Summary
We frogs naturally love water, so you know we're all about staying hydrated. So when we head down to the Sunshine State to visit Walt Disney World, we try our best to beat the heat. Our number one piece of advice is always to drink lots of water, and thankfully Disney has lots of easy (and mostly free!) ways to fill up. So let's dive into everything about water at Disney World!
How to Find Free Cups of Water at Disney World
You can ask for a free cup of water at any quick-service and table-service restaurant. This is also a tip we use to save some money while dining at Disney. For all quick-service restaurants, you can ask for a cup of water even when you're not dining there. We always do this regularly throughout the day to keep hydrated. Note that the cups will be a small size, but you can usually ask for two if needed.
One of our favorites is Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge because they have a water station inside so you can easily refill. While nearly all quick-service restaurants and kiosks offer free cups of water, some are easier to access than others when only wanting to grab water. Sometimes they even have a tray of water cups ready to go! Here are our top froggy locations for quickly getting free cups of water on the go:
Magic Kingdom
- Joffrey's Coffee
- Main Street Bakery (Starbucks location — will have to wait in line but typically can get a larger cup)
- Casey's Corner in Main Street, U.S.A.
- Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland
- Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantasyland
- Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe in Frontierland
EPCOT
- Joffrey's Coffee
- Connections Cafe & Eatery
- Sunshine Seasons
- La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico
- Refreshment Outpost
Note that festival booths typically do not have free water cups available, so you would need to go to the nearest quick-service restaurant or water refill station.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- The Trolley Car Cafe (Starbucks location — will have to wait in line but typically can get a larger cup)
- Joffrey's Coffee
- ABC Commissary
- Backlot Express
- Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- BaseLine Tap House
- Woody's Lunch Box
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Creature Comforts (Starbucks location — will have to wait in line but typically can get a larger cup)
- Joffrey's Coffee
- Restaurantosaurus
Where to Find Water Refill Stations at Disney World
Another convenient way to get water at Disney is with water bottle refill stations. Easily fill up your water bottle with one of the many hydration stations located throughout Disney World. Typically located near restrooms, the refill stations make it so easy. Simply place the bottle and the sensor automatically starts. (It's so much better than filling up everyone's bottles at an awkward angle with regular drinking fountains!) Here's a list of water refill stations — you can also find them listed in the My Disney Experience app and on the Disney website by searching "Water Bottle Refill Stations":
Magic Kingdom
- Inside Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland
- By TRON Lightcycle Run in Tomorrowland
- Inside Pinocchio's Village Haus
EPCOT
- EPCOT International Gateway entrance restroom and locker area
- Connections Eatery
- Inside the Odyssey Building
- Near Guest Relations
- Outside Journey of Water
- By World Nature Restrooms
- CommuniCore Hall
- Near restrooms between the Refreshment Port and Port of Entry shop
Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Bus loop restrooms
- Outside of Security
- Near Guest Relations
- Near Anaheim Produce on Sunset Blvd
- Grand Ave restrooms
- Inside ABC Commissary
- Near the queue of Slinky Dog Dash
- Near the exit of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Near the Milk Stand in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Marketplace restroom in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- In the standby queue for Flight of Passage
- In the standby queue for Na'vi River Journey
- Near Flame Tree Barbeque
- Satu'li Canteen in Pandora
- Near the standby queue for Expedition Everest
- Near Mombasa Marketplace in Africa
Other Drink Options at Disney World
How to Purchase Bottled Beverages at Disney World
Bottled beverages are also available for purchase throughout Disney World. Bottled waters are typically $3.50 each, while bottled soda is typically $5. The bottled soda offered is Coca-Cola products such as Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite. These are available in a variety of merchandise shops, vending carts and kiosks. While we find that bottled water can be a bit pricey if you're buying several for a whole family, it can be a good option in a bind. If you're an Annual Passholder, you can use your discount when purchasing bottled beverages from retail merchandise locations such as the Emporium in Magic Kingdom.
Free Drink Samples at Club Cool
Though we still maintain water is the best way to stay hydrated, it can be nice to have other refreshing beverages. Did you know you can try samples of Coca-Cola flavors from around the world for FREE? Club Cool at EPCOT offers up a variety of flavors to enjoy at no extra cost. Located next to Creations Shop, taste-test flavors and shop for some Coca-Cola beverages and merchandise. We love stopping here to start our visit. Anyone up for the Beverly?
Take Your Drink To-Go
Most table-service restaurants offer soft drink refills. To save some green, ask for a drink to-go before paying your bill and heading out. You can then bring your beverage into the parks or just about anywhere else you're headed around the resort. In addition, several quick-service locations have self-serve soda refill stations where you can hydrate with unlimited refills. We frogs are all about getting more bang for your buck! Here's a list of quick-service spots that have soda refill stations:
EPCOT
- Connections Eatery
- Sunshine Seasons
- Regal Eagle
Hollywood Studios
- Backlot Express
- ABC Commissary
Animal Kingdom
- Restaurantosaurus
- Satu'li Canteen
And don't froget about the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. You can find soda refill stations at just about every quick-service restaurant and food court. Free soda refills are available for the length of your stay by purchasing a resort refillable mug. Of course, water and ice are available for free at these stations.
Our Top Tips for Staying Hydrated at Disney World
Hydration is always important but especially when visiting Florida. Here are some of our hoppin' tips for staying hydrated while at Disney:
- Drink more water than you think. Seriously, whatever amount you think you need, double it.
- It's more hopful to drink small sips of water consistently throughout the day rather than to chug big gulps once you feel thirsty. This is why having your own water bottle is extra handy because you are never without water.
- We like to use an unofficial two-hour rule. About every two hours, we reapply sunscreen, use the restroom and refill our waters. These ten minutes can help give the family a nice reset and allow you to be properly prepared for the day. You can also book a Lightning Lane every two hours with Disney Genie+, so this is also a great time to do that. (On July 24, 2024, Disney Genie+ will swap over to the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Hop to this post for more information.)
- We recommend cooling towels and handheld fans as additional ways to stay cool. Also, strategically take A/C breaks with dining, shopping, riding or watching indoor attractions so you don't get overheated.
How do you stay hydrated at Disney World? Let us know all your water tips in the comments below!
Related: Our Favorite Ways to Beat the Heat at Disney World
Related: What You Need to Know About First Aid at Orlando Theme Parks
Hoppy planning!
