Skip These Snacks On Your Next Disney World Trip – We Go to Disney Weekly

When visiting Disney World, one of the most difficult decisions you need to make is which snacks you are going to try throughout your trip. There is a wide variety of snacks at the Disney World theme parks and resorts, and new items are constantly being added to the menus, so it can be tough deciding what to choose.

There are a few common items that can be found all over Disney World, and while they make for a fine treat if you are hungry, there are so many options available that have more unique flavors and are better quality. Read on to find out which snacks are best to skip at Disney World in favor of more diverse, interesting items.

Frozen Slushies

Frozen treats are a great way to cool down during a sweltering day out in the sun, and thankfully you can find a lot of different options all over Disney World. One option that you will find at a lot of walk-up windows and quick-service restaurants is frozen slushy drinks. While there are a few of these that come in more interesting flavors, most of them can be passed up for other sweet, ice-cold snacks.

The majority of slushies available are no different than those that can be bought at a local convenience store. If you can get a blue raspberry, cherry, or Coca-Cola-flavored slushy any time you want when you aren’t on vacation, it doesn’t make sense to get one of these while you are! If you are really craving an icy drink, look for a more interesting taste, like the apple and marshmallow flavored Lefou’s Brew at Magic Kingdom.

Mickey Soft Pretzels

Another snack that can be passed up are the soft pretzels shaped like Mickey. Like the Premium Bars, these can be found at most snack stands and walk-up windows at Disney World and are one of the most popular savory snack options. However, like the Premium Bars, they are no different than the average soft pretzel and cheese dipping sauce you might find at a sporting event or local fair.

If you are in the mood for a soft pretzel, there are several other types available that are much better than the Mickey-shaped ones. There are a few places in the theme parks and resorts that serve soft pretzels stuffed with cream cheese or pepper jack, which are very tasty and quite filling. You can also find massive, freshly made Bavarian-style pretzels at a few of the lounges in the parks and Disney Springs.

Mickey Premium Bars

When you’re visiting Disney World, it’s a rite of passage to eat foods that are shaped like Mickey Mouse ears, and one of the most popular snacks in that category are the Mickey Premium Bars. These are the classic chocolate-coated ice cream bars that are made to look like Mickey’s head, and you can find them at every ice cream cart and even a few food stands in all four theme parks. If you’ve never had a Mickey Premium Bar before, you should experience it at least once. They are smooth and creamy and a great way to cool down during a sweltering day at the park.

However, at the end of the day, they are a pretty boring option compared to all the other great ice cream treats available. They can also be difficult to eat when you’re out in the heat because they melt so quickly and tend to turn into a drippy mess.

You can find delicious ice cream in dozens of different flavors in the shops and Quick Service restaurants around the parks and resorts, so skip the Mickey Premium Bar in favor of something more exciting.

Packaged Bakery Treats

At all the Disney World resorts and in each of the theme parks, there is at least one location where you can find a variety of prepackaged bakery treats, like cookies, cupcakes, and Rice Krispie treats. Because they are all wrapped up and ready to go, they can be a nice option to throw in your bag for a special treat before heading out on your adventure for the day. But if you have the time and ability, we definitely recommend skipping the packaged stuff for freshly-made sweet snacks.

You can find some really unique desserts around the parks that are much more enjoyable than the standard bakery or gift shop goodies. An area like the World Showcase is a perfect example, as each country’s pavilion has its own specialty options that can only be found in that location. There are so many decadent options to pick from that you won’t even think twice about the chocolate chip cookie or vanilla cupcake you were considering!

Churros

If you are craving something doughy and sugary during your trip, the first item you will likely find to satisfy that feeling is a churro. They are sold at carts scattered around the parks, so they are fairly easy to locate, and they often are not too badly priced either. However, most of the churros available are the same as those you’d find in bars or restaurants outside of the Disney World grounds.

If you are hoping to broaden your snacking horizons during your vacation, there are a lot of other fried, donut-like options you can pick from instead. From chocolatey pastries to giant cinnamon rolls, you will have the choice of lots of different flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of them even come infused with alcohol, like the Mickey beignets at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort French Quarter!

Decorated Candy Apples

The bakery cases at the candy shops in Disney Springs and the theme parks are often full of beautifully decorated caramel and candy apples themed around popular Disney characters and attractions. While they may look enticing and pretty, they do not taste nearly as good as a homemade apple dipped in sticky caramel and covered with toppings.

If you are looking for a caramel snack that is out-of-this-world, head to EPCOT and visit the Germany pavilion. There is a shop in that area that sells all kinds of goodies smothered in Werther’s Caramel, including apples. These are going to be far superior to any of the standard decorated apples you will find in other places around Disney World.

Turkey Legs

If you’ve made a trip to Disney World or done any research on the readily available food choices, you have probably come across the giant turkey legs sold in the theme parks. These are definitely a novelty item that many people buy just to be able to say they ate one, but they are by far one of the top items to skip.

Unless you are a meat lover and have a huge appetite (or are planning to share with other people in your group), the turkey leg is not worth purchasing. They cost an arm and a leg (literally), and they are big and dense, making them difficult to consume in one sitting. The turkey legs are also not easy to wrap up and stick into your bag if you are heading onto an attraction, so you really do need to eat it all in one go if you want your money’s worth. Otherwise, you will end up wasting a large amount of food and money, and no one wants to do that!

Popcorn

At Disney World, you are often looking for ways to save money during your trip. One of the easiest ways you can keep your snack expenses low is by purchasing a Disney popcorn bucket and using it for refills on your park days. The refills are only a couple dollars, and you can get them as often as you’d like. Still, unless you are really invested in saving on snacks, popcorn is definitely one that can be skipped.

No matter how good the area near the cart smells (like on Main Street U.S.A., for example), the popcorn itself is usually only so-so. It’s rare to be served a fresh, hot batch, and it’s never as buttery or salty as you’d like it to be. There are many other savory snacks to select from, and while most of them aren’t as cheap as a popcorn refill, there is much more variety, and the quality is usually worth the price!

Interested in saving money on all your food purchases? Be sure to read our tips for saving money during your Disney World trip.

Dole Whip

Okay, hear us out on this one. If you have never tried Dole Whip before, it is worth trying at least once in its original form as pineapple soft serve in a cup. This is the only Dole Whip option you could choose at Disney World for a long time, and with its creamy and tangy taste, it has definitely become a fan favorite over the years.

However, recently, the varieties of Dole Whip soft serve available at Disney World have greatly increased. There have been many limited-edition flavors that have come and gone, and the tart soft serve has been combined with several different juices and fruity sodas. Because Disney is always bringing out new Dole Whip concoctions to try, we’re not saying you should entirely skip Dole Whip as a snack. Just trade the plain old soft serve in a cup for one of the specialty options available in some of the parks and resorts!

Want to make your own Dole Whip at home? Our guide on Disney World copycat recipes has directions for whipping up lots of yummy goodies from the comfort of your kitchen.

How to Find the Best Snacks

There are so many different restaurants, lounges, walk-up windows, and stands and carts that it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to start looking for snack ideas. And because Disney World is constantly switching out food items and moving them from one location to another, it may be challenging to find exactly what you’re looking for.

The easiest way to search for Disney’s best snacks is to use the My Disney Experience app to look through the menus of the park or resort you’re spending the day at. The app shows the food currently being offered at all the major places in your current location, and you can even filter the list to separate out items by price or search for certain cuisine options if you’re craving something in particular.

Spend a few minutes scrolling through the menus, and you’re sure to find a snack that you will absolutely love! However, if you'd like a few of our favorite recommendations, read on to learn about five Disney World snacks you shouldn't skip.

Pongu Lumpia

Some of the best snacks at Disney World are the ones that are not super well-known and popular. A perfect example of this is the Pongu Lumpia found in Disney's Animal Kingdom. This treat can be found well off the beaten path at Pongu Pongu, a small quick-service window tucked in the very back of Pandora – The World of Avatar.

The Pongu Lumpia is essentially a fruity version of a spring roll. The warm, sugar-coated dough is fried and wrapped around a chunky pineapple sauce, giving it a good mix of sweet and tart flavors. It's just large enough to be satisfying but not overly filling. And it's easily portable, so you can munch on it while walking around exploring the rest of the area.

Poutine

One of Canada's most popular snacks is also one of the snacks you shouldn't skip at Disney World! While you would think that poutine would be found in the World Showcase at EPCOT, our favorite poutine is located in Disney Springs at The Daily Poutine, right near the World of Disney store. If you've never tried poutine before, you're in for a nice and salty, fatty treat.

Classic poutine is made with a base of thick-cut French fries and is topped with beef gravy and cheese curds. You can find this original version at The Daily Poutine, along with several other tasty variations on the snack. There's an Italian option that swaps out the beef gravy for turkey Bolognese sauce and the cheese curds for mozzarella and Pecorino Romano, as well a a Butter Chicken style that uses chicken and tomato curry sauce and paneer cheese. You're sure to find a version that you like!

Zebra Domes

If you're willing to go out to the resorts to find an excellent snack, then you should definitely head over to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge for some zebra domes! These creamy, decadent pastries can be found on the lower level of the resort in The Mara quick-service restaurant, and they are well worth the trip over.

Zebra domes are made with chocolate mousse, Amarula Cream Liquor-coated white chocolate, and even more chocolate drizzled on top with chocolate shavings to round out the treat. They are very rich, so you only need to eat a couple of them to leave with your sweet tooth satisfied. If you can't get enough of them, you can also find zebra domes on the dinner menu at Boma – Flavors of Africa. Because it's a buffet, you can eat as many of them as you like!

Totchos

Some of the best snacks are those that are large and filling enough to double as a meal, and the Totchos at Disney's Hollywood Studios are a perfect example of that. These tater tot nachos can be found at Woody's Lunchbox, the quick-service window in Toy Story Land right next to Toy Story Midway Mania.

The tater tots, or “potato barrels,” are smothered with beef chili sauce, both hot queso and shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream, with corn chips and green onions providing the finishing touches. They are a delicious savory snack that are just the right size to tide you over until your next big meal.

Croque Glace

There are so many fantastic snacks to choose from in Epcot that it is difficult to narrow down a favorite, but one snack we believe you shouldn't skip is the croque glace at L'Artisans des Glaces. This small ice cream shop is situated in a back corner of the France Pavilion in World Showcase, right next to Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie.

In fact, the boulangerie is where the brioche buns are made that complete this unique take on the ice cream sandwich. A scoop of your preferred flavor of ice cream and either chocolate or raspberry sauce is placed on top of one bun, and then the other half sits on top. The croque glace is then pressed with heat to seal the sandwich together, and somehow the ice cream stays intact and doesn't melt into the bread and make it soggy. It's a great option if you can't decide between a pastry and a frozen treat!

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