Your Ultimate Guide to Drinking Around the World at Epcot

Growing up in Florida, drinking around the world at Epcot is practically a rite of passage. Why go to a bar on your 21^st (or even 61^st) birthday when you can intersperse sampling drinks with a range of shows, thrill rides and internationally themed foods? That said, if you plan on trying a drink from all 11 pavilions in the World Showcase in less than 12 hours, you need a game plan. That’s where we come in.

• Candace Davison has covered Disney food and drinks since 2015, writing several features for PureWow and other publications, as well as editing Delish Loves Disney: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Most Magical Treats
• Jen Vazmina is a Walt Disney World Resort annual passholder and Florida native who’s a seasoned pro at drinking around the world at Epcot, having tried many of the drinks at each pavilion

Epcot—aka the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow—features 11 countries encircling a lake at the center of the park, in an area known as the World Showcase. Each country, or pavilion (as they’re called officially), features foods, drinks and attractions inspired by that region. So, when you’re drinking around the world at Epcot, you’re essentially going from pavilion to pavilion, sampling a drink at each one until you’ve hit every one.

Prepare to spend at least $100 (most likely, around $130 to $150) to drink around the world at Epcot—just for the beverages. (A park ticket can range from $109 to $189, depending on the time of year, and food can be anywhere from a couple bucks to $20+.) Drinks can cost anywhere from $8 to $39 a pop. Most cocktails are around $12 to $16 each.

For years, people recommended starting in Mexico and going clockwise around the lake, ending in Canada. Because of this popular footpath, many Disney bloggers have started recommending the opposite—starting in Canada and doing the reverse. Our take? It depends on what’s most important to you.

“If you are into tequila and want to try out the tequila bar in Mexico, [La Cava del Tequila], this is the best place to start, as the line is always long and only gets crazy long as the day goes on,” Vazmina says. The bar features more than 200 tequilas, as well as top-shelf cocktails, Mexican beer and wine.

Plus, it’s right near Epcot’s newest—and hottest—ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, so if you reserve a spot there first thing, you can hit up that roller coaster, give your stomach a chance to settle, then be first in line when La Cava del Tequila opens at 11 a.m.

If tequila isn’t a big draw for you, and you’d rather dodge the crowds, go ahead and start in Canada, and follow the list below in the reverse order.

Two pro tips before you get started: (1) Pace yourself—and consider sharing a drink at each spot—so you don’t overdo it. (2) Ask for complimentary water with each order. You’ll need the hydration.

• Drink to Try: Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea at Joy of Tea
• Why: It’s a boozy Boba tea! Gummy blueberry Boba pearls float in iced tea that’s spiked with light rum and sweetened with honey.
• Cost: $12

Hungry? If you skipped the school bread—or prefer something savory—consider grabbing an order of egg rolls at Joy of Tea, or grab a Mongolian Beef combo platter at the Lotus Blossom Café nearby.

• Drink to Try: Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen at Sommerfest
• Why: It’s refreshingly crisp, especially when you’re baking under the Florida sun, and it’s not too bitter.
• Cost: $11

“Germany and Italy are pretty popular, so your best bet is to just hop in line with a drink from another country,” Vazmina says.

• Drink to Try: sake at Katsura Grill or Teppan Edo
• Why: The Japan pavilion is known for its range of sake offerings. If you’re having lunch or dinner there—and you’re a sake connoisseur—you’ll appreciate all the options on hand at Teppan Edo. If you just want to try the stuff, Katsura Grill offers less-pricey options, starting at $8.
• Cost: $8+

If straight sake feels a bit intense, head to Kabuki Café for a sake slushy, which is essentially a spiked shaved ice. (Or you can skip the alcohol entirely and opt for a kakigōri—shaved ice without the booze. Technically, you’re still “drinking,” even if it’s ABV-free, right?)

• Drink to Try: Bombardier Amber ale at Yorkshire County Fish Shop
• Why: It's a crisp, malty beer that can taste refreshing after a long day at the park.
• Cost: $11

Another moment of honesty: The Rose & Crown Pub gets a ton of attention here, but if you’ve been to an authentic pub, Vazmina says you can skip it. “If you must have fish and chips, the food stand on the side of the pub is worth the break, but only if the line is short,” she adds.

• Drink to Try: Ottawa Apple at Popcorn in Canada
• Why: It’s a fruity jolt of apple and cranberry juice, maple syrup and whiskey.
• Cost: $15

Take your drink and walk with it to your next destination. And maybe a side of maple popcorn or poutine. If you’re ending the day here, Vazmina recommends heading to Spaceship Earth for a relaxing, low-key ride (plus, the lines are usually shorter there in the evening).