Selfie Does Disney Eats & Treats
I don't think any Disney park fan post would be complete without talking about the food. "Selfie, did we not...talk about the food SO much in our posts about Disney adulting?" I mean, kind of. We mostly talked about the fine dining options but today, let's talk about one of the most iconic part of the parks: the iconic Disney Treats! "Selfs, you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Au contraire, mon ami! Disney treats literally has their own following to the point that you can get a stuffed Dole Whip that smells like pineapple or a stuffed Mickey bar that smells like chocolate which doesn't even start us on on the clothing items like this Disney Treats dress. I say this again, I.C.O.N.I.C. #likebeyonce
Now, if you follow literally any influencer on IG that has gone to Disney at all, you know that you can get pretty much any food in the shape of the myth, the mouse, the legend but imho the best Disney treats have nothing to do with their shape. There's also the added factor that Mickey-shaped donuts, pretzels, cake balls, cupcakes, etc., have flour in them so like...not so much for ol' Selfs. (Note: If you/your family member/friend DOES have a food allergy Disney has added something GREAT which I will discuss at the end so our friends with normal immune and digestive systems can live their best lives). So, in no particular order, the very best Disney Eats!
1) Dole Whip with Rum
I fully lied. This IS in a particular order. I really love pineapple. I also really like Dole Whip but not enough to wait in the crazy line in Adventureland. However, back in 2015, Mr. Selfie and I were reminiscing in Animal Kingdom about Tanzania and happened upon a Dole Whip stand...with no line. *Strokes chin * Intriguiiiiiiing. And THEN, as I'm about to order, I realize that there’s an option to add dark or coconut rum and it was like 11 am but...IDGAF. I have been hooked ever since. You can find this greatest and best Disney treat at Tamu Tamu Refreshments in Africa, Animal Kingdom. I will say there's an option to get a Dole Whip Float with Rum in Disney Springs and honestly, it's not nearly as good with the extra pineapple juice because it's too sweet.
2) Samoa Donuts
this is a coffee crunch donut but it’s the pic I have
As a person with allergen issues and not a very big sweet tooth, baked sweets are just not something I'd ever eaten very much of. I do, however, LOVE the smell of donuts and kind of miss them. (Not as much as I miss soft pretzels, man.) Anyways, back in 2014 I happened upon a new bakery shoved into the corner of a chicken eatery in Downtown Disney. I just wanted a coffee because I was having to work remotely during the week before my first marathon. While impatiently waiting in line for said coffee, I suddenly noticed that EVERY.SINGLE.ITEM. was gluten free. And dairy free. And major allergen free. And had myself the best donut I'VE EVER HAD. IN MY LIFE. Not my post-gf life but in my whole damn life. And to this day, I have a donut every time I go there. I make every person try at least a bite and they all say the same thing: "Wait! Why is this so good? WTF is this made of?!" Anyways, Erin McKenna Bakery, Disney Springs. I don't care what you can and cannot eat, man. THIS IS IT. You are welcome.
3) Chicken Tenders & Fries
I know this is also like...a child's lunchtime item but I really love chicken tenders. And as part of a recurring theme here, it's also not something I can just eat anywhere, anytime. Gluten-free snack items can suck (things like super dry gf buns for hamburgers and hotdogs. I'm grateful they exist. But they aren't fun.) However, being able to eat super crispy chicken tenders is a real treat and what I've learned is that Disney does GF crispy chicken RIGHT. Restaurantosaurus in Animal Kingdom has been a long-time fav but recently, I had the chicken tenders at Columbia Harbour House (across from gathering haunted mansion in MK) and HOLY CRAP! They are legit. Like I had to ask questions because they looked so good, I was concerned we were given the non-allergen dish which would have been disastrous. We also had the Crispy Citrus Chicken at The Citrus Blossom kiosk during the Flower and Garden Fetival. Automatically gf and effin amazing. Like how Disney World? HOW?!!!*
4) Mickey Ice Cream Bar
Again, I am a monster so I don't love ice cream but when polling on favorite Disney Eats and Treats, this came up and I can't disagree. I do really love a Mickey Bar. The chocolate they use is just perfect. Also, this is being sold in grocery stores for Mickey's 90th birthday!
5) Treats- Alcoholic Drinks Edition
When polling my friends for favorite snacks, a lot of them picked adult drinks. Obviously, the rum in #1 makes it an adult beverage but dole whip by itself is also delicious so it gets its own thing.
If you like Spicy Drinks - The Diablo Margarita is my absolute favorite thing. I still just call it a jalapeño margarita which is what it was called before the Cava got cutesy names. La Cava, Mexican Pavillion, EPCOT
If you like Sweet Drinks - The avocado margarita is amazing. So smooth. La Cava, Mexican Pavillion, EPCOT
If you don't like Sweet or Spicy Drinks - Cucumber Margarita. It's so refreshing. Trust me on this. You are, once again, welcome. La Cava, Mexican Pavillion, EPCOT
Beer Drinkers - Schofferhofer Hefeweizen - My brother and like...all people who can consume beer, even if they don't normally drink it, LOVE this beer. Mr. Selfie is not a huge Hefe fan and as a person who brews beer, has high standards, he also loves this beer. Seriously, people love it. Germany Pavillion, EPCOT
6) Special Mention! Flower and Garden Festival, Canada: Northern Bloom Seared Scallops with French Green Beans
I know what you're thinking. "Are you on glue, Selfie? Hot seafood? Outdoors? Fast food service? At an amusement park?" But DUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!! These are so good! We legit ended purchasing FIVE orders. Five. We went back three times. We made Papa Jose eat some. They have this great Dijon lemon dressing. They are perfectly cooked. Idk. It seems like witchcraft. Canadian Witchcraft.
7) Special Mention! Escargot Puff Pastries
I ...obviously can't eat these but these were Mr. Selfie's very favorite snack at the Food and Wine Festival and he still talks about them. France Pavillion, EPCOT.
A Note About Eating with Dietary Concerns
When I first got diagnosed years ago, eating gf was so difficult and for me, embarrassing. Having worked for a long time in food service, having to special order food and ask so many questions, makes me feel like an annoying, high-maintenance diner. But the alternative is not feasible so dining at Disney in 2012 and subsequent years meant waiting longer, meeting with chefs and in general, causing a "scene". ** Since then, the staff and the parks have become super educated about this issue and items are clearly noted as being Dairy Free or Gluten Free and otherwise, it's so easy to look up on your phone. HOWEVER, with the addition of Mobile Ordering at Disney, they've made it so FREAKING easy to see where you can and cannot eat. On the Disney Parks app, you just pick a restaurant and it will have an icon with allergen friendly foods. You just click it and pick. And if your icon isn't on there? There's nothing for you to eat there. Dear sweet baby Beyonce, I cannot express to you how much time this saved me. So anyways, if you have a need for a special dietary meal, just use the Disney app, friends. LIke Five Stars. 10-rated. Keeping it 100. And the damn crispy chicken, dude. SO GOOD. ***
*"Magic" but also dedicated fryers. But "magic" because Disney.
**No, not really. And I appreciate the liability involved and also, the extra care that Disney has always taken as far as eating safely but people will turn around and stare at you when the chef comes out to talk to you which is how the park used to handle dietary issues.
*** But not as good as those freaking scallops. What was in those scallops?!