Last week, the generous folks at Disney treated me to an unforgettable experience at Disney World in Florida, inviting me to the Disney World Level Up! media event. This special gathering included a few members of the press and influencers, all set to explore the world of delightful experiences Disney has to offer. From park to park, we indulged in an array of enchanting drinks and foods and went on incredible rides such as TRON Lightcyle Power Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Avatar: Flight of Passage, Star Wars: Smugglers Run, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
I've already talked about all the food I ate while there, and there's one thing left to do.
I nearly floated away on a cloud of blissful sips rather than flying back home (or rolling myself, as previously mentioned, since I ate so much on this trip). But it was so worth it.
Disney’s magic isn’t just in its rides and shows, but also in the incredible variety of drinks available across all four parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Below, I’ve put together a glimpse of every beverage I enjoyed during my three magical days at Disney World.
Let’s talk about the drinks, shall we?
Disney's Boadwalk Inn
The Conjurita - Not only is this a terrific margarita, but it also came with a show. The bartender performed a magic trick, turning my drink from purple to pink. If that's not Disney Magic, then I don't know what is.
Magic Mirror - My friend AJ had this one, and he could not stop praising it. In it, you'll find Bacardí Superior Rum, soda water, Honey Mango, Sprite®, and lime juice.
The Sour Assistant - If, like GameSpot editor Chris Hayner, you are able to ingest whiskey, this drink is for you. Also, how does it feel to be one of the universe's favorite people? This baby is full of Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whisky and house-made Sweet-and-Sour.
Magic Kingdom
Shadow of the Beast wine - This was my first bittersweet experience at Disney World. This delicious, tasty wine is only available at the Be Our Guest restaurant at Magic Kingdom. I can hear you from here, "Just buy a bottle to take home!" You don't think I tried? Unfortunately, this delicacy is only available for drinking during lunch or dinner at the restaurant - if you do buy a bottle, you have to finish it there. Also, Magic Kingdom is a dry park, so you won't be running into alcoholic drinks very often while there unless you're at a sit-down restaurant.
"I Lava You" Dole Whip - As previously mentioned, I am not too keen on sweets, and this drink was no exception. After I drank all of the Strawberry Fanta in the cup, I tossed the rest away. This was my first (and honestly, probably last) Dole Whip. It's just not for me.
Joffrey's Cold Brew - For us caffeine addicts, you'll quickly find out that energy drinks at any Disney property are hard to find (unless you go to stores like the Boardwalk Inn's Screen Door General Store). Luckily, there are plenty of coffee options around the park, including Starbucks, and my friend Michael Walsh, a staff writer over at Nerdist, enjoyed a nice and refreshing cup of cold brew from Joffrey's. You don't want to see how staff writers function without caffeine, trust me.
Animal Kingdom
On Day 2, we were taken to Animal Kingdom to have some really incredible experiences in the Avatar world. After the attractions and before moving on to EPCOT, my friend AJ and I decided to stop by Harambe's Market and, you know, eat and drink.
Leopard's Eye drink - This vodka-based drink was refreshing and tasty, but I wondered if there had been any vodka added to it before being served.
EPCOT
EPCOT is a wonderful part of Disney - it's where adults get to have some fun and unwind.
Stiegl Brewery Raspberry Radler - You know what would make me really happy? Like, truly happy? If I had an entire box of this beer shipped to my home. This is the Nectar of the Gods, a refreshing, tasty, and dangerously smooth beer that can be found in the Germany area of EPCOT. I had about 4 cups of it in total - all for research purposes, of course.
Sake Slush - Whoever came up with this idea needs a raise. It tasted like a Piña Colada but had the sake kick to it. My only complaint is that I don't think enough sake was added (either that or I unlocked a new achievement while at Disney - alcohol tolerance increase). But it was pretty delicious.
Unknown Moscato - I apologize profusely, but I do not remember the bottle that this delicious Moscato came from as part of our privately catered dinner at the GM Test Track Lounge, but it was totally worth a mention.
Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios
Day 3 came around and I got to live in one of my favorite universes of all time - Star Wars! At Galaxy's Edge, we were able to grab drinks at two different places: the Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo and Oga's Cantina.
Blue Milk - I have to admit, I did not like the Blue Milk (Docking Bay 7). It tasted like fruit juice mixed with fat-free yogurt. I expected a drink with, you know, milk in it - maybe more food coloring for blue instead of blueberries or whatever other fruit was used in the making of this sad drink? Kind of made me sad, honestly.
Yub Nub, Fuzzy Tauntaun, and Bespin Fizz - If you take a few Star Wars nerds, put them together at Oga's Cantina, and say "Try what you'd like!", you should expect a bunch of different drinks so we can all try each other's (responsibly). The Yub Nub was my drink of choice and I got to take home that amazing Tiki Endor Battle mug you see on the table. The Fuzzy Tauntaun is also delicious and has a tingly foam over the top of the cup, and that made for some fun "GUYS, MY LIPS ARE NUMB" moments at the table. The Bespin Fizz (waaaay in the back in the photo above) was also great and has some lovely "clouds" floating over the top of the drink, which makes you feel like you're having a ridiculously fancy drink. Overall, these three drinks were each really good.
Goldschmidt Vineyards Toniray, Sonoma - If you thought I'd leave Galaxy's Edge without trying Queen Amidala's personal choice for wine during her honeymoon, do you even know me at all? This delicious blend hits the spot after a few snacks and a lot of laughter.
Here's a fun little video where I combine all foods and drinks (even some not included here) and rate them from 0 to 10 individually:
Man, were we pampered during this trip or what?! Thank you, Disney!
Beyond the exciting swag and a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we were invited to sample a variety of drinks at our leisure. After all, how can one truly capture the essence of Disney without enjoying its iconic beverages and specialty drinks? Indeed, a dream is a toast your taste buds dream of... And a wish that your stomach makes.