The Mint Julep Bar is an elusive, difficult to find counter-service location that features fritters and mint juleps. It is attached to the French Market building, facing the train station (it's across from the bathrooms and slightly around the corner). Never busy, it's a great way to avoid long lines.
Food items that are gone
I'm sure that, over the years, numerous items have come and gone without my notice or knowledge. One I can be sure of: we no longer offer the beignets, prepared in the authentic New Orleans style. They simply didn't sell well enough and were a pain to prepare anyway. Still, I'm sad to see that piece of culture go.
Best times to visit the Bar
Summer and Holiday Seasons
The MJB opens long before the French Market, though they are staffed by the same people. Usually, the Bar will open when the Park does and offers the full menu (though most people only buy fritters and/or coffee). It's seldom busy at the Bar during any time of day, with the exception of the two hours before Fantasmic (as people visiting the bathroom finally see the bar). So if it is busy, just come back and it will most likely not be the next time. It closes very late, usually a half-hour before the Park closes.
Autumn, Winter, Spring: Weekdays
On non-seasonal weekdays, the Bar has more limited hours; it's still open in the morning and that's the best time to visit it. Afternoons it should be open, but closing times depend on park attendance and it's best not to chance missing it.
Autumn, Winter, Spring: Weekends
Somewhat like summertime; Bar opens early and closes very late. Busy around Fantasmic times, but absolutely empty during Fantasmic itself. Still, since it's quiet so much of the day it's not worth missing Fantasmic just for a julep. Plan it so that you visit the Bar before the evening.
The history of the Mint Julep Bar
Here I'm at a loss. I know next-to-nothing about the Bar's history. Obviously, it opened in much of its present form when the French Market was opened in 1966 and has undergone only cosmetic changes since then. It did receive its own phone, finally, in 1995.
Some of my favorite stories
William Shatner
Somehow Captain Kirk himself managed to find this well-hidden location and ordered a fritter and some drinks. He was with other people and he looks quite different! He wears a wig/toupee when he's Kirk and has less real hair. Most of all, he was much larger in real life. He must slim down when doing a role. He wasn't very sociable that day. Not that we told him we had recognized him, but he seemed to shun all sorts of contact.
Greasepit!
Because of the fritters and the equally messy cappuccino machine, the Bar is one of the single most dirty places I've ever worked. It constantly has a shine or veneer to it from all the grease and sugar. Especially sugar! You can take a firehose in there and it wouldn't help. I would joke that a nuclear holocaust in Southern California would wipe all of us out, but the sugar would remain.
Where's the Bathroom?
Even here we'd get that question. Uhh, turn around sir and you're looking at it!
Some pictures of the Mint Julep Bar
Here's one of the cappuccino machines. We've gone through a couple - they do so much automatically that they break easily and are a real headache.
Here's one of the cappuccino machines. We've gone through a couple - they do so much automatically that they break easily and are a real headache.
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