Visiting Walt Disney World means enjoying timeless attractions, classic shows, and memorable character interactions. But for many, it also means enjoying delectable cuisine “around the World.” I love Rockin’ Roller-coaster, Haunted Mansion, The Festival of the Lion King, and Soarin, but I also love the various snack options available all over Walt Disney World.
I am leaving out four of the most famous Disney snacks – how dare me!! My family just does not do Turkey legs, popcorn, churros, or Mickey pretzels. Yes, you read that correctly. I don’t like meat on bones – I don’t do chicken legs, ribs, etc., and I especially do not want to walk around a crowded park with a messy bone and meat hanging off of it. I can eat popcorn anywhere – movie theater popcorn is great, and I even like mere microwave popcorn. Churros are tasty but just too small for the price, in my opinion. Finally, pretzels are pretzels and I like them with cinnamon or cheese, but they are just pretzels and nothing more to us, so we will go bigger and better elsewhere.
Opinions are everywhere with everyone, which is fine, but here is my family’s list of the best snacks:
12. Beaches and Cream Frozen Choices. This restaurant is located at the Beach Club Resort and it is where you can find the Kitchen Sink or the Mini-Mickey Sink – large sharable portions of ice cream and “everything except the kitchen sink” as toppings as well as a variety of shakes, malts, and sundaes. They also serve the regular fare of hamburgers and fries and other sandwiches and sides. We love anything with brownie and hot fudge and this place is where that and most every other frozen treat can be found. Our entire family finds something here to enjoy!
11. Gaston’s Cinnamon Rolls. This restaurant is located in the Magic Kingdom to the right of the entrance to Be our Guest restaurant. There are several snack choices here, but my snack-of-choice is the Cinnamon roll. If gluten is a problem, I don’t think this is for you – due to its size, I’m pretty sure there is ample of that particular ingredient. I like to say “it’s the size of one’s head” and that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is large, moist, and delicious. This can be a great “pick-me-up” snack either mid-morning or mid-afternoon to get you re-energize
d for the rest of the day.
10. M
int Julep Lemonade Slushies. This specialty treat can only be found at Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom. What is it, you ask? Well, it has a bit of lemon, a bit of lime, a bit of mint, a bit of sweet, and a bit of slushy-ice. You put all that together in a plastic cup and a cherry on top and you have yourself a Mint Julep. Only my middle son and I enjoy this refreshingly zany montage, but that is fine because they are about $7 a piece! (Picture courtesy of Disneyfoodblog.com)
9. Frozen Lemonades. This is my youngest son’s favorite – yes, frozen lemonade in a cup. It is nothing special, except when it is 97 degrees and humid and the hot Florida sun is beating down on you – then it is a life-saver! These can be found all over all four parks at Walt Disney World and Disney Springs. Oh, and these are special when your 11-year old talks about them weeks before the trip and cannot wait to partake on the first day of our family’s Disney adventure.
8. Crepes in France. Never had a crepe? You are missing out! I have had them in the actual France, the one across the Atlantic, but I also always have one at Epcot’s France Pavilion as well. No matter the continent, they are both pretty tasty. The kiosk located across the walkway from Chefs de France restaurant at Epcot has a variety of crepes from which to choose. I always go with the strawberry crepe, but you can also get them with chocolate, or sugar, or even ice cream. My middle son enjoys the chocolate ones, and I’d like it if they’d add a blueberry option, but my requests have gone unheeded thus far. Anyway, next time you are country hopping at Epcot, grab a crepe in France – they’re especially good as you wait to watch Illuminations.
7. 
Sprinkles Cupcakes. Many Disney guests have never heard of Sprinkles, but it is hidden away in the midst of the array of restaurants and shops at Disney Springs. My family has tried a variety of different things here, even including a gluten-free cupcake, which apparently is good – I just have never mustered the courage to try it – I usually joke that “I’ll take extra gluten with mine” to insure its tastiness. What we have not tried yet but want to is the cupcake ATM on the outside. Yes, pick a cupcake, swipe your credit card, and out pops your treat of choice – shazam (in proud Gomer Pyle fashion)! As I mentioned earlier, I personally like anything with chocolate and ice cream and that is what I get – plain chocolate cupcake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It hits the spot!
6. Ghirardelli’s. This Disney Springs spot is a hit with the entire family because who does not like ice cream in all its shapes, sizes, and flavors. My fav is, of course, hot fudge brownie sundae and my boys would probably concur. What to know before you go – IT’S EXPENSIVE! And not just Disney expensive, it may be even a bit pricier than that. But we don’t eat there every day of our visit, just once is enough. Grab something, sit on the brick wall across the walkway, and people watch for a few minutes – you’ll not regret it!
5. Grey Stuff. You all know the song from Beauty and the Beast that in part goes “try the grey stuff, it’s delicious.” Nothing could be more true for this treat that can be found at the Be Our Guest restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. In order to allow you to anticipate its “deliciousness,” I will not go into detail or show a picture of this delicacy – I will just let your mouth water and then allow you to partake in complete wonderment when you get your opportunity.
4. Dole Whip. Supposedly these frozen snacks can be found in a few places, but I have only purchased them at the Aloha Isle near The Carpets of Aladdin in the Magic Kingdom. There are several variations of a Dole Whip available, including all vanilla (which in my opinion does not count!), half vanilla and half pineapple, and complete pineapple along with a Dole Whip float. My favorite. . .(drum roll please) . . . is the half and half. To me and my middle son, that is the perfect blend of ice cream and citrus. Any more citrus might put me over the top. I had never tried one until a couple visits ago, but I will never visit the Magic Kingdom again without making my way over Aloha Isle.
3. Beignets. These are a new endeavor for my family, and the verdict is a convincing “YES!” I had heard about these from the Disney grapevine, so I drug my family over to the French Quarter resort for the express purpose of trying these incredible morsels. Within one bite, all three of my boys were hooked. An added benefit is that they have gluten-free beignets for my wife, and with that, the entire family is satisfied. My evil-side wants to hide this bit of knowledge, but as a public service announcement, I will share it – if you don’t bite carefully and lean over and you dive in carelessly, you will end up looking like the abominable snowman with powdered sugar from head to toe. I tried one at Disneyland and no one had been kind enough to share this helpful piece of information. Needless to say, even my shoes had a nice white haze over them for the rest of the day.
2. Soft Serve Ice Cream. I know what you are thinking – really, soft serve ice cream? Yes, soft serve can be found at any Dairy Queen, McDonalds, and thousands of other local creameries. BUT according to my boys, especially my oldest son, as well as my own taste buds, the soft serve ice cream found at Animal Kingdom’s Anandapur Ice Cream Truck just down the walkway from Expedition Everest is purely delightful. When it’s hot outside, which is 85% of the time in Florida, this is the perfect mid-afternoon snack to keep you going as you explore Africa and Asia.
1. Mickey Bar/Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches. When you think of snacks at Walt Disney World, everyone loves the iconic Mickey Ice Cream Bars, which can also be found in Mickey-shaped Ice Cream Sandwiches as well. I don’t even particularly enjoy a normal ice cream bar, but if it’s shaped like a Mickey head, apparently it tastes better. I cannot imagine visiting Walt Disney World without having a Mickey bar touch my lips at some point during our visit. It’s a tradition that I’m sure will continue for many Disney vacations.
