Dining at Disney World can get complicated FAST. So where’s the best place to turn when you’re not looking to stay put for long? What if you’re looking for a walkable snack to take with you while you’re spending time in the ride lines? Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered!

We recently stopped by Thirsty River Bar & Trek Snacks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to find out if a few of our old favorites still reign supreme here, and now we’re bringing you our FULL review. Is this little hole-in-the-wall snack and drink outpost worth a stop on your next visit? Find out here!

Atmosphere

Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks is a walk up bar and food counter that serves up drinks and snacks in a grab-and-go fashion for adventurous “trekkers” on their way to or from Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom’s Asia.

Drinks include specialty cocktails and inventive mocktail creations. And the beer selection offers some fun finds like Tiger Beer Asian Lager, Victory Golden Monkey Draft, and even Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale — a brew created especially for Animal Kingdom’s Nomad Lounge, which you can enjoy in to-go fashion here.

The snacks you can grab here mostly feature park staples like popcorn and ice cream novelties. (Yes, you can even grab a Mickey Bar here with your drink!)

But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu?!

Menu

Over at Thirsty River Bar you’ll find the window that serves the alcoholic drinks. In their offerings, you’ll find Specialty Cocktails, Beverages, Beer, and Wines…

…while at Trek Snacks you can pick up Snacks, Desserts…

…and other Beverages.

And now, onto the main event — the food!

Eats

Hold on tight because the first thing we knew we had to grab was a Mickey Pretzel with cheese for $7.99. This is your classic Mickey shaped salted pretzel served with a side of cheddar cheese sauce.

It’s a classic Disney World snack for a reason, and it’s not hard to see why. This salty pretzel is just the right amount of salt and chewy pretzel bread to keep your snack craving satisfied.

We’ll also never turn down an opportunity to pick up some cheese sauce to accompany our friendly snack.

It will be offered to you included with your Mickey Pretzel, and while you’re under no obligation to take it, we’ll always recommend you try it! It’s a perfect blend of savory flavors that will really get your tastebuds going.

The cheddar cheese sauce is the perfect way to level up your snacking experience but we’ve got to warn you that you might find yourself scrapping the bottom of the cheese cup to savor every bit!

Drinks

To drink, we picked up the Avalanche Frozen Blue Margarita for $15.50. This is made with Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, Blue Curaçao, Ginger, Sweet-And-Sour and Lime Juice.

This has been a favorite of ours for awhile and it’s not hard to see why! It’s a sweet yet salty blue margarita that has a hint of a blueberry taste to it. We opted for salt on the rim of this one and as it melted in the sun, the salt mixed with the drink and began to foam a bit at the top which aesthetically gave a satisfying fizzle.

It was a refreshing drink that has a sneaky lime tequilla aftertaste that will leave you wanting more!

We also decided to pick up the Himalayan Ghost for $15.50. This is made with Snow Leopard Vodka, Guava and Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade.

This drink was great and tasted like a grown-up’s lemonade dream! The guava flavor mixed well with the Minute Maid Lemonade and blended beautifully with the vodka.

It’s a little heavier though than the other drink we opted for during this review so if you’re looking for a drink that’s a bit more alcohol forward, this is definitely the drink we would suggest first!

Nosh or Not

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You’re looking for some of the BEST alcoholic drinks in Animal Kingdom! We consistently rave over these drinks and after trying them for yourself, you’ll find it’s easy to agree.
• You need a snack break somewhere that can appeal to everyone. Whether you’re looking for kids, the light snacker, mocktail drinker, or refreshing alcoholic beverage these connected restaurants truly are a one stop shop for snacks!
• You’re looking to stay around the back of the park for awhile. If you’re not looking to trek all the way back to the front of the park, this is the prime location to scope out for the most popular drinks and snacks.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You’re looking for more unique snacks. Admittedly, the snacks served here are some you can get almost anywhere around the park. If you’re looking for something more unique, you’ll probably be more satisfied stopping elsewhere.
• You’re looking for a break indoors. This entire connected restaurant is completely outdoors. If you’re looking for seating in the shade, AC, or ducking inside a building for a while, you won’t find it here.
• You want a satisfying meal over a snack. While they are restaurants, these are more grab and go style options. They’re not capable of serving full meals or heftier snack options which you’re more likely to find at a quick service or table service restaurant instead.

Overall

Overall, it’s a great restaurant that offers a little bit of something for almost everyone. In addition to the alcoholic drinks served at Thirsty River, you can also opt for some creative mocktails or pick up a familiar water or soda at the shared Trek Snacks. It’s real estate landing it in the heart of the Asia area of Animal Kingdom helps keep it a welcomed stop for those looking for the nearest drink and snack shop who aren’t looking to make a journey away from the area.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

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Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments!