Taking a loop on Disney World’s monorail is undoubtedly a Disney rite of passage. You can then level up this experience by making it a “Monorail Crawl” complete with stopping at a lounge or restaurant at each of the three monorail resorts – the Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and Grand Floridian. Not only is this a great opportunity to check out the stunning lobbies of Disney World’s premier resorts but you can also sample food and drink items you can’t get anywhere else on property.
The Monorail Crawl is extra special during the holiday season complete with larger-than-life gingerbread displays, Christmas trees, and special treats for purchase. This has now become a tradition for my family and I was happy to share it recently with Ryno. Not only did we have a great day but we also got to try some seasonal offerings we think you should check out during your holiday vacation to Walt Disney World!
We chose to start our loop at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to visit the Grand Floridian Café for brunch. This is a great tip since it gets you to the resort if you’re not already at the Magic Kingdom or one of the other monorail resorts. We also thought it was a fantastic brunch at a great price – be sure to read our full review here.
And if you’re visiting the Grand Floridian Café, you MUST order the Gingerbread Martini… it’s holiday cheer in a glass and we wish it was on the menu year-round. The martini is creamy, well balanced, and the amount of gingerbread spice is perfect.
Gingerbread Martini – Grey Goose Vodka, RumChata Liqueur, and gingerbread spice featuring a rim of gingerbread from the resort bakery for $17.50.
While at the Grand Floridian, we of course stopped in the lobby to soak up the ambiance of the nearly 40-foot-tall Christmas tree and 25th Anniversary of the Grand Gingerbread House. The holiday music, the glow of the Christmas tree, and the scent of gingerbread feel right out of a movie. Plus, you can take home gingerbread-goodness from the shop located inside the gingerbread house. I personally snagged a Mickey gingerbread man and a gingerbread loaf.
After passing a fully decorated Magic Kingdom, our next stop was the Disney’s Contemporary Resort. We opted to visit the lounge at Steakhouse 71 which is open 9:00 am until 11:00 pm. You can also visit the lounge at California Grill during dinner hours for a “top of the world” view and an a la carte version of their menu.
The bar is open seating and is located directly behind the check-in desk for the restaurant. In addition to signature cocktails, you can also order “lounge bites” featuring Steakhouse 71 favorites like the smash burger.
We were pleasantly surprised to see there was a seasonal beverage option here, too… the Holiday Fruitcake Old-Fashioned.
Unfortunately, the Holiday Fruitcake Old-Fashioned was nowhere near as good as the Gingerbread Martini. The old-fashioned tasted mostly like fruit punch with very little whiskey. We wish it had more warmth or depth of flavor from the whiskey or spices. But don’t let this discourage you from visiting the Steakhouse 71 Lounge – there are other fantastic drinks here, like the Curious Cold Brew.
The Holiday Fruitcake Old-Fashioned – Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, Hella Cocktail Co. Apple Blossom Bitters, cranberry, lemon, and rosemary for $18.00.
The gingerbread display at the Contemporary is on the main concourse and is visible from the monorail. This year’s display features Cinderella Castle decked out with the “Castle Dream Lights”… gone but never forgotten. You can also purchase treats here, like Linzer cookies, caramel apple cake with gingerbread streusel, and, of course, gingerbread.
Our final stop on this festive monorail adventure, was Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to visit Trader Sam’s Grog Gotto. We were on a very specific mission at Trader Sam’s to get the Holiday Rum Barrel Tiki Mug which comes with a festive beverage. We’ve seen reports that this special edition tiki mug has since sold out, but it’s always worth checking throughout the season.
We opted for the Barela La Ho’omaha, but you can also choose the non-alcoholic ‘Olu’olu included with the price of the souvenir mug. The Barela La Ho’omaha was definitely on the sweet side, but the coconut with the dark rum and cinnamon gave it a holiday feel. Unfortunately, you cannot order this cocktail by itself, it’s only available with purchasing the mug. We wish Trader Sam’s had some holiday beverages for purchase without the $75 tiki mug.
Barela La Ho’omaha – Gosling Black Seal Rum, coconut cream, guava syrup, pineapple, and lime juices for $75, including the Holiday Rum Barrel Tiki Mug.
Zombie – Gosling’s 151 Black Seal Rum, Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Bacardi 8 Year Rum, tropical juices, falernum, and cinnamon for $18.50.
If you’re not getting the Holiday Barrel Tiki Mug, you should order the Zombie. Really, you should order the Zombie any time you’re at Trader Sam’s. It’s a classic-style tiki drink loaded with rum making it one of the better values at Sam’s. Aloooooooha!
Personally, I love sitting outside at Walt Disney World’s Trader Sam’s. The Polynesian is my favorite resort and it’s a great spot to soak in the atmosphere and listen to live music. It’s also much quieter and easier to get into than the inside seating.
And if all else fails, visit the Tambu Lounge upstairs in the Great Ceremonial House for great drinks, select menu items from ‘Ohana, and a perfect view of Cinderella Castle. I would absolutely recommend ordering the Back Scratcher cocktail, pot stickers, ‘Ohana noodles, and ‘Ohana bread pudding.
After a full day of visiting resorts and riding the monorail, our festive Monorail Crawl had come to end. Our day of dining and shopping put me in the holiday spirit and the pace was much more relaxing than a day at the parks or even Disney Springs. You can truly make a day of this activity and it’s an absolute must-do if you’re visiting during the holiday season!
For even more holiday cheer, watch our full video, complete with a tour of the holiday decorations and shopping!
