Hearthstone Lounge

Cocktail hour

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Spa, 1600 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, California

The view: The bar is in the flagship hotel at Disney’s huge Anaheim resort, home to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney District. The view after dark is a lot less “happiest place on earth” and a lot more strung-out parents trying to drown their sorrows over draining their finances on Mickey merch.

The vibe: Picture a tacky dollhouse version of a ski lodge — pleather couches, faux cabin interiors and cartoon mouse detailing.

The chat: I can’t recall anything noteworthy about the service as my full attention was on getting a drink before the bar closed for the night. After a day in Disneyland, it had been a challenge finding somewhere before last call. Disney isn’t big on booze; until recently, only members of the hyper-exclusive Club33 — one US report says individual members pay a US$25,000 initiation fee plus an annual charge of about US$12,000 — was the only place in Disneyland that served alcohol. Turns out Walt worried alcohol would ruin the family atmosphere — oh please. The menu: After a day of consuming copious amounts of junk food, I wasn’t keen on anything too sweet, so opted for the Kentucky Mule (US$14.25) — Buffalo Trace bourbon, fresh lime juice and agave nectar topped with ginger beer. The expectation: We were thirsty, with limited choice. The reality: All snarks aside, the drinks were divine — surprisingly refined and refreshing for something associated with a theme park. My compliments to the mouse.