Disney World is the most magical place on Earth for kids and adults alike! Something that is fun for the grown-ups to do is to visit The World’s most delicious bars. Today’s post is going to focus on the top 3 Disney World bar crawls! You don’t have to indulge in an alcoholic beverage, you can also complete these “crawls” by simply enjoying a snack or mocktail at each location! Just remember, if you do enjoy the boozy libations, to drink responsibly 😉
The Monorail Bar Crawl
The best place to start is by using the iconic Disney World monorail resort loop! This one is a great bar crawl because you get to ride the monorail between locations and you don’t need a park ticket to do it! I’d say this is a win-win-win situation. There are a few bars/lounges at each stop along the way, so it is your call on how many you wish to visit!
Stop 1- The Contemporary Resort
I’d say the most popular location at the Contemporary is the California Grill! No need to worry about getting a coveted Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) because you can pull up a chair at the California Grill Lounge! The food, beverages, and views just can’t be beat. Located on the main concourse is Outer Rim. Sit back, relax and watch the monorails zoom by as you enjoy your treat! Finally, there is the Wave Lounge that is a “chic oasis retreat”!
Stop 2- Polynesian Village Resort
There are 2 outstanding locations to enjoy a drink or treat at the Polynesian Village Resort. The first is the recently redesigned Tambu Lounge. Their most popular drink by far is the Lapu Lapu- it’s served in a pineapple! The second is Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and is arguably one of the best themed lounges in all of Disney World. They have some really creative menu items. If you order a specialty cocktail, be sure to pay attention because something magical may happen!
Stop 3- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The reason I’m recommending to end at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is because a brand new signature lounge experience is coming Fall 2019! This new location (formerly Mizner’s Lounge) will be inspired by Beauty and the Beast and will be a must visit during any vacation! You can also stop by Citricos Lounge as well! They feature international wines and artisanal beers.
This crawl has become so popular that Disney now offers an official tour, Highway in the Sky Dine Around! This is a progressive dinner with your own group’s tour guide. If you want to pay $170 per adult, go for it! But you can always just do your own self-guided version 🙂
The Crescent Lake Crawl
Crescent Lake is the body of water that runs between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Surrounding the lake are Yacht Club Resort, Beach Club Resort, Swan and Dolphin Resort, the BoardWalk, and the BoardWalk Inn. This is my favorite resort area on all of Disney World property! The restaurants are numerous and ambience is amazing. There are so many great places to stop along this crawl, so feel free to pick and choose (or do them all!) 🙂 Whatever you decide this is bound to be one of your favorite Disney World bar crawls.
Stop 1- Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
The Yacht & Beach Club Resorts are so close together that they are often grouped into one. They are perhaps best known for the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This Shop does offer alcoholic drinks (among typical old-fashioned soda shop fare), but it is highly recommended that you have an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR). Thus, instead, I’m going to recommend you visit the three lounges: Ale & Compass Lounge, Crew’s Cup Lounge, or Martha’s Vineyard. All have small bites and delicious drinks!
Stop 2- Dolphin Resort
The next stop along the Crescent Lake Bar Crawl is the Dolphin Resort. One of the chicest lounges on this list is Todd English’s Bluezoo Lounge. It is really something to see, so be sure to make this a stop when visiting the Dolphin Resort. Another popular haunt along the way is Phins, located in the main lobby of the Dolphin (get it, fins?! Ok moving on…). There are so many great drinks to choose from, but you have to give the Smoke N’ Roses a try! It is served table side inside a smoking box! Ahhh so good!! Finally, there is Shula’s Lounge right next to Shula’s Steakhouse. This place offers comfy leather chairs and sports to relax and enjoy your drink.
Stop 3- Swan Resort
Right across from the Dolphin is its sister, the Swan Resort. The Swan is the smaller of these resorts and, thus, only has 2 lounges. The more interesting is Kimonos Lounge. By this point of the crawl, you may be feeling a bit more adventurous and Kimonos features nightly karaoke! The other location is Il Mulino Lounge. This location has classic Italian cocktails and wines.
Stop 4- BoardWalk Inn
The Inn itself is home to 1 lounge, the Belle Vue Lounge (the other locations I’m considering as part of the BoardWalk itself). This is just off of the main lobby and is themed after a quaint 1930s style sitting room. You can enjoy your treat in one of the comfortable chairs or take it outside onto the verandah to enjoy a beautiful sunset. Once you’ve taken a bit of a rest, head outside to the last, but biggest stop of the entire crawl!
Stop 5- The BoardWalk
The BoardWalk wraps around a good portion of Crescent Lake and is known for its late night entertainment. One of your must-dos is the newest bar, AbracadaBar. This location is truly unique as it takes its inspiration from Golden Age of Magic! If you enjoy a craft beer, be sure to check out Big River Grille and Brewing Works. Try multiple beers in a delicious sampler! The stop for all things sports is at the ESPN club. This is paradise for any sport fan. You won’t have to worry about missing any part of the game as even the restrooms have TVs! If you’d prefer to grab a drink on the go, be sure to try something at BoardWalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas stand.
If you plan on staying out into the wee hours of the night, be sure to stop at Jellyrolls dueling pianos bar and the Atlantic Dance Hall to dance the night away!
Drinking Around the World Showcase
This is, by far, the most popular of the Disney World bar crawls! The name of the game is to enjoy a drink or treat at each of the countries in Epcot’s World Showcase. There are 11 different pavilions, so bring your “A” game! Completing this crawl will be a challenge as you need to consume 11 drinks or snacks in the 10 or so hours World Showcase is open! My best advice is to pace yourself (roughly 1 drink or snack every hour) and save Mexico for the very end. The drinks here are very strong and are best saved for last! Thus, here is the order I recommend:
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- France
- Morocco
- Japan
- The American Adventure
- Italy
- Germany
- Outpost
- China
- Norway
- Mexico
There are so many locations to stop and enjoy a drink or snack that I just can’t list them all (especially if Epcot is hosting one of their famous Festivals!). I do have a few locations that are my must-dos including: Japan’s Sake Tasting bar (located in the very back of Mitsukoshi Department Store), the Joy of Tea quick service booth in China, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Italy, and La Cava del Tequila in Mexico. I’ve seen people wearing personalized t-shirts and carrying check-lists for this every popular crawl!
I hope you enjoy these top 3 Disney World bar crawls! If you’re interested in more grown-up ideas for your Disney World vacation, be sure to check out Parts 1 and 2 of our best date night ideas at Epcot!
Good luck and cheers!!