How to Drink Your Way Through Disney World, According to a Super Fan (2024)

Most people associate Walt Disney World with Mickey Mouse rather than mixology, but the most magical place on Earth offers countless co*cktails, mocktails, wine tastings, and even co*cktail making classes to surprise and delight guests of all ages. Here’s a rundown on where you can find the best Disney drinks to enjoy on your next trip.

Drinks at Magic Kingdom

The crown jewel of the Walt Disney World resort was a dry park from its opening in 1971 until 2012, when several restaurants began offering beer and wine in late 2021, several table service restaurants in the park began serving co*cktails as well.

At Skipper Canteen, a tropical-inspired restaurant themed after the legendary Jungle Cruise attraction, you can find a Jungle Bird made with Gosling Black Seal rum, Campari, or try a Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale, a beer brewed exclusively for Walt Disney World by Concrete Beach Brewery.

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant offers guests a perfect vantage point for watching parades pass by on Main Street USA if you can secure a table on the outdoor patio, and after the recent menu refresh, the food has never been better. There are wines available by the glass or bottle in addition to several specialty co*cktails unique to the restaurant including a Limoncello Sidecar made with Caravella Limoncello, Cointreau, Laird's Applejack brandy, as well as the Little Italy, which is made with Knob Creek rye whiskey, Averna, and Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth.

Best drinks in Hollywood Studios

Unsurprisingly, there’s no shortage of unique things to drink at a park that can transport you from lands themed after The Muppets, Toy Story and Star Wars.

Star Wars fans shouldn’t miss a trip to the planet Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This land is filled with smugglers, traders, droids, members of the First Order hunting out sympathizers of the Resistance and of course, delicious drinks. Fans of the franchise can finally order a Blue or Green Milk ⁠— fruity, dairy-free beverages made with rice milk powder and coconut oil ⁠— at the Milk Stand. Both are also available as alcoholic coolers ⁠— the Blue Milk can be made with rum, while the Green Milk comes with tequila. While on Batuu, you can also find a Cold Brew Black Caf, a cold brew topped with cream cheese foam and chocolate puff cereal.

While you’re at the park, try to make a reservation at Oga’s Cantina. This watering hole features pre-mixed drinks with some interesting twists, such as the Bespin Fizz made with rum , yuzu purée, as well as pomegranate and cranberry juices. The drink is served in a glass that has a dedicated chamber at the bottom for dry ice, which ensures that it is safe to drink while being presented as a bubbling and glitter filled co*cktail straight from a galaxy far, far away. Another drink unique to Oga’s is the Fuzzy Taunton, made with peach vodka, peach schnapps, and Buzz Button tingling foam. The tingling foam is very similar to Szechuan pepper and gives a slight numbing effect that lasts longer than the drink itself. It’s worth noting that all of the drinks here are pre-batched and on the sweeter side, but this bar is still a must do at least once for the biggest fans of the franchise.

Most people don’t expect to find a classic co*cktail bar in the middle of a theme park, but The Hollywood Brown Derby lounge is perfect for enjoying timeless drinks like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, as well as flights of Margaritas and Martinis. They offer beer, wine and pours of bourbon and scotch for the perfect afternoon break in between rides. While the lounge operates on a waitlist, guests can visit the bar for beverages to take on the go.

Best drinks at EPCOT

EPCOT is home to the World Showcase, 11 pavilions representing countries around the world such as Mexico, Japan, France and Norway. Each of these pavilions features food and beverages featuring ingredients, flavors and spirits native to these countries. Most countries offer some combination of table service and quick service dining in addition to beverage and snack kiosks.

La Cava del Tequila is one of the most popular destinations in Epcot, with lines outpacing that of the most popular attractions. The most popular drink is La Cava Avocado, a frozen avocado Margarita made with blanco tequila, melon liqueur, fresh avocado, and lime juice, served with a hibiscus salt rim. La Cava also boasts its own, extra añejo tequila made by Tromba Tequila. La Cava’s co*cktail list also features a non-alcoholic Margarita, made with Lyre’s Italian Orange, Lyre’s Agave, cucumber, and lime juice.

In addition to co*cktails, La Cava offers an extensive list of over 100 tequilas and mezcal bottles, with some pours that are more expensive than the price of park admission. For guests who want to learn more about agave, try to get a reservation for La Cava Experience, a tasting of rare and unique agave spirits led by a certified tequila ambassador. This experience books out far in advance, so be sure to plan ahead.

Most people wouldn’t expect to find a bar offering a Champagne tasting nestled in the middle of a gift store, but that’s exactly where La Maison du Vin is set up. The space offers a small bottle shop as well as a tasting counter where guests can sample different champagnes from a variety of producers. The champagne flight offers pours of ​​Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial, Moet & Chandon Imperial, and Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec, and sells wine by the glass as well.

Animal Kingdom drinks

The Nomad Lounge offers both indoor and outdoor lounge seating where guests can choose from different snacks and a wide variety of co*cktails, mocktails and a South African inspired wine list. The most popular beverage is the Hightower Rocks, an ultra-refreshing watermelon Margarita made with Casa Dragones blanco tequila.

Dawa Bar features a full bar along with some popular pre-batched picks, like Lost on Safari made with African rum and the African Margarita made with blanco tequila and tangerine liqueur. Dawa Bar is also home to one of the best Bloody Mary’s on property made with a spicy African berbere sauce. But you’ll need to ask for it by name- this drink isn’t listed on the menu.

Disney Springs bars

This outdoor shopping and dining complex is filled with restaurants from notable chefs and restaurateurs like José Andrés, Masaharu Morimoto, Art Smith, and Guy Fieri, as well as local favorites like The Polite Pig and Gideon’s Bakehouse. What used to be a vacation after-thought has earned its space on the itinerary with dozens of fantastic places to stop for beverages and bites.

George Miliotes is the master sommelier behind Wine Bar George, a restaurant and bar that features more than 200 glasses of wine by the glass; Jaléo by José Andrés is a tapas bar that features an extensive list of Spanish wines, beers and co*cktails. The most popular co*cktail is the Salt Air Margarita made with Milagro Blanco tequila, Combier L’Original, lime and a “salt air” foam.

While cookies and cakes are the main draw for Gideon’s Bakehouse, a slightly gothic and completely delicious emporium of baked goods, the cold brew coffee has people buzzing as well. Available exclusively at the Disney Springs location, Gideon’s offers both signature and rotating seasonal flavors of their oat milk-based cold brew coffees such as Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter, and Cookie Butter Butterscotch.

What to drink at Disney resorts

The Contemporary Resort is home to The California Grill, the best place to catch a nightly showing of the fireworks from The Magic Kingdom while enjoying a co*cktail or glass of wine. California Grill offers 45 wines by the glass, and the three course prix-fixe menu celebrating the resort’s 50th anniversary offers wine pairings that feature hard-to-find pours such as Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut and Duckhorn Three Palms Valley Merlot. Meanwhile, Old Fashioned-fans should be sure not to miss what is commonly named the best on property, the Sonoma Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned.

The Polynesian Resort is home to Pineapple Lanai, a stand serving Dole Whips in a rotating variety of flavors and styles. The Pineapple Float features Dole whip topped with pineapple juice, which you can also opt to top with coconut rum. The lobby is home to The Tambu Lounge, featuring classic Tiki drinks like a Polynesian Mai Tai, Backscratcher, and the Lapu-Lapu, made with dark rum and tropical fruit juices, served in a fresh pineapple.

But the real star on property is Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, an interactive tropical-inspired bar that’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. This popular spot opens up their waitlist around 2 PM, but during particularly busy times or on days when limited edition mugs are being released, this line can begin to form in the mid-morning. Place an order for The Nautilus, themed after the ride and film 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and watch as the lights in the bar turn blue, bubbles are dispersed, and bartenders begin to swim as the drink made with rum and tropical juices arrives in the boat shaped mug. The Uh-Oa, made with rum and the resort's signature POG juice (a mixture of pineapple, orange and guava), is named after the tiki goddess of disaster. Ordering the Uh-Oa sparks a reaction from the statue mounted atop the back wall of the space, and triggers a rainstorm throughout the space. The drink arrives on fire and invites guests to throw cinnamon into the flames to make sparks appear. Each beverage on the menu is served in its own unique glass and mug collectors, rejoice: most of them are available to purchase. The good news is that even if you’re unable to make it inside of the Grog Grotto, there is the open air Tiki Terrace that serves the same beverages that are available inside the Grotto. Nothing beats gearing up to watch the fireworks over Seven Seas Lagoon by grabbing a seat on the beach and sipping a Spikey Pineapple, made with mango rum blended with pineapple Dole whip.

Sure, everyone has seen wine pairings to go along with dinner menus, but what about a water tasting? Located in the Grand Floridian hotel adjacent to The Magic Kingdom, Victoria & Albert’s is considered the highest end dining option available at Walt Disney World. The restaurant boasts an award-winning wine list featuring more than 500 bottles from 35 regions, as well as zero-proof beverage pairings. They also feature a dedicated water menu and offer a selection of waters from the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, and more.

Not many people associate taking classes on vacation, but what about earning a degree from Sangria University? This interactive class located at Coronado Springs Resort walks participants through the history of Sangria and demonstrates recipes used to make the four in-house varieties served at Three Bridges Bar and Grill. The course is by reservation only and takes place on Saturdays and Sundays.