Epcot is often considered an escape for adult visitors of Disney World. With fewer “kiddie” specific attractions and sparkling castles. Epcot has gained a reputation for being a fan-favorite location among older Disney fans.
One of the most iconic parts of Epcot at Walt Disney World is the World Showcase. Consisting of 11 pavilions featuring food, drink, and attractions from around the world, the World Showcase is on many peoples’ must-see lists for their trip to Disney. But what is the best way to fully enjoy the different pavilions?
There really is no wrong way to experience the pavilions. They will all be fun and interesting whether you see just 1 or all 11. However, many adult Disney-goers recommend doing something called “Drinking Around the World” as a way to do something memorable at each pavilion.
While this is not a Disney official tour of the pavilions, it has been gaining popularity with Disney fans everywhere!
The Best World Showcase Drinks for each Pavilion
I put these in order of which pavilions you will visit. If you want to start at the Mexico pavilion. You can reverse this list and do it in that order instead!
Canada: Moosehead
What is it? Moosehead is an internationally famous beer from Canada. The lager is smooth, clean, and mild. It is the perfect beer to start off your drinking around the world passport as well as a great beer for a hot Florida day.
Where can I find it? The Popcorn Cart is where you can find a wide selection of beers, including Moosehead! But you can get it just about everywhere.
United Kingdom: Black and Tan
What is it? A Black and Tan is a beer cocktail where you layer a light beer (usually a pale ale) and a darker one (usually a stout). England has been mixing beers together from as far back as the 17th century!
Where can I find it? The Rose & Crown Pub is a full-service bar. It is designed to look like a traditional English Pub!
France: Grand Marnier and Grey Goose Orange Slush
What is it? A slushie made of Grand Marnier (French orange liqueur), Rum, Grey Goose (French vodka), and orange juice. It is a little on the pricier side and is not as alcoholic as it sounds. It is fresh and delicious!
Where can I find it? Les Vins des Chefs de France
Other Notes: Of course, you can also get good wine in France. But as I am not a wine connoisseur, I am not going to try to pick a wine for you!
Morocco: Spice Road Signature Sangria
What is it? While not traditionally Moroccan, sangria is a drink that originates from Spain and Portugal, which were some of the early European presences in Morocco. The drink basically consists of red wine with chopped fruit. In many places (including the Moroccan pavilion), other spirits or ingredients are added as well.
Where can I find it? Spice Road Table.
Other notes: there isn’t any seating at the Spice Road Table, but it is a full-service bar and can get you essentially anything you want.
Japan: Hot Sake
What is it? Hot sake is a personal favorite of mine. For people who don’t know what sake is or why you would drink it hot, I’m going to provide a quick explanation. Sake is essentially a clear wine made out of rice. It can be drunk hot or cold, but typically, it will taste better warm unless it is a higher-quality sake. For people who have never drunk it before, drinking the sake warm makes it a smooth and easy swallow.
Where can I find it? There is a sake bar near the back of the pavilion that has several varieties available.
Other Notes: while there are some interesting cocktails that can be found at the Japan pavilion, many of them are not necessarily “unique” to Japan. Meanwhile, sake is a drink that has been around for over a thousand years!
Keep in mind that sake has about a 15% ABV, so it is one of the stronger drinks on this list. If you want something lighter, the Japanese pavilion also has some good beer varieties (pro tip: the frozen one is not for everyone)
I also can vouch for the plum wine. The Plum Wine is sweeter than regular wine with a light taste and is another great option if you are uninterested in sake.
United States: Craft Beer!!
What is it? Craft beers are typically made in smaller batches than the big-name brands of beer and can be found in every corner of the USA. These breweries care more about flavor and quality than mass production.
For a long time, the American pavilion had slim pickings for alcohol of any kind but now they offer a much wider selection… If you are a beer drinker, you probably know what kinds of beer you like already so can tread these waters on your own.
Where can I get it? Block & Hans is a small kiosk that has a rotating menu of craft beers available. The other drink location in America is Regal Eagle Smokehouse and Craft Drafts has a walk-up drink window including some hard ciders and Tennessee Lemonade!
Other notes: You are now a little over halfway through your drinking around the world passport and have probably been drinking for several hours. This is a reminder to make sure you have been drinking water and eating. The jalapeno-and-cheese stuffed pretzel at Block & Hans is pretty tasty!
Italy: Wine!
You can’t go wrong with a nice wine or champagne from the Italy pavilion. Like I mentioned before with the French pavilion, I am not a wine connoisseur and so do not want to make a choice for you (although many people will recommend the Rose Regale). But I can recommend the cannoli for dessert!
Where should I go? A quieter place (relatively) in the Italian pavilion is the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar and it also offers a delicious selection of small plates.
Germany: Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen
What is it? (Besides a mouthful) This is a German wheat beer with grapefruit juice. The beer is sweet and malty.
Where do I get it? Biergarten!
Other Notes: Tired of beer? The Bärenjäger Honey & Bourbon is a honey liquor that is a good choice as well.
If you want even more beer, you can get flights at the German pavilion as well to try a few!
China: Dragon Butterfly
What is it? The Dragon Butterfly is a cocktail made from Butterfly Pea Flower Gin, Vodka, Green Tea, Lemonade, Soda Water, Hibiscus, and Dragon Fruit Syrups, with Blueberry Popping Boba! Like with a lot of the cocktails on the drinking around the world passport, it is not necessarily “traditionally” Chinese, but it is still super yummy!
Where do I get it? Joy of Tea
Other Notes: there are a lot of really fun cocktails in China. The Tsing Tao beer is also good but pales in comparison to the fun cocktails found in China.
Norway: Viking Coffee
What is it? This was probably my favorite drink of all the drinks.
From Kringla Bakeri og Kafe in the Norway Pavilion. If it’s cold outside, you might enjoy the original Viking Coffee made with hot coffee, Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur, and Kamora Coffee Liqueur. It pairs perfectly with a traditional Norwegian Kringla or a sweet School Bread filled with custard and dipped in coconut.
However, if it’s hot outside, you might want to try the frozen version of the Viking Coffee. It’s topped with a delicious coffee-chocolate sauce and coffee-chocolate crunch.
Where can I get it? Kringla Bakeri og Kafe
Mexico: Margarita (or Tequila) time!
To celebrate finishing off your drinking around the world at Epcot Passport, treat yourself to a margarita made or a shot of one of the over 200 tequilas available at the Mexican pavilion. If you still feel like a beer, Dos Equis is always a great choice.
But I went with the Michelada and do not regret it. In Mexico, a popular drink known as michelada is often made by combining beer with lime juice, along with an assortment of sauces, spices, and chili peppers.
Where can I get it? La Cava de Tequila is (unsurprisingly) the place to go for Tequila. You can also get margaritas there or head over to Choza de Margarita for more options. Dos Equis can be found at La Cantina de San Angel.
What is Drinking Around the World at Epcot?
“Drinking Around the World” is a popular way for adults to experience the world showcase at Epcot. At each pavilion, you get a drink (and sometimes a snack) that is unique to that country or pavilion. It is a fun way to experience the 11 different pavilions in a more “adult” way.
Many adults get themselves a “passport” for drinking around the world at Epcot to commemorate visiting the different pavilions. I will go into more detail about the passports a little later.
While this is called Epcot’s drinking around the world. It is important to eat around the world too. Drinking alcoholic drinks from nearly a dozen countries over the course of one day is a good way to get sick and a hangover if you don’t eat food at many of the pavilions and drink water as well!
Who should you Drink around the World with?
Anyone! While this can be done by yourself, it can always be more fun to have a drinking buddy with you, and having friends with you can help you all stay responsible on your journey. “Epcot’s Drinking Around the World” was invented for adults of drinking age.
However, nothing stops you from bringing underage or non-drinking friends with you, as the pavilions have mocktails or non-alcoholic beverage options!
If you don’t have friends who want to drink around the world with you, there are unofficial groups like the Bay Lake Society, which is a group of people who like to plan more leisurely trips to Disney World, or various Facebook groups that you can join to organize drinking around the world with new friends!
How much does it cost to drink around the world in Epcot?
The cost of drinking around the world varies greatly depending on what drinks you get and how many of them.
The average cost of getting one drink at each of the pavilions falls somewhere between $100-$120. Alcoholic beverages at the pavilions usually fall within the price range of $8-$15.
Non-alcoholic drinks are often cheaper, which can bring the overall price down, and, obviously, not visiting every pavilion will also bring down the cost.
It is also important to remember that you need to factor in desserts or snacks at the pavilions as well. While it is not required to get one at every pavilion, it is really important to stay well-fed and hydrated (with water!) on this journey to avoid over-drinking.
In order to not spend a fortune on this adventure, I highly recommend that you share drinks with your friends. That way, everyone can try a lot of drinks to fill out their Epcot’s drinking around the World passport without everyone needing to buy a drink individually.
You can also have the members of your group take turns buying drinks (if you are sharing) so that the cost is more evenly split between your friend group.
To keep your Disney trip under budget, check out my post about Disney Vacation Payment Plans or my tips for making the perfect Disney vacation on a budget.
Where to start
A lot of people recommend starting at the Mexico pavilion and ending in Canada. However, some of the best drinks on the route, in my opinion, are in France, Morocco, and Japan, and starting in Mexico probably means that you are starting with a large drink of tequila.
Tequila is delicious but highly alcoholic, and you might not fully be able to enjoy the drinks further down the trail if you are starting off with such a hard drink.
Instead, starting your drinking around-the-world journey in Canada lets you start off with a lighter drink like beer or wine, which is a much better way to ease yourself into drinking all day than tequila.
From here, you should head to the UK, where you will treat yourself to another beer, keeping your drinks on the lighter side to save room for the drinks in Japan, Morocco, and France!
What to bring!
Like every trip to Disney, you want to ensure you have a bag with water, sunscreen, your wallet/ticket, and any other important items you want or need (like your Epcot’s Drinking Around the World passport). To find the perfect bag to carry around all of your Disney essentials, check out the best backpack for Disney World.
When you are drinking around the world, I cannot stress how important it is to make sure you have plenty of water with you and to eat along the way!
Anyone who is a seasoned drinker is already aware of the importance of water and food in avoiding the dreaded hangover, but people who don’t regularly drink or who are only casual drinkers may be thrown off guard by how buzzed you will end up getting with just one drink from each pavilion.
If you keep food in your stomach and drink water in between the pavilions, you will avoid getting embarrassingly drunk and risking a hangover.
What to wear
While you can wear anything that suits your fancy, it is always more fun to wear a custom t-shirt to coordinate with friends and take fun group photos.
There are tons of shirts available from Amazon or Etsy that can show the world you are on a mission to drink around the world!
Epcot’s Drinking Around the World Shirts
Getting a shirt for drinking around the world at Epcot is a cute and fun way to remember the experience for years to come! If you are a regular at Disney World and Epcot, differentiating between the many different trips you have taken to Epcot can be difficult to do in photos.
Getting a special, commemorative “Drinking around the World” at Epcot shirt to wear in your selfies and group shots can ensure that you never have to wonder, “is this picture from when I drank around the world?”
Here I chose a couple of examples of fun Epcot’s Drinking Around the World shirts from Amazon.
DRINK, DRANK, DRUNK
What I love about this shirt is the Disney font combined with the fun phrase. It is simple, effective, and a fun way to commemorate the day! It also comes in 5 different colors and is reasonably priced.
Drink around the World
This design is great because it features iconic buildings from the countries featured in the pavilions. Unlike the sort of cheeky phrase on the other shirt, this one is more straightforward with the phrase “Drink Around the World.” The circular design is also reminiscent of the silhouette of the famous Spaceship Earth. It also comes in five different colors!
For more unofficial Disney shirts to wear on your trip to Disney World, check out my post, 24 of the Best Family Disney Shirts.
Epcot’s Drinking Around the World Passport
I have mentioned the Epcot’s Drinking Around the World Passport a few times. This is another unofficial Disney item that a lot of people use to remember their alcoholic trips around the world.
They usually take the form of a lanyard with a pen of some sort and spots to check off which countries you visited and write what drink you had at that country’s pavilion.
The Epcot Drink Around the World Passport is a fun way to explore the different cultures and cuisines of various countries.
The passport is a booklet that lists all the different drinks available in each of the 11 countries featured in Epcot’s World Showcase. When you purchase the passport, you’ll receive a stamp for each drink you try. As well as a description of the drink and the country it represents. The passport is a great way to keep track of what you’ve tried and what you want to try next.
The drinks on offer in each country range from traditional beers and wines to unique cocktails and mocktails that are exclusive to Epcot. For example, in Mexico, you can try the classic margarita or a spicy jalapeño margarita. In Norway, you can opt for a traditional Viking coffee or a sweet and fruity Viking’s Treasure.
The passport is a fun way to challenge yourself to try new drinks and step out of your comfort zone. You may discover a new favorite, or at the very least, some interesting flavor combinations you’ve never tried before.
One of the best things about the Epcot Drink Around the World Passport is that it’s a great way to experience the different cultures represented in Epcot’s World Showcase.
From the architecture to the costumes worn by the cast members, each country is full of unique details. It make it feel like you’re really there.
Overall, the Epcot Drink Around the World Passport is a fun and unique way to experience the different cultures and cuisines of the world in a single day.
Here is an example of one such Drinking Around the World passport.
The one above is from Sansone Stationary and is reasonably priced. It also lets you personalize it a little with your name and whether it is a Mickey or Minnie silhouette.
Pretty much all styles of drinking around the world passport look like the one above. Most of the time, the differences are in designs, such as the font or images, rather than style.
I chose the one above because it is colorful and fun with all of the flags. However, you definitely can look around to find one that fits your style or even make your own!
Final Notes:
I will give one last reminder to drink plenty of water and eat food while on your Drinking Around the World at Epcot journey. I cannot stress enough that you will end up a little more than buzzed (and a little sick) if you forget to hydrate and eat.
This is even more important because Florida is hot, and you will more than likely be sweaty if you are not acclimated to the climate, which will dehydrate you even faster than drinking normally does.
To find some places to eat at Epcot, check out my ranking of the restaurants in Epcot! (link to post about Epcot Restaurants)
If you want help planning your Disney vacation, you can check out my Ultimate Guide to Doing Disney on a Budget or you can have me plan your vacation for you, learn more here.
