Walt Disney World's Espresso Martini Milkshake started as a cast member's food court idea

By entgrove · October 29, 2026

The Espresso Martini Milkshake in Walt Disney World's new fall lineup of frozen drinks began with Dan Laske, a cast member who noticed what guests ordered at an All-Star Movies Resort food court. He pitched it, worked with the resort's Food and Beverage Concept team and frontline cast, and took it through about 10 rounds of testing before it reached the menu board.

The Espresso Martini Milkshake in Walt Disney World's new fall drink lineup began as a cast member's idea at a resort food court. Dan Laske joined Disney through the Disney College Program in 2015, pitched the drink years later, and took it through about 10 rounds of testing before it reached the menu board.

From the Disney College Program to beverage development

Laske spent more than a decade moving through Disney resort hotels before landing in beverage development.

• Started in housekeeping. His first role, through the Disney College Program, was as a housekeeping cast member at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.
• Food and beverage roles. He later returned for food and beverage jobs at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort and Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside.
• His job today. He supports beverage programs across Walt Disney World and works with food and beverage leaders to develop future offerings.

Somewhere in those operations jobs, experimenting with drinks became the part of the work he liked best.

"I fell in love with the creative side of developing beverages and experimenting with flavors," Laske said. "I've carried that with me ever since."

How coffee and ice cream became the Espresso Martini Milkshake

The drink came from watching what guests ordered, then testing a recipe with the people who would make it.

• The spark. As a guest experience manager at the food court, surrounded by coffee and ice cream, he paid attention to guest preferences and began exploring a drink combining the two.
• The Concept team. After his pitch, he partnered with Disney World's Food and Beverage Concept team to source ingredients and finalize the recipe.
• Frontline feedback. He asked frontline cast members whether the drink fit daily operations and whether they could prepare it consistently for guests.
• Every version recorded. Each round changed ingredients, proportions or preparation, and every version was documented and refined before the final recipe.

Laske describes the split of work between the counter and the Concept team as a partnership.

"Operators know their location," Laske said. "They're the subject matter experts on the flow of the restaurant and the small details of how they operate. On the other hand, the Concept team can share best practices while offering advice and resources. It's a tag-team effort."

The testing, he says, was the most fun part of the whole project.

"I had the most fun playing with the flavors, tweaking the recipe and getting it to taste perfect," Laske said. "Sometimes I would adjust an ingredient by only half an ounce, taste it and realize that I had gotten it exactly where I wanted it. That's a good feeling."

Where it fits this fall, and what Disney has not said yet

The milkshake joins a fall lineup with a Peaches and Cream slush and a S'mores Gelato Milkshake, but its locations are unannounced.

• The fall lineup. The new frozen slushes and shakes rolling out this fall include a Peaches and Cream frozen slush and a S'mores Gelato Milkshake.
• Where ideas start. Disney says new beverage ideas often begin with the cast members who make drinks for guests every day.
• Coaching others. Laske now supports cast members who are developing their own future offerings.
• Not in the post. Disney's story does not say which counters sell the Espresso Martini Milkshake or what it costs.
• Food and beverage jobs. Disney points anyone interested in food and beverage roles to its Disney Careers site.

His advice to cast members with an idea is short.

"Don't be afraid to speak up," Laske said. "Even if you think it's a crazy idea, pitch it and then find a version that works. Learn the process and be as creative as you can."

Our take. Disney's post names no locations or prices, so check the menus in the My Disney Experience app before you plan a stop around the Espresso Martini Milkshake.