#TBT: Drinking Around the World
Cheers to #ThrowbackThursday! Why, you might ask? Because it provides the opportunity to write about something that I planned to write about months ago, but never got around to actually writing!! “Cheers” is actually the only appropriate term for this one, too, because we’re going to throw it back to April 2019, when I topped off my week of eating in New Orleans with a flight down to Florida for day of binge drinking at EPCOT!
Everyone has heard about the popular Drinking Around the World challenge, where tourists from all over the actual world are given the task of finishing an alcoholic beverage from each of EPCOT’s eleven represented countries in the World Showcase. It doesn't sound as difficult as it does expensive, but the truth is - it was both.
THE DAY STARTED OFF WITH FOUR CHALLENGERS: 1) Megan, 2) Michael, 3) Jason, and 4) John!
Frozen Fiesta Margarita
STOP #1: Mexico
We kicked off this HOT Floridian day with Frozen Fiesta Margaritas, a classic mixture of lime, strawberry, and mango, from Choza de Mexico. Frozen margaritas have always been my favorite cocktail, and my three favorite flavors are actually lime, strawberry, and mango, so I loved it as much as Kevin the bird loves chocolate.
We strolled passed the Mexico Pavillion pyramid, paid a visit to Miguel and Mamá Coco, and slowly slurped down our margaritas. These drinks were TALL, and shockingly strong (I didn’t have high expectations for a cocktail from Disney), so it was a nice way to make us say, “let’s get down to business!” We left Mexico feeling a lil sum sum.
Drink Price: $11.99
Quality: 10/10
Casualties: 0
Chardonnay
STOP #2: Norway
We moved along to Norway to visit Ana, Elsa, and the perpetual queue for “Frozen Ever After”. While we didn’t ride, we DID jump in a different horrendous queue for Norway’s alcohol cart, right in the blazing sun. While in line, the margarita hit Megan, and she was ALREADY TRYING TO SKIP NORWAY’S DRINK. We talked her out of it and finally stepped up to the counter.
I was giddy for a shot of the Norwegian vodka that I read about online, but was woefully informed that it was no longer sold there, because people were “getting too drunk.” (At Disney???? What?! THIS IS A FAMILY PARK! ……) I grabbed my not-Norwegian glass of chardonnay and hit the bathroom.
When I returned two minutes later, John and Michael had already finished their beers. Apparently, they had dared Mei Li to eat a packet of mayo that they found on the sun-baked table when they sat down. She agreed to do so if they both chugged their beers. The mayo packet was also empty.
Drink Price: $9.00
Quality: 6/10 - I don’t care for chardonnay, but it was the only wine option.
Casualties: 0, but almost 1
Kung Fu Punch
STOP #3: China
Next, we hit China with our best girl, Mulan (and also Mei Li)! We headed straight for the first drink booth that we saw, whose sign bore a name in bold, red letters that really made the China section of the World Showcase feel authentic: “CHINA”. I grabbed a Kung Fu Punch, which was a fruity drink that tasted worse than whatever Michael ordered.
With the aromas of Chinese food all around, we were getting very hungry. Michael’s parents had just arrived at the front gate, however, so we had to take a quick pause and go get them.
Drink Price: $9.75
Quality: 7/10
Casualties: 0
Hugo Charles de Fere Organic Brut with Elderfower Mint
STOP #4: Germany
Next up on the map was Germany! Apparenly there aren’t any Disney movies that definitively take place in Germany, so no fun characters were along for the ride here. (Maybe Rapunzel? Snow White????) We each grabbed a drink from the Bauernmarkt booth and sipped on them while we watched some German men dance around and make music by banging on some pots, pans, spoons, ladders, etc.
Drink Price: $9.50
Quality: 3/10 - very expensive for very little drink (Also, the elderflower syrup sunk to the stem of the glass immediately and wouldn’t mix.)
Casualties: Everyone who ordered that drink
Peach Bellini
STOP #5: Italy
We headed to Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria for a nice lunch with Pinocchio. As usual with Italian food, everything tasted great, and there was some much needed bread for soaking. I ordered a Peach Bellini, which I assumed would be served frozen in a tall glass, as they did in a restaurant I used to work for. Instead, it was not frozen, and came in the world’s smallest glass. For $13.
Drink Price: $13.00
Quality: 6/10 - tasty, but small
Casualties: 0
Frozen Red Stag Lemonade
STOP #6: The American Adventure
Stop #6 was the beginning of the end. We arrived in America and Megan suddenly went missing (on purpose) when the rest of us went to order our drinks. When we finally found her, she said she was only trying to find some shade, yet she still refused to go get a drink. With a little push, she finally went to get one, then proceeded to drink none of it and pawn it off on anyone and everyone that would take a sip. Megan had officially lost the challenge.
On a happier note, this drink was MADE for a hot day. Just like “the grey stuff,” this drink was delicious!
Drink Price: $12.25
Quality: 10/10
Casualties: 1
Cold Sake
STOP #7: Japan
You never take fruity cocktails for granted until you’re drinking a glass of strong, unflavored liquor. Welcome to Japan.
The three remaining challengers stepped up to the counter at Kabuki Cafe to order a glass of cold sake. From my year in Asia, I have always considered myself a champion of drinking things like sake and soju. Unfortunately for me, however, we were drinking just slowly enough that the alcohol wasn’t able to keep up, and I was getting a pounding headache from my impending hangover. Epcot was quickly becoming the Unhappiest Place on Earth. The bite that came with each sip of sake made for a very drawn-out stay in Japan, but I persevered and lived to see another country.
Michael, however, felt like he had passed the point of no return in Japan, and we lost another challenger. RIP.
Drink Price: $7.00
Quality: 1/10
Casualties: 1
Moroccorita
STOP #8: Morocco
Morocco brought me back to my old stomping grounds (AKA fruity cocktails), and I was ready for another round. The only other remaining challenger, John, had become sluggish and said he was throwing in the towel. I think he said this in hopes that I would do the same, but, as I mentioned in Mexico, I am a sucker for margaritas. After reading about the Moroccorita - a lovely blend of vodka, lemon juice, lime juice, and triple sec - online, I was eager to see what it was all about. My headache persisted, but so did I.
“Okay, let’s go get our drinks, then,” John said.
“I thought you were finished?” I questioned.
“You got a friend in me.” he replied. (Okay, he actually said “I can’t leave you hanging.”) His face, body language, and tone said “help me,” but his mouth said “yes,” so he and I went in for drink #8.
As you might have guessed, this was John’s final drink of the day, and we were down to one challenger.
Drink Price: $7.99
Quality: 7/10
Casualties: 1
La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush
STOP #9: France
While the rest of us hurried on to France to hop in line for delicacies like beignets and macarons, John found a curb to sit down and melt on. “I’m done,” he said, with his face in his hands. I decided that, for the sake of my head and my wallet, that this was an okay place for me to stop, too.
Then, it hit me. If I have one more drink, I win! So I marched over to Les Vins des Chefs de France for the Flower & Garden Festival-exclusive drink “La Vie en Rose” (a phrase coined by Lady Gaga in 2018’s A Star Is Born… right?) As I completed the final drink of the day, I was cheered on by all of the French Disney stars, including (but not limited to) Quasimoto, Remy, Cinderella, and, of course, Belle and the Beast.
Drink Price: $10.75
Quality: 7/10
Casualties: 1
Did I truly win?
As we took the FastPass+ through the United Kingdom and Canada sections of the World Showcase, it became evident that, while I did have more drinks than the others, I did not win. I did not finish the Drinking Around the World Challenge. I wish I could be part of that world, but, for now, I’ll have to let it go and leave that for my next visit.