My heart has such a warm spot for the Blue Glo-Tini… It’s like the Walt Disney World mixed drink mascot for me. Believe it or not (I know you won’t but that’s OK) I had never actually had much in the way of alcohol before sipping this sweet little drink back in 2008.
Maybe that’s why this drink is synonymous with the adult side of Disney for me now?
Now I know it’s kind of early to dub a recipe from 4 years ago a classic, but I think this certainly could be a contender. (Editor’s note… This was originally written in 2012. It’s now been 7 years, we can call this a classic recipe…
Because I say so). First of all, it comes from just about the best Disney promotion in recent memory, Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams,” a promotion that was so much fun, it lasted over 2 years and I keep hoping will come back.
There were special shows, parades, characters, and people chosen at random for all sorts of special magical moments, everything from dream Fast Passes to special lanyards, pins, or Mickey ears, to overnight stays in Cinderella’s Castle, even a whirlwind trip over 15 days to every Disney theme park in the world.
I wish I could tell you the excitement that came with seeing the Dream Squad with their baby blue shirts and crisp white vests walking towards you with big smiles and unlimited wish-granting potential, making your mind reel with the possibility at what you were about to receive, what wish was going to be granted…
And then watching in disappointment as they choose the family in front of you to carry Dream FastPasses and take an exclusive behind-the-magic tour with an Imagineer. Because that’s my luck.
To this day I blow right through the Dinosaur gift shop because I know that the need to look at dyed agate and the same fossilized rocks sold at every knick knack store across the country cost me Dream FastPasses back in 2008. Am I bitter? Maybe only a little.
Luckily for bad planners like me, there were a variety of special drinks available across all of the parks to help drown away the sorrow that came with losing out to a wish granted, my favorite being the Blue Glo-tini.
I had my first (and second and third) drink at Coral Reef in EPCOT and I remember our server talking about how, when he lost power due to a hurricane, all he had were the blue ice cubes served in the drink to light up his apartment for 2 days.
I won’t lie, I ordered the drink for the blue light-up ice cube.
I’m not much of a drinker, not a fan of martinis, and it wasn’t covered under the Disney Dining Plan and paying $8.50 for a drink was against everything I stood for. But it looked so cool, I just had to give it a shot.
It was so good, I ordered two more, had one of the best meals I’ve had at Disney, and remember very little about walking back to the bus that took us to our hotel. I do remember telling a security guard he was doing a great job, though.
While the “Year of a Million Dreams” is long gone, the special signature drink of the event lives on at a variety of restaurants in both the parks and at the resorts, renamed as simply the Blue Glo-tini. A word of warning: they’re stronger than you think.
Looking for more adult fun from Disney? I have plenty of recipes to choose from, including the Triple Yeti Blast, the Key Lime Coconut Martini, and the Magical Star Cocktail. You know you want to try these out for your next party…
They’re all incredible!
How about you guys? What’s your favorite mixed drink at Disney? Are there specialty drinks you miss more than anything? Have you ever praised a cast member for their good work after having perhaps one-too-any Glo-Tinis?
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Year of a Million Dreams Blue Glo-tini
As was served during the “Year of a Million Dreams” promotion
Still featured as Blue Glo-tini in a number of locations across WDW
- 1.5 oz Citrus Vodka (I use Smirnoff)
- 5 oz Peach Schnapps (I used Jenkins)
- 5 oz Blue Curacao (I used Bols)
- 1.5 oz Pineapple Juice (Dole, of course)
- 1 oz Sour/Margarita Mix
Combine all in a martini shaker, shake, then strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Finish by floating a glowing “ice cube” in the glass.
