The exciting Contemporary Resort

From opening night of Walt Disney World, October 1, 1971, when the doors opened at the Cotemporary Resort’s Top of the World, entertainment was a top billing affair. This was mentioned to guests traveling aboard the monorail as Jack Wagner stated, “Elevators running through the center will carry you high above to the Top of the World Restaurant, where famous stars entertain.”

In 1972, the cover charge was 5.00 dollars and gentlemen were asked to wear coats as, according to David Koenig in Realityland, “The Top of the World Club presented two shows nightly with performers like Donald O’Connor, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Eden, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme, Kay Starr, and Patti Page, plus dining and dancing to the music of the full top of the World orchestra.” (p.111)

Starting on June 29, 1981, the celebrity entertainers were displaced by a new show entitled Broadway at the Top. The show would run until September of 1993, when the Top of the World closed on the 30th of that month to be remodeled into the California Grill.

During the course of the restaurant and lounge’s storied history it also featured several specialty cocktails named for one of the contemporary’s most notable features, the monorail. The recipes for Monorail Pink, Monorail Red, and Monorail Yellow are presented below.

Monorail Pink

Ingredients:

1 ¼ Ounces Gin
1 ¼ Ounces Pineapple Juice
1 ¼ Ounces Orange Juice
1 Ounce Grenadine
½ Ounce Lemon Bar Mix
1 ½ Ounces Heavy Cream
¾ Cup Crushed Ice
Orange Slice
Maraschino Cherry

Directions:
Mix gin, fruit juices, grenadine, lemon bar mix, and heavy cream in a blender with ice.
Blend for 10 seconds.
Pour into a tall glass.
Garnish with orange slice and cherry.

Monorail Red

Ingredients:

1 ¼ Ounces Tequila
¾ Ounces Sweet Licorice-Flavored Liqueur
¾ Ounce Grenadine
2 ½ Ounce Lemon Bar Mix
2 Ounces Pineapple Juice
¾ Cup Crushed Ice
Maraschino Cherry

Directions:
Combine tequila, licorice liqueur, grenadine, lemon bar mix, pineapple, and ice in a blender.
Blend for 10 seconds and pour into a tall glass.
Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Monorail Yellow

Ingredients:

1 ½ Ounces Rum
3 Ounces Orange Juice
¾ Ounce Coconut Cream
2 ½ Ounces Pineapple Juice
¾ Cup Crushed Ice
Orange Slice
Maraschino Cherry

Directions:
Combine rum, orange juice, coconut cream, pineapple juice, and ice in a blender.
Blend for 10 seconds and pour into a tall glass.
Garnish with maraschino cherry and orange slice.