Mocktails - Disney Wonder

[Karin1984]

I do not drink alcohol, but I do enjoy mocktails. Where do I go on the Wonder for good non-alcoholic cocktails?

The drinks on the dinner menu are aimed at children (understandable). I couldn't find anything/much on the menus of the After Hours venues. With just the name and not the ingredients of the drinks of the day on the navigators, it's hard to determine if it's a mocktail, or just a drink without alcohol for the children.

When we exclude smoothies & milkshakes, which are not mocktails ;-), what are my options? Hasn't Disney discovered yet that there is a market with non-alcoholic tonics & liquors for mocktails.

Or is it not on the menu and do I have to ask for it? How are the bartenders at making mocktails? And final question, as I am not American, what do I tip the bartender?

 

[MomOTwins]

Disney specialty cocktails in general (with or without alcohol) tend to be quite sweet—often with a lemonade or processed fruit juice base—so I disagree with the premise that the non-alcoholic drinks on the menu are meant just for kids; it’s just they don’t have many of the kind of drinks you are looking for with or without alcohol. You’ll find the same at walt disney world at places like Ogas Cantina. I pretty much always order drinks off menu as a result.

You could order something custom at a nice bar like Meridian (eg bet they would do a virgin mojito or something).

Tipping practices vary person to person. There is an automatic 18% tip applied to beverage bills in the MDRs, bars/lounges and cafes, so it is not necessary to tip extra. Personally, my norm (on land or on DCL) is to tip either $2 per drink or 20%, whichever is more. There is a space on the bill to write in additional tip if you choose.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I have this same complaint. I can get an awesome mocktail or dry drink at a Starbucks Roastry or a Dry bar in NYC, but not on DCL. I'm willing to pay, please provide!

The drinks of the day are often "fruity" and smoothie based. How bout a mint julep? They are making that at Disneyland, why not DCL?

That being said, my last cruise I went up to a bar keeper and asked him if he could make me a virgin moscow mule? He thought about it, came up with a drink and served it to me. It was pretty good.

My current strategy come cruising again is to go in with a list of my favorite mocktail or dry drinks and see if the bar tender will try making them. I make them at home, why isn't DCL making these. Take my money. Please.

 

[AquaDame]

I also am not much of an alcohol drinker (it can trigger or exasperate migraines) but it hadn't occured to me to ask the bartenders to make me a mocktail as most of them have carbonation. I detest soda... I know, I'm a weirdo. Regardless of the drinks on the MDR menus being meant for children, many of them are really tasty!

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

This is my current list of, why aren't you making these DCL aka the drinks I am going to try to get at a bar my next DCL cruise.

All Virgin/Mocktail

Mint Julep
Moscow Mule
Margarita
Any kind of Daiquiri
Mojito
Tonic (Things like an Orange Tonic, Coffee Tonic)

Those are what I can think of off the top of my head. I've had some pretty awesome "specialty drinks" over the years. They don't have to be a replacement for a nonalcoholic version, just something special tasting. The Lavender lemonade from DCA a few years ago comes to mind. Amazing drink.

 

[Karin1984]

Disney specialty cocktails in general (with or without alcohol) tend to be quite sweet—often with a lemonade or processed fruit juice base—so I disagree with the premise that the non-alcoholic drinks on the menu are meant just for kids;

I know they are not just for kids, that's why I said 'aimed at'. Especially because they are so sweet, they seem aimed at children. And I sometimes want something a bit more adult. Adding some lime and / or mint is enough to make it a bit more special and less sweet.

My current strategy come cruising again is to go in with a list of my favorite mocktail or dry drinks and see if the bar tender will try making them. I make them at home, why isn't DCL making these. Take my money. Please.

That was one idea I had as well. I will bring...
Lost Princess (from King Ludwig's at Disneyland Paris): Fresh mint, raspberry puree, lime juice and cranberry nectar.
Mimi Kaboom (now named; Pineapple No-Jito at Hollywood Brown Derby): Mint, fresh Lime Juice, Agave Nectar, Pineapple Juice and Soda Water.
Chef d'Orchestre (from Cafe Fantasia at the Disneyland Hotel in DLP): Cranberry nectar, raspberry juice and Caribbean yuzu, jasmine syrup

I also am not much of an alcohol drinker (it can trigger or exasperate migraines) but it hadn't occured to me to ask the bartenders to make me a mocktail as most of them have carbonation. I detest soda... I know, I'm a weirdo. Regardless of the drinks on the MDR menus being meant for children, many of them are really tasty!

It's hard to find, but there are good ones without soda.
There were a few on the MDR menus that looked nice, and also the one at the embarkation lunch looks interesting.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Just ask your bartender! When my daughter turned 18, we took her to one of the bars to celebrate. OMG, they fawned over her and made her a special non-alcoholic concoction. You just need to ask! ❤

 

[Disneypeach]

I love the pina colava on board but don’t like the rum so I just ask the bartender to leave the rum out...they do charge as normal so no “discount” for not having the alcohol but that’s ok by me.

 

[sparks&whimsy]

We did a babymoon on the Fantasy and all I had to do was ask the bartenders. They would ask me questions of what I liked and did not like and came up with some very yummy mocktails. I was able at dinner to let our server know what drinks I had been recommended throughout the trip and one always appeared at dinner with my hubby's cocktail.

 

[AquaDame]

I just realized I only answered half of your question... whoops! I tip the same as I would if it were an alcoholic drink - a buck or two per drink. I figure its more work than pouring a beer at the end of the day..

 

[daedelus]

Just ask your bartender! When my daughter turned 18, we took her to one of the bars to celebrate. OMG, they fawned over her and made her a special non-alcoholic concoction. You just need to ask! ❤

Same experience here - my daughters are both under age and they both loved getting virgin versions of several drinks (mostly frozen ones). But the bartenders were super cool about it and added extra fruit garnishes, umbrellas, stuff that made them feel special. We certainly appreciated it.

 

[cruisehopeful]

We just ask the bartender for something. Usually, they ask a couple questions about likes and then create something. They are happy to do it and we've had some amazing non-alcoholic drinks. We've never asked for anything off menu in the dining rooms.

I've also ordered orange juice with sparkling water. I think they charge like I ordered a glass of juice.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

I've also ordered orange juice with sparkling water. I think they charge like I ordered a glass of juice.

I wish they would add a sparkling water option, like Bubly or La Crox to the free drink station. We drink a lot of that in our household, in leu of soda, and really miss it when we cruise.

 

[DisBNewB]

I wish they would add a sparkling water option, like Bubly or La Crox to the free drink station. We drink a lot of that in our household, in leu of soda, and really miss it when we cruise.

Though it's not flavored, I do recall there being the option of bubbly water from the fountain. You could bring flavorings in packets or drops to add - in fact, Bubly has entered a partnership with sodastream and has their flavorings available (I don't yet see them on the sodastream site separate from the full package. the wording does sound like they should be available independently though).

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Though it's not flavored, I do recall there being the option of bubbly water from the fountain. You could bring flavorings in packets or drops to add - in fact, Bubly has entered a partnership with sodastream and has their flavorings available (I don't yet see them on the sodastream site separate from the full package. the wording does sound like they should be available independently though).

Yes- there is plain seltzer of some sort at the soda fountains. We add it to cranberry juice or orange juice in the mornings as we find the straight juice too sweet. Back in the day, when you could bring your own, mixed drinks were pretty easy to make with the mixers provided...