monorail crawl

[absolutmey]

For those of you who have done it, can you please chime in? DH and I have a free evening during our upcoming trip, thanks to the ILs taking DS to Rainforest Café. Here are the plans for the adults only crawl:

Start at the Contemporary
- Outer Rim first - drinks only, no food - I haven't seen any reviews of this place
- Wave Lounge - apps & drinks
- CG Lounge - sushi & drinks

GF
- Mizner's - app & drinks
- Citricos Lounge - we'll see how full we are

Finish at Poly
- Tambu
- Trader Sam's - drinks for sure
- outside for Hallowishes on the beach at 10:15

Sound like a good crawl? Thanks.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Realize that it will be kind of awkward. since you will do three monorail stops between CR and GF, and then either walk or do 3 stops back to Poly.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I'd skip Outer Rim. It's pretty much just a waiting area for Chef Mickey's.

I suppose the previous poster is correct and most crawls go in a straight line, but if you're wanting to end at Trader Sam's you need to do it that way. I'm also not sure you need to have drinks at both Tambu and Trader Sam's. Save it and try several at Sam's, unless you absolutely must have a lapu lapu.

 

[absolutmey]

You guys are right - I'm out of order! Thanks!

 

[TeresaWen]

I would skip the apps at the GF and enjoy those offered at tambu.

 

[TeresaWen]

Oh and enjoy!!! It is one of our favorite things to do!

 

[SMorgan711]

so fun! We just did a monorail crawl for my birthday! We didn't do any food though. We started at Citricos Lounge at GF with some kind of champagne drink then went to the California Grill at the Contemporary and watched the fireworks from outside!! I had a cucumber drink. Then we ended at Trader Sam's at the Poly. I think I got the volcano lava drink. It was such a fun atmosphere!!

 

[crabbygal902]

I've done 2 monorail crawls fairly recently and am about to go on a 3rd. Here's my favorite line-up:

Start at California Grill at about 5:30 to get seated in the lounge. We order apps and drinks and take our time, enjoying the atmosphere and that fabulous view. I haven't done the Crawl including The Wave or Outer Rim, simply because I'd rather spend my time overlooking the MK and eating the rock shrimp salad and drinking wine at CG.

2nd stop will be the Tiki Terrace at the Poly for more apps and some speciality cocktails. We've tried the crawl with the Tambu Lounge (which is just fine) and then at Trader Sam's (not my kind of place. Too noisy and too interactive for this introvert.) Looking forward to a Dark & Tropical Stormy, some live music perhaps, and another beautiful view at the Tiki Terrace.

On our last Crawl, we decided to hop a boat to the WL from the Poly. What a great decision! The Territory Lounge at WL is quiet and relaxing. It may end up being a side stop on this round also if we can fit it in. I really love the feel of this place, and exploring the WL is fun.

The last stop will be at Narcoose's for fireworks on the verandah with a drink in hand. Another option would be to go back to the CG to watch the fireworks from the observation deck. You can reenter CG if you have your receipt from earlier in the evening.

 

[absolutmey]

I would skip the apps at the GF and enjoy those offered at tambu.

Oh and enjoy!!! It is one of our favorite things to do!

so fun! We just did a monorail crawl for my birthday! We didn't do any food though. We started at Citricos Lounge at GF with some kind of champagne drink then went to the California Grill at the Contemporary and watched the fireworks from outside!! I had a cucumber drink. Then we ended at Trader Sam's at the Poly. I think I got the volcano lava drink. It was such a fun atmosphere!!

I've done 2 monorail crawls fairly recently and am about to go on a 3rd. Here's my favorite line-up:

Start at California Grill at about 5:30 to get seated in the lounge. We order apps and drinks and take our time, enjoying the atmosphere and that fabulous view. I haven't done the Crawl including The Wave or Outer Rim, simply because I'd rather spend my time overlooking the MK and eating the rock shrimp salad and drinking wine at CG.

2nd stop will be the Tiki Terrace at the Poly for more apps and some speciality cocktails. We've tried the crawl with the Tambu Lounge (which is just fine) and then at Trader Sam's (not my kind of place. Too noisy and too interactive for this introvert.) Looking forward to a Dark & Tropical Stormy, some live music perhaps, and another beautiful view at the Tiki Terrace.

On our last Crawl, we decided to hop a boat to the WL from the Poly. What a great decision! The Territory Lounge at WL is quiet and relaxing. It may end up being a side stop on this round also if we can fit it in. I really love the feel of this place, and exploring the WL is fun.

The last stop will be at Narcoose's for fireworks on the verandah with a drink in hand. Another option would be to go back to the CG to watch the fireworks from the observation deck. You can reenter CG if you have your receipt from earlier in the evening.

thank you!!

 

[adisneyaunt]

Sounds like a fun time... We always get a lapu lapu...YUM
ENJOY!

 

[monorailmom]

I agree to skip Outer Rim, since it's really chaotic and not much atmosphere at all. We preferred Narcoosee's over Citirico's, since Citrico's didn't seem to want to let us into the lounge haha! Actually Narcoossee's lounge has become a favorite of ours, the shrimp cocktail is the best we've ever had. I would definitely do Mizners, try to get there while the orchestra is playing. We like Trader Sam's, but feel that Tambu is kinda like Outer Rim, very chaotic with people waiting for tables at O'hana.

Have a great time!!! There is nothing like a good Monorail crawl followed up with fireworks.

 

[ariane37]

I would skip the apps at the GF and enjoy those offered at tambu.

I agree! We LOVE the apps at Tambu lounge.
@absolutmey I haven't been to Mizner's but we LOVE Citricos. All their food, including their apps are delicious! So I'm going to say get food at Citricos instead but that's just one persons opinion

 

[TeresaWen]

I've been known to end a crawl at Citricos. A pot of tea and the warm banana tort.

 

[CallieS]

I can chime in regarding the Poly. There are two Trader Sam's - the Tiki Terrace and the Grog Grotto. The Terrace is outside, the Grotto is indoors, with no real windows that I noticed. I was there on a Wednesday night. The Terrace was never crowded. It was very peaceful and nice. My favorite spot. Then we popped into the Grotto. It's small, and every seat was taken. We stood at the bar to get a drink and felt very out of place. We were getting lots of sideways glances from others like we were crashing their party. We chugged our drinks and hurried out. It's really too small in there to stand and mingle. At least that was our experience.

On Friday we were at Tambu lounge waiting for our Ohana reservation. It was very crowded, and a pp used the word "chaotic". Yes. The bar was filled, the lounge was filled, kids were running around. Except there it seemed easier to stand and get drinks and mill around, plus you can go wander and sit in other areas of the lobby with your drinks.

 

[yaksack]

I want to do this.we are going to WDW 2/4 to 2/12. Any concoction suggestions are welcome.

 

[sam5disney]

So if you go to Narcosee for drinks & dessert at the bar, can you go out to watch the fireworks? Have reservation at 9:30 but bar would be more flexible

 

[crabbygal902]

I want to do this.we are going to WDW 2/4 to 2/12. Any concoction suggestions are welcome.

At CG, I love the Kim Crawford Sav Blanc wine when we arrive. It is light and grapefruit-y, perfect refreshment after a busy park day. Later in the evening I switch to the heavier reds. The wine list here is very good and Ray the bartender is delightful. I want to try the cocktail with cucumber in it, sounds very interesting.

From Tambu Lounge, I love the Lapu Lapu so much that I made it my profile pic. It packs a wallop!

At Trader Sam's, I tried the HippopotoMai-Tai. I'm not sure what possessed me to do that because I generally don't like sweet drinks (exception being a Lapu Lapu.) Not a big fan of this.

Territory Lounge- have only had wine. Good stuff, from Northwestern US.

Narcoossee's- I have searched online menus and can't find what I had, but it was delicious. I think it was a cocktail that had champagne and raspberries in it.

 

[crabbygal902]

So if you go to Narcosee for drinks & dessert at the bar, can you go out to watch the fireworks? Have reservation at 9:30 but bar would be more flexible

We didn't have an ADR at all. We checked at the hostess stand to make sure that they could accommodate the 2 of us and they told us it was no problem. We went to the bar and got cocktails in plastic cups and took them onto the verandah outside, being careful not to stand in front of the window and block someone's view. There were several people from inside the restaurant who paused their meals to come out and watch fireworks.

If I am remembering correctly, there are several choices on the menu that could serve as both dessert and cocktail. I remember seeing a Godiva chocolate martini...wow! Looked delicious!