Tag Archives: Resort Loop Pub Crawl

Review: Grand Floridian’s Enchanted Rose

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As huge fans of Mizner’s Lounge, we were prepared for sadness and crushing disappointment when it was replaced by a new pub. Full of happy memories and low expectations, we visited our former favorite stop on the Resort Loop Pub Crawl. Here’s what we found at…

Grand Floridian’s Enchanted Rose

Let me say up front that Enchanted Rose’s prices are high. If you can afford the splurge and can get over missing Mizner’s, it’s a very cool place. Designed around Beauty and The Beast, Enchanted Rose is oddly themed for a Victorian-inspired resort, but surprisingly, it doesn’t feel out of place. The details are charming and the vibe is classy and just a tad bit formal – but still quite welcoming.

Three Sections

Enchanted Rose is divided up into three distinct areas – the library-esque room is where Mizner’s was located. Two other rooms have been extended from there – a garden room and a room themed around the ballroom from the Beast’s castle. There’s also a new outdoor patio area. We sat in the library and enjoyed beer and wine but wished later we’d sat in the ballroom bar – it had a lively crowd and was bright and cheerful.

The three separate parts of Enchanted Rose make it an appealing choice for a variety of libation-seekers. Relaxing after a day in the parks, indulging in some quiet alone-time, or bellying up to the bar for some grown-up fun are all great ways to enjoy this lounge. For sure, if you’re looking for a place to grab a drink before dinner at Citricos, Narcoossee’s, or Victoria and Albert’s, Enchanted Rose is an excellent choice.

Final Thoughts

Personally, we miss Mizner’s – so many happy memories! We’re also really disappointed about the relocation of Grand Floridian’s Lobby Society Orchestra to the lower level lobby area. One of the very best parts of enjoying a beverage at Mizner’s was being able to listen to the Orchestra, formerly located right outside the lounge’s entrance. One thing you can always count on at Walt Disney World is change. We’re embracing this one a little bit un-enthusiastically.

Have you visited the Enchanted Rose? How was your experience?

Disney World’s Top of the World Lounge

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RM-Top-of-the-World-Lounge-Menu-SeatingMaybe you’ve heard of it, maybe not.  On the very top floor of Bay Lake Tower is a cozy little lounge with a heck of a view.  It’s a special little corner of the World, reserved for Disney Vacation Club members, and we recently stopped in to see what all the hubbub’s about.

The view from the “balcony”, which is actually more of an outdoor walled walkway, is absolutely grand – it’s what makes this an especially popular spot during the Magic Kingdom’s Wishes Nighttime Spectacular.  From the 15th floor, Bay Lake Tower’s proximity to Magic Kingdom is breathtaking.  RM-Top-of-the-World-Lounge-ViewFor Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend, we found ourselves enjoying studio accommodations at Bay Lake Tower about four doors down from the Top of the World Lounge.  Note:  For guests not staying at Bay Lake Tower, a Cast Member will ask to see a DVC membership card before allowing visitors up to the Lounge.

We’d come straight from a big dinner and only wanted coffee and dessert.  We didn’t spend a lot of time pouring over the menu, but there are both sweet and savory snack offerings along with a variety of specialty cocktails, beer, and wine.  Lots of folks only come for the view and a cocktail.  The food is okay, but not the main draw here.  RM-Top-of-the-World-Lounge-CoffeeWe ordered specialty coffees and a gigantic slice of cake.  The coffees were tasty, but the cake was a little disappointing.  Not horrible, but lacking flavor – the dessert was mainly just very sweet.  (I’m sorry I didn’t take a picture of it before we’d tried a couple of bites.)RM-Top-of-the-World-Lounge-Cake

If you’re a DVC member and want to visit the Top of the World Lounge for the atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed.  You can expect a great view, super décor, mediocre food, decent service, and Disney World prices.  RM-Top-of-the-World-Lounge-Chandelier RM-Top-of-the-World-Lounge-Menu-Monorail-ArtThe Lounge has a cool, modern theme and the monorail wall art is amazing!  The Top of the World Lounge would make a fun stop on the Resort Loop Pub Crawl.

Tim Brooks at Dad for Disney wrote this great article about the Contemporary Resort’s original Top of the World Lounge.

Are you a DVC member who has visited the Top of the World Lounge?  I’d love to hear about your experience!

 

Disney World’s Resort Loop Pub Crawl – Mizner’s Lounge

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Grand Floridian Society OrchestraWhen we find ourselves with a few minutes to spare before a dinner reservation in the Magic Kingdom resort area, we like to choose a spot along the monorail route to enjoy an adult beverage and relax for a while.  Once in a while we hit more than one lounge in a single day, so we call this habit the Resort Loop Pub Crawl (others call it the Monorail Bar Crawl).  Recently we found ourselves with a good 30 minutes we could use for just such an endeavor and chose Mizner’s Lounge at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.RM-Monorail

We decided on Mizner’s for three reasons:  Our dinner reservation was at Citricos (also at the Grand Floridian), we’d never been to Mizner’s before, and the awesome Grand Floridian Lobby Society Orchestra (long name, amazing sound) plays literally just outside of Mizner’s doorway.  We’d gone back to our room at Bay Lake Tower to clean up after a busy day that started with rope-drop at the Studios and ended with an afternoon in the Magic Kingdom.  By the time we boarded the monorail in the Contemporary, we were more than ready to sit down and be still for a few minutes.   We arrived to find Mizner’s only about half-full and were able to find a table for two by a window.

RM-Mizner's-LoungeLike everything in the Grand Floridian, Mizner’s is open, airy and bright with an upscale, fancy-feeling atmosphere.  Seats are available in well-cushioned chairs at the bar and in big, comfortable club chairs at tables situated throughout the lounge’s interior.  We were starving, but resisted ordering a snack from Mizner’s very tempting menu to save our empty stomachs for the delights at Citricos (review here).  We chose a Cabernet from the impressive (and expensive) beverage menu and settled back to enjoy our glasses of wine and listen to the Orchestra play some of our favorite Disney tunes.

As far as Disney lounges go, Mizner’s was more family friendly than most and had a hushed, subdued crowd.  Like us, the other guests appeared to be there for relaxation and quiet conversation.  Maybe Mizner’s is livelier later in the evening, but for a place to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, it was perfect.

What’s your favorite lounge on the resort loop?