Welcome! We’ve gathered all the friendly tips for Drinking Around the World at EPCOT you can find scattered throughout the site into this one spot.
These are the tips that will keep the good times rolling so you can have maximum fun without being “that person.”
Let’s get into it!
Our Best Tips For Drinking Around the World at EPCOT
This list of tips for Drinking Around the World at EPCOT evolved after several trips when we were with friends of friends who just didn’t know how to pace themselves. (That is the most delicate way we can think of to say they were acting the fool – and it ruined what should have been a fun trip for us, as well as impacted those around us. Not cool.)
Ever since those few disastrous trips, our regular group of traveling buddies created a shared note of all the things we wish we would have told our younger selves AND the people we were traveling with, and now we make it a point to go over it (and even add to it!) before every trip as a reminder.
We are firm believers that Walt Disney World is a fun destination for adults only trips. But, there is also no denying that it is also the most popular destination for families, too.
You can have a good time, but the goal should be to have fun while *also* staying classy.
Here’s how you can do that:
Stay Hydrated
This one is probably a no-brainer to Walt Disney World veterans, but for newbies to Central Florida, trust us on this:
For most of the year, Walt Disney World is hotter than the Devil’s butt crack.
You *will* get swamp ass almost immediately after leaving your room. There is no way around it – trust us, we’ve tried.
The humidity is a beast and that means you will constantly be trying to stay ahead of dehydration. And, not to be a downer, but alcohol isn’t going to help – no matter how much you drink. In fact, it can make dehydration WORSE.
You need water. And, for some people, electrolytes, too.
Don’t wait until you are already in the park to start hydrating, though. You should start increasing your water intake a few days before and continue during your trip.
Plus, you might think about adding in some electrolytes through drinks like Gatorade or powders like Liquid IV.
And during the day, we recommend at least a 1-1 ratio of water (or other nonalcoholic beverage) to alcohol.
If it is especially hot, 2-1 is probably better.
If you don’t want to “waste” your beer money on water, you don’t have to.
You can get free ice water at Counter Service (aka Quick Service) restaurants, and there are places to fill water bottles in every park.
You can find those in the My Disney Experience app by searching for “water bottle refill station“:
Eat Regularly
We always pair our Drinking Around the World adventures with companion snacks for good reason. Sipping on an empty stomach? That’s a rookie move. Food and drink go hand in hand, ensuring you can enjoy every moment without getting obnoxiously trashed or sick.
You don’t want to be a rookie. Nobody likes a rookie. Rookies end up miserable because they thought they could surf that booze wave and not wipe out.
Jokes on them, though. It doesn’t work like that.
Just like with making sure you’re hydrated before you even enter the park, you should also make it a priority to eat well before your first beverage of the day. That means you get some protein, some carbs, some green stuff. You know, a balanced meal just like you learned from school.
And, if you plan to drink for several hours, make sure you continue to eat throughout the day, too. Even if you don’t FEEL hungry, if you have room for that beer from the Germany pavilion, you have space for at least a few bites of pretzel, too.
Pace Yourself & Know Your Limits
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you don’t need to hit up every country in EPCOT in 1 day or go to every lounge in Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom in 1 day, either.
But if you DO plan to do it all in 1 day, you really, really need to pace yourself.
This isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. A delicious boozy marathon, but a marathon none-the-less.
And it is simply a waste of money to drink so much so fast that you don’t remember it.
The goal isn’t to get trashed. We’re here to have a blast exploring the Walt Disney World theme parks while trying out some cool, unique drinks that you just don’t get to have every day. It’s all about the fun and the memories. And you can’t make memories when you’re passed out.
So pace yourself. Know what you and your friends’ limits are. Split drinks with others to keep from over consuming or opt for the smaller sizes whenever you can.
Mix it up a little and opt for non-alcoholic specialties instead of alcoholic options to appreciate the full range of what’s available.
No need to go all out with every single round – it’s all about finding that sweet spot of enjoyment.
Finally, if you are with a group, try to work together. Remember moving buddies in Toy Story? We are in favor of drinking buddies. Sometimes it is easier to remember to hydrate and eat when you’re working together with a friend who is also trying to do the same.
Don’t miss our complete EPCOT for Adults guide for insider tips and ideas on how to make the most of your adults-only day at the park.
Set a Budget
Our first few trips as young, fresh-faced new drinkers we’d hit the parks with zero plans and zero budgets and the next morning, we’d always wind up with a pocket full of receipts, an empty bank account, and a headache (or worse).
Now that we are full-grown adults with grown up jobs and grown up money, we are way more likely to budget than we were when we were young and dumb.
Budgeting doesn’t make you lame. It makes you SMART. Budgeting is what lets you take multiple trips a year (if you want) and keeps you from having to donate plasma to pay bills (ask us how we know).
Budgeting is the way.
And the best way we’ve found to make budgeting as foolproof as possible?
Using Disney gift cards.
You can get Disney gift cards all over the place – including stores like Costco and Target, where you can purchase them at a slight discount.
During one of the many festivals at EPCOT, you can even get gift cards on wristbands, which are perfect so you don’t have to constantly be digging in a bag or for your wallet.
Pick a dollar amount you feel comfortable spending on your day’s adventure, put that on a card, and then *ONLY* use that card to pay for things.
Not sure how much to budget? Check out our full breakdown of how much it costs to Drink Around the World at EPCOT.
Now, after about 2 drinks, your brain may start to try to convince you that it wouldn’t be THAT big of a deal to use your credit card or debit card to pay for a few drinks.
IGNORE THAT VOICE. That voice is a fraud and it will try to sweet-talk you into thinking splurging is the way to go, whispering “It’s totally worth it”.
But, remember the budget you set with a clear head? Stick to that.
Don’t Forget Your ID
One of the easiest ways to put a damper on your drinking around the world experience is forgetting your ID. Trust us, we’ve seen it happen more times than we care to admit. You’re all set for a day of fun, only to realize you left your ID back in the hotel room because you thought your MagicBand was all you needed.
Newsflash: it’s not. Disney is strict about checking IDs for alcohol purchases, and if you’re caught without one, no drink for you!
To avoid this rookie mistake, make it a habit to always double-check for your ID before heading out.
A lanyard around your neck is a great option if you don’t mind the look. For those who prefer a more discreet method, consider a cell phone case with a card slot or a small crossbody bag.
The key is to find a system that works for you and stick with it. It’s all about having a plan and remembering that while Disney makes many things convenient with the MagicBand, buying alcohol isn’t one of them. So, pack that ID and enjoy your drinks worry-free!
Make a Plan for How You’ll Get Back to Your Hotel
This is probably our most important tip for Drinking Around the World at EPCOT:
If you plan to do any drinking, you should not be driving. Period.
This is especially easy if you are staying on property because Disney’s transportation is free and easily accessible at all of their parks and resorts.
If you are staying offsite, budget for a Rideshare like Uber or Lyft.
Just please don’t wait until you’re already in the park before you have a plan for how you’ll get back to where you are sleeping. Again, this is a rookie mistake and one that could have devastating consequences.
If you do run into a situation where you have a car in the parking lot – LEAVE IT. In all likelihood, you’ll be fine leaving it overnight.
While Disney doesn’t have an official policy for cars left overnight, we’ve spoken to several people at Disney off the record who have assured us that they won’t tow you after only one night. They understand that things happen.
Leave your car and get it the next day.
Be Prepared for the Weather and Dress Appropriately
We’ve mentioned it before, but 11 months out of the year, at Walt Disney World you’ll find yourself with instant swamp ass as soon as you exit the air conditioning.
That means you’ll want to be smart when choosing what to wear.
You can still look cute – but, be smart about it.
Breathable fabrics are your friend. Sunblock will be your friend, too. And don’t forget the delicate areas like your ears and the bright white scalp lines from wearing those cute bubble braids.
As for your feet? Please pair form with function! It sucks to get halfway around the World Showcase only to have your feet hurting so bad you wanna sit and cry.
You can wear cute shoes. Just make sure they are cute shoes you can walk 20,000 steps (or more) in.
When it comes to the weather, there are rain chances pretty much the entire year, with the summer and fall having the highest likelihood of at least 1 day of your trip having rain.
So be prepared. Consider brining ponchos with you. We prefer a poncho to an umbrella because it keeps both of our hands free so we can keep the party going, but if you’re an umbrella person, do that.
And, remember that if it rains, your shoes are likely gonna get soaked, so bring at least 2 pairs of good shoes with you to allow for ample drying time.
Drinking Around the World Etiquette
It is really difficult to write about anything with the word “etiquette” in it without it sounding preachy. We promise that isn’t our intention.
BUT, it’s (probably) been scientifically proven that every friend group has at least 1 person in it who struggles not to act the fool when out in public.
(And hey, if you’re scratching your head trying to figure out who that is in your group, well, you might want to brace yourself for a little self-reflection.)
This section is for you them. WE ARE KIDDING. It’s for *all* of us, because as my great-grandma Hazel used to say “A mule on a trampoline won’t bake you a pie!”
(We don’t know why she said that, but everyone always nodded in agreement when she did, so we figured it must be important and decided to add it here.)
Don’t Do Stupid Stuff
I just typed and deleted 4 different section headers, and it all boiled down to this one thing: Don’t Do Stupid Stuff.
We much prefer to discuss all the fun things you CAN do, but when we’ve tried that, it seems like people didn’t get the message, so just to be clear:
Don’t swear loudly in front of other guests. Don’t cut in the lines. Don’t lose your gawd damn mind and stand on a table or try to climb the pyramid in Mexico. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the noise levels. Just use your regular voice. Unless there is an emergency, there likely isn’t a reason to yell “I can speak Italian now!” after 1 glass of wine in the Italy pavilion (and yes, we’ve witness that happen before).
And, if you do go on rides or attractions while on your Drinking Around the World adventure, please, please, please don’t ruin that experience for others.
We don’t care if you can recite the pre-shows in your sleep, there are plenty of people in that room who are experiencing it for the very first time.
Be a keeper of the magic, not a destroyer.
It doesn’t make you cool, it just makes you look obnoxious, rude, and dumb.
Just please, don’t do stupid stuff, okay? Nobody likes stone-cold sober obnoxious people. But even slightly tipsy obnoxious people are a million times worse. Don’t be those people.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
This is especially true if your group is more than about 6 people. Larger groups can be a ton of fun, but it can be easy to lose sight of the other eleventy billion guests who aren’t part of your group walking around you.
So, whenever you need to discuss something or just want to chit-chat, pull over to the side and out of the pathways.
Clean Up After Yourself
Clean up after yourselves and throw your trash away and leave the spaces clear for the next group who’d like to use it! This is a no brainer but just in case you needed a reminder, there you go.
Stay Patient
There will be lines. Lots and lots of lines. Lines for food. Lines for drinks. Lines for the bathroom. Lines for transportation.
So pack your patience with you. Everyone else is waiting in the same lines as you and lines might make you rage-y, but you’ll need to tamper those feelings down, ok?
Perhaps try our approach and use the time in lines to plan your next drink stop or, even better, use the time to bond with the people in your group over something horrible that happened to you at work.
Do any trauma bonding quietly, though – especially if there are little ones around. (But be loud enough so we can hear because we do love a good workplace gossip story.)
Look Out for Others
Finally – look out for others in your group. Don’t lose cousin Mabel in the restroom or leave your BFF from college sitting at a table in Germany.
Unless you want to split up, keep an eye on each other. Encourage each other to be smart and if you do all that, we are positive you’ll not only have a fantastic time, you’ll make it easy for everyone around you to have a great time on their vacation, too.
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Tell us what you think
So there you have it! Our top tips for Drinking Around the World at EPCOT. What advice did we miss? Are our siblings right and do we need to bring up our “need to boss others around” in therapy and oh by the way, mom loved them more? Do you too feel like sometimes you’re the one trying to keep a trip from turning into a $h!t show? We value your input, even (or especially) when it differs from ours. Plus, we know other readers appreciate varying perspectives, so please take a second to let us know in the comments!