Bob Sehlinger's Blog

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz (Universal Studios Florida)

Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz in Universal Studios Florida. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Available at Chez Alcatraz in the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida, the Shark Attack is visually one of the coolest drinks on property. Located mere steps away from the photo-op with the world’s most famous great white shark, this drink perfectly gets across the creepiness of seeing blood mixing with water that scared us all in Jaws. Ingredients: Malibu Coconut Rum, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, dash of Grenadine.

The “blood” effect added into the Shark Attack. (photo by Brandon Glover)

After getting your Shark Attack, have a toast to “Bruce” himself.

Photo by Brandon Glover

Looks like Bruce ate our 2014 copy of the Unofficial Guide, time to get the 2015 edition!

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Interested in theme park drinks? Then do we have a eBook for you! The Walt Disney World Bars and Lounges eGuide by Brian McNichols. Over 250 pages and containing well over 400 photos, this eGuide takes you through EVERY bar and lounge on WDW property (trust me, Brian has the kidneys problems to prove it!) Also included? Recipes for some of your favorite WDW drinks. Ratings, descriptions, and photos for each of the 70+ bars and lounges. Talk about the perfect Christmas present!

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an Advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.