Disney for Wine Lovers
Here's how Disney adults can have the most luxurious - and magical - vacation!
When most people think of Disney, they think epic attractions, great entertainment, iconic characters, and amazing nighttime shows. But Disney is about more than just this. It’s also a dining destination, a home to cuisines from all over the world, unique snacks, fine signature dining experiences and, of course, bars and lounges.
As a long-time wine lover, I have to say I love trying new wine everywhere I go. Whether I’m in for a tasting session or pairing a drink with exceptional meals, trying new wine is part of my ideal vacation experience. And today, I give the inside scoop on the best wine experiences in the Walt Disney World Resort — from Disney Springs to each of the four theme parks.
Disney Springs
Wine Bar George
Let’s get started where all vacations get started. I love going to Disney Springs on the day I arrive in Orlando to grab lunch, do some shopping, and start feeling that Disney magic!
Disney Springs is home to one of the most iconic wine experiences in all of Disney. Wine Bar George is the only bar in Florida led by a Master Sommelier, George Miliotes. The menu includes more than 200 wines, served on tap, by the glass, by the bottle, or by the ounce. Wine Bar George was awarded the Best Wine Bar List in the world by The World of Fine Wine earlier this year.
The bar also has a full menu of small plates, cheese and charcuterie, entree family style plates, and sweets. For the wine menu, one of my favorite features they currently offer is the Wine Experiences. The Champagne Experience offers three 2-ounce pours from the greatest Champagne houses for $75. The First Growth Experience gives you the opportunity to try 5 of the greatest wines in the world, starting at $700. And The King’s Experience includes four 1oz pours of very distinct wines from the best wineries in the world, including the famous Penfolds, for $260.
It’s best to make reservations in advance, using the My Disney Experience app, to avoid long wait times.
EPCOT
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar
This EPCOT gem is located in the Italian Pavilion and resembles a cozy, authentic Italian wine cellar. They have standard tables, as well as some seated high tops and lots of little nooks for you to have the best wine tasting in all of EPCOT. Most of the ingredients here are imported from Italy and meals are cooked fresh daily, to perfection. The Wine Cellar is located right next door to Tutto Italia Ristorante, so they share the same menu, filled with antipasti, pasta, salads, dessert and, of course, an outstanding wine menu.
You can order wine by the glass, or bottle, and find in the menu classic Italian options such as Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Chianti Classico and Prosecco. The Wine Flights here are outstanding and very well priced, starting at $22.
You don’t need a reservation to dine — and wine — and can do a walk-in with minimal wait, starting at 1:00pm.
Magic Kingdom
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Amongst the most famous restaurants in all of Disney, Cinderella’s Royal Table is the classic character meal with Disney Princesses inside Cinderella’s Castle. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with flags, the windows are made of colored glass, and the overall feel is that of a beautiful fairytale in a medieval castle, all while you dine with the most iconic Disney characters.
This restaurant is usually regarded as a great character meal for children, especially those who love Disney princesses. The food is a little more upscale, and the menu offers classic items such as Grilled Steak or Chicken, Roasted Lamb Chops, and great salad options.
What many people don’t know about Cinderella’s Royal Table is that for Lunch and Dinner, the wine list is absolutely incredible and extensive, to say the least. You can not only choose wine by the glass or bottle, but they also offer exclusive — and perfectly themed — flight combinations that will enchant all in your party. The flights here start at $15 and you can choose from Champagne, Cocktail, White or Red flights. My all time favorite is the Belle of the Ball Flight, with 3 wines from California, including an award-winning Pinot Noir from the iconic Russian River Valley.
Celebrating a special occasion in Magic Kingdom? Treat yourself to a bottle of one of their Reserve Wines (sold only by the bottle), most of them from Napa Valley. If you’d like to experiment with pairing, the restaurant even has Dessert Wines on the menu and you can always ask your waiter for their recommendation on a wine that goes well with your meal.
To dine inside Cinderella’s Castle, you do pay the premium price of $84 per adult for Lunch or Dinner, but that includes the Prix Fixe Menu with Appetizers, Entrees and Dessert. Alcoholic beverages are charged separately.
And finally, this is definitely the most popular and sought after dining reservation in all of Walt Disney World, so make sure to set your alarm for 5:45 AM EST 60 days before you trip to snag a reservation.
Animal Kingdom
Nomad Lounge
If you’ve read the last few Lasting Magic posts, you know that the Animal Kingdom — and especially Nomad Lounge — are my favorite places in Disney World. There is truly nothing like strolling along the most chill park of all, enjoying all that nature around you, learning more about the most fascinating animals in the world, listening to great music and, of course, eating the best food in all of the four parks.
Then you come across Nomad Lounge at the end of a long park day, and you simply forget that you are in the middle of Orlando, Florida. It truly feels like you are in a tent surrounded by forest and a calming river. You suddenly can’t hear the park noises and loud guests anymore. You relax and unwind in your comfortable and cozy lounge chairs, ready for a great culinary experience.
Although the lounge is renowned for its incredible and creatively designed cocktails, the wines here (sold by the glass) are extraordinary. Most of them come from South Africa, but you can also find some wines from Argentina or California. When paired with a charcuterie board, or small plates, they truly make for an unforgettable experience.
The Nomad Lounge does not take advance dining reservations, but you can join the Walk-Up list on the day of your visit, via the My Disney Experience App.
Hollywood Studios
The Hollywood Brown Derby
To talk about Hollywood Studios’ true gem, we have to talk about the real Brown Derby, a restaurant that opened in Hollywood, California in 1928 and was the go-to for many A-list celebrities from the golden days. It is also where the Cobb Salad was invented, by co-owner Robert Cobb. Walt Disney loved the Brown Derby, so the restaurant in the park was created to pay homage to the original one and has the original recipe for the famous salad, as well as the iconic Grapefruit Cake.
The Hollywood Brown Derby is considered Signature Dining at Disney, so you order À La Carte and indulge in an amazing experience. I recommend the Pan-Roasted Halibut, the Lamb Shank, and the Cobb Salad.
The restaurant features special wines and a constantly updated menu, so check the menu on the app around the time of your visit. Here, you can order wine by the glass and by the bottle. Currently, The Brown Derby is also offering a divine Dessert Wine Flight and many, many options of Ports, Sherrys and Madeira Wines.
I highly suggest making reservations here for peace of mind, although you might also find same day seating on the day of your visit.
Hotel
California Grill
And last, but not least, a classic restaurant in the closest hotel to the Magic Kingdom. The Contemporary Resort was the first Disney hotel to open with the theme park, in 1971. However, it wasn’t until 1995 that the California Grill opened on the 15th floor. It is a Signature Dining Experience, so expect high quality meals — and premium prices.
This is one of the most quintessential experiences in all of Disney. Not only because of the views and amazing atmosphere, but the food and wine are exceptional. This crown jewel has won several National and International Culinary Awards for its excellence.
As the name of the restaurant suggests, expect great cuts of meat, including the delicious Wagyu Strip Loin. However, the California Grill is also known for having a mouthwatering sushi bar. For dessert, you can’t miss the Meyer Lemon Chiffon Cake.
Now let’s finally talk about the wine. They have several sommeliers on staff that can help you make the most delectable food pairings. You can choose wine by the glass or by the bottle and they even have a Reserve Wine List available. If interested in trying several different wines, they also offer flights. Honorable mention to the “Big 3 Flight to Napa”, inspired by the Golden State.
California Grill is definitely a Wine Lover’s Dream. If you’d like to visit this marvelous place on the 15th floor of the iconic hotel, I’d recommend making a reservation for about 1.5 hour before the fireworks start time (you can check that on the My Disney Experience app). This way, you can enjoy glamorous views while indulging in one of Disney’s most amazing Dining Experiences.
