Ah…an afternoon on vacation at Walt Disney World. The temperature is soaring, your feet are starting to rebel against more walking and your stomach is screaming from the thrill rides you’ve subjected it to. So what’s next?
A snack, of course!
There is no lack of food anywhere on Disney Property. From a small healthy snack to a huge deep fried plate of love, if you want it, you can find it. But of the many available choices, what are the treats that make up the quintessential Disney vacation experience? What would the experts direct you towards to make your Happiest Vacation on Earth complete?
Well sit on down and let’s list the Top Ten Disney World Snacks!
The Mickey Bar. Only at Walt Disney World will you find an ice cream bar in the shape of the “boss”. In the spirit of a Dove chocolate premium ice cream bar, the Mickey Bar is a grown up treat in a childhood favorite shape. Premium vanilla ice cream is encased in a thick coat of dark chocolate, and can be found at nearly every ice cream kiosk through the parks and at every resort gift shop. If dark chocolate isn’t your thing, but you still want the experience of an ice cream Mickey, you can also find Mickey Cookies and Cream ice cream sandwiches.
Dole Whips. This refreshing dessert can be found exclusively in the Magic Kingdom park’s Adventurelandat the Aloha Isle and at the Polynesian Resort’s Captain Cooks quick serve restaurant. A Dole Whip is a pineapple soft serve non dairy dessert, much like a sorbet. It is served in cups, on a cone and even as a float with fresh pineapple juice. The Aloha Isle offers fresh pineapple spears and vanilla soft serve in a float with pineapple juice, but it’s the Dole Whip that is the classic favorite!
TheTurkeyLeg. Only at Disney could you find a smoked turkey leg the size of a baseball bat! This protein filled snack (or meal!) can be found at all four Disney World parks and is one of those “love it or hate it” foods. The huge leg comes hot and wrapped in paper and the best way to eat it is to just dig right in. The smoky flavor is reminiscent of a smoked ham and the salty taste goes well with any cold beverage. Make sure to get plenty of napkins!
School Bread. Tucked away in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase is the Kringla og Café, a small bakery and counter service restaurant. Many delicious pastries can be found here, but one of the most popular is the School Bread. The bread is a lightly sweetened yeast dough that is baked to be about 6 inches in diameter. The center is then filled with a thick, rich vanilla custard. The top is covered in vanilla glaze and sprinkled in coconut, with a dollop of custard decorating the top. The combination of the light bread and the creamy custard make this a perfect sweet snack. The size is huge, so you can get a to go container and snack on the bread for a while, share with your fellow travelers, or simply enjoy the whole thing on your own. A true must eat for anyone who loves vanilla and coconut!
Kaki Gori. Continuing on through Epcot’s World Showcase, the Japanese Pavilion is the home of another refreshing Disney favorite: the Kaki Gori. This icy treat is a large portion of shaved ice, served in a snow cone container and topped with any combination of three flavors. Strawberry, tangerine and honey dew melon can be solo or blended for a colorful, cold and refreshing snack on a hot Florida day. The syrups are traditionally sweet, but as they melt with the ice, the flavor gets even better. A favorite with adults and children alike, this is a food cart in Japan that can’t be missed!
Goofy’s Candy Company Create Your Own Treat. A trip to Downtown Disney wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Goofy’s. This shop turns everyone who enters into a literal kid in a candy store, with its array of fudge, Disney candies, cookies, rice krispie bars, and more. From floor to ceiling your senses are assaulted with vibrant colors, delicious smells, and sugar, sugar, sugar! But the best snack is found behind the counter in the Make Your Own category. Simply fill out a sheet on the counter where you can “choose your adventure” and sit back to watch it made. Your choices? Begin with either an apple, a supersized Oreo cookie, Mickey gingerbread, Mickey rice krispie treat, or three pretzel rods. Next choose the chocolate dip: dark, milk, white…your choice! And then select any combination of the available nuts, sprinkles, chopped cookies, or candies. For extra decadence, you can top the whole thing with drizzled chocolate or caramel. Simply put: it’s all up to you! This enormous and indulgent treat can last for days after purchase!
Mickey Rice Krispie Treat. There is no shortage of snacks and desserts shaped like the Main Mouse at Disney, and this is no exception. Mickey Krispie Treats can be found at nearly every shop in every park and resort and come in several different varieties. You can find them plain, dipped in milk or white chocolate, with chocolate dipped ears, and covered in seasonal colored sprinkles. These are an excellent snack, dessert, or even a souvenir to take home after the vacation ends.
Popcorn. Disney magic and pixie dust are terms bandied around a lot down in central Florida. But for those who are looking for tangible proof they exist, look no further than the seemingly pedestrian snack of popcorn. Disney popcorn can be found in every park and is served hot and fresh in either a carton or a souvenir bucket. Upon first sight it appears to be ordinary popcorn, but one taste will addict you for life! Just enough salt and butter flavor with an appealing yellow and white color, the popcorn is a snack well worth the trip.
Bottled Water. Yes, you read that right. Bottled water is a must have on the list of top Walt Disney World snacks. The tap water in this area is abysmal and all guests need to stay as hydrated as possible in this region of high humidity and often high temperatures. So when you stop to get your other snacks, take the time to rehydrate at the same time!
Disney World truly has no shortage of food, and the variety is enormous. From a culinary standpoint a trip to Disney can vary from typical theme park fare to five diamond cuisine. But at the end of the day, there remain those snacks that just say “Disney World” and any one of them is a delicious moment in the midst of a great vacation!
