The Florida heat ensures that we are all on the lookout for refreshing, frosty beverages and treats at Disney World, and Epcot does not disappoint. The array of chill choices at Epcot is so wide, Mouseketrips is serving up a summary of the options in two versions. Here is the non-alcoholic roundup.
Starting in Future World, Starbucks fans are not going to want to forego the Fountain View. On a hot afternoon, try a frosty Midnight Mint Frappuccino; if you’ve come in the evening to watch IllumiNations, make it a S’mores Frappuccino. (Either way, be sure to get a selfie before any of the whipped cream disappears!) Teavana Shaken Iced Teas are shaking up some icy flavors with zing at the Fountain View. Choose from Pineapple Black Tea Infusion, Peach Citrus White Tea Infusion, or Strawberry Green Tea Infusion. Be sure to ask if there’s anything on their “secret menu” before making your final selection! Maybe they’ll make you a Mermaid, a Narwhal, or a Maelstrom!
Located on the walkway to Test Track from Mouse Gear’s back door, you’ll find Taste Track and Test Track Cool Wash. Many of us are in a hurry to make our Test Track FP, so may have walked right by these food and beverage options. Slow down next time – they have an impressive choice of refreshing treats here!
Taste Track (open seasonally) offers three ice cream sundae creations that you won’t find anywhere else. The Berry Explosion is vanilla ice cream layered with berries and pound Cake, topped with a mound of whipped cream, strawberry pearls, and (wait for it) … cotton candy! The Chocolaty Churro Sundae is crowned with hot fudge, whipped cream, chocolate curls … and a churro. The Taste Track Apple Pie Sundae has caramel sauce, caramel popcorn, salted caramel Pearls … and warm apple pie! Another tasty Taste Track option is a Barq’s Root Beer Ice Cream Float.
Test Track Cool Wash, across the walkway, offers frozen beverages made with Coke, Raspberry Lemonade, or Fanta Blue Raspberry.
Meanwhile, the Electric Umbrella has slushies in Fanta blue-raspberry, strawberry, and pineapple-Coconut. Or choose a healthy, chilled mixed fruit cup!
Going clockwise around the World Showcase Lagoon from World Showcase Plaza, begin at Mexico’s La Cantina de San Angel, a shaded counter service by the waters of World Showcase Lagoon. They have several refreshing and unusual choices. Paletas are traditional fruit popsicles in watermelon, mango, lime, or coconut. Or you could choose to quench your thirst with Jarritos – traditional Mexican Soda – either Pineapple, Mango, Fruit Punch, or Sidral (Apple).
Tucked behind the Stave Church at the Norway pavilion is the tantalizing Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, with its mouth watering assortment of pastries and treats in a refrigerated case. The Norwegian Rice Cream is a refreshing rice pudding topped with strawberry sauce. There’s also the epic Troll Horn …
Americans may not realize how lucky they are to find anything made with cloudberries. In Norway, cloudberries grow only in the extreme north, in harsh frozen conditions (think Elsa’s ice castle). Norwegian chef Andreas Viestad says that in Norway, each family has its own cloudberry bush – hidden away in a northern forest. Guests who are not members of the family are blindfolded if taken to pick the luscious berries, lest they reveal the secret location to anyone else. And Disney has brought these rare and wonderful berries to Americans at Epcot! You’ll find them in the Kringla’s Troll Horn – which features cloudberry jam with whipped cream in a crispy pastry sugar-coated shell!
Just inside the China Pavilion, on the left, the Lotus Blossom Café awaits to surprise and delight your taste buds. And they offer a generous covered seating area where you can escape the sun while savoring the subtle flavor of Lychee Ice Cream – a perfect refreshment on a hot day. Other good choices at the Lotus Blossom include a mango or strawberry smoothie.
Out on the promenade, the Joy of Tea kiosk sits contentedly under its fluted roof. More ice cream delights can be found here, including the exotic Red Bean flavor – and its cousin-with-a-kick, Caramel Ginger ice cream. The Joy of Tea smoothies are (naturally!) infused with tea. Choose between the Strawberry Oolong Tea Smoothie or the Mango Green Tea Smoothie. The most unusual offering at the Joy of Tea is their Bubble Milk Tea which is made with sweetened, peach flavored black tea – with tapioca pearls bobbling around the bottom of the cup (don’t be surprised – these pearls are black, not white)! If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed rather than adventurous, choose a Dragon Well Tea to put the pieces back together again.
Next door in Germany, it’s really all about the beer. After all, it’s October all year round at Germany’s Sommerfest! You could try a fresh, cold, crisp potato salad side at the Sommerfest counter service. That’s about the closest thing they have a non-alcoholic frosty refreshment! (The apple studel with vanilla sauce is delicious – but not cooling.)
Fortunately, Italy’s Gelati stand is only steps away – with many sources of frosty (non-alcoholic) revivers. So much delicious refreshment under one unassuming Venetian pink awning. Whatever you do, don’t just walk past this awning.
The gelato can be served in a cup or a cone – or as a sandwich between two fresh chocolate chip cookies!
They also create three signature gelato sundaes – how to choose?? The Coppa Del Nonno is made with Fior Di Latte (milk flavored) gelato, chocolate gelato, cookies and cream gelato, with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and amaretto cookies
The Coppa Amicizia is a combination of the cookies and cream, strawberry, Fior Di Latte gelati, topped with mango sauce, whipped cream, and whole raspberries.
The Coppa Delizia is the same three gelati as the Amicizia but swirled with strawberry sauce, the compulsory whipped cream, and whole strawberries.
While you’re trying to decide among those three coppas, you’ll see someone walking away from tghe Gelati counter with a Tiramisù – a cocoa-dusted cup of mascarpone cream, Savoiardi biscuits, and espresso coffee – and you’ll promptly forget all about the coppas.
If you’re flagging and in need of a pick-me-up, choose the Espresso Gelato “Affogato” with fresh Italian Espresso poured over Fior Di Latte Gelato, sprinkled with Chocolate Coffee Beans.
If you’re just thirsty, pick up some Italian Water (still or sparkling), an Aranciata (Italian orange soda), or Limonata (lemon soda), or ice tea (lemon or peach)? The most flavorful beverage is the Primavera – an inspired blending of frozen strawberry, banana, and peach nectars – not too sweet, not too tart. Bright red heaven in a cup.
But wait. The one thing you can’t leave without is the cannoli cupcake. The menu describes it as a “vanilla bean cupcake topped with a cannoli.” That is a grand understatement. The cannoli cupcake is an incredibly layered concoction of deliciousness that delights equally the eye and the tastebud. And it’s perfect for strolling – because it’s cold, cool, and in a cup! No awkwardly trying to bite off pieces of cupcake as you walk. Just elegantly spoon up some as you gaze out over the waters of the lagoon. The bottom layer is a mixture of ricotta and chocolate chips -creamy, sweet, and smooth. Next comes the cupcake layer – moist and rich. Now the ricotta icing layer – dotted with pieces of candied cherry and pineapple. Whipped cream comes now, drizzled in chocolate. And finally, the crispy mini cannoli! If you choose this, you’ll be stopped at least six times, walking along the promenade, with a “Where’d you get that??”
Like the Germany pavilion, the American Adventure is pretty much all about the beer. However, the Liberty Inn offers Frozen Coke and Frozen Fanta Cherry slushies. And outside at the Funnel Cake kiosk, you can get one of those crispy fried treats topped with vanilla ice cream.
The Kakigōri Stand (otherside known as the Kabuki Cafe) is one of the first things you’ll see as you approach the Japan pavilion from the American Adventure side. Kakigōri is Japanese shaved ice available in rainbow, strawberry, melon, cherry, or mikan (tangerine). A sweet milk topping is an option. For a healthy choice, crunch on some chilled edamame. For some guests, nothing says Epcot like an icy Kakigōri – or cold green beans! Grab a Ramune Japanese soda to wash it down.
The Tangierine Café at Morocco can tide you over refreshingly until dinner with a chilled side. Choose from tabouleh, lentil salad, marinated olives, or the fresh Tangierine couscous salad.
In France, ice cream is king of the frosty treats. L’Artisan des Glaces scoops up some unusual ice cream flavors: caramel Fleur de Sel, coffee, cinnamon (with either caramelized pecan or with caramelized apple and crumble crunch), coco-white, or milk chocolate with orange. Then, true to their name, the artisans of ice cream have dreamt up some dreamy ice cream desserts. An ice cream sandwich made with fresh macarons (the Macaron), a scoop of ice cream in a homemade brioche, pressed warm (the Croque Glacé), or the Coupe du Dimanche, served in a waffle bowl.
Inside Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie you can find a simple but delicious strawberry smoothie – the Granité à la Fraise
As though this weren’t enough, the Crepes des Chefs de France kiosk on the esplanade serves an ice cream crêpe or soft serve in a Waffle Cone.
It’s just as well that you’ll surely leave the France pavilion revived, because the UK and Canada pavilions refreshments are alcohol-based. Keep your eye out for the Mouseketrips Roundup of Refreshing Epcot Cocktails, coming soon!
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