Exploring the world of Disney Drinking, "Libation Correspondent" Erik kicks off a new series of articles, delving into everyone's favorite questionable Park addition.
People have a wide variety of opinions over the availability of alcohol in the Disney parks. Walt didn’t want to bring the beer-swilling element into his park, intending for Disneyland to be a clean establishment. Not to get too much into this long-standing argument, but look up some info on Disney’s Holidayland. Seriously. Folks could buy a beer for a buck and then wander over the train tracks into Frontierland.
As of the opening of Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, beer, wine, and cocktails are now available in every Disney park around the world. There are plenty of opportunities to discuss alcohol in the Parks in an adult and responsible manner.
First, a bit of history. When EPCOT Center opened, it was the first Disney park to allow alcohol outside the vaunted Club 33. With the focus on international culture, this made sense. Why wouldn’t a guest want to have a glass of wine while enjoying their cuisine at L’ Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante? Yes, I picked the longest restaurant name out there to demonstrate my skills at looking up restaurant names on my Parks app. From there, the doors were opened. The Disney-MGM Studios debuted with a few locations to drink including a boss bar on a catwalk. Disney’s Animal Kingdom even has its own Safari Ale, a tasty amber ale that is still fairly refreshing on a hot day in the jungles of Florida.
The first Epcot International Food and Wine festival took place in 1995. Before its appearance in the Parks, the festival was hosted in various locations like the Disney Village Marketplace going as far back as 1981. From its rather humble beginnings, the festival has grown to a massive offering that takes up almost a quarter of the year. It has become so popular that Epcot now copies the formula to other seasons. The Flower and Garden festival offers a similar bevy of food and drink options in the Spring, allowing guests to stroll among elaborate topiaries and garden displays. The Festival of the Arts adds a, well, artistic element to the formula. Around the winter holidays, the booths roll out again with a great selection of cold weather drink options around the lagoon. Try hard enough and you might convince yourself it’s not humid and stifling in December.
FLIGHT OF MIXED WINES -- The Alfresco Tasting Terrace, on the second floor of the Golden Vine Winery at Disney California Adventure Park, offers small plates of classic Mediterranean favorites complemented by wines from the "Disney Family of Wines," a collection whose vintners have a personal connection to the Disney name. Guests can savor the delectable flavors, relax and enjoy the great views of Radiator Springs, which comes alive after dark in Cars Land.
Not to be outdone, Disney’s California Adventure has copied the successful formula used on the East Coast. Booths surround the waterfront at DCA, highlighting California beer, wine, and cocktails. Locals and tourists alike turn out in droves to sample the available bites and sips.
Some restaurants have become known for their specific libations. The Disneyland Hotel advertised its close proximity to the Park, tempting parents away from the fun even in its earliest days. Now, the resort hosts sommelier-guided experiences at Steakhouse 55 and the Grand Californian’s Napa Rose. Trader Sam’s has become so entrenched in Disney lore with its fun atmosphere and tropical drinks that many believe it has always been around.
Lest we forget the beer afficianados out there, Disney has made huge strides in embracing the craft beer movement. California has long been part of the craft brewery explosion and it shows at the Resort! Major brewers are represented, but many of the restaurants and carry smaller craft brewers from around California as well. Sierra Nevada, 21st Amendment, North Coast Brewing, and many others have a home inside DCA. What would Ralph Brennan’s be without Abita, the iconic New Orleans brewery? Many of the restaurants and bars around the Resort stick to their indigenous beer themes.
Florida, too, has increased its beer offerings of late. The Food and Wine festival has multiple locations featuring international and local beers. Orlando area brewers are available at many of the restaurants at Disney Springs and even at the Skipper Canteen in the Magic Kingdom itself. The Baseline Tap House at Hollywood Studios ensures you won’t be without California beers even in Florida. And let’s not forget the Unibrowe beers featured in Epcot’s Canada Pavilion. It’s a great time to be a Disney fan who enjoys quality beer!
Guests will discover innovative and creative concoctions from around the galaxy at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California and at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. From left to right, alcoholic beverages: The Outer Rim, Bespin Fizz, Yub Nub, and Fuzzy Tauntaun can be found at Oga's Cantina. (Kent Phillips/Disney Parks)
As we will highlight over the next several months, Disney now hosts myriad options across its resorts. Some locations have staple drinks and others are known for their specific themes. Just as Disney continues to expand their food options, they also look for new and interesting ways to encourage exploration through drink. By now, many have read about high price tags on those themed concoctions at Oga’s Canteen in Galaxy’s Edge, but there are plenty of other options out there.
If you want to explore the realm of Instagrammable Disney libations, stay tuned to this blog. Your dedicated EarzUp! reporters are here to highlight the best and the forgettablest (I am well aware that’s not a word, Professor.) of Disney’s offerings.
