Disney may have a better way to make your drinks smoke. A new Disney fog ice cube patent application describes a small, ice cube-shaped device that floats in your drink and produces a steady stream of fog, with built-in LED lights you can control from your phone.
Disney says it could replace dry ice in themed drinks and desserts, and could even work on lakes and lagoons. Here’s how it works, why Disney wants it, and whether you’ll ever see it at Walt Disney World.
Quick Summary
- Disney filed a patent application for a floating, ice cube-shaped fog device
- It’s titled “Vapor Generating Device for Thematic Environments” and was published October 29, 2026
- The device uses ultrasonic vibration to turn water into fog, with no dry ice needed
- A special membrane keeps alcohol in your drink and only turns water into fog
- Built-in LED lights can color the fog, and the device can be controlled from a phone or computer
- Disney also describes using it in cakes, fruit, and even lakes and lagoons
- This is a patent application, and Disney hasn’t announced plans to use it
About the Patent Application
The application, titled “Vapor Generating Device for Thematic Environments,” was published October 29, 2026 (Pub. No. US 2026/0335783 A1). Disney Enterprises filed it on April 23, 2025.
All four inventors listed on the patent are based in Central Florida.
Why Disney Wants to Replace Dry Ice
Disney says fog is a popular way to add theming to food and drinks at theme parks, cruise ships, restaurants, lounges, and resorts. Dry ice is the usual way to do it, but the patent points out two problems:
- The extreme cold of dry ice makes it hard to use in many situations.
- The fog doesn’t last long, usually only a few minutes before the dry ice is gone.
Disney’s device makes continuous vapor for much longer, and it doesn’t need special temperatures or handling.
How the Floating Fog Cube Works
In most examples, the device is a cube designed to look like an ice cube. The patent says it could measure less than two inches on each side. Other shapes are possible, including spheres, cylinders, and rectangular blocks. It could be made from materials like acrylic or food-grade plastic.
Here’s the process:
- You place the device in a liquid.
- Liquid enters through an opening on the bottom of the cube.
- A wicking material draws the liquid up to a vibration generator.
- The vibration generator, a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer, vibrates the liquid into tiny droplets.
- Those droplets turn into vapor and flow out of the top of the cube.
It Only Turns the Water Into Fog
One of the most interesting details involves cocktails. Disney notes that vaporizing alcohol could cause health problems for some people, including children, and could also be a fire risk.
To avoid that, the wicking material can include a membrane that only lets water through. The alcohol stays in your drink while the device turns the water into fog. The water could come from the drink itself or from melted ice.
Lights, Colors, and Phone Control
The cube can include LED lights that shine into the fog as it leaves the device, so the fog takes on the color of the light. The top of the cube has a central vapor outlet, six small light openings angled toward the fog, and a charging port.
A built-in controller can run stored programs to:
- Change light colors
- Create flashing or strobe effects
- Turn the fog on and off for pulsing bursts
The controller can receive wireless signals from a phone or computer, and several cubes can be linked together to coordinate their effects.
Shaping the Fog
A part called a baffle sits next to the vapor outlet and controls how the fog behaves. Without it, the vapor shoots straight up like a jet. With it, the fog spreads out and drifts low, like ground fog. Disney also describes a version with a narrow slit outlet, so the fog fans out as it leaves.
Designed to Stay Upright
Inside, the cube has two sections:
- A wet compartment, where liquid travels up to the vibration generator
- A dry compartment, which holds the battery, controller, and electronics
An air pocket near the top helps the cube float with the outlet facing up, and an optional weight keeps it upright. Other features include a rechargeable battery with USB charging, a sealed charging port, a sensor that turns the device on when it detects liquid, and an optional filter.
Smoking Cakes, Jack-o’-Lanterns, and Volcanoes
The device isn’t limited to drinks. For food, the cube can hold its own liquid in a refillable reservoir, so it doesn’t need to float. Disney lists examples like:
- A volcano-shaped cake that appears to smoke
- A jack-o’-lantern with smoke coming out
- A hollowed-out pineapple
- Melons, gourds, pastries, and breads
The patent says it works in cups, glasses, mugs, and bowls, including containers that hold 12 ounces or less. A much bigger version could even float on a lake, pond, or lagoon to create fog across the water.
Will You See This at Walt Disney World?
This is a patent application, not a granted patent, and Disney hasn’t announced any plans to use it. Many Disney patents never show up in the parks.
Still, fog-topped specialty drinks and desserts are already popular around Walt Disney World and on Disney Cruise Line, so a reusable, light-up fog cube would fit right in at a themed bar or restaurant.
The upcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom is one place where this kind of effect could really shine. Picture glowing green or purple cocktails with a steady stream of mist, desserts that bubble like a cauldron, or fog drifting across themed water features.
It’s the latest in a string of creative Disney patents, including one that would turn your own car into a ride vehicle.
The Bottom Line
The Disney fog ice cube patent describes a floating, light-up device that turns the water in your drink into long-lasting fog, with phone control and no dry ice. Disney also imagines it in cakes, fruit, and even lagoons.
It’s only a patent application for now, so there’s no guarantee you’ll ever see it in the parks. But if it does show up, your next themed cocktail could come with its own fog machine.
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I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!
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