Drinking Around the World Showcase at Epcot
Our guide to Drinking Around the World in Epcot at Walt Disney World, covers our tips, and top picks for the best beers, wine, and mixed drinks. There’s also plenty of strategy for conquering this worldly task without climbing up the side of Mexico pavilion and holding up a Duffy plush Lion King style for all of World Showcase to see.
Since most of us probably won’t be able to haphazardly spend thousands of dollars to fly to Paris at a moment’s notice for some artisan cheeses or brave a winter in Canada just for some fine brews anytime soon, Epcot’s World Showcase offers us the next best option: sampling many alcoholic beverages and decadent desserts of the world in authentic-looking environments all while on vacation at Walt Disney World.
Of course, whose bucket list doesn’t also include having a drink in 10 different countries in a single day? No? Well, now you can add it to your list and cross it off. With our advice, those can actually be good drinks rather than a bunch of brightly colored, frozen concoctions that’ll leave you with more of a sugar rush than an a buzz…
The premise is simple: start out at one end of World Showcase, and continue through the countries, sampling a drink and/or dessert in each country. As there are 11 countries in the World Showcase, this is easier said than done. It’s even more difficult during Food & Wine Festival, when Epcot adds lots of kiosks that serve additional drinks.
If you’re looking to complete this drinking event then, check out our Guide to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival for additional tips & info. With even more drinking options, expect Drinking Around the World during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival to be a lot of fun…albeit perhaps not for your liver.
First, we will start with our tips and strategies for Drinking Around the World Showcase, generally, followed by specific drink recommendations….
General Epcot Drinking Strategy
Value for Money – If you have a Tables in Wonderland card, keep in mind that it’s valid for a discount on alcohol at Table Service restaurants, but not at kiosks or counter service spots. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you won’t be able to use any credits for alcohol as you drink around the world
Snack Around the World – Food soaks up alcohol, enabling you to drink more. That’s just science. We have a separate, companion article to this title Snacking Around the World Showcase that offers snacking tips for each country. The non-drinkers and anyone who wants to enjoy more than just drinks should check that out. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, it’s a good idea to use some snack credits as you wander the World Showcase. Check out our article on Maximizing Snack Credit Value on the Dining Plan or, if you’re traveling during Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival (in the fall), check out our article on the Best Food & Wine Festival Snacks.
Make it an All-Day Affair – Yes, a day in a Disney theme park does cost a lot of money, but if done correctly, Drinking Around the World can be some of the most fun you’ll ever have. Starting around 11 am still gives you time to hit the big Future World attractions, such as Soarin’ and Test Track first thing in the morning, or even rope dropping Frozen Ever After. Plus, spreading the drinking out over the course of the day is always a good idea.
Be Respectful – Drinking Around the World at Epcot has proliferated in popularity in recent years. Some would say it’s gotten to the point where it’s a problem. On a given day in Epcot, you will see multiple drinking “teams” replete with matching shirts and obnoxious attitudes. Never forget that Epcot is a family theme park, and while Drinking Around the World Showcase can be a ton of fun, that fun should not occur at the expense of your fellow park guests.
Explore the Pavilions – You’re limited in which attractions you can visit with a drink in hand, so take some time to explore the wonderful details in the pavilions themselves. Morocco, Germany, Italy, and Canada, among others, all have great depth to explore. You’ll be surprised how fun it is to simply wander around deep in each pavilion and see the architecture and hidden details.
Share Drinks – Drinking in moderation is key to maximizing your fun while Drinking Around the ‘World. Split drinks when necessary to avoid over-consumption, and sample one another’s drinks to experience the different flavors of the ‘World. Additionally, not every pavilion has a stellar option for both the beer drinkers and mixed drink fans in your party. Although beer selection is improving at Walt Disney World, it’s still weak in some countries. We have an article on Finding Good Beers at Walt Disney World, and our friends over at Beers and Ears have some great apps for finding beers at Walt Disney World that might further assist with finding good beers while drinking around the world!
Enjoy Attractions Between Drinks – World Showcase is not known for rides, with the Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico and Frozen Ever After in Norway Arendelle being the main options. The films in France, Canada, and China plus the American Adventure are other great options. After a couple of drinks, you might weep uncontrollably at the emotional power of the American Adventure…or you might just fall asleep. Check out our full Epcot Ride Guide for ratings and reviews of every attraction in Epcot.
Recommended Drinks by Country
We used to recommend starting in Mexico, but if you’re a beer drinker, due to recent changes in Canada, you are now better suited to start in Canada. Mixed drink or tequila fans should still start in Mexico. If you start in Mexico, this list is in order by country. If you start in Canada, it’s in reverse order.
Mexico – Outside the Mexico pavilion you can get Margaritas that are pre-mixed, extremely sugary and are sure to upset your stomach. Avoid these, instead go inside to La Cava Del Tequila, which serves some excellent drinks, notably the Blood Orange Margarita, Avocado Margarita, and Jalapeno Margarita, and tequila flights. There’s even a special offer if you show your server that you follow @CavaDelTequila on Twitter. La Cava Del Tequila is far and away the best place for mixed drinks in World Showcase, which is why we recommend starting here…but just make sure you leave!
Get a Carlsberg in Norway – Carlsberg isn’t amazing, but it’s a solid beer…despite not actually being from Norway. Hey, it’ll fit right in with the Frozen attraction! This is a lesser-of-all-evils situation.
The one thing you want to make sure you avoid is the aquavit shot. Unless the idea of a shot of potato alcohol that tastes like it’s mixed with fire and dill pickles sounds appealing. (I’m not kidding, that’s about what it tastes like.)
Don’t Miss the Tea Stand in China – Names can be deceiving! Featuring some of the most unique cocktails in World Showcase, the Mango Gingerita, Canto Loopy, Peach Snap! or Green Tea Plum Slush is the way to go here. Tsing Tao on draft is a rare sight, but it’s not better than the cocktails. Some readers have indicated they are a fan of the Plum Wine here, but it’s not my…ahem…cup of tea.
Skip the “African” Outpost – Way back in the 1980s, this was where the African pavilion was to be. Now it’s just a filler area. It doesn’t count as a country, and thus is not an official stop on a Drinking Around the World tour. It’s fun for buzzed photos at the drums, but you do not need to stop for a drink here. Don’t be fooled by the Safari Amber that’s “exclusive” to Walt Disney World. It’s just a boring Anheuser-Busch InBev brew.
Avoid the Crowd in Germany – Due to the actual country’s reputation, the beer kiosk near the front in Germany typically has long lines. Avoid these by heading deeper into the pavilion. The beers offered here typically include Spaten, Altenmunster Oktoberfest, Lowenbrau, Radeberger, and others I can’t type or pronounce.
There are also Jägermeister shots. I know Germany is a favorite beer country for many, but I find most of these beers to be good, not great. You should definitely get something here, but I think the real winners are in Canada. My pick here would be the Altenmunster Oktoberfest.
Stop at Via Napoli in Italy – You’re almost halfway through, so now is a good point for a relaxing air-conditioned break. Head inside Via Napoli and get a Moretti La Rossa, a malty beer with a big nutty flavor. The pizza is also pretty good if you’re in the mood for something filling.
Moretti is now available outside. It’s also available at Tutto Gusto, the Italian wine cellar, where you can get beer flights as well. The kiosks outside also have margaritas (not recommended), wines (some decent choices), and dessert wines. Despite Italy being known for wines rather than beers, I’d stick with the beer here.
Craft Beers in America – Finally! Our long national nightmare is over! The American Adventure used to be an awful spot for drinks, but that has all changed. Regal Eagle Smokehouse & Craft Drafts just opened, and has a walk-up drink window that serves Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider, Bell’s Oberon, Tennessee Lemonade, and more.
Additionally, Block & Hans is a small kiosk to the far side of the pavilion that opened last year, and it serves a variety of American craft beers. These rotate to some degree, but I’ve noticed something excellent from Bell’s is there most of the time, which is a popular choice from my hometown in Michigan. (Almost everything Bell’s brews is fantastic–get whatever they have!)
Experiment in Japan – Japan offers a couple good options: plum wine and hot or cold sake. The Kirin Ichiban beer is nice and smooth, too. These may not be things you’d normally drink, but give them a try anyway.
My recommendation here would be the hot sake, which I think goes down pretty well. Whatever you do, don’t get the beer–especially the Frozen Ichiban. It will be tempting because it’s such a novel concept, but this is just an unpleasant drink.
Try a Mixed Drink or Sangria in Morocco – Casa Beer is the only Moroccan-themed beer offered (something tells me this fairly mild drink isn’t what they were pouring at Rick’s Cafe Americain) and it’s alright. The mixed drinks and sangria are also good options, especially the Sultan, but I highly doubt any of them are any more Moroccan than a can of SPAM.
There’s also a bar in the Tangierine Café where you can get coffee infused with liquor. Perfect late afternoon pick-me-up if you need one. Honestly, this might be a country to skip if you need a mind-tour break.
$$$ in France – The Grand Marnier & Grey Goose Orange Slush, and the Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush are crazy expensive, but they’re also pretty good. They don’t have much alcohol and are terrible values, but they still aren’t bad options.
Don’t bother with the (one) lackluster beer in the France pavilion. I have no insight to the wines here, but hey, it’s France…maybe they’re good?
Blend It Up in the United Kingdom! – There are quite a few beers on tap in Rose & Crown, and they’re all pretty good, but the best options are the pub blends such as the Bumblebee (Boddingtons and Guinness), Black and Tan (Bass and Guinness), or the Golden Fox (Boddingtons and Bass). Tastes Great, more fulfilling!
Although this is one of the last stops on the list, we recommend trying to hit it earlier in the evening, as it gets really busy late at night. The restrooms here (picture above) are some of the busiest and loudest in Walt Disney World at night!
Canada Beer is the Best Beer (Here) – It used to be the case that you had to dine in Le Cellier, one of the most popular restaurants in all of Walt Disney World, to get the good stuff. Recently, Canada started serving a few varieties of Unibroue beers outside at the kiosk, as well! These include Éphémère and Trois Pistoles, but the real highlight is La Fin Du Monde. This is a robust Abbey Tripel that is arguably one of the best beers in the world. It scores a 99 on Ratebeer. (Just for reference, that’s over DOUBLE the score of the best beer in Germany.)
Not only is it delicious, but it’s a great value. You might be thinking that an $11 beer can’t possibly be a great value, but I purchased the bottle pictured above at a local beer store for $12. So, by Disney standards, there is minimal markup here and it’s a great value. The Trois Pistoles is also an excellent, excellent beer–the second best in World Showcase. I’m not a huge fan of Éphémère, but you could do worse. Be ashamed, be very ashamed, if you purchase a Moosehead or Labatt here. The Torontopolitan is also to be avoided.
Truthfully, I’m to the point now where the novelty of Drinking Around the World long ago wore off for me, and now I just grab a Unibroue in Canada on my way into World Showcase, backtrack to get another later, maybe stop for a Bell’s Oberon in America, then stop at La Cava Del Tequila on the way out. That’s more than enough booze and money spent, plus I’m actually getting drinks I like as opposed to drinking something in each country for the sake of trying it. Your mileage may vary, and I understand there’s a certain novelty to Drinking Around the World Showcase, but depending upon your tastes, you might be woefully underwhelmed by a lot of these options.
If you’re determined to complete this grueling drinking challenge, by following the simple tips and drink suggestions above, your day at Epcot Drinking Around the ‘World should be an excellent time. Remember to drink in moderation and be courteous to fellow guests during your trip, as Walt Disney World is a family vacation destination, not your local college dive bar!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts…
Have you tried Drinking Around the World at Epcot? Which drinks do you recommend? If you have any other tips, please share them in the comments! Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
This gets me so hyped! While I might consider myself a lush, this also just seems like a must do. We will def be sharing drinks though, for the sake of our wallets, and our livers.
Thanks for this post (and its updates) Tom! It was a great guide for us on our honeymoon–as was the rest of your site (we’re the couple who met you in the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train line late at night the second week in May).
Our favorite was the Schöfferhofer grapefruit beer in Germany–goes great with a pretzel from the same kiosk! We ended up getting that combo every day we were in Epcot. The Green Tea Slush at the Tea Stand in China was sweeter than I would have liked it to be, but still pretty tasty. We tried the Jalapeño margarita as well as the Maelstrom margarita at La Cava–both great; the jalapeño was more spicy than I would have expected! The Viking coffee in Norway–as many commenters here have noted–was great, and a perfect complement to the School Bread. And the St. Germain cocktail at Chefs De France was another favorite.
Don’t make assumptions about the drinking “teams”. I was on the USA girls team and we were nothing but respectful and considerate in public. No need to be unkind.
Great post! Where did you get the glass with Duffy and Shellie May on it that you used in the title photo? It is so cute!
That came from Tokyo DisneySea.
Playing favorites…I see how it is, Tom. 🙂
I just read through the thread again – last time I happened upon it was 2013. We are going again in June, and have a plan to Drink Around the World Showcase. We are going with a group that has never done this before, and have already purchased our personalized passports – super excited, as they are so cute!
I am hoping for details on the grapefruit beer – it sounds delicious. Is it served at Sommerfest or in the beer stand near the promenade?
Just tried the Schofferhofer (sp?) in Germany and it changed my life.
Maybe not… it was very good though, its a grapefruit beer and is super good, I’d recommend it to the cider-loving crowd or sour beer fans. My other favorite beer from the showcase is Hopageddon in ‘merica, a double IPA that really should count for 2 drinks if you’re drinking around the world. Nice post, btw, I really enjoyed it!
Is it ridiculous to ask where you picked up the Spring Voyage glass (pictured at top)? I love it!
Since you are not really a wine drinker, my 2 cents on the wine. The wine in Italy is good, one of the most popular ones (even for people who don’t drink much, or don’t like wine) is Rosa Regale. It’s sparkling wine that literally tastes like grape juice, it is delicious and really sweet. They also have good Prosecco (my fav!) which is sparkling Italian wine, and it is much drier. They usually have a good Chianti which is like a red bold Italian table wine. Tutto Gusto has great wine, wine flights, and meat and cheese plates, however it is really pricey, so as long as you know that going into it, it’s a great stop.
France has lots of awesome wine and champagne! It is pricey though. As I have heard repeatedly while standing in line at the wine counter in France:
Customer: “What’s your sweetest wine?”
French CM: “This is France, we have no sweet wine, there is no sweet wine in France.”
I’m telling you, every time I go there, someone is asking that question. So, if you do not enjoy dry wines, do not get wine in France. I think they are all delicious, but I’m a big wine drinker. They also have a number of Moet and Chandon champagne selections, and have a champagne flight. Now, the flight is 3, 2 oz pours and it’s $20, so it’s pricey, but all of the bottles in the flight are about $50 at my local liquor store, so this is to be expected.
Also worth mentioning is the Wine Walk. I’ve done this a few times, but once you’ve done it a few times it gets old because it basically has the same wine on it every time. It’s $20 and you get to try 2 wines from each France, Italy, and Germany. The wines are typically 2 oz pours (however, I’ve found that usually in France they will pour you more than 2 oz!) 🙂 It’s fun as they give you a little ticket that lists what the different wines you are trying in the different countries are, and then they stamp it once they give them to you, so it’s good for information and also a good keepsake.
Morocco also has some good wine and wine flights now at Spice Road Table. I’m with you on the mixed drinks, all the ones I’ve gotten from there are too sweet, but the sangria at Spice Road table is good, along with the wines they have.
The Einstok at the Norway cart is a pretty solid beer as well and I think it’s one of the few places in the US that has it on draft. It’s a relatively new addition to the cart, a witbier with a good flavor.
Great article! My wife and I really like the Schofferhoffer grapefruit beer in Germany. They always have it on tap. It may not sound great, but my wife even loved it and she hates beer. I loved it too! As far as wine goes, we learned not to get the house wine at table service restaurants. Always go at least a step up for good wine.
Just my two cents on Morocco…
Casa isn’t exactly a special beer but it is distinctly Moroccan. When I was traveling in Morocco I drank plenty of Casablanca. It’s the Budweiser of Morocco. But Moroccan beers are few and far between. Usually, Casa is your only beer choice in Morocco.
And yes, I did eat at Rick’s Café Americane in Casablanca and they do in fact serve Casa beer. 😉 But their gin martinis are better.
“Carlsberg isn’t amazing, but it’s a solid beer…despite not actually being from Norway. Hey, it’ll fit right in with the Frozen attraction!”
GENIUS. I laughed out so loud, my co-workers stared.
In your “Explore the Pavillion” paragraph, your last line “You’ll be surprised how fun……” leaves us hanging. Just wanted to let you know. 🙂
Love all these suggestions and will be utilizing them in June!
That’s what I get for quality-checking the La Fin while I was writing this! 😉
We did Drinking around the World in October. We like to drink, followed a lot of the tips including going all day, eating and sharing drinks. Never again!!! The next day was ruined. I suppose its a bucket list item but we paid for it. Much happier and more enjoyable to hit the highlights because let’s face it some of the countries, looking at you Morocco and Norway, are pretty poor. Others are only ok (Japan and China). Just my 2 cents.
Yeah, I’m with you. I could do that sort of thing in college, but now there are serious consequences the next day.
I see someone mentioned the Viking coffee already. Coffee + coffee liquer + Baileys. I could see Viking coffee at Norway followed by a tequila shot at Mexico being a good way to start. (Aside from tequila being the tool of Satan and all.)
On our last trip to Epcot, as we headed to the bus we passed a group of 20-somethings all wearing different hats: a fez, a sombrero, a viking helmet, etc. “Nice hats,” I said. “Yeah, we all got different hats at the different pavilions whooo!” they responded, all at once. “You all got different drinks at the different pavilions too, didn’t you?” “YEAAAAHHH!” Ah, to be young and dumb again.
I wonder how many of them will wake up the next morning wondering, “where on earth did that hat come from?” It could be the premise of the next The Hangover sequel!
We are planning on doing the drinks around the world at Epcot but are puzzled on how we get home. Are there taxi’s outside as we are not staying in a disney hotel.
Great post!
We absolutely love the Grapefruit beer in Germany! They offer it in bottle at the kiosk near the interior of the pavilion but the kiosk by the water has it on draft for the same price and the line there is often shorter- it’s amazing!
Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Drinking Around The World has always been my favorite; Epcot is my favorite park! I agree with the starting in Mexico, although the last time I was there La Cava did not exist! I have always gone with the ritas at the stand (and rave about them!) but getting older and can’t handle the sugar hangover anymore, can’t wait to try La Cava! I will admit to leaving having had more than my share, sobbing after Illuminations (which holds a very nostalgic place in my heart)but some of my greatest memories involve “Drinking Around The World”! I highly recommend it and hope everyone stays safe! *sharing does help!
When the technicians got to him, he had a pulse and didn’t look burned.
Look to countries with a weak currency, this makes their
exports cheaper and so more attractive to the importer.
There are so many goals which an organization needs to meet and for this they need to spend
money on several things.
Tom,
Thank you SO much for taking the time to write this post. My boyfriend and I are doing this for our first time this weekend and I have taken all sorts of great notes based on your recommendations. I’m 10x more excited now 🙂 haha cheers!