Jennifer and Sara just did a PassPorter Podcast (If you aren’t listening you should be!) on the best places to get a drink in Walt Disney World. I’m going to share my five best places to get a drink at Walt Disney World, but my choices have a slightly different bent to them. I cannot argue that Mizner’s Lounge or any of their other choices are not great places to grab a drink. My choices are completely based on the staff serving your drinks and the unique qualities that some of the bars at Walt Disney World have. There are tons of great drink choices in Walt Disney World. However, there are some very special bartenders that I’ve run across in the past few years. At least from my perspective, the person pouring my drink is just as important as the cocktail in front of me. I’m sad to tell you that this post will have very few photos, but you’ll get to meet some very special cast members, even though I don’t know some of their names.

My first spot to get a great drink is the Belle Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk. The lounge itself is very cozy and the bar is very small. I believe there are only about six seats at the bar. There are a few tables and couches in the lounge area, but if I can’t get a seat at the bar I keep walking. Every time I walk in the bartender working there remembers me, which is amazing considering how many people they see over the course of a year, I believe the gentleman I see every time I’m there is named Allen. The bartenders at the Belle Vue are experts in classic cocktails. It might be the one place you can order a Grasshopper on property and not have the bartender look at you funny. That, by the way, is my favorite cocktail to order there. Sadly the cocktail list is the same as at every other resort hotel bar. The bartenders there were working on their own cocktail list, but management decided to go with the standard list. The environment resembles a game room in an old seaside resort and I just cannot get over how wonderful the experience is when you sit down for a drink.

My next favorite place to have a drink at Walt Disney World is La Cava del Tequila. Everyone knows that I love margaritas and this is the best place to get one. The folks who run the Mexican Pavilion have brought in tequila specialists and have created great margarita menus at the restaurants, but the ones in the tiny bar in the Mexican Pavilion are just better. They are super pricey at about $12 a piece, but the care that goes into crafting them is worth it. There is also a fantastic tequila selection, if you’d like to try sipping on one. They also serve some small snack items. I believe the menu used to be larger, but now consists mostly of chips and dips. I used to plan PassPorter meets at the margarita stand outside Mexico. I now plan meets inside at the tequila bar. The environment is very cozy and there are great tables for sharing a drink and having some conversation. You can get your margarita to go if you are getting ready to watch Illuminations. I’ve also found this a great spot to hide out and people watch, especially on colder nights!

Next on my list is Victoria Falls. This spot holds a special place in my heart because every time I’ve been to Victoria Falls the bartenders have all been from the fine state of Louisiana. However, that isn’t my only reason for including it. The reason I think it is one of the best places to get a drink in all of Walt Disney World is because of the wine and beer list. They do offer the regular resort cocktail list, but they also offer a list that is primarily South African wines and beers. As far as I can tell it is the only hotel bar, besides the one at Wilderness Lodge to offer a regional list. I love South African wines and this is always a stop for me, even if I’m not staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. They offer wine varietals that are specific to South Africa like Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. They also carry the African beer Tusker. The bartenders here really know their stuff. I love hearing about the new things they’ve added since my last visit. I’m also going to offer a plug for the wine tasting that is offered at Jiko on Wednesday afternoons. A mere $25 buys you three different tastings as well as cheese and fruit plates and a bit of wine education. Call Jiko for more information.

There can be no argument on my next choice, because they have the best by the glass wine list in all of Walt Disney World and some of the most inventive cocktails on property as well. I absolutely love going up to California Grill to have a glass of wine or a cocktail and an appetizer. They have a fabulous wine list that represents the best wineries in California–which you can get by the glass. They also have a cocktail menu that isn’t the standard resort cocktail menu. If you time your drinks right, and they will actually let you go up to CG just to have a drink, you might be able to see Wishes from the bar. The best place to sit, however, isn’t at the main bar, it’s a the sushi bar. If you are very lucky you will get to watch their sushi specialist, Yoshi, crafting wonderful plates of eats. I highly advise that you sample some, if you happen to score one of these coveted stools. My absolute favorite thing to do is to order a glass (okay a bottle!) of champagne right before Wishes and take my glass out to the balcony viewing area to watch the show. Keep in mind that there are two viewing areas and if the one off of the main dining room is packed, there may not be anyone on the second platform closer to the private dining rooms. I know that I’ve watched Christmas Wishes in the rain with my glass of bubbly and tears streaming down my face, and been the only one out there. (It was raining!) It could be a life changing event!

You might be surprised by my last choice. My absolute favorite place to have a drink on all of Walt Disney World property is at the pool bar at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The afternoon bartenders there have become a regular fixture on my trips to WDW, even if I’m not staying at AKL. I stop in to see Bob and Patty no matter where I am staying. These two bartenders have remembered me through five years of trips. It doesn’t matter if I don’t make it back there for a year or so, both of them greet me warmly and by my name! I love spending an afternoon relaxing, getting in and out of the hot tub and sitting with a beverage at the bar. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a lazy afternoon and I always meet great people while sitting there. Patty has been trying to get me to come work with her for a few years! I’m not going to work for Disney, but I am taking the plunge and moving to Orlando next week. One of my first stops will be to see Patty–as soon as I can figure out what day she works. I know that Disney doesn’t allow pool hopping for regular guests–but all is forgiven if you are just going to have a drink.

What are your favorite places in Walt Disney World to have drinks? Why? Is it the drink itself? Is it the ambiance? Is it the friendly staff? Let me know!