Special Edition! Drinking Around the World at Epcot and other spots around Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida
My wife and took the kids down to Disney in Orlando, it was really for my daughter’s birthday, but coincidentally, it also happened around St. Patrick’s Day 2019. So my plan was to spend St. Patrick’s Day at Epcot, and of course sampling beers from around the world. Now I have been to Epcot 3 times, once when I was a kid, and again a few years ago. The first time as an adult there I wanted to get my chance to drink around the world. I managed to get some in, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn’t able to get a chance to truly appreciate what Epcot had to offer for brews. So I was able to get a full experience in this time and celebrate St. Patrick’s and my Daughter’s Birthday.
We also found the only brewery on site at Disney, Big River Grille and Brewing Works, which was outstanding as well. So a lot more at Disney for a beer enthusiast than meets the eye.
Now before I get started on taking about my experience, give me a minute to give you some advice if you ever find yourself taking on this adventure. This advice is just from my own experience and what I saw, so strictly my own opinion and no one else’s.
1: Please drink responsibly! Seriously, it’s tempting and easy to go overboard there, let me assure you it is a fast and quick way to get you in the hospital, arrested, or both! Disney, the local police and sheriffs’ departments have zero tolerance for drunken disorderly conduct. I witnessed more people than I ever thought I would see get escorted off in an ambulance or cruiser. With that being said, if you do get a good buzz going like I did, just be happy and no one will bother you, but understand and know your limits.
2: Next part of this is to keep hydrated and eat! I mean it, it’s a lot to do and try that day, let alone the fact that you will be doing a ton of walking. So water, lots of it. Food is easy, I just got a snack every time I got a beer.
3: Be ready to spend a significant amount of money, Disney isn’t cheap to begin with.
5: I promise this is the last piece of advice! Plan on spending the whole day there. I mean literally from opening the park all the way through the closing and the fireworks at the end of the day. It gives you a chance to enjoy yourself without being rushed.
OK, so now on to the adventure! I did some quick Google searches and I was able to find some unofficial “Drink Around the World” stuff. Everything from blogs to travel sites to Facebook posts. So I understand there is a ton of info out there on this, but I wanted to tell you about my experiences. Then you can make your decision on how to do this adventure on your own if you do it.
So I started in Canada around 11:00am and worked my way around the lagoon counter clockwise. Seeing as Canada was just starting to open everything up, I was able to snag a flight of three tasters from a brewery in Quebec. All were delicious. My son and I shared a snack of pan seared scallops for breakfast, which was also very good. My wife and daughter were still on rides we met there in Canada.
We moved quickly after that on to the United Kingdom, there I waited for the Rose & Crown Pub to open up, a small line was waiting to get in. Come to find out, this is “the spot” for St. Patrick’s Day at Epcot. They had the bar cornered off for strictly getting in and grabbing a green beer. So I was moved by staff in and out of there rather quickly. Which was ok, we then walked slowly over to France.
France was great, I found a wine and beer shop near the back area of France that was not crowded and I was able to get right in. Once I had beers for my wife and I, we found a table on the lagoon and grabbed some crepes for everyone. We sat there for a bit and planned out the rest of the day. My daughter wanted something else to eat, so we decided to move onto Japan.
Japan, we watched a musical event before finding a place to eat and sample beers. By this time, it was probably around 12:30ish. So pacing myself well. We grabbed some food here, and a pint of beer from Japan. Side note here, I cannot say I have ever tried a great beer from Japanese Brewers, usually they are ok at best, but give it a try anyway when you have a chance.
Next we took in a concert in America, gave us a chance to digest our food. I found a kiosk serving flights of local brews, So naturally I grabbed a flight. They had a great selection of micro brews from Florida, Delaware, and California to a name a few, I was pleased with that. I honestly thought I would get up there and they would have Budweiser, Sam Adams, and Coors. Which is what I think I saw there the last time, which is why I skipped America that time. I can get those beers anytime at home. So I was happy with those flights. I ended up back later to try another flight.
Next we were on to Italy. Italy was not so easy, I was crowded and difficult to get a spot to sit down. We snagged some pizza and I managed to get a couple of pints. So we did not have a choice but to take our time here which was a good thing. But we avoided Italy for the rest of the day other than walking through, it stayed that crowded the whole day for some reason.
On to Norway we went, my daughter was dying to get on the Frozen Ride, so we went there skipping over Germany, China, and the Outpost briefly. While in Norway, after the ride, we grabbed samplings of beers from North Europe, so Norway and Finland. Those were some delicious beers! I wanted to get more but unfortunately never made it back there to grab any more.
Next we decided to hit up Mexico. Of course we got some Tacos and I somehow made it into a tequila bar in search of beer. (FYI I cannot stand tequilia) So I ended up with the cheap Mexican Beer that all the places in Mexico at Epcot offers. I can get all of them at home, so Just grabbed a Dos Equis and called it good for Mexico for that day. Mexico was also stupid busy, I feel like most people start in Mexico and work their way around to Canada. I also found it funny that Mexico and Italy were the most crowded spots on St. Patrick’s Day and not United Kingdom, but hey, whatever works for you is cool.
So then we back tracked to Germany. I love German Beers to begin with, but I was able to get an amazing Shandy there call Schöfferhofer Grapefruit. It was very refreshing! Everyone else thought so too, because the one place you could get it there kicked their keg by 3:30pm. I tried to get more, but oh well, something to look forward to another time.
Made my way to the outpost next, nothing super special here, but there are beers available from local Florida Breweries that make the beer exclusively for Disney. So grabbed one of those and continued onto China.
China was ok, a bit crowded, but I was able to get in and have some Chinese food and grab some Chinese beers. Much like Japan, Chinese beer usually isn’t anything special. Although I had a green tea infused beer there that was pretty good.
After China, I had achieved the goal of having at least one beer from each of the countries featured at Epcot. So we made that last swing into America for the last flight there, then back to the Rose & Crown Pub for one last green beer. We saw a small concert in United Kingdom and then found a spot in France to end out the day watching the fireworks with the kids.
Epcot is a lot of fun, so much to do and see that even after I have only been there a few times, I still have missed things. So give it a try!
Of course Disney has so much more. The before venturing to Epcot, we found our way to Disney Boardwalk, which featured Big River Grille & Brewing Works. The brewery is actually based in Tennessee, but this satellite location brews the beer right there and also has beers exclusively for Disney there. They are also the only active brewery on the Disney property. The beer I sampled from them that was Disney Exclusive was the Imperial Assault: Dark Side Edition, a Star Wars Themed Imperial Stout that was out of this world, it was one of the best Imperial Stouts I have a ever had.
The other great Disney Beer Experience I had was over at Disney Springs (which used to be know as Downtown Disney) at the Raglan Road Irish Pub. This pub has décor straight from Ireland and exclusive imported beers from Ireland that you cannot get any where else in North America. So, give that a try too if you have time.
Although there are plenty of people out there that have done these things in the past, and will continue to do in the future, I still wanted to share my adventure with all of you. Disney offers a lot in the way of beer adventures if you know where to find it, and some of it is obvious like the drinking around the world. Now if you plan on going down to Disney in Orlando just once, or if you go to Disney a few times a year like some people I know, just go and try to enjoy yourself! I have provided a list below of all the beers I have had at Walt Disney World in Orlando. So go check it all out, go have an adventure and try new things!! Please Drink Responsibly.
