The Solo Scale:

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Let’s try a hypothetical scenario — you’re at the Magic Kingdom. Even if you’re visiting in the winter, it could be hot. You’re walking all day, maybe even more than ten miles and you might feel exhausted. The lines are psyching you out when it comes to rides, but you still want to enjoy the theming of the resorts and the parks. What can you do? Well, luckily, there’s a whole array of resorts on the monorail line, plenty of restaurants & bars, and amazing things to drink. If you feel like you have no energy left for the parks, it’s time for the Disney drink crawl.

So, to start. What are the monorail resorts? These are the three hotels that you can stop at if you’re taking the monorail (non-express) option when you travel from the TTC (Ticket & Transportation Centre) towards Magic Kingdom.

Those three hotels are: Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and the Contemporary.

If you’re looking to drink crawl, you can choose whatever direction you head in! The afternoon I did it, I had reservations for California Grill, which meant that I started with the Polynesian, continued to Grand Floridian, and ended up at Contemporary. It should be noted that there have been some higher restrictions on access to the Disney resorts if you’re not a guest. However, at this point in time, there are no current restrictions on using the monorail. So if your journey begins at the monorail gates, then your plans can continue!

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Let’s Start The Drink Crawl!

Let’s start with the Polynesian. You’ve got a couple of options here. The big draw, of course, is Trader Sam’s, but the catch is that the wait list is long. If you’re trying to do a crawl in a shorter amount of time, it’s probably not worth the wait. You can also try for the Tiki Terrace, if you still want the Trader Sam’s vibes, but don’t want to wait for a seat inside.

There’s Tambu Lounge, but also a few pool bars in both the Oasis Bar and the Barefoot Pool Bar.

There’s other dining options (counter service & restaurants), but if we’re considering bars, these are the main options. I opted for the Tambu Lounge.

This was great. I was able to walk up and get a seat to drink easily (as a solo traveller), and I was seated next to the cashier. That made for great people watching and easy access for refills. The bartending staff was fantastic, and I was able to get all the water I needed to deal with my dehydration. Plus, I enjoyed a refreshing Raspberry Mojito to start relaxing me after a long day at the park! I spent about thirty minutes here nursing the drink, which was refreshing and tart, but didn’t taste too strong. This was a good sign because I was going to continue onward.

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On to the next stop…

The Grand Floridian! Of all the monorail hotels, this is the fanciest by far. The smell, the appearance, and the general ambiance may have you feeling like you’re underdressed, but if you’re not going to any of the signature restaurants, you’ll be fine.

Here, you can choose between options like Enchanted Rose Lounge, Citricos Lounge, Beaches Pool Bar & Grill, and Courtyard Pool Bar. I recommend the first two, and of those, I’d heartily recommend the Enchanted Rose Lounge. Keep in mind that Citricos is closed two days of the week, so if you really want a drink at the lounge, plan around that.

Themed to Beauty & the Beast, you can easily get a seat at the bar, dining underneath the massively impressive and beautiful chandelier.

At this stop, I ordered a Kir, which felt like a bit of a fancier drink for a fancy location. I had a great view of the bar and the rest of the patrons, and sipping this drink took a little longer given that it was a bit sweeter and less of a cocktail. Still, it’s an entertaining location to be in and you can never spend too much time in the Grand Floridian.

When you’re finished, there’s one last hop!

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And over to the last stop!

The last hotel will be the Contemporary. Here, you can choose between the Steakhouse 71 Lounge, Outer Rim, California Grill Lounge, or Cove Bar and Sand Bar (if you’re looking for pool options). Keep in mind that California Grill Lounge may not have seats available given its popularity.

For me, my monorail drink crawl came to an end with dinner reservations at California Grill and one last cocktail — a blueberry lemon drop martini. The lemon was pretty light, which made this taste more of blueberry. It felt like the perfect end to a ninety-minute drink crawl (between the monorail, transport time, and the drinks themselves).

After a hectic day in the parks, this was a fun activity that only cost a little extra to do given that the transportation was free. Every stop included fantastic bartenders, great drinks, and a treat to get to explore the hotels near the Magic Kingdom.

The truth is, I would absolutely do this again and try to hit a new combination. Or maybe I would just try a new combination of drinks. It’s a great way to get out of the sun, the noise, and the heat and sit down and enjoy the vacation. If you’re on your own or have some time at the Magic Kingdom (and are above 21), I heartily recommend you do a Disney drink crawl of your own.

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