The Butterbeer War: How Disney Lost to Universal Studios

There are many iconic things from the Wizarding Worlds at various Universal Studios’ theme parks. In addition to Hogwarts School, interactive wands, and detailed stores and shops, there is another element everyone fawns over. Butterbeer.

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Butterbeer

The signature beverage of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter first appeared in the third book of the series: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. However, it’s mentioned many more times in J.K. Rowling’s novels featuring The Boy Who Lived.

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Aside from its presence in the books, Butterbeer is also featured throughout the Harry Potter franchise produced by Warner Bros. As such, it seemed a natural organic fit to implement it in Hogsmeade when it debuted at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure.

The curiosity and popularity of the drink propelled it to be featured at various Universal Studios resorts and become one of the “must-dos” when visiting the parks, Harry Potter fan or not.

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It’s believed that Disney carefully studied the success of Universal Studio Resorts Wizarding World areas. They are, after all, Disney theme parks’ most significant competitor.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is considered by many to be Disney’s answer to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. After all, Star Wars is one of the world’s leading franchises and has been around since the 1970s.

So when Disney created Galaxy’s Edge, they decided to make their own “Butterbeer,” if you will—a signature drink representing the new area and hitting the same status level. Enter…Star Wars Blue Milk.

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Attraction Ideas recently posted a video on YouTube explaining the strange history of Walt Disney World Resort’s Blue Milk and why it failed.

The channel makes five simple points about why Star Wars Blue (and Green) Milk failed, whereas Universal Studio’s Butterbeer succeeded.

Butterbeer vs. Blue Milk

The first point the video makes is the element of curiosity. The narrator makes the case that there was a genuine curiosity over themed Harry Potter Butterbeer due to its positive depiction in the books and films.

However, Star Wars Blue Milk…not so much. The scene of Luke Skywalker milking a creature in The Last Jedi and the drink dripping down his beard has become a terrible meme.

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The scene doesn’t show the beverage in a favorable light, as Luke has difficulty drinking it, and Rey appears disgusted.

Next, he discusses the refreshing quality of the drink. Butterbeer, available as frozen and regular, cools you off and keeps you hydrated.

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Blue Milk and Green Milk at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park are not always the most appealing drinks on a hot day in Central Florida or California. People will tend to favor a soda-type drink over milk.

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The video also states that a significant difference between Butterbeer and Blue Milk is that the former is far superior in taste.

The video also contains a montage of people gagging and criticizing how terrible the Blue Milk (and Green Milk) tastes. “Berry-flavored Pepto-Bismol” is how one guest describes it. Others compared it to what they imagined a carpet cleaner would taste like.

Meanwhile, Butterbeer almost always has massive lines at Universal Parks despite it being offered in multiple locations.

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Next, the video questions how unique the taste of each drink is and ranks them both as having that quality (the only “win” for Blue Milk).

Finally, he addresses the product line that Butterbeer has spawned, including various forms of the drink and merchandise. Guests can buy it frozen, cold, or hot; the flavor is available in ice cream and fudge. And, of course, you can purchase special Butterbeer merchandise such as signature mugs and other souvenirs.

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Blue Milk/ Green Milk, on the other hand, has no spin-offs due to its lack of popularity and low demand.

The full video from Attraction Ideas can be viewed below: