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Best Disneyland Food worth the Dough.

There is a serious misconception around that it is TOO expensive to eat IN Disneyland.

Okay, Kinda true... 

Granted, it is less expensive to bring in your own snacky items...(which you totally can do)

but really, spending SOME money on food that is delicious reminds you that you are on vacation. :)

So hopefully this post will direct you to some food I think is delicious and food I buy, Every.Time.I.Go.

 

First up!

Our 5 Best Treats: 

1. Tigger Tails

Located in Pooh's Corner right next to Splash Mountain and Winnie the Pooh Ride

These are made of Marshmallows, dipped in caramel, dipped in orange chocolate topped with sprinkles and chocolate stripes.

I'm not a huge marshmallow fan, but these are SO Yummy.

2. Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Treats

You can find these in various carts around the park!

3. Dole Whip

These yummy treats are found by the entrance of the Tiki Room. Totally do not miss these, if you see a short line, jump in! Sometimes the wait is long...

If you can't wait until your next Disneyland trip try this recipe I found on Pinterest:

Disney Dole Whip Recipe. 

2 cans (20 oz. each) DOLE crushed pineapple

2 tbsp. lemon juice

2 tbsp. lime juice

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

      How to make it -

   Drain pineapple: reserve 2 tbsp. juice. Set aside. Place pineapple, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar and reserved pineapple juice in blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into two 1-quart freezer zipped bags. Store ...

4. Jolly Holiday Bakery and Cafe Cinnamon Roll

I tried this for the first time on our last trip to Disneyland. I will be getting one again! We shared this roll with 2 people easily.

5. Disney Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie

Again from Pooh Corner...we really get all our goodies there! All their cookies are delicious...believe me, I think our family has sampled every single one! ;)

Here is a recipe I found from Picky Palate that seems easy enough:

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich…Picky Palate’s Version

• 3 cups good quality chopped milk chocolate
• 4 tablespoons shortening
• 12 halved graham crackers
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter

Directions

1. Melt chocolate and shortening over a double boiler, stirring to melt. I use a small saucepan, boil water, reduce heat to low and place a heat proof bowl over the saucepan then add my chocolate, stirring until melted.
2. Dip each graham cracker into chocolate and let set up on wax or parchment paper. Stick in the freezer for a few minutes to speed this up. Spread 2 tablespoons (or a cookie scoopful) of peanut butter over the top of each dipped graham cracker then place in the freezer for 10 more minutes. This step is important. While the peanut butter is freezing, remove chocolate from heat and stir, so it cools slightly and thickens up a touch. Slowly and carefully spoon melted chocolate over tops and sides of peanut butter. This is where the patience and work comes in. Use a small spoon working the chocolate around the edges and sides. You’ll then use a little plastic knife to run the chocolate around the edges and clean it up a little. Let set up, (stick back in the freezer for another 10 minutes) then with a spoon, drizzle chocolate over top to get the “lines” you see in the pictures above. (If your chocolate is too thick at this point, set it back over the double boiler so it melts a little bit).
3. My reviews…Definitely keep these chilled just like Disneyland does, they melt rather quickly once your fingers get on them. It was tricky to get mine to look quite as pretty as the Disneyland ones, but with a little patience you can do it! Have fun and keep them chilled!

Makes 12 sandwiches

6. The Disney Churro

This treat is not one of our current traditions...but I do love the smell of them, and you smell them quite frequently in the park...so I had to represent them on here. :)

 

Next up:

Our Top 5 Restaurants

1. Hungry Bear Restaurant

Located in Critter Country

If I could eat here our whole trip, I would.

SO worth it. The restaurant is settled next to the river...nuff said. One of my favorite places in the park. 

My favorite sandwich: Fried Green Tomato Sandwich with a side of delish Sweet Potato Fries. YUM.

They also have cute little cupcakes and pies for dessert, but we usually head over to Pooh's Corner for something sweet afterward. :)

2. Rancho del Zocalo

Located next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride

The portion sizes are pretty big, so they can be shared! Which saves on the mula.

The food served here is Mexican style.

3. Disney Turkey Legs and Chimichangas

These do not actually come from a restaurant, they come from a cart! But they eat like a meal. I highly recommend the Chimichanga...yummy.

4. Flo's V8 Cafe

Located in Disney's California Adventure in Cars Land

Portion sizes are big! There are yummy salads and comfort style meals here.

5. Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta

Located in Disney's California Adventure

Again, portion sizes can easily be shared, and there are many items to choose from!

 

If you want to see a full list of all restaurants available PLUS menu items go here:

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/list/

 

There are so many fabulous eating places to choose from.

To save on spending, we eat breakfast at the hotel, pack in a lunch, water and snacks, which then allows us to eat dinner in the park and purchase one park treat. To feed a family of 5 it costs about 50-60 dollars a day depending on what you order. Not too shabby!

Disneyland FASTPASS/Runner Tips

FASTPASS: A pass any Disney Park Goer can get and use while in the park. This pass allows you to go in the FASTPASS line, cutting off a major portion of the line which then helps you get to the ride faster. FAST...PASS get it?

Not every ride has a FASTPASS. Here are the rides that do...

 

In Disneyland:

Splash Mountain

Space Mountain

Indiana Jones

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Autopia

Star Tours

Haunted Mansion

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin

 

In Disney's California Adventure:

California Screamin'

Goofy's Sky School

Grizzly River Run

Radiator Springs Racers

Soarin' Over California

Tower of Terror

World of Color

 

I'm not sure about other Disney Parks, this is only info for Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

These rides have a spot designated for FASTPASS Distribution. Each one is themed for the attraction, and there is always a Disney worker there to help you if needed.

 All you need is your Park Ticket... 

Slide it in, and Ta-Dah! Out pops a FASTPASS... 

The FASTPASS will tell you when you can come back to the attraction and enter through the FASTPASS line.

It will also tell you when you can get another FASTPASS ticket down on the bottom.

This is where the 'Runner' comes in...

Runner: a person in your group that is in charge of all the Park Tickets and FASTPASSES. This person takes special care in learning when new FASTPASSES are available and even though the group is headed to the FASTPASS line at (ex.) Splash Mountain, if your FASTPASS says it's time to get another ticket, you run to whatever attraction you want to do next to get more FASTPASSES.

 

Our family establishes a 'Runner' for the day. And we get to ride the 'long-lined' rides countless times a day.

Note: You CANNOT get a FASTPASS for someone who hasn't entered the park for that day.

Example:

For Christmas, we had a Family Reunion with 17 peeps! I wanted to get Racer FASTPASSES over in Disney's CA Adventure, half of the group was in Disneyland, and there were still a couple coming from the Hotel on the bus. I could only get FASTPASSES for everyone who was already somewhere in the park...even though I had those couple's Park Tickets, I couldn't get them a FASTPASS because they weren't there yet...make sense?

The 'Runner' has a big responsibility, they have to be a good multi-tasker, and not lose everyone's Park Tickets especially...that would be tragic. :)

So, when choosing a 'Runner'-handle with care!

In December, the line for the FASTPASS Distribution for the Racers started at Disney Junior Onstage and ended over by Bug's Land. It was long! (But seriously, worth it.)

 The one-hour return window moves forward throughout the day, and it moves forward in five-minute increments every time a certain number of FASTPASSES are distributed. So, you could miss out on a FASTPASS, if you wait too long.

I went to get one right after Disney's CA Adventure opened, and our hour return window wasn't until 4:00 that afternoon!

Even then, the FASTPASS line was still a 40 minute wait, but again helped...the regular entrance was a 2 hour wait. :) 

Also good to remember that World of Color FASTPASS Distribution is over by Grizzly River Run, and you can still get FASTPASSES throughout the day after receiving this ticket.

 

(images and information from Google and my own experience) :)