Good cocktails on property?

[djironic]

I do enjoy a good cocktail or two while on vacation and am hoping there might be some good unique options at the parks that I could try. I'm already planning on trying to get to Trader Sam's on a non-park day to try what I've heard are some really great tiki drinks (big tiki/tiki drink fan) but would like to find something in the parks also.

As a margarita aficionado (I live in the west/southwest were margaritas are often taken very seriously) I've heard that La Cava del Tequila has very interesting takes on the classic drink (will definitely want to sample one). But otherwise I've heard that a lot of the drinks are very sweet/syrupy, not very alcohol-forward, and, of course, pricey. Looking at the various menus I can see how that would be (what's up with their obsession with blue curacao? blech!) Don't mind spending for a quality cocktail but sounds like a lot of them are just not worth the price.

Will try the Fuzzy Taunton when we are at Oga's just to see what the buzz foam is all about (though it looks to be a basic Fuzzy Navel, a drink I would always pass up otherwise as they are way too sweet).

Our other reservations are for Sci-Fi Dine In, Skipper's Canteen, and Rose and Crown (though I'm sure there I'll just want to grab a pint) so any recommendations for those places would be appreciated (everyone seems to like the 'adult milkshake' at Sci-Fi Dine In but again, probably too sweet for me).

Can anyone also offer any recommendations for lounge drinks/counter service drinks at any of the parks? Prost!

 

[soniam]

The avocado margarita at La Cava isn't quite as sweet, but it is frozen. I like the dragones top shelf. I prefer less sweet drinks too. Choza is similar and outside the pyramid. Cucumber and top shelf clasica are good. Depending upon if a festival is occurring, the Mexico booth has good margaritas.

Nomad Lounge/Tiffins at AK are good. Delang's Delight, Night Monkey, Leaping Lizard, Boto-Rita, Snow Leopard Salvation, Annapurna Zing, Tempting Tigress, Hightower Rocks, and Jenn's Tattoo are good. Well, ok, that's most of the drink list.

We also like Dawa bar at AK. I lost the Lost on Safari and Afrikan Margarita.

Edison, Homecoming, and Jock Lindsey's are good at Disney Springs. Homecoming sometimes has an outside togo bar.

Sci-Fi is pretty sweet.

Skipper Canteen only has sangria. It's pretty good and not terribly sweet. Sweeter than what I make at home, but my sangria at home has a ton of brandy in it.

Hollywood Brown Derby is good. I really like the grapefruit cake martini, but it's pretty much dessert. They have an outdoor lounge that I think does togo too. The old fashioned, manhattan, Florida collins, paloma, and mule are good.

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Rose and Crown has very good bartenders, I also like Abracadabar on the Boardwalk.. great drinks and good bartenders as well.

 

[djironic]

Nomad Lounge/Tiffins at AK are good. Delang's Delight, Night Monkey, Leaping Lizard, Boto-Rita, Snow Leopard Salvation, Annapurna Zing, Tempting Tigress, Hightower Rocks, and Jenn's Tattoo are good. Well, ok, that's most of the drink list.

We also like Dawa bar at AK. I lost the Lost on Safari and Afrikan Margarita.

We’ll probably have a little extra time at AK the day we are there so I’ll make it a point to sample a cocktail or two.

Edison, Homecoming, and Jock Lindsey's are good at Disney Springs. Homecoming sometimes has an outside togo bar.

Am hoping to hit Jock Lindsey’s on our one non-park day so that’s good to know!

Skipper Canteen only has sangria. It's pretty good and not terribly sweet. Sweeter than what I make at home, but my sangria at home has a ton of brandy in it.

I do like sangria if it isn’t syrupy sweet so that’s good to know. I’m sure my wife will want one of those.

Hollywood Brown Derby is good. I really like the grapefruit cake martini, but it's pretty much dessert.

That was on my list to try for sure, even if it is a sweet drink. Just sounds too darned interesting to pass up!

 

[loves to dive]

You can get a margarita flight at HBD lounge and other mixed drinks/cocktails. As others have said Nomad Lounge has loads of mixed drinks that are not sweet. You can sit at the bar inside and tell your bartender the kind of drink you like and chances are they are going to be able to make it. It's a full bar. I'm not sure if LaCava has gone back to actually mixing the drinks like they did in the before times, last time I was there they were using pre-mixed ones. In the before times, the bar at 50s prime time was a full bar and you could get some decent drinks, last time I was there you could only get drinks to go and I think they may have only had the pre-mixed ones but that was in December before things opened up a little more. There are a couple of lounges at AKL that have full bars you can discuss with the bartender what you like. Don't know if it's reopened yet, but there is a tiny little bar tucked away upstairs at BWI that has a real bartender that again, you can get pretty much what you want. Abacadabar on BW is also a full bar where you can order what you want and they have some fun specialties. I've found any of the places that have actual bars that you can sit at, if you chat with the bartender you can get some good stuff. I like to just tell them to surprise me and tell them nothing sweet and what color liquor I want, I've gotten some interesting things that way. Most of the deluxe resorts (maybe all of them) have a lounge/bar area.

 

[loves to dive]

If your wife likes Sangria, there is a Sangria flight at Three Bridges at CS, I'm not sure if they are sweet or not. Spice Road Tables at Epcot has a decent Sangria as well.

As you might can tell, we like our refreshing adult beverages.

 

[djironic]

As you might can tell, we like our refreshing adult beverages.

I do as well.

But honestly, I don’t like spending $16 on a drink unless I’m getting something special. I don’t mind paying for a drink that is well-crafted and unique but I am not enough of an imbiber to want to swill some syrupy concoction where I can’t taste the alcohol. I’d rather skip the cocktails altogether.

A lot of drinks I’ve looked at seem to be just very expensive versions of ubiquitous (and unappealing) ‘frou-frou’ drinks thrown together for partying tourists.

(Again, what’s with the blue curaçao they seem to be putting in everything? I make it a point to avoid most drinks with that ingredient as they are almost always too sweet and syrupy!)

 

[a1tinkfans]

So many “ fluff” drinks with fancy frills and nothing special… except the price Disney tag!!
Some great exceptions mentioned … enjoy!

 

[holden]

Nomad Lounge has great drinks.

I'd skip Oga's. Drinks are not good.

 

[tinydancer312]

Nomad definitely. It’s a great break from the parks and the drinks are good.

Enchanted Rose at the GF was a surprise for us last trip. The drinks were exceptional, and since they weren’t crowded, our waiter was attentive and friendly. He discussed the drinks and the methods with my husband (who is a certified alcohol nerd).

Another surprise was Bluezoo Lounge at the Dolphin. Def not a Disney vibe- more convention crowd- but the drinks were good and the bar menu had some good snacks.

 

[SteveH]

I love me some Trader Sam's... and I've been happy to see them step it up in using better quality rums. I find asking the Skippers to go off menu and share their own creations can be a wonderful experience.

Don't go into Og's with high expectations but the Fuzzy Tauntaun is worth a try, but its very sweet and beyond the foam its a sub-par drink IMHO.

So much depends on who's behind the bar, but I will say the Signature restaurants at Swan Dolphin has some amazing cocktails, the recommendation on the Bluezoo is spot on!

 

[snappy]

The Bellevue at the Boardwalk was open again as of December 2021. It is upstairs and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The bartenders seem to be have been at this location for a long time and do a great job with service, even at the outdoor tables where you can look out at the boardwalk and crescent lake. Inside is cozy. Good place to relax.

 

[loves to dive]

I do as well.

But honestly, I don’t like spending $16 on a drink unless I’m getting something special. I don’t mind paying for a drink that is well-crafted and unique but I am not enough of an imbiber to want to swill some syrupy concoction where I can’t taste the alcohol. I’d rather skip the cocktails altogether.

A lot of drinks I’ve looked at seem to be just very expensive versions of ubiquitous (and unappealing) ‘frou-frou’ drinks thrown together for partying tourists.

(Again, what’s with the blue curaçao they seem to be putting in everything? I make it a point to avoid most drinks with that ingredient as they are almost always too sweet and syrupy!)

Yep, if you aren't careful you can get the pre-mixed stuff. That is why we tend to go to the places with an actual bar, most of the bar tenders are pretty good about listening to you.

The Bellevue at the Boardwalk was open again as of December 2021. It is upstairs and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The bartenders seem to be have been at this location for a long time and do a great job with service, even at the outdoor tables where you can look out at the boardwalk and crescent lake. Inside is cozy. Good place to relax.

This is the one I couldn't remember the name of. We have always liked this bar.

 

[Unclelude]

Nomad Lounge has great drinks.

I'd skip Oga's. Drinks are not good.

I agree about Oga... Not great. For us one and done... No regrets, kinda fun to experience the place. The bourbon drink was ok, and the tingling one is novel.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The Goombay Smash at Caribbean Beach is excellent. Tropical and fruity, but appropriately so given the theme and setting, and mine have always been made quite strong.

 

[djironic]

Nomad Lounge has great drinks.

I'd skip Oga's. Drinks are not good.

We really want to see Oga’s for the experience rather than for the drinks (except my son who is very excited to get blue milk, lol) but I figured I’d get a drink just to be festive.

The Fuzzy Taunton isn’t my kind of drink but it does seem unique (due to the foam) so that’s what I’ll go with while we’re there. I am always about the unique, lol.

 

[djironic]

I love me some Trader Sam's... and I've been happy to see them step it up in using better quality rums. I find asking the Skippers to go off menu and share their own creations can be a wonderful experience.

We have one non-park day and Trader Sam’s is on the top of the list for that day (I’m a huge fan of all things tiki), as well as Jock Lindsey’s.

Other than those two spots we’ll have to do our drinking (or not, with the known exception of Oga’s) in the parks.

 

[holden]

We really want to see Oga’s for the experience rather than for the drinks (except my son who is very excited to get blue milk, lol) but I figured I’d get a drink just to be festive.

The Fuzzy Taunton isn’t my kind of drink but it does seem unique (due to the foam) so that’s what I’ll go with while we’re there. I am always about the unique, lol.

I understand. We thought it was cool to see too. It was a one and done for us. Very crowded and chaotic. Glad we saw it though.

 

[Sweettears]

I will second or third visiting the Dawa Bar at AK.

In general I have found that most cocktails at Disney have a decent pour. I won’t go as far as saying that they are a great deal. But assuming Disney pricing I rarely feel cheated.

 

[TwingleMum]

Wine Bar George has some good cocktails in Disney Springs. And I second Hollywood Brown Derby lounge. I waiver between the Margarita flight and the Martini flight. Depends on my mood . I love margaritas and I like going to La Cava in Epcot. You have a wide choice depending on your preferences that day - you can choose a mezcal forward drink or a traditional tequila. I have several favorites in the rotation - The Black Magic Margarita developed by Neil Patrick Harris with a mixture of Mezcal, blackberry puree, Cassis liqueur, lime and mint; served frozen. El DiabloTromba = mezcal and blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, agave, cucumber-jalapeño juice, hibiscus salt rim or the Blood Orange Margarita - Ambhar blanco tequila, orange liqueur, sweet-tart mix of blood orange, hint of rum and vanilla, Tajín chile-lime powder rim . Bonus if there is a festival at Epcot you can sample lots of drinks.