If you’ve been to Disney World, or even watched videos about it on social, you’ve probably heard about “Drink Around the World” in Epcot. This is definitely an experience that deserves, and will get it’s own blog. But today, I want to share a lesser-known, but no less exciting way to drink your way around another part of Disney. My family calls it the “Monorail Trail” (Disclaimer – not sure if this is the official name or if we did, in fact coin that.) In short, this is a bar crawl across the Monorail Trail that gives you exposure to some spots that you might not see otherwise.

The one year we were not able to renew our annual passes forced us to get a little creative on our non-park days. When you’ve been to the parks as much as I have, it’s nice to explore other areas. The Disney hotels are honestly an attraction in themselves. And let’s face it, the Monorail hotels are some of the nicest on property, each with a completely different vibe – much like the Epcot countries.

I’d like to preface this by BEGGING you to remember to take it slow and make sure that you’re consuming actual food and water while you indulge in the many delicious adult libations that Disney has to offer. Take it from someone who learned the hard way – I’ll share that story at a later date… I’m not telling you what you should order here – the point is to share the spots we visited and why they made for a great afternoon.

We started our crawl at the Wilderness Lodge. I know, this isn’t a Monorail hotel but it’s accessible from the Magic Kingdom by boat so I consider it an honorable mention. We had lunch at Geyser Point Bar & Grill (again, I can’t emphasize food enough here) and were seated right by the water. Food and drinks were great, views were spectacular. Take some time to walk around the property and really feel like you’re somewhere in Alaska. The lobby here is one of my favorites and the gift shop has some unique finds. Bonus points if you spot the hidden mickey. (Hint – It’s on the fireplace).

Now time for the actual Monorail trail. Take a boat or bus back to Magic Kingdom and hop on the Resort Monorail. Get those tropical vibes ready because the first stop is the Polynesian Resort. There’s something I love so much about this hotel. It might be the fresh smells inside or the shiny, stone floor but whatever it is, this is one of my happy places. Now this hotel has some very cool spots and hidden gems (Trader Sam’s, I’m looking at you) but for today, we hit the Tambu Lounge. For me, there is only one acceptable drink to order here (Lapu Lapu) – presentation is everything and this does it for me. Drink up because it’s on to the next one.

For my bougie friends, myself included, the Grand Floridian will check all the boxes. On an average visit to this hotel, I’d be going for afternoon tea…but this is a bar crawl and we’re going to need something a little stronger. The Enchanted Rose had the inner 5-year old in me screaming with its subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast, my favorite Disney classic (the original of course). It’s easy to find a drink, or two, to suit your fancy here, as you relax and unwind in the elegant lounge area.

Our final stop on the trail was the Contemporary’s Steakhouse 71’s bar and lounge. You can imagine that the afternoon’s activities had us in need of nourishment and we were able to order some substantial items off of the restaurant’s menu to munch on as we had our cocktails. The French onion soup hit the spot. And if you like mid-century modern design, this is your spot.

This concluded our Monorail Trail Crawl and we headed back to our hotel in the Epcot loop. I couldn’t end the day without a few laps around the Boardwalk, just to move a little before turning in for the night.

And that’s it – we took our time at each place so this literally took all afternoon. But if you’re interested in seeing Disney beyond the parks and are looking for a slower pace with good drinks, this might be for you.

Cheers!