By Here’s a bit of truth-in-advertising before we begin. We are just about the worst people to discuss bars and lounges at Disney. David’s had three alcoholic beverages in the 2000s – one of them was a blatant attempt to impress Kim on an early date – and Kim’s doctor made her cut out her nightly glass of wine.
However, she has been a casual drinker over the years, and he has spent the 2010s and 2020s writing about Disney. So, they both know the best bars and lounges at Walt Disney World. Here are the places you should target.
AbracadaBar
We will acknowledge our bias in advance. A recurring theme throughout this book is that we’re shameless tourists. As author John Scalzi once said, we’re “the most touristy tourists who ever touristed.” And we’re proud of it.
When we’re at Disney World, we want to visit memorable places that reinforce how magical Disney vacations are. This list will reflect that fact, beginning with AbracadaBar.
Walk down Disney’s BoardWalk, and you can’t help but notice this place. Magic is on the menu here, with many of the drinks doing a trick or two. You know the deal by now, as chemistry lessons have transformed high-end bars.
Someone orders a drink, the server shows up with something that’s in a glass but not liquid, and then abracadabra! A solid or vapor turns into a liquid. Sure, it’s a parlor trick, but we happen to adore parlor tricks.
We’ll warn you that the reviews for AbracadaBar reflect the fact that it’s not Disney’s best place for big drinkers to go. We’ll list some other places on this list for purists. This one’s for the tourists who prefer style over substance.
BaseLine Tap House
You’ll notice that most of our suggestions reside at official Disney hotels or Disney Springs, not the parks. While a few others such as Tune-Up Lounge merited consideration, we only picked a handful of the most established bars and lounges.
High on that list is BaseLine Tap House, a place that will often prove your salvation while at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Conveniently located on Grand Avenue, this place once served as the holding area for guests waiting to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Few people complained, as they quickly discovered the joys of drinks and shareables at this tavern. It has become one of the best meet-up spots for Central Floridians spending the day at the park. They know they can eat cheap shareable bar food here like the charcuterie board while doing whiskey shots with friends.
The Beak and the Barrel
Now we have the newest entry on this list by a few weeks. Disney introduced The Beak and the Barrel as the twin sibling to Pirates of the Caribbean, its adjoining attraction.
That’s also the theme here. You’re a pirate heading to a tavern in search of rum! And unlike Captain Jack Sparrow, you’ll never once wonder, “Why is the rum always gone?”
This tavern keeps a full supply of it as well as any other potent potable you could possibly want. More importantly, at least to us, this place is a Pirates fan’s dream.
Imagineers have seeded loving tributes to the attraction throughout the tavern. They’re ubiquitous, although some will require a bit of inside knowledge to appreciate fully.
In terms of theming, this might be the best thing Disney has ever done, at least on land. It’s the spiritual successor to the wildly popular Haunted Mansion Parlor on some Disney cruise ships. This is an absolute must-do at Disney World.
Enchanted Rose
Here’s a lounge for Beauty and the Beast fans. It’s also one of the newest places on this list, at least with its theming. Disney repurposed an existing space at the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
The old space became four distinct areas, each of which is themed to an aspect of the timeless story of Beauty and the Beast. Our favorite is the chandelier styled after Belle’s iconic golden ballgown.
Somehow, that’s not even the best part, though. This lounge offers indoor and outdoor seating. We don’t recommend the outdoor seating unless the weather is ideal, but it’s a fabulous way to relax. It’s that much better at twilight as the serene backdrop soothes the soul. This is as picturesque as Disney gets.
GEO-82 Lounge
Next, we have the other brand new option on this list, having opened in the summer of 2025. GEO-82’s name and theme celebrate the history of EPCOT, which opened in 1982.
That’s fitting as Spaceship Earth hosts this lounge. It used to be a secret area for Disney sponsors before Disney converted it to a bar available to anyone. So, you should feel special when sitting here.
You’ll know this from the view, as there’s a unique thrill when sitting inside the giant Spaceship Earth globe and staring down at the people walking through the streets of EPCOT. So, this place is every bit the must-do at EPCOT that The Beak and the Barrel is at Magic Kingdom.
Geyser Point Bar & Grill
We actually love two bars at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The other, Territory Lounge, resides near the lobby and has turned into a holding area for guests awaiting a meal at Artist Point.
Geyser Point sits on the other side of the hotel campus, nestled comfortably between the forest and the water. The setting makes it an ideal spot to soak up the atmosphere.
This place serves the most food of anything on this list, as it’s a true Quick Service restaurant. However, Disney takes the bar part of the title seriously.
You can sip sangrias, knock down a margarita, or chug Pina Coladas until you’re ready to plan your escape to the dunes of a cape. (You may be too young for this reference.)
Anyway, the point is that if we ranked these dining options, Geyser Point would be near the top of the list. Other than the final entry, this is the spot where you’re most likely to find us…and not just because of the legendary Bison Cheeseburger.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
This name means something to a very small but fiercely loyal legion of fans. Jock Lindsey played a minor role in the Indiana Jones film franchise. And Fred Sorenson, the actor who played the role, wasn’t just pretending to be a pilot but rather a real one who once saved Stephen Spielberg’s life.
For this reason, the character’s celebrity took on a life of its own, with Disney celebrating Jock Lindsey through a Disney Springs bar. Indiana Jones fans – and David accepts that they’re currently a dying breed – will find plenty of Easter eggs and references here.
Everyone else will love the exotic flavors and drinks, ones befitting a global adventurer like Jock Lindsey. This bar also embraces Halloween to a profound degree. Its decorations go up around the same time as Magic Kingdom’s do, which is typically in August. So, you can enjoy a special menu and theme here in the fall. That’s when we’re most likely to visit.
La Cava del Tequila
We won’t belabor the point here. At EPCOT’s World Showcase, there’s only one place to go when you want tequila. You’re heading to the Mexico pavilion.
From the front of the park, you’ll turn left until you notice the ginormous pyramid ahead. Then, you’ll look for La Cava del Tequila by the water, stop there, and do shots. Repeat until giddy.
Oga’s Cantina
Here’s the first themed bar of its kind at Disney World, the one that established a new style for Disney. At Oga’s Cantina, you’re entering a similar bar to the one shown in the original Star Wars.
This scene took on a life of its own in pop culture, with people referencing the Star Wars cantina decades after the film’s release. When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge debuted, Disney recreated the scene as an actual cantina, complete with alien foods and beverages.
We’ve sampled quite a bit of this menu, and Kim’s had several of the drinks. They’re definitely different from what you’d sip at Geyser Point or La Cava del Tequila, but that’s what makes them fun.
Oga’s Cantina has remained wildly popular since its inception, requiring reservations to drink here. GEO-82 and The Beak and the Barrel have since implemented the same policy, which means you’ll need to do a bit of planning to enjoy any of these places. Still, the ends justify the means here, as these are some of Disney World’s best immersive experiences.
River Roost Lounge
Here’s an entry off the beaten path, but we’re mentioning it for a specific reason. Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside has hosted live entertainment for many years now.
The performer’s name is “Yehaa” Bob Jackson, and he has earned quite the reputation at Disney. He’s a playful pianist and entertainer whose one-person show has developed a loyal following.
Presuming that Jackson continues performing through 2027, he’ll celebrate 30 years as the unofficial host (or mascot?) of Port Orleans – Riverside. He’s much-beloved, and fans of good, clean fun and Disney music will love this show.
Tambu Lounge
Here’s one of our favorite spots to sit and unwind at Disney World. The Tambu Lounge resides on the second floor of the lobby at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It has an HDTV and several comfy chairs where we’ve watched NFL and Nashville Predators games.
More importantly, this place shares menu items with the adjoining ‘Ohana, one of Disney’s World’s most popular restaurants. You can eat the iconic Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings for $15, which is an absolute steal.
Tambu Lounge also serves plenty of Polynesian beverages, including the famous Lapu Lapu, the Polynesian Mai Tai, and the best Piña CoLAVA on the Disney campus.
Since we encourage you to hang out at the Great Ceremonial House anyway, you should stop by this place to have a drink and enjoy some delicious chicken wings. It’s a terrific spot.
…and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
All the other bars on this list deserve to be here – escape maybe AbracadaBar – but let’s be clear. All of them fall far short of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. It’s like the deluxe version of AbracadaBar, only with really good drinks to boot.
This place is unquestionably Disney’s most iconic bar, with another version of it at the Disneyland Hotel. At Disney World, you’ll head to the Great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. You’ll know you’re in the right place because you’ll notice the crowd.
Guests often huddle outside Trader Sam’s, anxiously awaiting the bar’s opening. Once they finish drinking here, it’s like they don’t want to leave. So, they tend to hover in the area of the happy grotto that gave them so much happiness.
What’s the big deal about Trader Sam’s? The bar serves glow drinks with a mystical backstory. You can order the Uh-Oa or Krakatoa Punch to watch some fancy tricks. Those of you who don’t want to wait until you’re at Disney World are encouraged to pull up videos.
You’ll immediately notice that the entire bar sometimes gets into the action. This place is among the most touristy places at Disney World, and we say that with reverence in our voices. Should you only choose one bar during your vacation, it MUST be Trader Sam’s!