Classic Disney Snacks: The Good, the Bad, and the Overrated

Sure, it looks great on Instagram, but does it actually taste good?

Happy Dole Whip Day! Celebrated on the third Thursday of July, it's an annual celebration of one of the most iconic (and social media-friendly) Disney treats around. What better time to talk about iconic treats in the Disney parks?

Personally, I find most snacks in Disney World can be split into two categories: Classics and Aesthetics. Classic snacks are the ones that have been associated with Disney for decades; you'll find them on shirts, Loungefly backpacks, Mickey ears, etc. Aesthetics are newer snacks that look like they were designed to be on your for-you page. While a lot of these are worth the hype, there are a few where the taste does not live up to the look...or the price! Today, I'm going to grade all of the classic Disney snacks and tell you what's worth spending your money on the next time you go to Disney.

1. Dole Whip: A+

$5.49 USD ($7.50 CAD) for the classic, $6.49 USD ($8.80 CAD) for a float

We have to give the first review to the Dole Whip, it's only fair. This treat (featured in float form above) is one of the most iconic snacks you'll find at Disney World; I mean, they made an entire day celebrating it. It is the perfect cross between a classic and aesthetic treat. Getting a traditional Dole whip, or a swirled (with vanilla soft serve) version always looks adorable on your feed, and generally gets a healthy dose of jealousy from those around you.

Flavour-wise, this is the perfect remedy to the oppressive Floridian heat. It can be a little sweet to some, especially in float form, where the Dole whip comes with pineapple juice. I personally split this with my husband (begrudgingly, on his part), which makes it extremely affordable considering its size. The best part about this snack? It's vegan, and gluten, dairy, and cholesterol-free, making it one of the most appealing and accessible snacks to everyone regardless of dietary restrictions.

For those 21+, many locations serve this in float form with either Angry Orchard cider or Captain Morgan's Rum (for around $12 USD, or $16.50 CAD). Don't expect these versions to be very generous with the alcohol serving though. If you're looking to feel a buzz from these, I'd say to save your money and order a cocktail elsewhere.

Not a fan of pineapple? Disney has released SO many different flavours, so you can experience the same Dole Whip texture, but instead in lime, raspberry, orange, and other limited-time flavours that pop up throughout the year. While most of these are vegan and gluten-free, not all of them are, so check with a cast member to make sure!

Where to find this: Aloha Isle (MK), Sunshine Tree Terrace (MK), Swirls on the Water (DS), Wine Bar George (DS), Tamu Tamu Refreshments (AK), Pineapple Lanai (Polynesian Village), Snack Shack (TL)

2. Turkey Leg: C-

$14.25 USD ($19.50 CAD)

Sigh. What can I say about the turkey leg that would appeal to someone? I have had this - I'm loath to call it a snack due to its sheer size and ridiculous price - food multiple times now, thinking that maybe I'd just had an overcooked leg previously and, well, points for consistency.

The turkey leg is a culinary marvel, in the sense that it has the external texture of particularly tough jerky, and the internal flavour of a baked ham. There are many photos of me attempting to rip the meat off the bone while eating it, and in my opinion, the taste has never been worth the price, work, or mess involved. It's iconic, sure, but I can guarantee that unless you really, really like overcooked turkey (or turkey that has been so soaked in brine that it truly does taste like ham), you'll have a few bites and begin craving food with more complexity. Or at least, you'll realize that the grease and liquid from the turkey leg has begun trailing down your hands and arms and you need to find a place to rinse off, stat.

So why did I rate it a C- and not an F? Well, technically...it is food. It is edible. I'm sure it appeals to many people, or else it would have been removed from the menu long ago. The cost is more excusable if it's shared (please, PLEASE share this with at least one other person, I have yet to see anyone finish this solo), and if you're not picky about what you eat for meals, this could technically act as a meal substitute and cost less than your average dish in the parks.

For those who are sodium-sensitive (hi, it's me), skip this one. Or if someone very kindly bought this for you (thanks Dad), know that the sodium levels are extremely high. How high? I'm not a dietician, but I will say that after the amount that I ate (which may have only ended up being a quarter of the leg before I handed it back to my dad), I had to take off my rings, loosen my watch band, and guzzle an alarming amount of water to counteract the crazy thirst.

Where to find this: House of Blues (DS), Prince Eric's Village Market (MK), Tortuga Tavern (MK, seasonal operations), Liberty Square Market (MK), Fife & Drum Tavern (EPCOT)

 3. Popcorn: B+

$6.50 USD ($8.80 CAD), or $13 USD ($17.80 CAD) for a souvenir bucket and $2.25 USD ($3 CAD) for bucket refills

Listen. I love popcorn. I would choose a bag of popcorn over any other chip, trail mix, chocolate, or candy on any given day. I have personally been gifted a 2-foot tall bag of popcorn that was eaten in a shamefully short period of time.

But. With the exception of flavoured popcorn (like Karamell-Kuche's Werthers caramel popcorn, or Kat Saka's Kettle's sweet and spicy Outpost Popcorn, it's...just movie-style popcorn. Often times, it's stale from being made en masse in advance and then sitting in the humidity for who knows how long. Will I still eat it if offered? Absolutely. But the point of Disney parks (and paying Disney park prices) is to eat something different, or at least something differently shaped (looking at you, Mickey Premium Bar). While $8 CAD is not the most terrible price I've paid for standard popcorn, there's also nothing exciting or different about it to warrant the upcharge.

As for the popcorn bucket, that is entirely up to you. The refill price is great, and the limited-edition buckets are oftentimes extremely cute and could look great sitting on a countertop somewhere, they're usually pretty large and bulky. I travel light when I go to the parks and the thought of having to carry one around for the rest of the day, bringing it on rides or stuffing it into a locker, is enough for me to pass on the purchase.

If you're feeling snacky before getting on a ride with a long queue, get a normal box of popcorn and enjoy it during the wait; you'll probably finish it before you get to the front and then you'll be able to throw it out at one of the many garbage bins in the line. If you really, really love popcorn, you find a souvenir bucket that you adore, and you know you're going to want to eat popcorn on multiple days, then by all means, pick it up, and remember to refill it before you head home for the day so you can enjoy it at your resort.

Where to find this: Multiple popcorn stands scattered throughout the parks, there should be at least one in every pavillion.

4. Mickey Pretzels and Churros: B-

$7.79 USD ($10.70 CAD) for a pretzel, or $6.79 USD ($9.30 USD) for a churro

"Rina, did you lump these two together because your photo has them together?"

Yes, yes I did. But also because both of these receive a B- score from me. To be fair, I've only had both of them once, but they were underwhelming enough that I've had no inclination to buy them again.

The novelty of the pretzel comes from the Mickey shape, and it's adorable, to be sure. The shape makes it something that can only be bought in a Disney Park. The downside of this is that the shape makes the pretzel unevenly cooked. The section around the eyes has more dough and is normally the softest part of the pretzel; the tradeoff is that the rest of the pretzel is often overcooked and dry. Don't try to eat this without a drink of some sort.

Same goes for the churro, but the churro doesn't even have the benefit of being Mickey-shaped. Eating the churro is a lot like having fast food tacos. Is there anything wrong with it? Technically no, but there's no comparison to the real thing. Ours tasted on the verge of becoming stale (which, again, could just be a one-off), but it was overall pretty underwhelming.

What really solidifies the rating for these two is the fact that there are much, much better pretzels and churros available in the parks. Disney Springs has Wetzel's Pretzels, Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar (which comes as an almost charcuterie platter), and The Polite Pig, and much better churros can be found at La Cantina de San Angel in EPCOT, Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom, and Pepe or Sunshine Churros in Disney Springs. Skip the carts in this case and spend a little more elsewhere.

Where to find this: Multiple stands scattered throughout the parks, usually the same places that sell popcorn. Churros can also be found at Anaheim Produce (HS), Harambe Fruit Market (AK), and Auntie Gravity's (MK).

 5. Mickey Premium Bar: A-

$6.29 USD ($8.60 CAD)

Arguably the most iconic and classic Disney snack available at the parks. There is a photo of me in the mid 90's sitting on a bench eating a Mickey Premium Bar - eating is a strong word, I think half the chocolate was just smeared on my face.

Is this rated higher than it should be? Maybe. After all, it's just vanilla ice cream with a chocolate shell. There's nothing particularly special about it. But something about getting this treat in a Disney Park just announces, we're here, we're at Disney World. Having one on vacation feels like Tinkerbell ziplining past the castle during the Happily Ever After fireworks. Does it need to happen? No. Does it add a little extra magic when it does? Absolutely.

Flavour-wise, it is exactly what you think it would be. They're pre-packaged, so there are no consistency issues. The only problem you'll face is how fast it melts as soon as you take it out of the wrapper. Take a napkin, and then take 2 more. And then get angry at yourself for not thinking to take even more once the ice cream drips down your hands.

If you want to have the magic at home - and then promptly get angry at the price difference - you can now buy Mickey Mouse ice cream bars from Walmart. They're not as large, and I personally never feel inclined to buy them. To me, the magic comes from having one in Magic Kingdom, looking at the castle, and yes, struggling to not make an absolute mess.