So you’ve had a long day in the parks or you just had a relaxing day sitting by the pool, but now it’s time to get a drink (or several) and some grub. One of the things I look forward to most when planning a trip to Walt Disney World is doing a bar crawl around Seven Seas Lagoon and visiting each of its three resorts. Not only do you get to ride the monorail several times, you get to see three of the best resorts at Walt Disney World.
There are no right or wrong ways to complete a monorail bar crawl. You can start at any of the resorts and finish wherever you would like. The logistics of getting from and back to your resort would probably play the biggest factor into how you navigate the odyssey.
If you are already at the Magic Kingdom, I would suggest you just hop on the resort monorail outside the park and make your first stop the Contemporary. If you are somewhere else on property and looking for a quick and easy way to start your tour, take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and just walk over to the Contemporary or hop on the monorail.
At the Contemporary, two spots you may want to check out are the Wave and Outer Rim. At the Wave, they have a fairly large bar and great lounge area to relax. It is a great spot to start your evening and if you had a hot day at the parks, you can recharge yourself with this laid back atmosphere. The Wave is on the ground level of the Contemporary so if you took the monorail, you will need to navigate several escalators to reach the ground floor. If you walked to the resort, you just need to walk in the main entrance and you will find the Wave just past the front desk on the left.
The lounge at the Wave
I would also suggest the Outer Rim if you want to experience the uniqueness of the Contemporary. Located on the fourth floor, it sits just outside the entrances to both Chef Mickey’s and Contempo Café. While it can be quite noisy from all the activity at Chef Mickey’s, there is something very unique about relaxing in their oversized chairs and seeing and hearing the monorail pass by every few minutes.
Outer Rim Lounge
From the Contemporary, you will board the monorail and head on over to the Polynesian Village Resort.
The Polynesian has some really great options for drinks and food. If you are getting hungry or were planning on grabbing some food on your crawl, this is the resort to do it. Everyone will tell you to visit Trader Sam’s and while it is a great spot, don’t overlook two other locations. The first is the outdoor tiki terrace associated with Trader Sam’s. It is a fantastic spot to sit and enjoy the same menu of Trader Sam’s but also experience all that the Polynesian has to offer. You can hear some Hawaiian-themed music and possibly see the Electrical Water Pageant float by on Seven Seas Lagoon or see Wishes at the Magic Kingdom.
If you are looking to stay within a budget, a great idea for food is the quick service offerings of Capt. Cook’s. It is located directly next to the tiki terrace and you can bring that food over as you enjoy drinks from the tiki bar. I highly recommend the Thai coconut meatballs served over rice. Not only is it a great deal at $8.49 but the portion is large enough for two adults to share. Capt. Cook’s also offers some other unique dishes that are very reasonably priced.
The other watering hole to enjoy at the Polynesian is Tambu Lounge, located on the second floor next to the entrance of ‘Ohana. This is a convenient location because the monorail stop is on the second floor. You just walk inside and the lounge will be straight ahead. A highlight of Tambu Lounge is the Lapu Lapu. This drink is not for the faint of heart. It is big enough for two to share. It is a tropical drink served in a full size pineapple. Given the size and strength of this drink, be sure to eat and drink some water because you will certainly feel it.
The Lapu Lapu at Tambu Lounge
Our last stop on the monorail tour will be the Grand Floridian. While the Grand Floridian may have some great dining locations, there aren’t a great deal of bar options at the resort. With that said, Mizner’s Lounge on the second floor of the Grand Floridian’s lobby is a nice place to end your night. As with the Polynesian, the monorail will drop you off on the second floor of the Grand Floridian. This makes it an easy walk to Mizner’s. At first glance, the lounge may appear uptight and stuffy. Don’t let this first impression fool you. It is a quiet, relaxing spot to enjoy your last beverage of the night. The windows offer a great view of the expansive resort and its pool and Seven Seas Lagoon.
Some last pieces of advice:
– Pay attention to park closing times. If you are relying on the monorail to get back to the Magic Kingdom and using the bus system, the monorail and buses will not run all night. The schedule will be based on the Magic Kingdom’s closing time.
– Uber is a great option for a direct ride back to your resort. If you are staying on property, an Uber ride is a relatively inexpensive and convenient means to safely get home. The driver will pick you up directly in front of the resort just like any taxi or car service. You also do not need cash since the entire transaction (fee and tip) are completed within the app on your smart phone.
– Check bar closing times. They all vary by location so plan accordingly.
– Pace yourself and have a good time. A suggestion would be to bring some bottles of water or snacks with you in a backpack. You can hydrate and eat some peanuts or a granola bar while you wait for the monorail.
– If you can’t or don’t drink, I would still encourage you to tour the resorts. You can perhaps visit each gift shop and pick up a magnet or postcard. All three resorts are so unique and special, it is a great experience to just take in all of them.
