Drinking at Disney World: The Case for Resort-Hopping

Beat the heat (and the crowds)

The last two times I've been to Disney World I've gone mid-May for my birthday, and let me tell you, I think I spend more time hunting for shade and a place to rest my feet than I do actually enjoying Epcot. Note to self: plan the next trip for when it's NOT 95 degrees and humid. But I've also learned there are plenty of other places to enjoy a nice drink without standing in scorching lines all day.

This is why we loved the monorail resort-hopping so much. We had the option to ride between stops or walk if we were feeling up for it, and almost every bar and restaurant we went to, we walked right up and got a seat, with the exception of Trader Sam's Grotto, which we already expected (we just went upstairs and got a drink while we waited). It was so nice being in cool A/C in a relaxing resort setting while we had a drink, instead of being surrounded by our ten thousand closest friends in the park.

New scenery, new themes

I love an Epcot festival, and how immersive every country pavilion is. The inside of the Mexico pavilion will always make me feel like I'm walking the streets of Cabo San Lucas. But having gone so many times, I started to lose that excitement. In the five times we've been to Disney World, we'd never done the resort-hopping, and it was something new and exciting for us. Each resort had its own theme and decor, which carried straight into every bar we walked into. We've talked about Trader Sam's and California Grill more since we got back than we ever talked about our time in Epcot.

Drinks you won't get anywhere else

Okay but seriously, can we talk about the key lime martini at Narcoossee's? A couple we met at Edison's in Disney Springs recommended it to us, and I genuinely can't believe I'd gone every previous trip without trying one. The overall drinks and experience at Trader Sam's Grotto are also just something you won't get at any other resort or park on property.

The tiki drinks at Trader Sam's aren't just good, they're an experience, and that's exactly why people plan their whole evening around getting a table.

Resort-hopping is kind of like house hunting

An extra tip for anyone resort-hopping for the first time: it's such a great opportunity to see what a resort has to offer without actually staying there. The last two times we went, we were booked at Port Orleans Riverside, but some unforeseen circumstances switched us over to the Contemporary. If we hadn't made that switch, I don't think we would've ever tried resort-hopping, but I'm so glad we did. Visiting all the different bars gave us a chance to walk around, see what each resort offered, and decide if we'd want to stay there on a future trip. (Maybe some day in my dreams I'll afford a stay at the Grand Floridian.)

Quick tips for your first resort hop

• You don't need to dress fancy. Maybe this is obvious, or maybe you're like me and actually wondered. You're on VACATION, dress however you want, even if the woman next to you looks like she just left Rodeo Drive.
• Plan around the monorail. Early in the day the cars are practically empty, we got our own car more than once. By evening, when everyone's coming back from the parks, it's packed. Be ready to stand, or get pretty friendly with a stranger.
• Don't look at the prices. I know, you're on vacation, so the thirty-five dollar margarita shouldn't matter, right? Things do run more expensive at the resorts than off property, but at the end of the day, you already know Disney World is expensive. Budget for it and enjoy the drink.

Logging it as you go

Now the question I know you've been wondering: can I use Drinqly while I'm resort-hopping? Yes, yes, and absolutely yes. Drinqly helps you remember every sip, so you can actually tell your friends the name of that tiki rum drink instead of just "the one at the place with the volcano." It connects with Google Places, so every bar and restaurant on property shows up as an official check-in location, and while you're at it, snap a photo of the menu so you (and whoever you're traveling with) can find it again next time.

Common questions