Guest Review: Cross-Country Disney Day — Iconic Treats from Six Disney Parks in One Day

[Disney4me]

Wow!!! Guest author (and an awesome friend who always sends me the best photos of Disney food!) Lori Fries, takes us on a whirlwind, coast-to-coast tour of six parks in one day. Let’s see what food she sampled!

If you are like me, you love BOTH Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. I achieved my top item on my bucket-list and went to all 6 parks — four in Disney World and two in Disneyland — on the same day!

Six Parks, One Day Treats

Picking one snack in each park brings with it a unique set of challenges. For the first time in modern memory, I didn’t want to go to a park and pick what I felt like eating at the time. Seasonal treats have always held a special place on my Must Do Disney Food List, but I wanted to go with iconic treats.

There is an entirely different set of things I love to eat on both coasts. I could go to Epcot and fill my stomach around World Showcase. My trip was even during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! That is a different challenge.

Would I pick things only served on a stick to make an easy getaway to the next destination? Nope. That would rule out some classics like the Mickey pretzel.

Here is what I did. My first stop was Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom

Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar
To me, vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s silhouette screams Disney snack at its finest.
You can find them at ice cream carts and restaurants throughout the parks in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Not only can you get them from all the parks but all the resorts as well. I also knew that the carts are opened before the official park opening.

I ate the ears and before I knew it birds were circling overhead, so I made my way to rope drop. Once I broke the chocolate shell, my Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar started melting. I was off and power walking. I had to get to Expedition Everest in a hurry to beat the line.

First treat in Animal Kingdom

Hollywood Studios

Mickey Pretzel
When I think of Hollywood Studios food, I think Writer’s Stop ( which is closed) for a carrot cake cookie, and The Hollywood Brown Derby for The original Brown Derby Cobb Salad and Grapefruit cake. But I was going for iconic in each park, not park exclusive. I chose the Mickey Pretzel without cheese as I knew that I wanted one along the way and this was a convenient location.

Mickey Pretzel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The pretzel was cold and expensive but still fun. Hurray for more food shaped like Mickey! I had a few bites and I was done.

Epcot

Popcorn and Beverly
It was going to be a toss up… Norwegian School Bread at Kringla Bakeri og Cafe in the Norway Pavilion , and kakigōri, (Japanese shaved ice)  at Kabuki Café have been my go to treats.

School Bread

For this #6Parks1Day challenge, I wanted to get a classic treat I could find in more than one location. I made a quick stop in Kringla Bakeri og Cafe but decided to stick to my plan. At this point I hadn’t really eaten much, and thought about getting something to take on the plane. But Magic Kingdom was going to be my time cruncher.

I went in to Club Cool for a swig of Beverly as a nod to my son (and my West-Coast driver), Dennis. I decided Epcot was my popcorn park. I picked up a scoop of popcorn by Spaceship Earth on my way out of the park. Popcorn makes a great shareable snack, I left my souvenir popcorn bucket at home and that would have helped. It has a lid so popcorn wouldn’t have spilled all over the car. Sorry, Denise (my East-Coast driver).

Popcorn in Epcot

Magic Kingdom

Funnel Cake and Dole Whip

I knew I wanted to go to Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. The view of Cinderella Castle is my favorite. Fruit and Nutella waffle sandwiches seem like a meal to me, and to be honest, I am not a fan of Nutella. My choice in this park was a funnel cake. I added strawberry sauce so I could call it a healthy treat!

Funnel Cake in Magic Kingdom

I wanted to end my #6Parks1day challenge with a Disney Icon — Dole Whip. This is the treat I shared with each of my drivers. And my Walt Disney World driver had never had one! GASP!

Dole Whip at the Magic Kingdom

I headed to Adventureland while she was on her way. I had hoped to find my favorite egg roll cart opened but no such luck!
(Once my friend joined me, the plan was an Egg Roll at Adventureland Snack Cart. At under $3, the egg rolls from Adventureland make a great, budget-friendly lunch and would have cut the overly sweet choice of the funnel cake.)

We stopped at Aloha Isle and enjoyed the Dole Whip, then took in a few attractions before heading to the airport.

On the flight to LAX, I had water and Gummy Snacks. They gave me 2 mini water bottles but I only had a few sips. I know I needed to hydrate and was already feeling rundown. I had a Disney Rice Krispie Treat with me but I decided to have some Disney gummy snacks while I watched The Disney Channel.

Disney California Adventure

Churro

Another classic Disney snack, the World Famous Churro, was up first in California. I waited for this one! They are very different than their Florida counterpart. When you get them in Disneyland Resort, they are hot and fresh. These fried-dough pastry sticks are lightly dusted in cinnamon and sugar. They were perfect for eating on the way to my next attraction.

Churros at Disney California Adventure

Disneyland Park

Dole Whip and Fried Chicken
Dole Whip is the winner. Grabbing two spoons made it easy peasy to share a cup. They swirl it sky high and it’s sometimes hollow in the middle. In Disneyland Park they decorate it with a cherry and a festive umbrella! Watch me Whip!

Dole Whip in Disneyland

Before the park closed it was time for a Victory Dinner! Plaza Inn’s Fried Chicken is drool worthy. We shared, but I mostly ate potatoes and talked about my adventure.

Fried Chicken dinner at The Plaza Inn, Disneyland

What I Skipped

There’s nothing like walking around holding a massive turkey leg. But I’m not a fan of this timeless Disney food. I have spent big dollars on caramel apples on each Disney trip. I LOVE them. They take an apple and drench them with goodness. They look adorable too. But no time and my snack list was full.

Still smiling after six parks in one day!

Disney Food Bucket List

It was awesome going to  “The Most Magical Place On Earth” and “The Happiest Place on Earth” getting classic Disney treats.

Six Parks in One Day while sampling iconic treats!

What is next up on my Disney Foodie Bucket-list? A snack or dessert at each resort in Walt Disney World in one day! Who’s with me? From Animal Kingdom Zebra Domes to Magic Bars at Wilderness Lodge, I’m making my list!

Find Lori Fries over on Instagram at @BusyDisneyMom!

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