Jeff Bogle

When you think of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, you probably picture Mickey Mouse ears and long lines for rides. However, Disney World is more than just Cinderella’s castle and “It’s a Small World.” Whether you fancy a rum-spiked, Star Wars-themed concoction or a perfectly poured pint of craft beer, Disney’s drink scene is not to be missed. The next time you find yourself soaking up all the magic, use this Disney World drinking guide to make the most of all the cocktails, beer and wine the parks have to offer. The Best Spots in Disney World for Cocktails Oga’s Cantina Hollywood Studios Home to drinks like The Outer Rim, an intergalactic-themed cocktail with tequila, pomegranate liqueur, lime juice, cane sugar and a black salty rim, and the Bespin Fizz, a rum-based drink complete with sparkling dry ice and edible glitter, Oga’s Cantina is the number one place to stop for Star Wars and cocktail fans alike. Don’t skip on the super-sweet Yub Nub, a mix of rums and citrus juices, served in a decorative mug. The name is almost as fun to say as the drink is to sip. Plus, the bar's curved stone walls and steampunk vibe look straight out of a film set. There are a myriad of cables and pipes draped from the ceiling, musical droids providing free entertainment (just as they were in A New Hope) and who knows, maybe even a bounty hunter or two lurking in the shadows. Unlike Han, Luke and Chewie, though, you can’t just wander into Oga’s. A reservation is needed, and a strict 45-minute time cap is placed on your visit. Consult the menu online before you go, so you have maximum time to revel in the drinks and decor. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort Nomad Lounge Animal Kingdom Located beside Tiffins on Discovery Island inside Animal Kingdom, Nomad Lounge is the best watering hole for Avatar fans looking for a glimpse into Pandora. Opt for cocktails like the beautiful Annapurna Zing with its glowing lotus flower. This drink is made with Bombay Sapphire gin, puréed passion fruit, mint and lime, then topped with ginger beer. Or order the Night Monkey, which blends dark rum and guava purée with coffee-flavored syrup (the non-alcoholic version is called the Happy Macaque). Another great option is the spicy Tempting Tigress, which is comprised of a 10-year-old bourbon, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram and tamarind syrup. Beyond quenching your thirst, Nomad can quiet the rumbling in your tummy, too. The tasty small bites menu includes Cuban or vegan Impossible sliders and a tuna poke bowl with kimchi and edamame. You can also try the mouthwatering honey-glazed pork belly served with chorizo and a cheese biscuit, or an order of falafel with garlic yogurt available for the kiddos. Snag a coveted seat out on the deck for views of the wooden and watery entrance into Pandora, and maybe spot a Na'vi or two if you’re lucky. Plus, for anyone not imbibing, Nomad bartenders will transform cocktails into a zero-proof option faster than you can say, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Pongu Pongu Animal Kingdom Located in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora — The World of AVATAR, the Pongu Pongu drink stand is home to a handful of cocktails (and a couple of delicious snacks) that fans of the film franchise will love. Boba balls feature prominently in the Mo'ara Margarita, a Pandora-ified spin on the beloved drink. Be sure to order a couple of pineapple-cream cheese spring rolls too, a delicious value at under $4 each. You’ll find this little drink outpost near Windtraders souvenir shop, conveniently where you are likely heading right after riding Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey. Pongu Pongu also features a non-alcoholic specialty beverage that is glam and intergalactic. The Night Blossom is an eye-catching drink flavored with apple and desert pear limeade, criss-crossed with electric green and purple streaks and piled with a heaping of yellow passion fruit-flavored boba balls. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort The Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom While enjoying seared crab cakes, home-style meatloaf or a chili-Impossible burger at The Plaza Restaurant situated between Main Street U.S.A. and Tomorrowland, feel free to order up the Last Word. The cocktail blends gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lime juice and cherries for a sweet and sour sip. Or, order the Jack Rose, with brandy, grenadine and citrus juices. Tony's Town Square Magic Kingdom The boozy highlight at Tony's Town Square is the Little Italy, a cocktail with rye whiskey, Averna Amaro Siciliano and sweet vermouth shaken beneath a garnish of cherries for a true Italian delight. Enjoy alongside regional classics like oven-roasted shrimp scampi, orecchiette with spicy Italian sausage or spaghetti with meatballs (which includes a plant-based Impossible option). The Best Spots in Disney World for Beer Raglan Road Irish Pub Disney Springs Beer lovers will surely want to pop into Raglan Road Irish Pub for an authentic taste of Ireland. With furniture that was built across the ocean on the Emerald Isle, and a menu featuring food inspired by fare served in pubs from Dublin to Galway, it’s a ticket straight to Europe. Think Shepherd’s pie, dip packed with smoked haddock and Dubliner cheese and bangers and mash. Plus, with dozens of beer choices in bottles and on draft, Raglan Road is a full-on, authentic Irish pub smack dab in the middle of The Landing at Disney Springs. Sit down for a frothy pint of Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale or a crisp Magners Irish Cider. And if you can’t decide, you can choose from multiple different flights of beer, plus additional whiskey, wine and cocktails options. You’ll also be able to enjoy live Irish music and dance on the main stage or out on the patio. Visiting Disney Springs on a weekend? The Rollicking Brunch invites you to sit down for more Irish classics, a morning pint and a three-hour Irish dance show. Disney advises guests make reservations, be it for weekend brunch or just a quick bite on a weekday. Same-day reservations may be available if you prefer to add some spontaneity to your highly-organized Disney vacation. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort Morimoto Disney Springs Come to Morimoto in Disney Springs for pan-Asian cuisine like blistered shishito peppers with wasabi crème fraiche, Peking duck ramen and a variety of sushi rolls, but stay for the beer. On draft is the popular Morimoto Soba Ale, a nutty ale with the flavor of roasted soba that was launched in 2003 as part of "Iron Chef America"’s Masaharu Morimoto’s Signature Series of Rogue Ales. Additionally, Morimoto’s Imperial pilsner, along with a couple of imported Japanese beers, are available in bottles and cans. Plus, you’ll find a wide selection of wines, sake, cocktails and more. If you have hopes of diving into the food and beverages at Morimoto, you will want to make an advanced reservation to ensure you get a table. BaseLine Tap House Hollywood Studios This California craft beer oasis offers grown-up Mouseketeers fine ales, lagers, ciders, pilsners, IPAs—and some Disney history, too. The interior of BaseLine Tap House is designed with printing tools and details as a tribute to Figueroa Printing Company, which used to own the space and had a former partnership with Disney Studios. The inside of the bar has exposed walls and some of the old printing equipment from yesteryear. You’ll want to order the warm Bavarian pretzel with beer-cheese fondue and spicy mustard, paired with Red Seal Ale from North Coast Brewing. Or unwind after riding The Slinky Dog in Toy Story Mania with a create-your-own beer flight. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort The Best Spots in Disney World for Wine Wine Bar George Disney Springs If you don't think the most magical place on Earth could get even more magical, then you haven't seen the list of 140 selections from Wine Bar George yet. Curated by Master Sommelier George Miliotes, Wine Bar George invites guests to peruse the list of reds, whites, sparkling and more by the bottle, glass and one-ounce tasters. There are even some on-tap wine options, too, like the 2018 Truth or Consequences Moscato from Washington State and 2019 Sabine Rosé from Provence. Because great wine is best when accompanying delicious food, be sure to order some of Wine Bar George’s house-made hummus and naan bread or crispy mac and cheese bites. On especially oppressively hot and humid days at Disney World, cool off with frozen wine cocktails like the Frozcato, Frosé, frozen Old Fashioned and Freaujolais, which blend wine, fruit and liquor. Enjoy them alongside a basket of fries or one of the spot's wine country-inspired snack boards. Whether you want to sip at brunch or have a glass after a long day of Disney fun, you’re going to need a reservation at Wine Bar George. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort Amorette's Patisserie Disney Springs At Amorette’s you can sip a Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco while munching on a Mickey Mousse chiffon cake, making this patisserie one of the most fun and curious places to drink in Disney World. But the real reason to explore the drinks scene here is the seasonal grown-up slushies on offer for $10 each. Since going viral over five years ago, the rotating menu of boozy slushies continues to be a hit with grown-up Mouseketeers. Flavors rotate based on what fruit is in season, but have included a strawberry Shiraz, mango Moscato and a glam, iridescent blue-colored wine slushie topped with a shimmering Minnie hat. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort Jaleo Disney Springs Celebrity chef, culinary innovator and world-renowned humanitarian José Andrés has a colorful outpost of his beloved Spanish tapas restaurant Jaleo in the west side of Disney Springs. The lunch and dinner menus feature cured meats, Manchego cheese, paella and more, while the wine list offers selections from all over Spain like Palomino Fino and Liquid Geography Rosé, all set in a vibrant, beautifully-tiled space draped in hues of reds, oranges and yellows. Wines-by-the-glass options range from $9 to $19. There are also regularly scheduled, multi-course, highly-curated events at Jaleo featuring as many as eight wines paired by wine expert Javier Baquero. As with the finer dining destinations at Disney Springs, a reservation is highly recommended if you don’t want to miss out on this tapas and wine paradise. Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort Weinkeller Epcot For German Riesling fans, no visit to Disney World would be complete without a stop at Weinkeller, which sells cookbooks and souvenirs in the Germany pavilion that transport visitors to the Mosel region. Whether you’re on the famed Epcot Wine Walk or not, slip into the exquisite little wine bar tucked behind the shop to sample an impressive selection of German wines. Riesling not your thing? No worries. There are plenty of other whites, reds, sparkling and dessert bottlings offered by the glass and a tempting cheese board to accompany it all in this German enclave in Central Florida. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar Epcot If spending time in a cozy Italian wine cellar sounds magical to you, head to Tutto Gusto for hundreds of bottles of Italian vino, plus the requisite paninis and cheese boards. Also on offer? Antipasti, pastas and mains like braised beef short rib and pan-seared salmon. Les Vins de France Epcot Of course, you can’t ignore the French when talking about wine. The Les Vins de France kiosk inside Epcot, across from the France Pavilion, pours fine wines from Bordeaux and beyond, as well as Champagnes and Beaujolais. But many flock to this tiny green art deco outpost for the orange and lemonade slushies spiked with Grand Marnier and Grey Goose Citron. Drinking your way through Disney World is all part of the magic at the most magical place on Earth. In fact, it might be even more fun than standing and sweating in line for the rides. FAQs Does Disney World Have Alcoholic Drinks? In short, yes! To enjoy them, you’ll just need a government-issued ID that shows you’re over the age of 21. Unfortunately, there is one famous area of Disney World where quickly grabbing an alcoholic beverage isn't an option. The Magic Kingdom, which opened as an alcohol-free park in 1971, has changed its rules slightly within the last few years. Although there is alcohol to be found in today's Magic Kingdom, guests can only enjoy it while seated at table-service restaurants. Is a Reservation Required to Drink in Disney World? While crowds are common in all areas of Disney World, from Magic Kingdom rides to Disney Springs restaurants, not all drinking hotspots require a reservation. In the list above, we call out places where an advance reservation is necessary or advised.