DTD - where for just bar drinks and snacks?

[Sorrel]

My first "proper" post!

We are going on January 14th, and haven't booked the DP. We have made a small amount of ADRs (we only booked a few weeks ago) but intend to just muddle through. Staying in POR means we can get the boat to DTD, and on nights we aren't in the parks we want to go down there and, rather than have a full-blown meal, split a bottle of wine or have a couple of cocktails, and have some appetizers/bar snacks. Which places can you go and do this with? And are there any that allow you to do this outdoors? I know it won't exactly be totally tropical that time of year but being Brits we will take any weather over freezing and enjoy the air!!

If there are any cool bar-type places you would recommend elsewhere on Disney property that are close-ish to the parks (so we could go at the end of the day but still get back to POR pretty easily) I'd be interested too.

Thanks guys!

 

[BunsenH]

House of Blues - We have eaten at the bar and enjoyed it.

Raglan Road - another option for eat at the bar, but possibly not tempting to someone used to real British pubs. They have Irish music also.

We will be at WDW from the 12th - 16th. See you at the bar!

 

[DisTeach1]

I think most of the "adults" on this board won't agree with this, but I love to sit at the Rainforest Cafe Bar. I don't know why, it just says "vacation" to me. I imagine I would feel the same way at TRex. Maybe because we don't have anything remotely like it at home, but I've always loved the atmosphere.

But I know most people on this board do not like Rainforest Cafe.

 

[TDC Nala]

I like the RFC bar also - and I wouldn't eat at a table there at all if I can help it. T-Rex has a bar, haven't tried it yet. With the exception of one dinner at Wolfgang Puck Cafe I haven't eaten dinner at DTD since the PI clubs closed.

Raglan Road and House of Blues would work also, as might Paradiso 37. Portobello has a bar also. I think Fulton's might but am not sure.

You will also have a bar with live entertainment right there at POR.

 

[tlenzendorf]

If you get the coupons that you'll get with your travel documents you may get a $15 certificate for Planet Hollywood. I've heard not great things about PH, but we are also planning on eating at the bar and getting appetizers and cocktails our first night since our DP doesn't start til our second night. Shouldn't be that hard of stuff to make to mess it up/not taste good.

 

[Hopefully]

Paradiso 37 in PI looks interesting. I know they have a bar and I know they have outside tables. If you Google it you will find some reviews
Have a Great Trip

 

[BunsenH]

Check out this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2007168

 

[Sorrel]

Thanks so much everyone!!! And BunsenH, thanks for tracking that thread down!! 9 times out of ten we will be trying to eat that way....we really don't like having to decide where we want to eat ages in advance. Maybe we'll bump into you!

We get to POR at around 6pm our first day after sarting our journey 16 hours before, so unless we get a sudden burst of Disney energy we intend to go to the POR bar our first night for appetizers and a tipple before sleeping!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Let me second Paridiso 37. Bar area is quite nice and they have a good selection of drinks and appetizers.

 

[Maggi May]

I don't know if this is your first stay at POR, but you will love it! Beautiful, quiet grounds and that boat to DTD is a great, relaxing way to just take your time and chill. Raglan Road has a small outside bar area that's sometimes open good weather. As a a prior poster mentioned, you might not find RR to be that unusual or special, but it does have great food, including appetizers that you can split. Check out their menu on the DIS or allearsnet.com

All the way across DTD from the POR boat landing is Bongos Cuban restaurant. IMHO it's not the most authentic Cuban food, but I think they have a tropical style bar.

Don't forget the POR pool has a bar, too.

 

[Sorrel]

I don't know if this is your first stay at POR, but you will love it! Beautiful, quiet grounds and that boat to DTD is a great, relaxing way to just take your time and chill. Raglan Road has a small outside bar area that's sometimes open good weather. As a a prior poster mentioned, you might not find RR to be that unusual or special, but it does have great food, including appetizers that you can split. Check out their menu on the DIS or allearsnet.com

All the way across DTD from the POR boat landing is Bongos Cuban restaurant. IMHO it's not the most authentic Cuban food, but I think they have a tropical style bar.

Don't forget the POR pool has a bar, too.

Yes, it is my first stay at POR, and the quiet grounds are one of the things we are looking forward to, as well as the boat trip. We'll have a car but will often want a glass of wine or two with our meals and so having something other than the bus to get somewhere will be fab!! When I have been to DTD before it was always either to wander around or to sit down and eat a full meal...I haven't been for a few years, since before the DP came in, so having to plan so many meals is alien to us!!! I remember enjoying HOB, Pucks etc, but have never known if you could just drink there. It sounds like we will be spoilt for choice, and maybe we can even get the odd walk up there if we feel like it, you never know!

I have read great things of RR, but will probably avoid it the same way I do the Rose and Crown! Paradiso seems to be being recommended by quite a few folks so we will definitely try that, and of course that will be a brand new place for us to try

 

[oybolshoi]

Definitely House of Blues and Raglan Road, although as someone else already pointed out, you may not be as fond of Raglan as many of us Americans since you have real pubs where you live. But for what it's worth we've always had great appetizers and drinks at Raglan Road - it's a fun place, especially in the evening when the Irish band plays.

Wolfgang Puck Cafe on the West Side also has a sushi bar, if you're a fan of sushi. We've eaten there before and it's great - a lot of fun and very informal and the sushi chefs will sometimes give you freebies.

We tried Paradiso "late" one night in October (late being 10:30 ... they closed at 11PM ). Their frozen margaritas were pretty good but the service was lackluster and the place was dead. I'm not sure I was impressed enough to go back but it has received some pretty good reviews from folks around here.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In April 2003 my dad was staying at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa for a trade show and it happens to be located right across the street from Downtown Disney, so one day he decided to eat at the Rainforest Cafe Bar and was able to order off the full menu.

 

[Missytara]

I think most of the "adults" on this board won't agree with this, but I love to sit at the Rainforest Cafe Bar. I don't know why, it just says "vacation" to me. I imagine I would feel the same way at TRex. Maybe because we don't have anything remotely like it at home, but I've always loved the atmosphere.

But I know most people on this board do not like Rainforest Cafe.

Ditto, I love sitting at the bar at RFC at DTD. I have met so many neat people there and they play a lot of the sports stuff; like college football games, that I love so much. I once sat there for about four hours in the afternoon and loved it!