Good cocktails on property?

[Sweettears]

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.

Asa backup, a few bottles in the luggage come in very handy. But I’ve never been disappointed.

Had a few decent libations at the POFQ pool bar a few weeks ago.

 

[RivShore]

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!

It doesn't help you for this trip but I loved this Food & Wine margarita in Mexico, I've had some fun trying to recreate it's spicy goodness - La Clásica Reyes Margarita: Centinela Blanco Tequila, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, Lime Juice, and Agave Nectar served on the rocks with a Chile Piquín Salt Rim

And if your looking for more tips, check out the FB group - Disney Day Drinkers Club - I do not partake often and almost never during the day but this is one fun and informative group!

 

[Moliphino]

If you like 'em strong, hit up Tambu Lounge before or after Trader Sam's. The Lapu Lapu is delicious and packs a pretty good punch.

My favorites are:
Trader Sam's
Nomad Lounge
Jock Lindsey's
Enchanted Rose - expensive, but they are quality cocktails
Abracadabar

Honestly, the Cava and Brown Derby Lounge are not as good as they used to be. They've moved to pre-mixed drinks (Cava, also over-use of Ancho Reyes) and dumbed down recipes (BDL - sweet and sour and Sprite are my major turnoffs in cocktails).

 

[djironic]

So I got to check out Trader Sam’s and Jock Lindsey’s today.

Of course, loved Trader Sam’s. Service and atmosphere was top-notch. Our skipper even referenced the Trader Vic Mai Tai when we were talking about the drinks so I knew she was legit.

That said, the two drinks we tried (Zombie and Hippopotamaitai) weren’t super impressive. They weren’t bad, mind you, and the Zombie was the better of the two but I guess I was expecting more from such a dedicated place. Loved Trader Sam’s and will go back if another opportunity presents itself but I didn’t walk away craving more.

I will say that the drinks were certainly potent - you get your money’s worth of alcohol. So much so that I bought the zombie mug and two souvenir glasses, lol.

(Honestly, $13 for the zombie mug seemed like a really good deal - that’s a quality tiki cup)

Loved Jock Lindsey’s also. Again, great service and atmosphere. And the drinks were very good. Kinda pricey for what you get (not as strong a pour as Trader Sam’s, for example) but we tried three drinks (The Scottish Professor, Cool Headed Monkey and a bourbon drink that wasn’t on the menu) and really enjoyed them. Really hoping I can get back there again to try a few more before the end of our time here. I may slip out one night after the rest of the family is in bed.

 

[Eastern]

We like Tambu lounge, plus you can get some food items after 4pm.

 

[Kae]

Bar Riva at the Riveria is our new Favorite, We also like Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace-the outside one. Wine Bar George & the Boathouse

 

[soniam]

So I got to check out Trader Sam’s and Jock Lindsey’s today.

Of course, loved Trader Sam’s. Service and atmosphere was top-notch. Our skipper even referenced the Trader Vic Mai Tai when we were talking about the drinks so I knew she was legit.

That said, the two drinks we tried (Zombie and Hippopotamaitai) weren’t super impressive. They weren’t bad, mind you, and the Zombie was the better of the two but I guess I was expecting more from such a dedicated place. Loved Trader Sam’s and will go back if another opportunity presents itself but I didn’t walk away craving more.

I will say that the drinks were certainly potent - you get your money’s worth of alcohol. So much so that I bought the zombie mug and two souvenir glasses, lol.

(Honestly, $13 for the zombie mug seemed like a really good deal - that’s a quality tiki cup)

Loved Jock Lindsey’s also. Again, great service and atmosphere. And the drinks were very good. Kinda pricey for what you get (not as strong a pour as Trader Sam’s, for example) but we tried three drinks (The Scottish Professor, Cool Headed Monkey and a bourbon drink that wasn’t on the menu) and really enjoyed them. Really hoping I can get back there again to try a few more before the end of our time here. I may slip out one night after the rest of the family is in bed.

That's how they get ya. We bought so many mugs one trip to Trader Sam's at Disneyland, that we ended up having to ship them home. Thank goodness we weren't driving anywhere, because walking back to our room the Disneyland Hotel was kind of a chore.

 

[LosAngelesRunner]

I second a lot of recommendations here with the avocado marg in EPCOT!

 

[Lori Duck]

This is a cool, informative thread! Thank you all for giving me great ideas for June trip! DS doesn't drink, but is happy to sit and relax with a soft drink while Mama imbibes. Any ideas for cocktails at CR?

 

[djironic]

Quick follow up on our drinking adventures last week (or relative lack thereof)...

Didn't get a chance to slip into Nomad Lounge (or anywhere else) at AK so that'll have to happen on a future trip.

Went to Oga's while at DHS and got a Fuzzy Tauntaun for us parents to split and my son got to fulfill his dream of ordering 'that blue milk drink' (Blue Bantha).

The Fuzzy Tauntaun was for sure interesting with the 'buzz foam'. I'm not sure I would call it a refreshing experience - the foam has a strongly astringent/bitter taste that is just kinda hard to get around. It did anesthetize our mouths quite thoroughly though. I joked that they did that so we couldn't really taste what we were actually drinking and therefore couldn't tell how strong or tasty it was, lol. From what I could tell it was a decent drink. Not particularly strong (certainly not like the tiki drinks at Trader Sam's) but tasted pretty good for a 'fuzzy navel' variant.

My son was not a fan of blue milk, turns out. Tasted to me like a blue raspberry flavored Nestle Quik sort of thing. I thought it was just fine for what it was. Nothing bad but nothing to write home about.

Which was pretty much my feeling about Oga's in general. Certainly a fun little spot but nothing about it warrants a second visit, IMO. Especially not for the price and having to get a reservation. Somehow I was expecting more from Disney on that one. I get that the drinks are fun (lots of dry ice and colored liquids and boba balls and other fun gimmicks) but I left wondering 'is that really all there is to it?'

Didn't get to try the margaritas or much else at EPCOT. The lines were crazy long all over World Showcase and, after having waited in line for all the rides and what not, I just didn't feel like waiting 30-45 minutes to get a drink. The lines at the booths in Future World were much shorter so I grabbed a Hibiscus Lemonade cocktail at the Farmers Feast (along with a goat cheese creamsicle pop - so good!) and it was definitely refreshing and commendable. Later, needing one more drink before the end of the day I grabbed a beer from the Canada pavilion since there was no line there, lol.

At Magic Kingdom we ate at the Skipper Canteen. My wife and I each got a sangria (one red, one white). She enjoyed the red sangria and I thought the white (tropical) sangria was surprisingly good and refreshing. Also had a draft of their spiced ale and thought it was excellent. I would definitely try to find some outside the parks if I could but, unfortunately, it's a WDW exclusive brew, apparently.

Bummed I couldn't try more drinks (or even food) at EPCOT but I guess that is one of the things you have to sacrifice if you are going to go during spring break season. Everything looked so good so hopefully next time!

 

[Boopuff]

There's a great FB group dedicated to all things Disney Drinks!

 

[djironic]

Oh yeah - we both had the sangria at the Sci-Fi Drive-in as well. They were just fine and refreshing but unremarkable enough that I forgot we even had them! lol

 

[rosie5189]

Late to this thread, but want to chime in on some frequented spots of mine/my family. We've visited many of these at various points of the years, and they've always been great:

• Nomad Lounge (one of the best lounge/drink experiences on property)
• Trader Sam's (well worth the wait and the experience is fabulous)
• AbracadaBAR at the Boardwalk
• La Cava - their margs are awesome but so are their other cocktails
• If you like sake, there is a sake bar inside of the Japan store in the pavilion. The cast members in there in the past were so helpful and informative.
• If you like wine, inside of the Italy pavilion there is a small cafe type thing underground. Wonderful wine selection and you can do flights. It's a hidden gem, honestly.
• Baseline taphouse for beers at Hollywood Studios
• The Derby Lounge outside of the restaurant at HS - they do a super fun martini flight.
• Do a monorail bar crawl - we really miss Mizner's in the Grand Floridian, but it's really fun to get a nice drink from the new beauty and the beast themed bar (it was the same bartenders, at least Nov 2019 pre covid) so the drinks were still great. Super fun to sit and people watch in the area just outside of the bar. They also used to let you go up to the Cali Grille bar and grab a cocktail if it wasn't crowded, and you didn't need a reservation.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

La Cava's are good, but don't expect hand crafted. that place is so popular they have to do premade.

For classic cocktails maybe the Brown Derby bar or the Edison, or Enchanted Rose at the GF.

Cocina Frontera at DS has a bar that is run by the same group as La Cava and they actually have time to hand craft stuff.

 

[PittPantherfan]

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.

Sweettears - does Dawa still have the bloody marys? I had a great one there one morning on our last trip in 2015. Dad and the kids went one way - I got lost (LOL) and went to get one . I seem to remember they had numerous bloody mary choices back then.

 

[Sweettears]

Sweettears - does Dawa still have the bloody marys? I had a great one there one morning on our last trip in 2015. Dad and the kids went one way - I got lost (LOL) and went to get one . I seem to remember they had numerous bloody mary choices back then.

You bet. Had one last month. Great start to my AK visit

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Now Im thirsty.........

 

[soniam]

Late to this thread, but want to chime in on some frequented spots of mine/my family. We've visited many of these at various points of the years, and they've always been great:

• If you like sake, there is a sake bar inside of the Japan store in the pavilion. The cast members in there in the past were so helpful and informative.

The sake bar wasn't open in November. It looked as if it had been removed. The shelves, counter, and sake were gone. Now there are just two registers in that room. The register where the sake bar was is up against the wall with no bar area.

 

[robinb]

Sweettears - does Dawa still have the bloody marys? I had a great one there one morning on our last trip in 2015. Dad and the kids went one way - I got lost (LOL) and went to get one . I seem to remember they had numerous bloody mary choices back then.

I love the Dawa Bar Bloodies. We stop for one every trip.

I also want to give a shout out to the Restaurantasaurus Lounge at AK. Jimmy the bartender is awesome. The mojito is really good and Jimmy has a heavy pour.

 

[Sweettears]

I love the Dawa Bar Bloodies. We stop for one every trip.

I also want to give a shout out to the Restaurantasaurus Lounge at AK. Jimmy the bartender is awesome. The mojito is really good and Jimmy has a heavy pour.

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I’m not sure that I have ever seen this place. Is it connected to the QS restaurant?