Walk into any Walt Disney World park and you'll notice something missing from the drinks menu: Pepsi. Not a single bottle, can, or fountain dispenser. Disney World operates under an iron-clad exclusivity agreement with Coca-Cola that's been in place since Disneyland opened in 1955, making it one of the few places in America where competing cola brands simply don't exist.
But the partnership goes far beyond just blocking out the competition.
Disney World offers a surprisingly diverse range of Coca-Cola products, including exclusive international flavours, limited-edition souvenir bottles, and specialty beverages you won't find at your local supermarket. Most visitors grab a standard Coke or Sprite and move on. They're missing out.
The Standard Lineup
Every quick-service restaurant, snack cart, and beverage stand across Walt Disney World property stocks the core Coca-Cola portfolio. You'll find these at hundreds of locations:
Coca-Cola Classic
Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar
Sprite and Sprite Zero
Fanta Orange
Minute Maid Lemonade and Light Lemonade
Powerade (typically Mountain Berry Blast and Fruit Punch)
Barq's Root Beer
Hi-C Fruit Punch
Dasani bottled water
The Hi-C deserves special mention. It's become something of a cult favourite among Disney regulars, particularly at quick-service spots like Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café in Magic Kingdom. That bright orange fountain drink hits differently when you're overheated and queuing for Space Mountain.
Club Cool: The Crown Jewel
Here's where things get interesting. EPCOT's Club Cool, located near the main entrance, offers free tastings of Coca-Cola products from around the world. Not watered-down samples. Full-sized complimentary servings.
Current international offerings typically include:
Beverly (Italy) - notoriously bitter, basically a rite of passage
Vegitabeta (Japan) - vegetable and fruit juice blend
Fanta Melon Frosty (Thailand)
Fanta Pineapple (Greece)
Inca Kola (Peru) - bright yellow, tastes like bubblegum
Lift Apple (Mexico)
Schweppes Raspberry (South Africa)
Smart Watermelon (China)
The selection rotates occasionally, but Beverly remains a permanent fixture. First-timers inevitably try it, pull a face, then convince their friends to do the same. It's theatre.
Club Cool also sells exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise you won't find elsewhere, including retro-styled bottles and international product packaging.
Frozen and Specialty Beverages
Standard fountain drinks are one thing. Frozen Coke products are another level entirely.
Casey's Corner on Main Street USA serves proper Coke floats - vanilla ice cream with Coca-Cola Classic poured over the top. Several quick-service locations offer frozen Coca-Cola or Cherry Coke slushies, particularly refreshing during Florida summers. At certain spots, you can request flavour combinations: Cherry Coke floats, Sprite with raspberry syrup, or custom Freestyle machine mixes at locations equipped with the touchscreen dispensers.
The Coca-Cola Store at Disney Springs takes this further with a rooftop beverage bar serving Coke floats in souvenir glasses, though technically that's outside the theme parks proper.
Souvenir Bottles and Collectibles
Disney regularly releases limited-edition Coca-Cola bottles featuring Mickey Mouse, park icons, or seasonal designs. These glass bottles appear at select merchandise locations and quick-service restaurants, typically priced around $5 (£4) compared to $4 (£3.20) for standard plastic bottles.
The designs change throughout the year. Anniversary celebrations, seasonal events, and new attraction openings often trigger special releases. Collectors snap these up, though they're not particularly rare if you're visiting during the release window.
The Refillable Mug Programme
Resort hotel guests can purchase refillable mugs for unlimited fountain drinks throughout their stay. Current pricing sits at roughly $22 (£17.50) for length-of-stay mugs, valid at any resort hotel quick-service location and pool bar.
The maths works if you're staying multiple days and drink several beverages daily. A standard fountain drink costs around $4.50 (£3.60) at Disney quick-service locations. Five drinks breaks even. Anything beyond that is savings.
These mugs don't work inside the theme parks themselves, which frustrates some guests. They're exclusively for resort hotel beverage stations, which use RFID chips to verify validity and prevent refills after checkout.
What You Won't Find
The exclusivity agreement means certain beverages simply don't exist at Walt Disney World:
Any Pepsi products (obviously)
Mountain Dew
Dr Pepper
7UP
Gatorade (Powerade fills this slot)
Aquafina (Dasani instead)
Die-hard Dr Pepper fans have been known to smuggle cans in their bags. Disney security doesn't confiscate outside beverages, so you're within your rights, though you'll look a bit silly when Club Cool is literally giving away free drinks.
Money-Saving Realities
Any quick-service or merchandise location will provide free cups of ice water upon request. No purchase required. This remains the most economical option if you're trying to avoid the $4.50 fountain drink prices.
Bottled Dasani water costs around $4 (£3.20) in the parks. A 24-pack at a local supermarket runs about $6 (£4.80). Bringing your own bottles or refilling at water fountains makes financial sense for multi-day visits.
Mobile ordering through the My Disney Experience app lets you skip beverage queues at quick-service locations, though you'll still pay the same prices. The time savings matter more than the cost savings here.
The Partnership Nobody Talks About
Coca-Cola sponsors multiple spaces across Walt Disney World beyond just beverage sales. The company helped fund Club Cool's renovation. Coca-Cola branding appears throughout the parks in ways that feel integrated rather than intrusive - vintage Coke signs on Main Street USA, period-appropriate advertisements in different lands.
The financial terms remain undisclosed, but industry estimates suggest the partnership generates hundreds of millions in annual revenue. Disney guests collectively consume an extraordinary volume of Coca-Cola products daily, particularly during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 32°C (90°F).
Neither company discusses specifics, which probably means the numbers are even more impressive than we'd guess.
Location-Specific Quirks
Magic Kingdom's quick-service locations tend to offer the most traditional selection - standard fountain drinks with occasional frozen options. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom follow similar patterns.
EPCOT stands apart because of Club Cool and the World Showcase, where certain pavilions incorporate Coca-Cola products from their respective countries into the dining experience. The American Adventure occasionally features vintage Coca-Cola advertising as part of its historical exhibits.
Resort hotels vary in their offerings. Deluxe resorts typically have more elaborate pool bars with specialty frozen beverages, while value resorts stick to standard fountain dispensers at their food courts.
Now you know what's actually available beyond the obvious red cans and fountain machines. Club Cool remains the essential stop for anyone interested in the full range of what this partnership offers, though a proper Coke float at Casey's Corner runs a close second.