What treats should you eat at Disneyland?

Disneyland. The most magical day to some. The most expensive day to some. There are shirts out there to prove it. Families plan trips to Disneyland for years sometimes. With all this planning, there is a lot of buildup and excitement.  One of the most looked forward to things is the food. There are entire Instagram accounts dedicated to it. I am not going to lie, food was something we looked forward to as well.

While annual passholders, we definitely found out favorites, and what is worth the money to splurge with these unique and delicious treats:

1. Jungle Julep at Bengal Barbeque: a frequent flyer on our Instagram feed for good reason. This frozen fruit slush of grape, lemon, orange and pineapple juices is refreshing on hot days, and its huge portion mean you can split it up among multiple people without splurging on multiple items.
2. Pineapple Dole Whip by the Tiki Room and at the Tropical Hideaway: Okay, the picture isn’t great because whenever it was purchased, it was pretty quickly eaten. And again, the portion on this is large enough to split it up – one among kids and one among adults, eating the extras the kids might leave behind. MilMom tip: The same exact Pineapple Dole Whip from the parks is available for a cheaper price at Trader Sam’s at the Disneyland Hotel.
3. Corn Dogs. Okay, okay, hear me out on this. How often do you make corn dogs at home? I have made them…well, once, and it was a lot of work. These are hand-dipped deliciousness available at the Little Red Wagon in Disneyland and at Corn Dog Castle in Disney California Adventure. If you get an undercooked one, just let them know and they will replace it for you. These are huge, and you guessed it, can be split among family members. You get either apple slices or chips with them and we always enjoy this treat.
4. Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Square: One more sweet treat. This square is another shareable. Found in Pooh’s Corner and Trolley Treats as well as in Downtown Disney, the graham cracker sandwich with nutty peanut butter and then dipped in chocolate is delicious and sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. This is something that eventually I would like to try to make at home and bring to a volunteer meeting or book club so I don’t eat them all myself. While checking out treats, get a huge sugar cookie. While you can make this at home, I have yet to make a cookie the size of my child’s head and the delight you will hear when they get to pick said cookie and then split it among all of you, plus have leftovers – that may be worth the splurge.
5. Sourdough Bread : Where can you get a large, shareable, delicious sourdough bread in the shape of Mickey or Mater? Disney of course! Throughout the year, Boudin Bakery in Disney California Adventure also offers bread in shapes corresponding to the holiday – like a Turkey for Thanksgiving, and a Vampire Mickey for Halloween. Consider bringing in a cooler with cheese, or maybe some fruit spread and share some delicious bread together. This is certainly a treat that I couldn’t make at home!

Favorite sit-down restaurants to splurge:

Disneyland: Blue Bayou

This restaurant is one of the originals. Located within the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, this restaurant provides relaxing ambience inside a very busy theme park. The food options for children are the usual kid fare with healthier options as well. The adult fare is New Orleans themed, and delicious. Like most sit-down restaurants, the cost is more expensive than a corn dog but the food, ambience and service is worth an occasional splurge and this should be it. All year, reservations are highly recommended.

Disney California Adventure: Lamplight Lounge

Make sure you get a reservation for the new lounge on Pixar Pier. It’s location with views overlooking the water of the Pier, the fresh menu and the fancy bar menu make this is a splurge worthy restaurant. If you are a seafood fan, get the Lobster Nachos – their flavor and portion size make this treat totally shareable. Four of us ate it and still had room for an entrée. The entire restaurant features Pixar memorabilia from around the world. It is fun and fanciful, sure to keep your children entertained while dining. If you are going for an adult only trip, eat at the bar and enjoy a cocktail if you desire.

Healthy Treat

Theme park food is not known to be healthy. While there are fresh fruit options and dried fruit and veggies at snack stands, there are few options for healthier more filling food. Our favorite? Bengal Barbeque skewers. There are chicken, beef and veggie options. We often would get two veggie skewers to share and eat the cheese sticks we brought along with us in our cooler bag.

Disneyland is a place of making memories, entertainment through rides and shows, and lots of treats. What is your favorite Disney treat? What are you looking forward to the most?

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