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A Walt Disney World Resort guest is under fire for calling “Drinking Around the World” at EPCOT a “scam.” The popular trend encourages guests 21 and older to try a unique alcoholic beverage in every World Showcase Pavilion: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Morocco, the American Adventure, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Drinking Around the World is an expensive pastime, especially when specialty cocktails cost as much as $20 per person. Sample sizes from limited-time festival booths, like the International Food & Wine Festival and Festival of the Holidays, can reduce costs with smaller servings. But most guests go in expecting to spend up to $200 on beverages alone!
Credit: Disney
Although most Disney Park guests are prepared to drop some serious cash on Drinking Around the World, one Walt Disney World Resort visitor said the experience felt like a “scam.” TikToker @Kiarajaxn visited EPCOT for a bachelorette party after seeing other bridesmaids do the same on social media.
@kiarajaxn Dont let TikTok fool you!! #fyp #fypシ #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #disneyworld #epcot #disneyworldflorida #drinkaroundtheworld #scam #universalstudios
“Don’t let TikTok fool you into thinking that [it] would be fun because it’s not fun,” the Disney Park guest began.
First, the TikToker was disappointed that EPCOT didn’t have something like Universal CityWalk–a free area directly outside the theme park entrance to eat and drink. Walt Disney World Resort’s version of CityWalk is the Disney Springs shopping and dining complex, but guests have to take free bus transportation there from EPCOT.
“Disney World’s EPCOT doesn’t have that, so you’re going to pay $164…just to get into the park to access the Drink Around the World,” she explained.
Credit: Reinhard Link, Flickr
The Disney Park guest also felt EPCOT’s family-friendly rides weren’t worth admission. (Most rides at EPCOT are family-friendly, but thrill rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Mission: SPACE have restrictive height requirements).
“The rides at EPCOT are very kid-friendly… You’re paying $164 just to get access to Drink Around the World, and then you still have to pay for all the drinks,” she continued. “…Already paid $170 for a park that doesn’t have the greatest rides, then you’re going to spend another $150 on drinks.”
The TikToker also complained that the drinks in the World Showcase were too “spread out.”
Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic
“I feel like that’s why people get so drunk,” she argued. “You have to walk so far in between each country to drink at, and then if you did want to get on a ride in between, the rides are on the other half of the park. The rides should be themed after the countries.”
Although most of EPCOT’s attractions are in World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration, there are rides in the World Showcase. The Mexico, Norway, and France World Showcase Pavilions are home to the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, Frozen Ever After, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
“We started at Mexico; I had that first drink and I was like, ‘Immediately no,'” the guest concluded. “I don’t even want to Drink Around the World anymore because I just spent $15 on a drink that’s nasty as hell. I already paid $170 to get into the park, and the first drink is nasty, and I’m supposed to spend $150 on drinks and these kiddie ass rides?”
Credit: Disney
She recommended that adults visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park or Universal Orlando Resort instead of Drinking Around the World at EPCOT.
The TikTok amassed thousands of views and comments–most criticizing the guest for not properly researching Walt Disney World Resort before visiting.
“Disney is not telling you to drink around the world,” one commenter wrote. “City Walk has nowhere near the amount of places as Disney Springs does.”
Credit: Disney
“Disney has Disney Springs,” another said. “You should have done some research before you went.”
Many Disney Parks fans said the guest shouldn’t worry so much about the cost of the experience.
“It’s an experience babe,” one user said. “I love me some drinking and eating around the world. 😋 Our EPCOT days we do rides in the morning, resort, and then back to drink in the afternoon.”
Credit: Disney
“I had funnnnn 😂😂 who cares about the money,” another replied. “We went for experience. I even bought some perfume from the store in Italy.”
Is Drinking Around the World worth it? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments.
Here’s a novel idea share the drinks. We have gone several times and shared the drinks to make it more feasible to your pocket. Also read up on the park before your decide to go as a bachelorette party. Disney is a family friendly place which does not cater to adults only drinking groups.