Review: Cocktails, Cupcakes, and Seasonal Specialties at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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Today we’re trying out a couple of drinks and a seasonal cupcake at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

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Trout Pass Bar

Polynesian Resort
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When we’re imbibing at this beautiful resort, we’re usually paying a visit to one of our favorite bars in Disney World, Territory Lounge. Today, though, we’re stepping outside to enjoy some drinks at Trout Pass Pool Bar. Even if you aren’t going for a dip in Silver Creek Springs Pool, you can still stop by Trout Pass if you’re checking out Fire Rock Geyser or just exploring the grounds.

At Trout Pass, you’ll certainly find plenty of the pool bar drinks that are standards on the Disney Pool Bar Menu, like the Captain’s Mai Tai, the Banana Cabana, and the Pina CoLAVA. But, Trout Pass has also started following the fun trend at spots like the Polynesian Village Resort’s Barefoot Pool Bar, Pop Century’s Petals Pool Bar, and Muddy Rivers at Port Orleans Riverside, where specialty drinks themed to the Resort are available at the pool bars as well. This used to be the norm at the pool bars, but then things got all homogenous. I’m glad to see they’re coming back!

Only at Trout Pass, things work a bit differently.

Trout Pass Pool Bar

Daily Drinks

The specialty offerings rotate as part of the Daily Drink Specials, featuring a different specialty cocktail for each day of the week. You’ll find a nice variety of both iced and frozen drinks for a warm Florida day by the pool! The Northwest theme of the resort is echoed in the names of the beverages like the Lumberjack, Ponderosa Pine, and Silver Creek Peach.

Daily Drink Menu

Our visit was on a Monday, so the Mt. Rainier, it was! Two types of rum — Don Q Cristal Rum and Myers’s Original Dark Rum — are layered with frozen piña colada mix and garnished with two cherries and a pineapple wedge. (I always love seeing that Wilderness Lodge swizzle stick! I remember my first stay here so many years ago and feeling so awesome to finally get one of these. I still feel awesome when I get them!)

Mt. Rainier

In terms of creativity this is one of the simpler drinks on the menu. The Mt. Rainier is, in essence, your basic piña colada, but the two rums gives it some extra flavor and definitely aid in strengthening the drink (the rum was very pronounced).

Mt. Rainier

Both the Don Q Cristal Rum and Myers’s Original Dark Rum are on the sweeter and smoother side, so they blend well with the sweet taste of the pina colada mix.

Still, we’ve got one more drink to try…

Witch’s Brew and Mt. Rainier

Seasonal Specialties

Here’s another fun find at Trout Pass: they are trying to bring back some of their seasonal drinks, which are typically available for one month.  (Thanks to our friend Daniel Staten for the heads up!) October’s seasonal beverage is the Halloween-themed Witch’s Brew made with Skyy Vodka, Bols Blackberry Brandy, Bols Blue Curacao, grenadine, Sprite, and sweet-and-sour mix.

Witch’s Brew sign

Unlike the Daily Drinks (and any drink on the regular menu), this one is served in a hard plastic glass that is yours to keep if you’d like (that and the inclusion of three different liquors are likely what add up to the $12.00 price tag).

Witch’s Brew

You’ve likely noticed it comes complete with a glow cube that changes colors to give the “brew” alternating purple, red and blue tones to complement its dark, creepy color .

Witch’s Brew

I’m not usually a fan of brandy so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this drink! You can certainly taste the warmth of the brandy, but its blackberry flavor combined with the tart from the other ingredients makes it quite smooth, even though the alcohol flavor is strong with this drink, too.

Pumpkin Cupcake at Roaring Fork

Okay, we’ve got one more treat for you from Wilderness Lodge, because we couldn’t resist stepping back inside to check out the cupcake selection at Roaring Fork, which is a must-do with any visit. Even though pumpkin treats aren’t difficult to find anywhere in Disney World during September and October, Roaring Fork’s version of the Pumpkin Cupcake is worth seeking out.

Pumpkin Cupcake

The pumpkin cake base is topped with yellow and orange swirled cinnamon buttercream icing. (Hubba hubba!!) But the pièce de résistance is the cutest little pumpkin-flavored macaron that sits on top of the whole thing!

Mini Pumpkin Macaron

I thought the balance of cake to the pumpkin filling tucked inside was just right with this one, and I loved the change-up with the choice of cinnamon buttercream over cream cheese.

Inside the Pumpkin Cupcake

Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the combo of pumpkin and cream cheese, but because it’s in such abundance this time of year, I really appreciated the generous cinnamon flavor here.

Cinnamon Buttercream Icing

Roaring Fork’s Pumpkin Cupcake is $5.59 and snack credit eligible on the Disney Dining Plan, and it just might be my favorite pumpkin flavored Disney treat I’ve tried this season. The only not-so-unfortunate side effect was a craving for a FULL SIZE of that awesome mini pumpkin macaron! There’s my suggestion to the Wilderness Lodge chefs for next year!

The Cast Member we spoke with thinks the Pumpkin Cupcake has a shot at possibly staying through the beginning of November, but the Witch’s Brew will likely only be available at Trout Pass Pool Bar through the end of the month. But we’ll have fun searching out the next Seasonal Specialty… and if that means stopping by and sampling a few more of those Daily Drinks, then so be it .

What’s your favorite treat spot at Wilderness Lodge? Please let us know with a comment!

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Related posts:

1. Review: Chocolate Caramel Cupcake at Roaring Fork in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort
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3. Review: Specialty Waffles at Roaring Fork in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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