Whether you’re in Epcot celebrating your 21st birthday or you are just looking for a day or evening out without the kids, drinking around the world can be one of the most fun and unique ways to experience World Showcase. Be sure to bring your ID and stay safe while sampling different brews, liquors and more from around the world:
Arrive bright and early
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Drinking around the world safely should equate to drinking around the world slowly. Arriving at Epcot in time for the opening of World Showcase will give you the entire day to drink around the world slowly. The last thing you’ll want to find yourself doing is rushing around from country to country downing various liquors in the hot, Florida sun.
Even if drinking around the world is your main purpose for visiting Epcot, you will likely still want to experience everything else that World Showcase has to offer. From entertainment to first class dining experiences, to attractions and shows, you’ll find that there is plenty to do aside from bar hopping.
To start in Mexico or to end in Mexico?
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When drinking around the world you may come to realize that in Mexico you will end up ordering some form of tequila. Whether you plan on doing shots, having a margarita (or both), this is likely the strongest alcohol that you will have during your day of drinking around the world, which begs the question, to start in Mexico or end in Mexico?
Either way you decide to travel around World Showcase should work, but consider how you think you’ll feel after doing tequila shots either first thing in the morning or after a full day of drinking. If you decide to end your trip around the world in Mexico you can always stall before drinking tequila by wandering through the shops in the pavilion and having a snack in the nearby quick service restaurants.
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Whether you start or end in Mexico can set the tone for the rest of your day. If you start strong, you may need to slow down your pace in the middle of the day to keep from getting sick. Conversely if you end in Mexico you may find yourself feeling the need to sober up before doing anything else. Whichever way you choose, remember to:
Stay hydrated
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Ideally you should be consuming as much water as you are alcohol. It is no secret that Orlando is hot and humid for much of the year and dehydration can be a real issue if you let it. The problem with drinking too much water while drinking is that you may find yourself making more bathroom runs than usual. To be honest though, a day of drinking around the world will come with extra bathroom runs anyway, so this should not deter you from staying hydrated.
Worried about wasting money on water when you’d rather spend your hard earned cash on alcohol in Epcot? Don’t be. A cast member at any quick service restaurant will be happy to give you a cup of tap water for free if you ask, and the taste will not be the same as tap water since it is filtered through the soda machine. At the very least, plan on ordering a cup of water with each drink. You may be excited to spend the entire day drinking, but you do want to make sure you’ll be well enough to enjoy yourself so dehydration is not something you’d like to deal with during this trip.
Don’t forget to eat
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Thankfully World Showcase is one of the best places at the Walt Disney World Resort to grab a snack, or six or seven. If you are spending a day drinking around the world, you may find it easier to snack through World Showcase rather than sitting down for full meals. With so much extra liquid being consumed, you may not want to feel full or bloated from a full meal while wandering through the countries.
Eating can also help you sober up if you need or want to. One of the easiest ways to sober up at least relatively quickly while drinking around the world is to grab a pretzel in Germany. It would have the same effect on your system as eating a few pieces of bread, and Germany is conveniently almost halfway around World Showcase.
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Funnel Cake from the American Adventure pavilion can also help if your buzz seems to be going south, although we’d suggest skipping the ice cream as the extra dairy mixed with booze may not be your best bet. Another idea may be to bring some snacks into the parks with you. Drinking around the world is going to be pricey, and if you’d rather not spend the extra money to eat in Epcot as well throwing some snacks in your bag before you leave home can be helpful.
Plan for an expensive day out
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When budgeting for a day of drinking around the world, plan on spending about $100/person. More if you do not share drinks or order multiple drinks. Sharing drinks, or doing a modified version of drinking around the world and having a drink in every other country would cut this price about in half. Consider that each drink is going to be about $10/person, sometimes less for beer but more for mixed drinks (like margaritas in Mexico that are typically around $14-17).
When planning how much you’re going to spend drinking around the world, do not forget to factor in gratuities. While many drinks will likely be purchased from stands and quick service locations, you may also find yourself sitting at a bar or two, and tipping your bartender or server 20% is customary.
Skip the basics but don’t miss…
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If you drink around the world and order a Bud Light, you’re doing something wrong. Try not to order drinks that you can have anywhere else at home. Even when ordering beers, there are plenty of unique options available that you won’t find in your local liquor store or restaurant. (The exception to this may be Sam Adams in the American Adventure pavilion, although seasonally and during Epcot’s various festivals some sort of mixed drink is usually offered here as well).
Now that you’ve vowed to skip the basic drinks that you can have anytime at home, don’t miss some of the more unique drinks in World Showcase. One favorite is the Horchata in Mexico, made with tequila, Horchata cream Rum (dairy), Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, agua de Horchata, topped with cinnamon powder. Speaking of Mexico, be sure to visit La Cava del Tequila inside the pyramid. The drinks may be more expensive but they are well worth it and much better than the pre-mixed drinks available outside.
Image: Brittany DiCologero
Schofferhofer Grapefruit Beer available in Germany is always a crowd pleaser, even among guests who typically do not drink beer. With a refreshing yet not too sweet twist, this beer is an interesting alternative that you probably are not drinking at home when you go out for beers.
Grey Goose Slush in France, next to the crepe kiosk comes in 2 flavors: lemon and orange. The lemon seems to be more popular but both are delicious. This slush can easily become a favorite refreshing snack during a hot day in Epcot, or a wonderful precursor to Illuminations. If you are visiting Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival or Food and Wine Festival, be sure to visit France’s festival booth as additional flavors of the slush are usually offered during those times.
Stay safe!
Staying safe while drinking anywhere should be obvious, but let’s go over safety real quick just to be sure! There is no reason to drive while drinking around the world in Epcot. To ditch the car for the day, park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and take the monorail to Epcot. If you need to sober up before you get back to the car, spend some time in the Magic Kingdom after you leave Epcot, or call an Uber/Lyft/taxi, and pick up your car once you are able to drive.
If you are staying at a Disney resort, your safest bet is to use Disney’s complimentary transportation system. Without having to worry about where you’re leaving the car or how you’ll get home, you will be able to hop back onto Disney’s monorail or bus and leave the driving to the cast members.
While drinking around the world is a fun “challenge” of sorts, do not push your limits. It can be a fun day out, but it isn’t worth making yourself sick, making a fool out of yourself, or essentially forcing your friends and family to babysit you. If your buzz starts to go too far, there is no shame in stopping. You can even drink around the world in two days if you like—simply do half of World Showcase one day, and half the next day.
Speaking of getting sick, as Epcot is a theme park you may want to reconsider which rides you’ll be going on after having a few drinks. Mission Space is a no-go for most guests after a day of drinking around the world, however other guests may feel sick after a ride on Test Track with a few drinks in them. Know your body, and if you feel a ride may not be the best thing best to skip it and come back another day.
