Park Paradise

Disney World’s Epcot - Flower and Garden Festival

Heading over to Epcot any time soon? Well, on your visit you will first come across a giant Sorcerer Mickey as part of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year, which sits just inside the park’s gate.

Standing atop a 12-foot-tall floral mountain cliff, Sorcerer Mickey directs a riot of dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants. The scene, inspired by Disney’s “Fantasia,” is constructed out of pink geraniums, white poppies and violet petunias, among other flowers.

Check out the behind-the-scenes look at how the topiary – one of the largest ever featured at the festival – was constructed above.

Disney World’s Epcot - Flower & Garden Festival 2012

This year’s event, which runs between March 7 - May 20 2012, will feature the largest ever Disney topiary (a Sorcerer Mickey) and a new Haiti: Garden of Many Colors display located in World Showcase. Guests can also enjoy weekend presentations from HGTV designers and hosts, as well as the Flower Power concert series, which features the music of the 1960s-70s. Kids’ favorites, like Bambi’s Butterfly House and the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden play area are back, too.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the work that went into creating this year’s festival.