When Walt Disney World’s Pleasure Island closed back in 2008, it marked the end of an era (or ear-a?). Disney decided to shut down it’s adult-only play land and opted to incorporate the area into the more kid-friendly, family-oriented Disney Springs (oh, Hyperion Wharf, we barely knew ye). Long gone are the nights of drinking, dancing, and endless New Year’s Eve countdowns, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get a nice adult beverage or two at places all over Disney property! Disney doesn’t really shout it from the rooftops (except for maybe during The International Food & Wine Festival), but Disney has some excellent alcoholic drink options if that’s what you’re interested in! Here are the Best Adult Beverages in Walt Disney World.
Frozen Red Stag Lemonade – Fife & Drum Tavern in Epcot – When strolling through Epcot’s World Showcase, one tends to get a little bit thirsty. It’s Florida, it’s usually hot, and if you’re like me you have a kid or three pulling you around, trying to get to the next country’s character meet & greet (check out my post about the Great Snow White Debacle of 2015 if you haven’t read it!) When you’re halfway through and hit the American Adventure Pavilion, there’s a little stand next to the main promenade called the Fife & Drum Tavern. They have several fine adult beverages at this establishment, but by far my favorite is their Frozen Red Stag Lemonade, made with Jim Beam Red Stag bourbon. It’s like an adult Slurpee so you really can’t go wrong! It’s a perfect drink to cool you down both physically and mentally!
Nautilus – Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Resort – If you’ve read my blog at all before (or follow along on my Trivia Contests), you already know I have a soft spot in my heart (or in my stomach) for Trader Sam’s at the Poly. The ambiance and bar itself are incredible, the bartenders are basically performers, the food is outstanding, the beer selection is awesome, and the specialty cocktails are some of the best ANYWHERE in Central Florida. If you’re a big-time Disney nerd like me, though, you need to try the Nautilus on your next trip to the speakeasy-like Trader Sam’s. Here’s the official Menu description for the Nautilus: “Barbancourt Pango Rhum, Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Combier Crème de Pêche de Vigne Liqueur, Tropical Juices,
and Falernum. Served in a souvenir Nautilus.” Honestly, I don’t think I know what any of those things are. But when they are all put together they equal a fantastic drink that usually requires two people to handle! When you order one, sit back and enjoy the incredibly elaborate production that comes with it, which is easily the best drink-ordering performance anywhere on Disney property! Plus, if you pay a little extra, you get to take that awesome Nautilus glass home with you!
Chimay Blue – Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom – Okay, you’re probably asking yourself why on Earth I would include a beer in this list, since you can pretty much get beer almost anywhere in Walt Disney World. The thing is, there’s only one spot to get a beer in the Magic Kingdom, and that’s at Be Our Guest (and only at dinner, by the way). Over WDW Marathon Weekend 2016, my wife, three kids, and I had the opportunity to go to our first dinner at Be Our Guest and the experience was amazing! The overall look and feel of the restaurant is so well-done that you forget you’re in the Magic Kingdom. The Beast walks around and my kids had the chance to take a picture with him after dinner, which was awesome, and our food was some of the best (if not THE best, try the steak!) we had ever had in a theme park. That’s all well and good, right, but you came here for an adult beverage article – on to the beer! The Chimay Blue was more like a spiritual experience than a beer. As our server said, “those Trappist monks sure know what they’re doing!” The beer is STRONG, so I only had one, but it was an amazing companion to an incredible dinner and experience. You’ve gotta try one if you have the opportunity to have dinner at Be Our Guest on your next trip!
Afterburner – Backlot Express in Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The Backlot Express has undergone a lot of menu changes in the last couple of months. The food and drink selections now have a fun Star Wars theme (a sign of things to come on that side of the park) including food like The Dark Side Chicken & Waffles and the Corellian Space Fries (two words: AWE SOME!) The drinks now have names like Blue Harvest, Padawan Lemonade, and the Dark Side Red. Fortunately for me, though, one of my favorite drinks survived the menu makeover and is still offered at Backlot Express, the Afterburner. While this isn’t an original Disney drink by any means (it’s called something different in non family-friendly establishments!), the combination of Angry Orchard Hard Cider with a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey dropped in is just what the doctor ordered on a hot day walking around Hollywood Studios. Next time you’re there, go for the Corellian Space Fries, stay for the Afterburner!
Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum – Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (Yes, Again!) – Alright, alright, I really love Trader Sam’s! I fell in love with the place last year when I went to Disneyland and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and was SO excited when Walt Disney World opened it’s version over at the Polynesian. I’ve already talked about the atmosphere, the cast members, the food, and all of that, so let’s get down to business (to defeat the Huns?) and talk about my favorite drink on Walt Disney World property to order, the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum! First of all, it’s delicious! There’s rum, cream of coconut, pineapple & orange juice, nutmeg; it’s like a beach in a glass! The best part about it though is actually ordering it. See, the bartenders (who are all “former Jungle Cruise Skippers”) simply won’t serve it to you unless you order it while singing the “Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” song from the famous Disneyland and Walt Disney World attraction! I love sitting and watching people order it who haven’t tried before since they almost NEVER get it right on the first try. The Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum needs to be an absolute can’t miss on your next WDW trip!
So I know now there are so many people reading this shaking their heads and muttering to themselves about how the heck I missed their favorite adult beverages in Walt Disney World! Are you one of them? What did I miss this time? Please let me know in a comment here on this blog, on Facebook over HERE, on Twitter over HERE or you can always email me your thoughts at phil@eartotheretravel.com. As always, please feel free to share this post on your favorite social media sites by clicking the buttons at the bottom and top of every post! Thank you so much for reading, and stay thirsty, my friends! Enjoy the rest of your stay here at Ear To There Travel!
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