August 16 was National Rum Day at Disney
The very middle of the very hottest month calls for easy-going, poolside afternoons sipping on summer’s most refreshing cocktails. Piña coladas, mojitos, rum runners…they’re the drinks my friends and I tend to go for on the hottest days, and each of those tasty summer drinks all feature my very favorite summer sippin’ liquor- rum! If I’m being honest, visiting Walt Disney World Resort during the summer or during Christmas doesn’t really dictate my beverage orders, but if the National Day Gods insist on giving me a 24 hour-long excuse to run around Walt Disney World Resort to hunt down my favorite drinks, I would be silly to go against their wishes. August 16th was National Rum Day folks, and if you’re finding yourself in Central Florida, here are the drinks you simply can’t miss!
Paradiso 37
The indoor/outdoor island-themed restaurant at Disney Springs is located in the heart of the busiest area, and the live musicians’ tunes draw crowds that come for the tunes and stay for the food and drinks on a nightly basis. The food wouldn’t earn my top recommendation for a dinner spot at the Springs, but the food is not why I go to the restaurant on almost every visit. Paradiso 37 is all about good times, and when a bartender pushing the roaming mojito cart stops at your party’s table, do not hesitate to place your order! The cart is loaded with all of the fixings: fresh cut lime wedges, fresh mint, real sugar cane sticks, and of course, rum! Watch as the bartender mixes up your own concoction and you’ll soon find out how easy it is to smile down in the islands.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
Before you head out of Disney Springs, you should definitely take a stop into Jock Lindsey’s. The Indiana Jones-themed bar is set in an old airplane terminal that features props and trinkets from Indy and Jock’s worldwide adventures. Behind the bar is where the most interesting ‘artifacts’ are though, and on National Rum Day- or any day really- you needn’t look farther than the signature beverage. The Cool-Headed Monkey combines the juices of lime, watermelon, and pineapple with tangerine liqueur and Starr African Rum for a refreshing yet pungent pick-me-up. Oh, and it comes served in an adorable monkey head glass to boot!
Tamu Tamu Refreshments
It’s a relatively new thing for the famed Dole Whips to be available outside of Adventureland in Magic Kingdom, but once a rendition of the classic treat was placed on an Epcot Festival menu a few years ago, there was no turning back. Now, you don’t have to endure the car/monorail/walk journey to get your hands on the classic treat! Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Harambe (Animal Kingdom) has the soft serve treat on their menu year-round, and since you’re in the heart of Africa (and not in the alcohol-restricted Magic Kingdom) you can add a splash of rum to your Dole Whip cup! Oh and if you’re feeling a little hungry while you’re visiting, Tamu Tamu makes a mean ice cream cookie sandwich that is what dreams are made of.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
I’d probably be arrested if I excluded the Polynesian from a National Rum Day article, and rightfully so! The deluxe resort situated on the shoals of Seven Seas Lagoon offers the best view of Happily Ever After on property-yes, even better than Main Street- but more on that later. Right now, you have to head inside, to a dark, tiki-themed like bar with wonky décor, loud bartenders, and hilariously delicious twists on souvenir signature cocktails that always draws a crowd. Of course I’m talking about Trader Sam’s Grogg Grotto, and my recommendation on any day of the year is HippopotoMai-Tai featuring *BANG BANG* “two shots of rum!” Trust me, that reference will make complete sense when you order yours!
Saving the best for last as I always do adds a lot of pressure, both to me for making the recommendation and to whatever the heck it is I’m recommending! This time around though, I’m very confident any fan of rum, summer, good-times, refreshing drinks, and nighttime fireworks will be satisfied with a Lapu Lapu! This gigantic drink combines many different types of rum with fresh pineapple and orange juices, and the hollowed-out pineapple that it is served in looks mighty impressive coming across the bar!
If you order yours from the Tambu Lounge, you can take it out to the beach with you for the fireworks! As effortlessly and beautifully as the massive, sparkling pyrotechnics go up, the Lapu Lapu goes down, and if you’re not careful, you might finish yours before the show intro is complete! So, would you have ordered a Lapu Lapu on August 16th ? Did your favorite rum-based drink make the list? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!
