with plenty of springtime photo spots for that perfect picture to share with friends and family.

Bountiful Easter Buffet Dining Experience

On Easter Sunday, April 9, from noon-6 p.m., Villa de Flora will host its annual Easter Buffet. The plentiful buffet features more than ten stations, including antipasto, house-made bread, gourmet salads, chilled favorites on ice like jumbo shrimp cocktail and cold-water oysters, a chef-crafted pasta bar, soups, short ribs, citrus-brined chicken, a seafood paella station, a “knife-to-plate” station with taste-tempting dishes like leg of lamb, prime rib and smoked ham, a children’s dining station and a delicious selection of signature desserts. The cost is $75 per adult and $35 per child ages 4-12, plus tax and gratuity. To check availability and make reservations, guests should visit GaylordPalmsDining.com.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny

Mr. Easter Bunny will meet guests inside the resort each Saturday from March 4-April 8 at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. On Easter Sunday, April 9, the Easter Bunny will pose for photos at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Mrs. Easter Bunny will also make special appearances on April 9, meeting guests at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.

Kids Get Crafty in an All-New Adventure Kids’ Clubhouse

Younger guests and their families can visit the all-new Adventure Kids’ Clubhouse, where they explore the world around them and enjoy activities with the help of a special guest. This season’s special guest is The Gardener, who will help kids create the perfect springtime craft – custom-painted flowerpots.

Get Hopping with a Springtime Scavenger Hunt

Young guests and families can embark on a springtime search throughout the resort in the Spring-A-Long Scavenger Hunt. Exploring a 4.5-acre garden of spring flowers and seasonal pastel colors, families work together and follow clues in their activity booklet during the at-your-own-pace activity. Guests who complete the quest receive a springtime surprise to help celebrate their puzzle-solving prowess.

Pirate and Princess Weekends 2021 Gaylord Palms Resort

Find Hidden Treasure in a Pirate Escape Room Experience

Ahoy! Guests are invited to set sail on a springtime adventure in the Pirate’s Treasure Escape Room. Captain Hornswaggle’s wife, Emerald, has recruited guests to her crew to pillage the Captain’s quarters and claim his most valuable treasure. A series of puzzles, games, and riddles reveals the treasure’s secret location, challenging guests to solve them before the Captain returns and makes them walk the plank.

Watch Dive-In Movies in a Splashy Cinema

Each Saturday during the celebration, overnight guests are invited to take in a Dive-In Movie on the large video wall near the zero-entry pool in Cypress Springs Water Park. Guests can enjoy the silver screen selections from the swimming pool or from seating around the pool.

More Adventure Kids Fun in a Live Stage Show

Younger explorers are invited to join Seth the Sea Turtle, Ava the Alligator, and Adventure Kid Sophie on Saturdays inside the Gaylord Palms atrium to discover the wonders of the spring season in an interactive, live show. These springtime shows occur at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Springtime Lights Come Alive in ‘Bloom’

When night falls at Gaylord Palms, a salute to springtime takes place in the skies above the atrium on the resort’s animated light curtains in the “Bloom” light show. Festive flowers, pastel Easter eggs, and bouncing bunnies come to life in the colorful display. Guests in select main atrium-view rooms can watch the show from the comfort of their balcony.

Packages and Tickets

Gaylord Palms is offering “Welcome to More” Spring packages that include guest rooms and event tickets. For tickets or room packages for Once Upon a Spring, guests may visit GaylordPalms.com.

2023 Garden Rocks Concert Series Lineup

Get ready to rock with the Garden Rocks Concert Series – returning to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival this March!

There’s nothing like ending your day at EPCOT with a concert that, BTW, is included with your theme park admission featuring internationally recognized artists performing Friday-Monday and showcasing local Orlando talent on Tuesday-Thursday at the America Gardens Theater!

The Garden Rocks Concert Series lineup is filled with talent from returning favorites like The Pointer Sisters, Simple Plan, and the Plain White T’s, along with fresh talent like legacy guitarist AJ Croce and GRAMMY award-winning Switchfoot.

Garden Rocks Concert Series Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2020

2023 Garden Rocks Concert Series Lineup

March 3-4 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
March 5-6 – Daughtry
March 10-11 – Tommy DeCarlo
March 12-13 – Smash Mouth
March 17-18 – Mike DelGuidice
March 19-20 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
March 24-25 – Berlin
March 26-27 – The Pointer Sisters
March 31 – Luis Figueroa – NEW
April 1-2 – Piso 21 – NEW
April 3 – TBD
April 7-8 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
April 9-10 – Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
April 16-17 – Switchfoot – NEW
April 21-22 – A Flock of Seagulls
April 23-24 – Jo Dee Messina
April 28-29 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
April 30, May 1 – Kool and the Gang
May 5-8 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 12-15 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
May 19-20 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
May 21-22 – Casting Crowns – NEW
May 26-27 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
May 28-29 – Rick Springfield
June 2-5 – Plain White T’s
June 9-10 – The Spinners
June 11-12 – The Commodores
June 16-17 – Vertical Horizon
June 18-19 – Tony Orlando
June 23-26 – Simple Plan
June 30, July 1 – Living Colour
July 2-3 – Wang Chung

Beginning February 9, guests can secure their spot for these rockin’ performances with a Garden Rocks Dining Package. Check out FreshEPCOT.com.

Just a reminder, to experience EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, guests must have both valid admission and a park reservation for EPCOT on the same date.

2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

The 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival brings bright blossoms, seasonally inspired flavors, and lively entertainment for the entire family to Walt Disney World daily from March 1 through July 5, 2023.

The event is one of the longest flower and garden festivals in the United States. The seasonal plantings change throughout the Festival, offering evolving displays of vibrant hues, textures, shapes, and scents.

With so much to experience during the event throughout the park, here are some of my favorite highlights!

2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

Topiaries

Nearly 100 individual and iconic EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival topiaries crafted by Disney’s amazing horticulture team can be found throughout the park.

While guests to the event will be able to find favorites like Lumiere and Cogsworth topiaries in the France pavilion; Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Tick Tock Croc in the United Kingdom Pavilion, and of course, Pumbaa and Timon from The Lion King. Several new additions are making their Festival debut.

Near the EPCOT main entrance, topiaries of Mirabel, Antonio, Isabela, and Luisa from Disney’s “Encanto” will make a grand appearance to welcome park guests.

In The American Adventure pavilion, Dreams really do come true as a new Princess Tiana topiary joins the pavilion’s lively decor.

And finally, new topiaries of the Seven Dwarfs will accompany Snow White near the Germany pavilion in World Showcase.

Interactive Outdoor Spaces for the Entire Family

Fun for the entire family spills out into every nook and cranny of the park during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, with interactive outdoor spaces around every corner.

Get your nose ready to experience one of my favorite recent additions, Blossoms of Fragrance, Presented by Scentsy, where guests are encouraged to slow down and enjoy the sights and scents of spring. Surrounded by vibrant butterfly topiaries, “guests can follow their noses to six scent stations – floral, fruity, citrus, spice, woods, and fresh – to form lasting memories with the help of unforgettable aromas.”

Little Botanists can also enjoy an assortment of playscapes and trails lined with activities spotlighting eco-friendly fun under the sun.

The perennial favorite Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is returning once again! This affordable scavenger hunt for kids of all ages takes explorers throughout the park looking for their favorite bee, Spike, for a special prize. Purchase a map and stickers at select merchandise locations while supplies last!

Outdoor Kitchens

During the Festival, tasty sips and bites inspired by spring’s bounty are showcased at over 15 Outdoor Kitchens.

Make sure to pick up an Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Passport at either park entrance to find out more about the flavors you can savor and how to participate in the Garden Graze, a food stroll featuring delicious dishes from various Outdoor Kitchens that, once completed, result in a festival-exclusive treat.

I also am excited because the Citrus Blossom, one of my favorite kitchens, has a new location in the Odyssey!

When planning your culinary adventure, please remember that the Festival Outdoor Kitchens are open daily from 11:00 am to park close unless otherwise noted.

Groovy Garden Rocks Concerts

Every night live musical performances rock the America Gardens Theatre.

Included with your theme park admission, these concerts feature internationally and locally recognized artists.

Want to take your concert experience to eleven? The Garden Rocks Dining Package, available for Friday through Monday concerts, includes a leisurely meal at select EPCOT restaurants and guaranteed seating at one of the performances later that same day.

To see pricing, the full lineup of artists, performance dates, and to make a dining package reservation, visit FreshEPCOT.com.

Festival Souvenirs

If you want to commemorate your visit to the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, a variety of event merchandise can be found at retail locations across EPCOT, and select items will also be available on shopDisney.com.

Like the lifecycle of a butterfly, merchandise offerings will change during the event, with new additional pieces debuting throughout the Festival.

Fan favorites are sure to include ‘70’s inspired Orange Bird merchandise, apparel, headwear, drinkware, and much more.

To experience the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, guests need both a valid park admission and a park reservation for EPCOT on the same date.

For more details on this year’s Festival, guests can visit FreshEPCOT.com.