Food Challenge: Drinking around the World at Epcot

If there is one thing to know about me, it is that I am a huge Disney fan! Seriously, I have been going to Walt Disney World Resort since I was a baby. To be honest with you, there are only a few things on Disney property that I have not tried. However, at the top of that list is one challenge that I have always been terrified to try: Drinking around the World. The concept is simple, you have a drink from each one of the 11 countries represented in Epcot’s World Showcase as you “journey around the world.”

Now, I’ve never been afraid of a good cocktail, but this girl is also a bit of a light-weight, so 11 drinks in a day seemed like a recipe for disaster. However, this is one bucket list item I had to check off. And what better day to try this challenge than on my 25th birthday, as I enter my quarter-life crisis (just kidding…kinda).

Prepping for the Challenge

As someone who has been in Epcot many times, I have seen a multitude of guests try and fail to drink around the world, and I was determined to not end up like them.

Rule #1: Prepare for a long day. I mean it. 11 drinks is a lot for any person, but it can be even worse when you try to cram it all into a couple of hours. Try to get there when World Showcase opens and expect to slow down your pace. Personally, I would recommend walking through the stores and exhibits in each country. You get to soak up the culture, while enjoying your drink in the AC, and you may even leave with a few fun souvenirs.

Rule #2: Drink lots of water. This should be a no-brainer, but many people forget this step. It is hot in Florida year-round. My birthday happens to fall in June, so it felt even worse outside when we were drinking around the world. Remember to hydrate as much as possible and take a break in the shade if you can. Fun fact: you can get free cups of ice water at any quick service, so definitely take advantage.

Rule #3: Eat snacks. Luckily this rule is pretty easy to follow because Epcot is full of incredible food options. Whether that is from a table service restaurant, quick service restaurant, or one of the amazing food festivals that Epcot has every season, there is an endless array of amazing food options to keep you full during this challenge. This year my birthday fell within the last week of Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival, so I had the opportunity to enjoy some delicious bites from the festival as well as the year-round stands.

Rule #4: It is ok to split the challenge with another person. Personally, this is the route I chose with my boyfriend. If you think that this may be too much for you, trust yourself. Everyone’s alcohol tolerance is different, and understanding that is important to ensure that you enjoy yourself.

Our Drinks from the Challenge

Now onto the fun part: the drinks.

Stop #1: Mexico

Our first stop is Mexico, so of course we had to get a margarita. And because it was my birthday, we had to get the most extra drink on the menu, which is the Alebrije. It is made of Centinela Blanco Tequila, Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur, fresh lime juice, and a mixed berry bubble. It was so beautiful, and the perfect start to the challenge!

Stop #2: Norway

Not going to lie, I was a little nervous about what I was going to get in Norway because there is not a lot of options. However, when I heard about the Frozen Viking Coffee I had to try it! This coffee is made with Baileys Irish Cream and Kamora Coffee Liqueur with coffee-chocolate sauce and is garnished with coffee-chocolate crunch. It is basically an adult mocha Frappuccino. Absolutely amazing!

Stop #3: China

Now China does have a few popular cocktails that are served year round at the Joy of Tea, however, I decided to try a cocktail only offered during Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival. This new cocktail is made with Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila Gold, Light Rum, strawberry syrup, piña colada mix, white boba pearls, and soda water. I know this drink does not sound too authentic, but what it lacks in authenticity, it makes up in appearance and taste. This drink was light and refreshing on a hot day. If they bring this back during next year’s festival, definitely make sure to try it!

Stop #4: Germany

Now, we are three drinks in, and I am feeling pretty good so far. Originally for Germany, I intended to a have delicious Schofferhofer Hefeweizen Grapefruit Beer, as it is super easy to drink and personally one of my favorite beers. (Huge citrus fan over here!) However, when I was passing Germany’s booth for the Flower & Garden Festival, I saw a drink that intrigued me. I decided to try the Apfelschaumwein, which is sparkling wine and apple liqueur. Not going to lie to you, I definitely butchered the pronunciation of this drink, but luckily the cashier was super sweet, as she probably hears it all day long. However, the one surprise from this drink was the giant sprig of rosemary in it. The rosemary gave it a mild spicy kick, but it honestly tasted like a sparkling apple juice to me. While it was good, I think I would personally get my favorite Grapefruit Beer next time.

Stop #5: Italy

Now typically in Italy, I usually opt for wine or a bellini, but I was determined to try something new. I decided to head further back into the pavilion and look at one of their drink carts. This cute little donkey cart is located to the right of the restaurant Via Napoli, and has a few different cocktails and wine options listed. I decided to try the Limoncello Mule because I love Moscow Mules and Limoncello, so I thought it would be a good mix. This drink, however was very tart and sweet. It was a little heavier than most mules, but it was pre-mixed so that could be why. Personally, I’m glad I tried something different, but I do not think I would get this again.

Stop #6: United States of America

Making it to America is definitely a moment to celebrate as we are now half-way around the World Showcase. As part of our celebration, we decided to try the Moonshine Sour. This drink is made of Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine, Blood Orange, Blackberry, and Lemon. Honestly, this may be one of my favorites of the day. It was super refreshing and easy to drink. I highly recommend this cocktail from the American pavilion.

Stop #7: Japan

Japan truly has some delicious cocktails to choose from. One of my new favorites is the Tokyo Sunset. Besides being absolutely stunning, this drink delivers solid tropical flavors. This tropical cocktail features coconut rum, Creme de Banana, Peach Schnapps and pineapple juice. This cocktail is incredibly easy to drink and transports you straight to the a tropical paradise. Seven drinks in, and feeling great!

Stop #8: Morocco

After such a sweet drink from Japan, I knew that I needed something that would help cut the all of that sugar. So when in Morocco, I decided to get a simple Red Sangria from a cart within the pavilion. This was a pretty standard sangria, and a bit on the dry side (which I prefer). It was nice to have something simple after so many complicated cocktails. However, if you only wanted to get a few drinks in World Showcase, I would either skip the Sangria and try one of their specialty cocktails or save room for France around the corner.

Stop #9: France

France is honestly one of my favorite pavilions for both food and drinks. They have an incredible bakery in the back that delivers the best bites, both savory and sweet. There is a great wine store, where you can try several different types of French wine. However, I believe that France is truly famous for their slushes. In fact, every festival, the France booth features a different seasonal slush. This time, I decided to go with a classic, the Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush. This drink is essentially an adult version of frozen lemonade. HOW AMAZING DOES THAT SOUND! This is absolutely perfect for Orlando weather and personally a must-try. If you prefer creamsicles, then I would recommend the Grand Marnier Orange Slush for those creamy, orange flavors.

Stop #10: United Kingdom

Now, this may shock many of my friends who know me as the Disney expert, but I have only ever been in the famous Rose & Crown Pub once before our drinking around the world challenge. I am not the biggest beer fan, so I never really felt the need to go into Rose & Crown Pub, as that it a huge portion of their menu. However, for those like me, they also have a great selection of cocktails to choose from. I decided to go with the bartender’s recommendation, the Welsh Dragon. This drink features Peach Schnapps, Melon Liqueur, Creme de Menthe, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Again, it is another sweet drink, but very easy to drink. If you are not a beer drinker, do not skip past Rose & Crown Pub as there are still fantastic options available.

Stop #11: Canada (FINAL STOP!)

Congratulations! We have made it to the final country of World Showcase! To celebrate, I got the Ottawa Apple which contains Crown Royal Whisky, maple, apple infusion, and cranberry juice. This drink is light and easy to drink, making it the perfect end to our trip around the world. Also if you need something to snack on after this challenge, definitely grab the Maple Popcorn from the cart for the best sweet and salty combo.

Final Thoughts

Personally, I was very nervous about trying this challenge, as I have seen it turn sideways, but honestly I had a great time. I think if you are planning on drinking around the world, you need to have some sort of game plan. Our plan was to start early, take our time in each country, and split drinks between the two of us. This worked really well for us, and we felt great at the end.

Would I try this again? Maybe. It is a fun thing to do, but it is also pretty expensive. Our method was also fairly time consuming, because we spent the majority of our day in Epcot on World Showcase. I think if I was with a group of friends who wanted to try it, I would go again, but otherwise, I would just prefer to go with the flow. My favorite part of Epcot is just strolling around and looking for new things to try.

Hopefully, you enjoyed our tips and reviews from our Drinking around the World Challenge. Stay tuned for more food reviews and challenges and wander with me!