When you plan a trip to Walt Disney World, one of the first things you’ll hear is that you just have to try the food. Some items that Disney prepares have become downright legendary in their own right, with gift shops selling souvenirs shaped like the delicious goodies.
But while the Dole Whip, Mickey Pretzel, and Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar are iconic and incredible, there are hundreds of amazing Disney snacks that still somehow fly under the radar.
Here are just a few of those underrated Disney treats, which can be found in the parks and around the resorts on property.
Mickey-shaped Rice Crispy Treat (Various)
Image: Dakota Gardner
As we all know, every food can be improved simply by forming that food into the shape of Mickey Mouse. That is the trick Mickey Waffles have pulled to make us think they’re just that much better than the regular dish.
One such example of this is the Mickey-shaped Rice Crispy Treat — itself, a delicious version of the standard snack. But, what elevates this particular treat beyond its fellow Mickey-shaped brethren is the addition of a chocolate dip on one side, complete with festive sprinkles.
For some reason, Disney’s Rice Crispy Treats are absolutely delicious — and they taste uniquely good when compared to similar fare at other bakeries. And, on top of that, the Goofy’s Candy Company location at Disney Springs lets you customize your order however you want, picking the type of chocolate, sprinkles, and other elements as you order.
Ghirardelli Sundae (Disney Springs)
Image: Dakota Gardner
There are many places on Disney property to get ice cream. After all, when you’re on vacation, there’s nothing better than enjoying the sweet stuff once, twice, or even three times a day.
Some of those places, like Beaches and Cream, are iconic in the hearts of Disney fans. Others, like Ample Hills Creamery, are newfound classics that provide delicious dessert.
For some reason, the Ghirardelli Chocolate shop in Disney Springs has never quite garnered the cult following that other Disney ice cream locations have found. It doesn’t really make sense, either — the hot fudge and delicious sundaes are legendary unto themselves.
Get anything with chocolate here — whether it’s chocolate ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, or hot fudge — and you’ll make sure you come back for seconds (or thirds).
Mini Donuts (Typhoon Lagoon)
Image: Dakota Gardner
Speaking of underrated, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park might just be the single most overlooked piece of real estate on Disney property. Its beautiful, lush setting is as relaxing as a water park can possibly be — and it remains the best way to cool off while on Disney property.
But what might make it most special is the delicious mini donuts on hand — made to order with vanilla and cinnamon dusting on top.
You’re welcome to buy dipping sauces for the donuts as well, but it’s not necessary to truly enjoy the sweet deliciousness. Even on a hot day, the fried dough is a tasty and welcome treat — without the lines you normally associate with hip Disney snacks.
The Daily Poutine (Disney Springs)
Image: rusty_clark, Flickr (license)
Although it’s one of the newest entrants into the Disney food canon, the Daily Poutine has been a hit for its entire life.
Located in a perfect spot just outside the World of Disney store, the Daily Poutine offers up several iterations of the classic Canadian dish, including a fantastic Italian version. But, the traditional gravy-and-cheese curds edition is truly the way to go — offering an international flair at a shockingly reasonable price point.
Disney Springs has quietly become the culinary heart of Walt Disney World, and after a stop at the Daily Poutine, that heart might just be a bit more clogged (in a good way, we promise).
Corn Dog Nuggets (Magic Kingdom)
Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)
It’s not necessarily cool to say that you love to eat at Casey’s Corner at the Magic Kingdom. After all, hot dogs on Main Street are as basic as you can get — and, on a busy summer day, Casey’s tends to attract every tourist and first timer. It’s much more hip to say you hop over to the Polynesian for a lunch break, or skipped off to the Contemporary for dinner.
Nevertheless, Casey’s Corner has been a Magic Kingdom mainstay for decades, and with good reason. It’s signature hot dogs are fantastic. But, it is a less well-known item that is truly worthy of all the praise.
Corn Dog Nuggets: what’s not to love!? Everyone loves corn dogs, everyone loves nuggets — it’s a perfect food. Get them fresh, and order ahead (just to skip the line!) and you’ll find yourself having the perfect Main Street USA lunch in the hub of the Magic Kingdom.
Beignets (Port Orleans: French Quarter)
Image: edrussell, Flickr (license)
Do the Typhoon Lagoon mini donuts intrigue you, but you wish they had more powdered sugar? Well, fear not: the Port Orleans: French Quarter beignets are here to the rescue.
Offered up in the resort’s food court aka the Sassagoula River Float Works, these incredible treats are impossible to eat without making a mess. However, the powdered sugar that will no doubt cake your pants are as much a sign of pride as they are of shame. The delectable snacks are like a better version of the classic American donut — perfectly suited to a stay in the New Orleans-inspired hotel.
And, if you want an even more special version, you can order them on top of ice cream as a kind of beignets sundae. That’s a vacation in a cup.
Croque Glaces (Epcot)
Image: ThemeParkTourist, Flickr (license)
For years, the France pavilion at Epcot was beloved for its small-but-mighty bakery known as Boulangerie Patisserie. It was so beloved, in fact, that it regularly featured lines so long that they stretched out well past the door to the establishment.
So, after decades of demand, Disney eventually expanded the bakery into unused space in the exit area of Impressions de France. But, this left Disney with an interesting predicament: What should they do with the former bakery space?
Enter: L’Artisan des Glaces.
Yes, the ice cream shop has delicious, homemade sweet treats. And, yes, the numerous flavors are fun to sample. But this particular shop also holds what might be the single most delicious snack on Walt Disney World property — yet one you don’t hear about nearly as often as you should. It is called Croque Glaces.
This dish is rather simple, offering your chosen flavor of ice cream pressed in the middle of a warm brioche bun. It’s like a warm, on-demand ice cream sandwich, and it’s absolutely divine.
If you have had one, you know it’s the best thing on earth. If you haven’t had one, what are you waiting for? The Croque Glaces is worth a Disney trip just on its own.
