Jollywood Nights Adds the Checkin' It Twice Lounge, and One of Its Four Drinks Is a Real Problem
The new Animation Courtyard lounge has a live DJ, four exclusive drinks and a very festive setup, but not every sip is worth your money.
Jollywood Nights has a new place to hang out this year. The Checkin' It Twice Lounge in Animation Courtyard is a holiday hangout with specialty drinks, a live DJ and entertainment all evening long.
It is a handy spot to take a breather between shows and attractions. We tried all four of the exclusive drinks, and the results ran from fantastic to a hard pass.
What the Lounge Looks Like
You will spot the entrance in Animation Courtyard by the glowing green and red balloons. Piles of oversized silver Christmas ornaments sit right by the door, so it is hard to miss.
Menu boards out front show off the four exclusive drinks. Only one of them is nonalcoholic.
Inside, the DJ keeps the festive vibes going from a stage covered in multicolored Christmas trees. There is also an oversized naughty and nice list, plus a bunch of old fashioned light up blow molded snowmen, reindeer and Santas.
The Drinks, Ranked by Heat and Heartbreak
Ghost Pepper Margarita
This one is made with Ghost Spicy Blanco Tequila, lime and spicy agave, and it comes with a salt and pepper rim. It is hot, and it hits you right away thanks to the ghost pepper tequila and the spicy agave.
If you get past the burn, there is some good earthy flavor underneath. Letting the ice melt a bit cuts the heat a little. If you love a super spicy margarita, this is your drink.
Brut, Vanilla and Cassis
This is the crowd pleaser. It blends Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut with vanilla and G.E. Massenez Crème de Cassis de Dijon Liqueur, then tops it off with edible glitter.
After the fiery margarita, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Vanilla, brut and blackberry flavors come together in a light, sparkling, refreshing cocktail that is still full of flavor.
The Peppermint Martini Wannabe
Here is one for the naughty list, and not in the fun way. It is Bols Crème de Cacao White Liqueur and Bols Crème de Menthe Liqueur poured with half and half, then topped with chocolate curls.
It tries to mimic a peppermint white chocolate martini and misses badly. You get something super sweet and super creamy with no alcohol flavor at all. We thought it was absolutely disgusting, and it is a hard pass from us.
The Nonalcoholic Peppermint Redemption
After that last drink, we needed something to redeem peppermint, and this mocktail did the job. It is Minute Maid Premium Lemonade with mint syrup, pomegranate and sweet cream, topped with crushed peppermint.
The mix of fruity and minty flavors is phenomenal, and it was a delight to sip from start to finish. It does get a little overly sweet as the candy cane pieces melt, but you will probably drink it fast enough that it will not matter.
Should You Stop By?
Go for the atmosphere and the DJ, and pick your drink wisely. The brut cocktail and the peppermint lemonade mocktail are the winners, the ghost pepper margarita is for heat seekers, and the creamy peppermint one is the one to skip.
Are you planning to visit the Checkin' It Twice Lounge during Jollywood Nights? Tell us which drink you would try first on social media.
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