Wine Lovers Guide to Disney World

While just about every Disney fine dining location offers a wine list, a few stand above the rest. Head to the California Grill for one of the best wine lists on the property and you'll get an outstanding meal with a great view as well. Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge has an extensive list of wines from the American Northwest, and the sommelier here is particularly helpful when it comes to choosing the right wine pairing.

Taking the idea of pairing wine and great food a step further, some Disney dining locations offer a special meal and wine event. Offered on select dates, wine pairing dinners allow guests to experience some of Disney's finest food, paired with wine chosen specifically for the meal. Consider the Jiko Wine Dinner, offered at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and featuring some of the location's best dinner offerings. This location is home to one of the largest collections of South African wines you'll find anywhere in the world, making it an excellent choice for a wine connoisseur.

Other restaurants offering special wine pairings or flights include Bistro de Paris (Epcot), Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian and Koussina in Downtown Disney. Reservations are required and these should be considered "adults only" events.

Offering hundreds of varieties of wine from all over the world, Epcot's annual festival is the ultimate wine lover's destination. Guests can sample exotic wines at kiosks from every region. Highlights for the 2011 festival include Apple Ice wine in Canada, a Green tea Plum Wine Cooler in China and exotic selections from one of the newest marketplaces, Portugal. The Food and Wine Festival is designed for sampling, and is an excellent opportunity to try wines from around the world without a huge commitment

Even if you miss the Food and Wine Festival, select Epcot countries offer wine tastings every day. Visit France, Italy or Germany to try exotic trios of regional wines; each country has its own special selections, and bottles on hand if you find a variety you really like.

The top tier option of the Disney Dining plan includes a bottle of wine for each program day. Most Disney restaurants are included with this program, including Signature Dining spots like Le Cellier and Artist Point. Bottles of wine included in the program are clearly indicated on the restaurant's wine list, and most bottles require only a single bottle credit to purchase. If you like pairing wine with your meal and want to savor new varieties each day, this plan is worth the cost.

In the past, you had to bypass Disney's Magic Kingdom if you wanted to have a glass of wine with your meal. That is no longer the case, as Disney began serving wine at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Fantastyland in 2012 (after all, what's a French restaurant without wine?). In May 2018, all table service restaurants at the Magic Kingdom began serving beer and wine (quick-service restaurants do not offer any alcohol). 

^{Edited by Dawn Henthorn, Florida Travel Expert since 2000.}