The Espresso Martini Milkshake at Walt Disney World Started as One Cast Member's Idea at a Resort Food Court
Dan Laske went from housekeeping at Caribbean Beach to pitching a new frozen drink, and it took about 10 rounds of testing to get it right.
Walt Disney World's newest lineup of frozen beverages includes an Espresso Martini Milkshake, and it exists because one cast member had an idea while standing between the coffee and the ice cream. That cast member is Dan Laske, and his path from the Disney College Program to the menu board is a fun one.
Laske is a beverage concept and program manager with more than a decade of experience across the resort. His idea made the full jump from concept to menu board, which is not a small thing in a place where so many drinks and snacks start as someone's wild what if.
If you've ever wondered how a new treat ends up at a Disney counter, this one is a good look behind the curtain.
From Housekeeping to Beverage Concepts
Laske's Disney story began in 2015, when he joined Walt Disney World through the Disney College Program. His first job was in housekeeping at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.
After finishing the program, he came back and moved into food and beverage roles. Those took him to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort and Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Riverside.
Along the way, he found something he loved. Experimenting with beverages became his passion, and he told us he fell for the creative side of developing drinks and playing with flavors. He's carried that with him ever since.
Today he supports beverage programs across Walt Disney World. He works with food and beverage leaders to develop future offerings, so his job is now to help get the next big sip onto a menu.
Where the Idea Came From
The spark came while Laske was working as a guest experience manager at World Premiere Food Court at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort. He was surrounded by coffee and ice cream all day, and he paid close attention to what guests liked and what they said.
Over time, he started thinking about a drink that could bring those two flavors together. That curiosity turned into the Espresso Martini Milkshake.
Pitching It and Getting It Right
Laske pitched the idea and eventually teamed up with the Walt Disney World Food and Beverage Concept team. Together they worked through the practical stuff, like sourcing ingredients and locking down the recipe.
He also went to frontline cast members for feedback. He wanted to know how the drink would fit into daily operations and whether the people making it could prepare it the same way every time for guests.
In his view, operators are the experts on their own locations. They know how their restaurant flows and understand all the small details of how it runs. The Concept team, meanwhile, can share best practices and offer advice and resources. He called it a tag team effort.
The recipe took about 10 rounds of testing to finalize. The team adjusted ingredients, proportions and preparation methods along the way, and every version was documented and refined before they landed on the finished drink.
For Laske, that testing phase was the best part. Sometimes he would change an ingredient by just half an ounce, taste it and realize he had nailed it. He said that's a great feeling.
A Full Circle Moment
Laske's current role feels like a loop that closed. He worked in the food and beverage operation, got one of his own ideas onto the menu, and now he supports other cast members who are developing offerings themselves.
His advice for any cast member with an idea they believe in is to speak up. Even if it sounds crazy, he says pitch it, then find a version that works. Learn the process and get as creative as you can.
Every food or beverage item at Walt Disney World, and at Disney parks around the world, exists because cast members worked behind the scenes to turn an idea into something real. For Laske, it took a simple concept, a willingness to experiment and a passion for making something guests will love.
So we want to hear from you. Are you usually amazed by the final product when a new Disney food or drink shows up? Let us know in the comments.
/ More from FirstDrop
Walt Disney WorldRock 'n' Roller Coaster's Giant Guitar Gets Snowy for the Muppets Obligatory Holiday Overlay
The overlay opened Wednesday at Disney's Hollywood Studios with holiday touches in the pre-show, the queue and the ri…
Walt Disney WorldRock 'n' Roller Coaster Is Blasting 30 Holiday Songs in the Courtyard, and the Playlist Is Wild
The Muppets holiday overlay opened Wednesday at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the full courtyard music loop is a lo…
Walt Disney WorldRemy's Ratatouille Adventure Hides a Spilled Box of Linguini, a Secret Address and a Cheese Block Speaker
Imagineers walked through the new show sets and animated queue scene at EPCOT, and the Easter eggs are tastier than y…
Walt Disney WorldDisney's Lakeshore Lodge Is Now Open to Book, and Rooms Start Around $512 a Night
Walt Disney World's next resort hotel opens July 1, 2027 on the old River Country site. Booking opened to everyone on…