Garden Rocks Concerts return to the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival beginning in March 2023 at Walt Disney World. This submit covers the present lineup of bands and musicians, whether or not the eating package deal is definitely worth the cash, dates of the performances, and all the pieces else you must know.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 1 to July 5, 2023. Walt Disney World has additionally confirmed that the occasion will successfully be cut up into two phases, though this doesn’t seem like mirrored within the musical lineup–there are large names all through.
Once once more the Garden Rocks Concert Series will provide its personal ‘split approach,’ with internationally acknowledged artists performing Friday by way of Monday and native Orlando expertise on Tuesday by way of Thursday on the America Gardens Theater. For 2023, the sequence is jam-packed with expertise from returning favorites like The Pointer Sisters, Simple Plan, and the Plain White T’s, together with recent expertise like legacy guitarist AJ Croce and GRAMMY award-winning Switchfoot.
These Garden Rocks performances are held within the America Gardens Theatre throughout from the American Adventure in World Showcase. The concert events are included with EPCOT admission, and usually happen 3 times per night, at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and eight:00 p.m.
During the Garden Rocks Concert Series, standard bands from the 60s and 70s–the grooviest, flower-filled many years–and past carry out a few of their best hits for the Flower & Garden Festival crowds. Here’s the schedule of the Garden Rocks Concert Series through the 2023 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival:
- March 3-4, 2023 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
- March 5-6, 2023 – Daughtry
- March 10-11, 2023 – Tommy DeCarlo
- March 12-13, 2023 – Smash Mouth
- March 17-18, 2023 – Mike DelGuidice
- March 19-20, 2023 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
- March 24-25, 2023 – Berlin
- March 26-27, 2023 – The Pointer Sisters
- March 31, 2023 – Luis Figueroa – NEW
- April 1-2, 2023 – Piso 21 – NEW
- April 3, 2023 – TBD
- April 7-8, 2023 – STARSHIP that includes Mickey Thomas
- April 9-10, 2023 – Don Felder, previously of the Eagles
- April 16-17, 2023 – Switchfoot – NEW
- April 21-22, 2023 – A Flock of Seagulls
- April 23-24, 2023 – Jo Dee Messina
- April 28-29, 2023 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
- April 30, May 1, 2023 – Kool and the Gang
- May 5-8, 2023 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
- May 12-15, 2023 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
- May 19-20, 2023 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
- May 21-22, 2023 – Casting Crowns – NEW
- May 26-27, 2023 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
- May 28-29, 2023 – Rick Springfield
- June 2-5, 2023 – Plain White T’s
- June 9-10, 2023 – The Spinners
- June 11-12, 2023 – The Commodores
- June 16-17, 2023 – Vertical Horizon
- June 18-19, 2023 – Tony Orlando
- June 23-26, 2023 – Simple Plan
- June 30, July 1, 2023 – Living Colour
- July 2-3, 2023 – Wang Chung
Garden Rocks Dining Packages are solely supplied Friday to Monday through the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, from March 1 to July 5, 2023. Packages aren’t supplied on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Walt Disney World friends who buy the Garden Rocks Dining Package will obtain live performance badges on the restaurant after their meal. The badge will specify the date and present time they’ve reserved. Guests with the Dining Package will enter America Gardens Theatre in a separate queue and can be seated on a first-come, first-served foundation. Seating is assured.
Each package deal contains:
- An appetizer, entrée and dessert or one (1) full buffet (the place relevant), together with a non-alcoholic beverage
- At Spice Road Table, the Garden Rocks Dining Package contains 2 small plates, a shared dessert platter, and a nonalcoholic beverage
- One (1) assured seat per particular person to one live performance efficiency on the identical day; the live performance time can be assigned on the time of reserving
Here’s taking part eating places and eating package deal costs, which exclude tax and gratuity:
| Adult (ages 10 and up) |
Child (ages 3 to 9) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Norway Pavilion |
$74.00 | $48.00 |
| Biergarten Restaurant Germany Pavilion |
$60.00 | $34.00 |
| Coral Reef Restaurant The Living Seas |
$69.00 | $27.00 |
| Garden Grill Restaurant The Land Pavilion |
$66.00 | $43.00 |
| Le Cellier Steakhouse Canada Pavilion |
$95.00 | $36.00 |
| Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue American Adventure Pavilion |
$35.00 | $20.00 |
| Rose & Crown Dining Room United Kingdom Pavilion |
$59.00 | $25.00 |
| Spice Road Table Morocco Pavilion |
$47.00 | $20.00 |
Book Advance Dining Reservations for the Garden Rocks Dining Package starting February 9, 2023. Future dates can be launched according to ADR guidelines for Walt Disney World, that means that all the occasion received’t be out there directly, however quite, on a rolling 60+10 day foundation.
If the Garden Rocks Dining Package is one thing you really need (extra on whether or not you really want it under), we’d suggest reserving ASAP. That’s very true for standard eating places like Akershus, which is exceedingly tough to e book even with out the package deal.
If you’re not capable of rating ADRs for Garden Rocks sit-down eating packages, worry not. You could possibly buy a same-day eating package deal, which lets you:
- Dine with out reservations at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue that day (Spice Road Table may also be an choice)
- Enjoy assured seats to a Garden Rocks live performance later that day
To verify availability for same-day eating packages, go to Regal Eagle’s Distinctly Patriotic Smokehouse: A Salute to All Foods, But Mostly Barbecued Meats ~ A Sam Eagle Craft Drafts & BBQ Joint. Same-day Garden Rocks Dining Packages are topic to availability and will not be out there on peak dates.
Although we’re followers of Regal Eagle, Spice Road Table is certainly the best way to go if you happen to’re “forced” to do a same-day eating package deal. Yes, it’s $12 costlier, nevertheless it gives at the least that rather more bang-for-buck, with a menu that’s extra approachable than you may assume.
Check out our overview, Spice Road Table: EPCOT’s Best Candlelight Processional Dining Package?, for extra as to why that’s our prime choose. Even although it’s written from the attitude of Candlelight, it applies equally to Garden Rocks.
The America Gardens Theater the place Garden Rocks Concert Series is held can seat over 1,000 friends per efficiency, however a big chunk of those seats are put aside for friends who buy dinner packages. All of those dinner package deal friends are assured seats in one of many three nightly Garden Rocks concert events.
In addition to this, followers for specific acts usually line up prematurely, and seeing these strains, common vacationers additionally queue up. Consequently, it turns into one thing of a self-fulfilling prophecy–the standby line for performances can get longer as a result of it’s lengthy.
However, that solely applies to standard performers…and in perusing the lineup, there aren’t all that a lot of these. I’m personally wanting ahead to Blue Oyster Cult and Smash Mouth, however I don’t know that both are actually standard as of late. To that time, it’s comparatively uncommon for the Garden Rocks concert events to fill America Gardens Theater to capability. Just as a result of the road seems to be lengthy…doesn’t imply it’s going to be a packed home.
This is particularly true for the sooner performances when the solar continues to be beating down on the out of doors amphitheater. Same goes for Garden Rocks concert events that don’t happen through the peak of Spring Break season. Much of EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival falls throughout shoulder or low season, and the concert events aren’t too dangerous then.
To every their very own, however we usually don’t suggest buying the Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Package. If your solely expertise with performances on this venue is Candlelight Processional, alter your expectations. There’s far much less demand for the Garden Rocks Concert Series than there’s for Candlelight Processional.
FOMO is a robust motivator, however it’s best to be capable to benefit from the live performance simply nice with out paying further for a eating package deal. We’ve watched many concert events in March by way of mid-October, and have by no means as soon as purchased one in every of these eating packages for both Garden Rocks or Eat to the Beat (throughout Food & Wine Festival).
We nearly at all times present up a couple of minutes earlier than the present begins and are simply capable of rating spots. In our view, the eating packages are a waste of cash until they’re the one method to get a particular, highly-coveted ADR (taking a look at you, Akershus) otherwise you’re capable of leverage them to the fullest benefit and don’t thoughts paying a slight premium for peace of thoughts.
In phrases of worth for cash, the eating package deal will not be that costly. You are completely paying a little bit of a premium for the Garden Rocks Concert Series Dining Package, and that’s even assuming you “optimization” your order and choose the most costly entrees, and so forth–nevertheless it’s not that dangerous.
If you choose to not do the Garden Rocks Dining Package and don’t need very lengthy in line, you may have a few choices. First, present as much as the standby line ~quarter-hour earlier than the primary present of the day begins. Depending upon the recognition of the band and the climate, there are normally nonetheless loads of seats within the solar (only a few spots within the America Gardens Theater are shaded). If not, at the least you didn’t waste a ton of time standing in line.
In most circumstances, that technique will work simply nice. You could not have the most effective seats, however you’ll nonetheless be capable to see the present and have a seat. If the theatre is already full, we suggest attempting to look at from the walkway behind the America Gardens Theatre.
Cast Members will handle crowd move again right here within the walkway, however you’ll be able to merely stand behind the theater (not within the walkway) and watch the live performance. This is definitely a extremely good view for the Garden Rocks Concert Series, and continues to be fairly near the stage. It’s not like being within the low cost seats given the intimate dimension of the venue–consider it as sitting (properly, standing) within the balcony of the America Gardens Theatre.
Honestly, that is greater than what we do. We watched Garden Rocks perhaps 3-4 instances final yr, and in every case it was a spontaneous factor. We merely occurred to be passing the America Gardens Theater shortly earlier than or after because the concert events began, and determined to seize a seat to get off our toes and revel in some basic rock. I can’t even recall the final time we queued up prematurely for one in every of these concert events. Our recommendation right here is solely to provide you extra of a buffer and err on the aspect of warning.
Ultimately, watching the Garden Rocks Concert Series is fairly easy and easy, and will contain zero stress or pre-planning. Although we frequently purchase the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages, we’ve got by no means–not as soon as!–purchased eating packages for any of the opposite three festivals. From our perspective, it’s a waste of cash, as we will nonetheless simply benefit from the performances with minimal effort.
We will not be proper up entrance and middle, however the views are good all through the America Gardens Theater–and even behind it. To every their very own, however we’d quite allocate our funds for visiting Walt Disney World on different issues. If you may have infinite assets and don’t thoughts losing cash, by all means, e book the Garden Rocks Dining Package. As a splurge, it’s one of many absolute worst decisions–save that cash for one thing else…actually anything…at Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces you must know!
Your Thoughts
Are you a fan of the Garden Rocks Concert Series? Which bands have you ever seen carry out on the America Gardens Theater stage? Do you normally e book the Garden Rocks Dining Package or wait in line? Think it’s definitely worth the cash? Do you may have any technique for seeing the reveals with out ready? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!