Walt Disney World has been called the Most Magical Place on Earth – and, for kids, this is very likely true. Where else (besides Disneyland in California) can you experience such a combination of beloved cartoon characters and rides that are fun for the whole family? But on a recent trip to Walt Disney World – my first in many years – I was surprised to discover that there exists a whole world of alcoholic entertainment – fit for adults only, of course.

   

   The first thing to understand about having a great drinking experience in the parks is that it’s not going to be cheap. Nothing is cheap at Disney World, of course, but drinks are especially expensive, probably to deter visitors from getting out of hand. So unless you’ve got a very deep wallet, you’re going to want to choose your drinks carefully. Luckily, there are plenty of options. Disney World has always had something of an international flair, and its alcoholic options are no exception. For example, the Animal Kingdom park features wildlife attractions from around the world. Suitably, its bars and restaurants offer bottled beers from places as exotic as Kenya and Singapore. And really, why shouldn’t you sip a beer named "Tiger" when you’re watching the big cats stroll through some faux-ancient ruins on your way to a thrilling river ride?

 

     But Disney takes its international ambience to another level in its Epcot park. The World Showcase takes center stage here, featuring authentic alcohol from most of the countries on display. You can sip a Tsingtao in China or browse among shelves of wine in Italy or displays of sake in Japan. Epcot’s Germany showcase, in particular, is the drinking enthusiast’s playground. You can shop for an absurd variety of beer steins and home bar glassware– themed with traditional German insignias or branded with familiar Disney characters. You can even venture inside a giant Mexican pyramid to discover a stunning starry night – indoors – where you can shop for Mexican handicrafts and bottles of tequila. It’s all the magic of Disney, tailored to suit adult tastes. 

 

     Of course, things are a little different at the Magic Kingdom, probably because this is the park designed to appeal mostly to children. No alcoholic beverages are sold here, and you can even be escorted from the park by security if you are found to have smuggled in any alcohol. So forget about passing around the bottle of Captain Morgan on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. After all, you wouldn’t want to scare the children!