More drinking spots at World Showcase
Plus, there will be food. Speculation is the food will be similiar to the La Cava del Tequila. That is, appetizer type. It seems this place will be modeled after the very well received (especially by this author) Cave of Tequila. I like the idea and hope it gets expanded into other areas of Epcot’s World Showcase. A quaint sake bar sounds like fun.
Nestled inside the pavilion at Mexico in the World Showcase is one of our favorite spots in Epcot, La Cava del Tequila. Its a nice reprieve from the heat and crowds of the World Showcase promenade. Mexico has one of the most interesting pavilions in Epcot with its small Mexican village at night atmosphere, and this specialty bar fits perfectly with that theme. But be warned, it is small and holds only 20 or so people.
The bar has over 70 types of tequila but you don’t need to be a tequila aficionado to appreciate this spot. In fact, we knew almost nothing of tequila before trying this place out. We always thought tequila was just tequila. One way to sample the different kinds of tequila is to have a tequila flight, which consists of 3 very different kinds of the alcohol. The flight has a blanco, which is not aged as long and is milder, a reposado, which is stronger but smooth and is my favorite, and anejo, which aged for at least a year and may make the hair fall off of your chest. Save the sangrita (a bloody mary like chaser) for after the anejo.
Any place that specializes in tequila is sure to have margaritas and this has a wide variety of the drink. This list includes pineapple, cucumber, jalapeno, and avocado margaritas. Our favorite was the blood orange version which combines silver tequila, triple sec, and a blood orange juice/hibiscus syrup mixture.
If you are hungry, there are some tapas-style appetizers, but the attraction here is the alcohol.
Today’s article is from Mike and Brooke, contributing writers to Mouse Extra
It seems to be a light weekend in the world of Disney News, so I have something different for you to take a look at. I also write for a great new online magazine called “American Public House Review”. It is dedicated to the great stories and experiences one can find at the country’s finest pubs. In the current January issue I present one of my favorites, The Rose and Crown.
I know many of you feel the same way I do about this place. When I am at Disney World for a long trip, and my feet start screaming at me around four days in, I usually find myself spending the better part of a day hanging in and around this great meeting place. If I know the weather is not going to cooperate with me, I like to hide out inside this fabulous pub.
I have been a regular visitor to Walt Disney World since my parents started bringing me there as a child. Even now, firmly planted in adulthood, I still love the place and I go as often as possible. A few years ago my wife was not able to stay for the entire trip, and since my brother had his young family to introduce to the world’s biggest Fantasyland, I spent some time on my own. One afternoon while the rest of the clan was heading back to the hotel to put the little ones down for a nap, I walked over to Epcot by myself just to walk around and take some photos.
As I entered the back gate of the park that offers walking access to hotels the heavens opened up on me. It was the kind of pouring, soaking rain that only Florida can produce with such random efficiency. Being completely oblivious to the day’s weather report, I was without an umbrella or rain jacket and had no desire to spend the day in a yellow Mickey Mouse poncho. Instead I ran for the nearest dry place where I could spend a few minutes until the storm passed. Luckily, I was only a short sprint to the doors of the Rose and Crown, a pub located in the United Kingdom Pavilion.
To read the rest and see the photos click here.
For those of you who do not listen to WDW Today, and I can’t think of one good reason why you wouldn’t, I wanted to cover a subject I called in about during last night’s live show. Earlier in July, a listener emailed the show asking which resorts have the best bars to grab a drink at after a night in the parks. Since Mouse Extra seems to be the only website that devotes a section just to Disney World’s taverns, I thought I would give the listener my two cents.
Every resort has a bar, and they are usually open at the time the listener is speaking of. Most of them are pool bars, or your typical lobby bar. Only a few of them offer much in the way of great atmosphere or even a typical Disney theme. But there are a few exceptions…
Crew’s Cup at the Yacht Club- Located next to the Yachtsman Steakhouse, this place has the feel of an upscale New England tavern. The wood work is inviting and the atmosphere and detail is well done. For the beer drinker, the Crew’s Cup offers one of the best beer selections on property. There is also a small appetizer menu if you are looking for a late night snack.
Territory Lounge at the Wilderness Lodge- Everything about the Wilderness Lodge is impressive, and the Territory Lounge is as well. There is a great Lewis and Clark theme here and bar is a warm and inviting place. Great place to unwind at night.
Scat Cat Club at Port Orleans French Quarter- This may not be as relaxing or as well themed as the others, but the Scat Cat offers some great live entertainment. If you are staying at the French Quarter, check it out.
The Boardwalk- Nothing can top the Boardwalk when it comes to resorts with great places to drink after park hours. It has a very nice bar in the Inn itself called the Belle Vue Room, but it’s just a short walk outside the lobby to find to some great choices. The ESPN Club, the Big River Grill brewpub, and even a piano bar named Jellyrolls are all different and fun.
Finally, I think it is important to mention the worst bar at the resorts, and so far the worst I have found is the Turf Club at Saratoga Springs. This is only a bar by name and really isn’t worth the time.
Crockett’s Tavern isn’t really a tavern. Disney put a sign up to call it “Crockett’s Tavern”, but it is really only a small bar inside the Trail’s End restaurant. But despite the lack of a true tavern feel, Crockett’s at the Fort Wilderness campground is a great place to eat and relax.
The food speaks for itself at Trail’s End. It is simply the best value on property, but Crockett’s Tavern is a worthwhile place to drink even without eating. It’s a strange phenomenon actually. It has little in the way of an authentic frontier saloon, like one would expect in this location. The bar is small with only maybe 10 stools total. Really, when one sees the sign out front, they expect more than one Crockett’s delivers aesthetically. But there is just something about the place that makes you want to come back.
Crockett’s Tavern is quiet. Even when the buffet is full of tourists and cranky children, the bar is just far enough away to maintain a nice ambience. The service has always been great and very personal, and that helps to create a good feeling about being there.
If you don’t have children, and want to come to Trail’s End, you may want to consider eating at the bar. It may not be worth going out of your way, and I certainly can’t come up with many reasons to take the long trek over to the campground to enjoy Crockett’s Tavern. But what I can tell you is that for one reason or another, some of my best times at Disney World have been at this bar. It’s a warm and inviting place, if not a “magical” or immersive Disney experience. Sometimes you just need a good bar and a little break from magic.
To me, the House of Blues is what Downtown Disney is all about. Its a nightclub, music venue and themed eatery all wrapped into one. Plus, its got that great brand name, the Blues Brothers, behind it. I previously did a review of Boatwright’s at the Port Orleans resort wherein I criticized its “toned down” version of Creole cuisine. That’s not the case at the House of Blues. The food is very good and is complemented by its surroundings. After the Hard Rock Cafe opened years ago, we saw a plethora of themed chain restaurants like Planet Hollywood, the Rainforest Cafe, and the All Star Cafe. In my opinion, the House of Blues may very well be the best of the lot. Read the rest of this entry »