The Best Disney World Bars

Disney World is one of my favorite places to drink. No, I don’t go “drinking around the world” at EPCOT, and rarely walk around the parks with a beer or cocktail in hand, but at this point I’m pretty sure that the thing that most makes Disney World special–that transformative sense of exploring a massive, interactive art project–becomes more powerful when I have a little bit of rum in me. (And usually a lot more than that.) Sure, it helps to deal with the crowds and the screaming children and the Florida heat, and yes, I just like to drink, period, but drinking at Disney World is especially fun because it’s home to some of the most gorgeously designed bars in the world. The best Disney World bars don’t just serve drinks; through their design and theming they offer unique experiences that make any drink taste better than usual.

If you don’t go to theme parks all that often and just assume they’re exclusively for kids or families, you might be surprised that drinking is an important part of Disney World for a lot of guests. Disney itself has fully embraced the power and profit of booze; not only is alcohol a major draw at EPCOT’s World Showcase, but Disney World’s numerous resort hotels all feature their own bars, many of which are themed alongside the hotel itself. And Disney Springs, the shopping and nightlife area that’s free to visit, is full of restaurants with great bar programs, and one of the best themed bars on the entire resort. Disney wants to get adults drunk (responsibly, I would assume), and who am I to say no to that?

After hitting up pretty much every bar at Walt Disney World over the last decade, I’ve finally taken the time to write up my personal guide to the best places to drink there. Don’t expect any kind of ranking, or anything like this; I’ve split ’em up between the theme parks, hotels, and Disney Springs, but within those sections they’re listed in no specific order. (If I absolutely had to choose, my fave would come down to either Abracadabar as my most relaxing and personal favorite, Oga’s Cantina for the best theming, and Nomad Lounge for best overall.) So if you’re interested in the wonderful world of drunken Disney World, here’s everything you need to get started.

At the Theme Parks

Nomad Lounge

Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

People who like Nomad Lounge tend to love it, and it’s not hard to see why: in addition to wonderful drinks, it’s one of the best combinations of smart theming and comfort you’ll find anywhere. And if you sit on its wraparound porch you’ll have a quiet, hidden view of one of the park’s rivers. Inspired by the real-life adventures of Disney Imagineers, Nomad will make you feel like you’re exploring some far flung corner of the globe, while also making you think about the rewards and responsibilities of travel. You can also get drunk there, off of cocktails inspired by Africa and wines from South America and Africa. Nomad doesn’t rely on technology to enrich its atmosphere, and stands as a testament to what design and aesthetic alone can create. 

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The Beak and Barrel

Location: Magic Kingdom

Disney World’s newest bar turns one of their most iconic rides into a rum-fueled interactive experience. Nestled up against Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland, The Beak and Barrel expands on that attraction’s world of hard-partying pirates with an immaculately-themed tavern filled with pirate servers, interactive show elements a la Trader Sam’s, and an audio-animatronic parrot who holds court from his perch above the bar. The design is impeccable, and the rum-heavy drinks will appease any hardened tiki lover. The Beak and Barrel needs to be seen at least once, especially if you’re a Pirates fan; prepare yourself for the 45-minute limit, though, and the very good chance that you’ll share your table with strangers. There are also some logistical concerns—it’s very possible you won’t be able to see the bar from where you’re sitting, so don’t expect a constant view of Rummy, that little robot parrot. Still, The Beak and Barrel makes for a wonderful addition to Adventureland’s pirate nook.

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Oga’s Cantina

Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Ready for a Bloody Rancor or a Dagobah Slug Slinger? One of the signature experiences at Star Wars—Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios is this real-life version of a Star Wars cantina. You won’t meet any aliens, sadly, but at least that means you won’t see any arms getting chopped off with a lightsaber while you’re sipping your space booze. There is a droid, though, and it’s the best one in the whole park: DJ Rex, the former pilot at Star Tours, spins a mix of original Star Wars-style pop music, regularly interjecting with the voice of the dearly departed Paul Reubens (we’ll always love you, buddy.) The drinks aim for otherworldliness through various means, like a cocktail that briefly shocks the taste buds, and another that never stops fizzing. There are also collectible mugs here, too, one in the shape of a porg, the other with a forest theme from the ewoks’ home moon of Endor. Oga’s also serves a handful of tasty snacks, like the “Happabore Sampler” charcuterie plate, and the Oga’s Obsession snack mix that pops in your mouth. There’s a 45-minute limit and a two drink maximum, so sadly you can’t just make like Norm at Cheers and stay all night, but thankfully that does ensure constant turnover and not too much of a wait. Even if you don’t like Star Wars you might fall in love with the alien charm of Oga’s Cantina.

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Space 220

Location: EPCOT

EPCOT’s Space 220 is more of a restaurant than a bar, and one of the harder ones to get into at Disney World. If you can’t get a reservation for a table, you can take a chance on the first come, first served line for its bar; you can order some of its menu items a la carte there, but, more importantly, you can sample a variety of exciting space-themed drinks. I’m partial to the Black Hole Fashioned (an old fashioned with Demerara) and the Saturn 2.0 (basically a tiki drink with a galactic twist), but you can’t go wrong with any of Space 220’s “atmospheric spirits.” Themed after a space station, Space 220 sells the illusion with the latest in the long history of fake Disney elevators; screens in the elevator make it look like you’re riding the tallest elevator in the universe to the station above, and inside the restaurant there’s a massive wall-length series of screens designed to look like windows with a view of Earth and the cosmos around it. It can be tricky to get into (the bar doesn’t have a lot of seats and there’s a solid chance you’ll be waiting an hour or more to make it in), but if you don’t mind burning park time waiting for something that isn’t a ride or attraction, you should take a chance on Space 220.

At Disney Springs

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

Location: Disney Springs

Or, as I tend to call it, the Indiana Jones bar. It’s named after an obscure character from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Remember the guy with the water plane at the start of the movie? The one in a Yankees cap and with a pet snake? That’s Jock Lindsey, a pilot and adventurer who settles down in the Florida town of Disney Springs in the 1940s. (None of that is real, of course—the Disney Springs shopping district has its own backstory that tries to give the space a bit of history.) He eventually retires from flying and turns his hangar into a bar filled with various artifacts collected from his pilot days, as well as letters, gifts, and other trinkets from his old friend Indiana. There’s even an African Queen-style river boat that serves as part of the bar’s patio, complete with an old engine that’s constantly acting up all day long. Bring a large party and you might get to sit in the diving bell booth. Expect exotic cocktails alongside hearty bar fare like sliders and a giant pretzel with beer cheese. 

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