When you hear the words “Club Cool”, what do you think of? Popularity? Maybe. Dancing all night long with friends? Also, maybe. If you are quite the quirky person, like myself, perhaps your mind went to a cool place that is cold all the time, and I might say you are getting warmer (ironic, yea?). However, what do I think of when I hear those two simple words, you ask? EPCOT.
Disney seems to be increasing prices everywhere these days, and also taking away things at the same time, however, you can still find quite a few things that can be experienced for free (not including park admission) within each park. So, where do you ask can you find such things? Well, one of them is called Club Cool, nestled inside the newly named “World Celebration” pavilion, inside EPCOT.
Club Cool is a fun and free experience for the whole family that is owned and run by Coca Cola, which allows you to try samples of all different kinds of soda from around the world. So, if you were wondering if this is something you should do on your next trip to EPCOT, keep reading, as I go through the best (and not so best) highlights of this little hidden freebie.
THE GOOD:
Club Cool Entrance
It is somewhat tucked away to the left of spaceship earth, and even before you step inside, you will notice that the entrance is covered with a giant cement awning of sorts, making it a pretty great spot to cool off and get away from the crowds. There are also trash cans placed right outside as well, so if you wanted to stop for a snack break, or drink your Joffrey’s coffee without having to worry about sun, and a place to throw away your empty cup after, this is a great spot to consider. The line for Club Cool can sometimes get pretty long depending on the time of year you visit as well, which can extend outside (more on this later). So, having a shaded area to wait is a great bonus, considering we all know how Florida heat waves can be.
Free, Self Serve Soda!
And I am not just talking about 1 small cup of your regular Coke or Diet Coke. Oh no. I am talking about 8 flavors of adventure, all at your very own fingertips, and as much to your heart’s content. You walk up to one of several self-serve soda machines, pull a sample cup from the wall, and simply choose and drink away. Have 1, have 2, have all of them! All of the different flavors are written above each fountain, along with a description of not just what it is, but where it comes from. So, not only are you getting free drinks, but you are also getting a little history lesson too! Who doesn’t love a free adventure around the world?
Shopping
Club Cool isn’t just soda. It is a one stop shop, so if you are a Coca Cola fan or collector, this is the place for you. Here you can buy Coca Cola themed souvenirs including shirts, cups, dishes, and so much more. There is even a counter area where you can buy a soda float. If that wasn’t enough, right next door is the newly built, and massive, Creations Shop, filled with some of the best Disney themed merchandise inside Epcot.
Air Conditioning!
If you are looking for a place to cool off, then look no further than Club Cool. Even its tiny size (more on that below) can’t stop me from getting some free soda and a 10-15 minute break out of the Florida sun.
Well, that’s the good, but how about the bad and the ugly…
THE BAD:
The Line
Yup. I said it. We all know Disney is known for their lines for rides and shows, but even some places like Club Cool can’t seem to escape them. Because of its ever growing popularity based off of the famous “Beverly” flavored soda, and newly reopened status, a lot of people are flocking to it, especially during peak times. I have actually seen the wait time get to be as long as 60 minutes at one point, which does extend outside the doors. No matter how cool free soda around the world sounds, I would never wait that long. Don’t let me stop you though, if you’re ok with long waits in the Florida heat (hey, at least they have that cool awning that we talked about), then go for it.
The Size!
Yes, Club Cool is fun and free, but the size of the store is quite small. So if you suffer from claustrophobia, or just hate tight spaces and crowds, this may not be the place for you. Especially if you are already traveling with a large group, it could make this a pretty chaotic and uncomfortable scenario (like the last time I went with my 4 children, and when my son got out of our 1,000lb carriage of hanging souvenir bags, and it fell over spilling a ton of free soda hence getting it all over our shoes along with the group next to us).
THE UGLY
Weird Flavors!
So let’s talk about these iconic Club Cool “flavors”. Yup. You know the ones I am talking about…especially that “Beverly”. I am all about trying new things and getting myself out of my comfort zone once and while, so if this is something you are into, then don’t be shy, but just be prepared that some of these flavors hit you out of nowhere. I know “Beverely” is a hit or miss with most of us Disney goers, and for me, it was a miss. It reminded me of some bad medicine and I just could not deal. Then there was an apple juice flavored one and it was disgusting! Whoever thought “carbonated apple juice” would taste good just did not get the memo. Finally, let’s not forget about the infamous “BBQ flavored” soda. No way I am telling you which one this is though, you’ll just have to find out for yourself (FYI: it’s gross)!
Sticky, Sticky, Sticky!
We all know soda is delicious, but it can also be very sticky. As soon as you walk up to one of the self-serve soda machines you can hear it, you can feel it, and you can smell it (you could touch it too, but I wouldn’t recommend that, haha). Yes, the soda area is gonna be messy, and well, frankly it’s disgusting, let’s be honest, but it isn’t just the machine or counter itself that gets like this. It’s the floor too! I hate the feeling of walking over something sticky in my own kitchen, because you know it’ll just live on the bottom of your shoe for the rest of the day, and that is, unfortunately, what happened to us after our Club Cool experience recently. I know they are short staffed right now due to the pandemic, however they really need to have better management when it comes to cleaning those floors. Yuck!
There you have it folks! The good, the bad and the ugly highlights of Epcot’s Club Cool! Take them as you may and enjoy it as you will. In the end, I am sure I will be back to get another dose of free raspberry soda, air conditioning, and sticky floors.
