Disney World Resort Monorail Crawl: Anything But Monotonous!
“Please stand clear of the doors. Por Favor Manténgase Alejado de las Puertas.”
Walt Disney World Monorail
Everyone knows that when you hear those words, you’re on the monorail! Typically you’ll ride the monorail to a Disney Park, but some people also like to take part in the Walt Disney World Resort monorail bar crawl. The Disney resort bar crawl could be something to consider for your next Disney vacation. Disney-loving adults can enjoy various wine, beer, and cocktail options served throughout the Walt Disney World resorts located along the monorail track. Many of the lounges even have specialty drinks!
The Disney monorail crawl is not official, but people love to take the monorail between Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort and experience the variety of Disney bars that make for a fun WDW evening with a group.
The magic of the monorail bar crawl is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it! As this is an unofficial concept, you can start at whichever resort you want to, and you can go to one, two, or all three. Our recommended path starts at the Polynesian and ends at Disney’s Contemporary. The best order for your monorail bar hop will vary depending on crowd levels, time of day, and where you begin.
One of the reasons we like making Disney’s Contemporary Resort the final stop on the bar crawl is due to the Contemporary’s great views of the Magic Kingdom as the sun sets. If you start your crawl earlier in the afternoon or early evening, you might just catch the gorgeous sunset and fireworks at your last stop!
Also, keep in mind that the Electrical Water Pageant makes stops at each of the three resorts on the monorail bar crawl, so regardless of which stop you are at, you can head out to the water and catch the show once it gets dark! (The electrical water pageant usually goes from around 8:35 pm to 10:25 pm, weather permitting. Check the hotel front desk or info area for further details!)
1st Stop on the Monorail Crawl
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Let’s begin the Disney bar crawl! Disney’s Polynesian has three options for bars you and your party can try during the bar hop.
Name: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
Location: 1st floor of the Polynesian lobby, right outside of the lobby, located to the left of Capt. Cook’s.
Hours: 3:00 pm – 12:00 am (After 8:00 pm, only guests over 21 years old are permitted. However, guests of all ages can still go outside to the Tiki Terrace. Hours may vary.)
Do They Serve Food? Yes.
Trader Sam’s is one of the most popular resort bars. With incredible tropical drinks and a Jungle Cruise-themed backstory, people absolutely love the fun tiki bar environment inside. You can’t make a reservation at Trader Sam’s, so it can be tricky to get in without waiting in a long line. Be sure to put your name down with the Disney Cast Member waiting outside. The earlier in the afternoon or evening that you do so, the better chance you’ll have at getting in.
Name: Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace
Location: 1st floor of the Polynesian lobby, on the terrace! (Right outside of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.) The seating is all outdoors.
Hours: 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm. (Hours may vary.)
Do They Serve Food? Yes! Options will be the same as inside the Grog Grotto.
The outdoor extended seating area of Trader Sam’s, known as Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace, serves more of delicious tropical tiki beverages. There are so many to choose from! Pick from a Mosquito Mojito or a Polynesian Pearl, or even a Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room.
Name: Tambu Lounge
Location: 2nd floor of the Polynesian lobby building.
Hours: 8:30 am – 11:00 pm. (Hours may vary.)
Do They Serve Food? Yes!
Tambu Lounge has so much to offer. For exceptional Hawaiian-themed snacks, try the barbecued pork ribs or Big Kahuna’s Hot Wings. Tambu Lounge also offers some great mocktails!
2nd Stop on the Monorail Crawl
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
After you’ve hit up the Polynesian’s best tiki beverages, head back to the monorail and zip over to the Grand Floridian’s lounge called The Enchanted Rose.
The Grand Floridian only has one lounge, but it is gorgeous.
Name: Enchanted Rose
Location: 2nd floor of the Grand Floridian’s main building.
Hours: 3:30 pm – 11:00 pm (Hours may vary.)
Do They Serve Food? Yes, enjoy delights such as truffle fries, smoked brisket sliders, and more!
One reason the Enchanted Rose is so popular is because of its recent update to have a Beauty and The Beast theme inside. The décor here is sophisticated; however, the dress code is casual! (That’s what we call a win-win!) Take in the French ambiance and imagine you’re really in the Beast’s library. You can sit indoors or outside on the patio while you sip a Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, or one of their specialty Beauty and the Beast themed cocktails.
To close out your monorail bar crawl, ride the monorail across Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The Contemporary has several options as far as bars and lounges go. We’ll break them down for you!
Last Stop on the Monorail Crawl
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
For the grand finale of your Disney monorail crawl, the Contemporary has fantastic drinks at Outer Rim and a lesser-known villain’s lair if you’re part of DVC. (If you know, you know!)
Name: Outer Rim
Location: The 4th floor of the Contemporary Resort, near Contempo Café and Chef Mickey’s.
Hours: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Do They Serve Food? No.
Outer Rim, while lacking eye-catching themed décor, has a truly fantastic drink selection. We love their Piña CoLava! They also have a great menu selection of wines, beers, cocktails, and mocktails.
Name: Top of The World Lounge – A Villain’s Lair
Location: 16th floor of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Hours: 6:00 pm – 12:00 am
Do They Serve Food? Yes. Choose from various snacks, including a charcuterie board, pretzels, or even a “seven-lair” cake!
Not many people know about this super fun lounge because it is exclusive to Disney Vacation Club members! This lounge is Disney Villain-themed, and their drinks are really tasty. If you have access, this could be a perfect grand finale to your monorail bar hop, as it’s located on the top floor and provides a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
(Pro tip: You can even purchase a package called the “Wicked Wind Down” that includes a reserved area and one cocktail and appetizer per person from the Top of The World Lounge. Enjoy your treats while observing the fireworks from the rooftop terrace! Super magical, right?)
As we close out the excitement awaiting you on the monorail resort bar crawl, we want to remind our readers to please drink responsibly!
Enjoy your monorail extravaganza!
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As a frequent Deluxe Disney Resort Guest I really do not think it is fair that people who are not staying at the Deluxe monorail resorts or even on Disney property are taking up space on the resort monorail and deluxe monorail resort lounges to do a bar crawl. I am tired of not being able to get a seat on the monorail or in the lounge because groups of people are doing the monorail bar crawl. Many freely admit they are not staying on Disney property at all and most are not staying at a monorail Deluxe resort. Resort guests should be given priority to use the lounges and resort monorail. People staying at the Poly should be given priority seating at Trader Sam’s.
I hope Disney starts giving resort guests priority.