Business
10 Amazing Disneyland Foods You Can Eat For Cheap
The happiest place on earth is a dream vacation for many – kids and adults alike. But a Disney vacation certainly comes with a hefty price tag. Try out these top 10 amazing Disney foods that are easy on the wallet so you can spend more on souvenirs, rides, and more!
10. Hand-Dipped Corn Dogs at the Little Red Wagon
A typical theme park food is the humble corn dog. Though commonplace, corn dogs are very popular for they are easy to grab and go. They are affectionately called ‘hot dog on a stick’ too. The delicious corn dogs are quite inexpensive in general, but Disneyland is not known to be an inexpensive place. Most foods here are priced way above their average prices elsewhere. But corn dogs are one of those few items that you can easily enjoy without breaking the bank! Corn dogs at Disneyland have a cult following, for they are seriously mouthwatering and quite filling too. Larger than the average corn dog, Disneyland’s Little Red Wagon is THE place to try out the legendary Disney hand-dipped corn dogs. So popular are the corn dogs here that there are just one-two other items on the menu! With the cult following that the corn dogs enjoy, it is not uncommon to see huge lines snaking around on Main Street where the Little Red Wagon is parked. The corn dogs here are made from juicy hot dogs hand-dipped in a light and airy batter, which are then deep-fried to golden brown perfection. The slightly sweet and crunchy layered coating perfectly matches with the yummy hot dog that is encased in it. They are so tasty that a lot of visitors report craving it long after leaving the park! At $8.75, the corn dogs are a steal in comparison to other foods at Disneyland, for they are served with a bag of chips or apple slices on the side. If you would like to save even more money, just ask the server to take off the chips or apple slices, and you could get the price knocked down by as much as $2! Now that’s a steal! And if you can’t stand long queues, you could enjoy corn dogs at Corn Dog Castle at Disney California Adventure too.
9. Bratwurst sausage at Troubadour Tavern
Disneyland offers a variety of experiences to visitors – from futuristic rides and pavilions and present-day attractions to historic period food stalls. And one such unique historical-themed food outlet is the Troubadour Tavern near Fantasyland in Disneyland. Located right next to the Fantasyland theater that showcases the family favorite ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ show, Troubadour Tavern is a slightly hidden gem. It’s the kind of place that is easy to miss even as you walk right past it. And the most popular item at the Troubadour Tavern is the bratwurst sausage. Priced at $8.79, the bratwurst sausage is affordable, tasty and quite filling too. It consists of the traditional German bratwurst sausage placed in a herb and garlic brioche, with a side of hickory smoked bacon sauerkraut. Since the sauerkraut is served on the side, you can control the amount that you put on your bratwurst. The brioche is very high quality and the bratwurst sausage is quite moist. Condiments like ketchup and mustard make this one tasty and cheap Disney treat! Troubadour Tavern is a medieval period themed quick-service restaurant that offers a limited but delicious menu of snacks and drinks that are good for a quick meal. It is a perfect place for an on-the-go meal either on your way into the Fantasyland theater or while you are waiting in the long queue outside it. The Troubadour Tavern doesn’t have many seating options but makes up for it with the quality food items that it offers. Besides the bratwurst sausage, you should try the jumbo pretzel, baked potato with various toppings, and the cherry-apple lemonade at this outlet.
8. Crispy crepes at ‘Crêpes des Chefs de France’ at Epcot
Dining options at Disney World are aplenty, but cheap dining options at Disney World are limited. EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) Center, or more simply, Epcot, at Disney World, is a veritable treasure trove of unique fruits, vegetables, snacks, and food items from around the world. At the France pavilion at Epcot, there’s a cute little stand ‘Crêpes des Chefs de France’ that specializes in the uniquely French snacks – crêpes. And the best part of the crêpes is that most of them are under $5! Score! The stand offers many crêpe options – chocolate, sugar, strawberry preserve, and an ice cream crêpe too. The one with the ice cream topping is priced just a little higher at $5.75, but totally worth the extra price! At the Crêpes des Chefs de France stand, you can watch the delicate crêpes being prepared by the friendly staff and the ambiance is so beautiful that you would think you were in Paris rather than Disney World! Order from a simple but delicious variety of crêpes at the very French-looking stand and sample the light and airy freshly prepared crêpes along the water’s edge at the France pavilion. While the crêpe with the chocolate topping is a hit with kids, adults seem to prefer the scrumptious flavor of the strawberry preserve. Add in espresso, cappuccino or a serving of some French beer for a perfect European-style snack!
7. Cool and delicious Citrus Swirl at Sunshine Tree Terrace
While the Disney parks and resorts are magical places on earth, the weather at the locations can sometimes be quite tough to handle, especially in the stifling summer heat of Southern California or the humid Orlando, Florida weather. Luckily, Disney has some delicious and refreshing treats to cool you down in an instant. While you could always try the Mickey Premium Bars, juices, sodas or regular ice creams, there is a unique kind of Disney treat that is perfect to beat the heat – the Citrus Swirl! Head on over to the Sunshine Tree Terrace in the Magic Kingdom, Disney World to try out this sweet and cool treat that costs less than $5. The Citrus Swirl is a cult favorite amongst Disney fans and is a yummy blended treat that consists of frozen orange juice slushy and soft-serve vanilla ice cream swirled together in a cup or a cone. It is a sweet and tart treat that is sure to put a smile on many a weary face – kids and adults alike! It is also available in the form of a float called the Citrus Swirl Float, which simply consists of the classic Citrus Swirl swimming in orange soda. Slightly different variations of this citrusy treat are the Orange Cream or Orange Cream Float. Whichever option you choose, the delightful creations at Sunshine Tree Terrace will surely have you beaming like Mickey Mouse himself!
6. Barbecue skewers at Bengal Barbecue
The exotic Bengal Barbecue quick-service restaurant at Adventureland in Disneyland offers a variety of succulent grilled meat skewers that are suitable for a sit-down or a grab-and-dash meal. Situated very close to the Indiana Jones Adventure in Adventureland, this tropical jungle-themed food joint has a delicious barbecue smell wafting from it that is sure to make you hungry! And almost all the items on the Bengal Barbecue menu are priced under $10. Hurray! While the restaurant also offers some hummus snacks, Thai spring rolls, and a variety of drinks to wash down the food, the most popular menu items at the Bengal Barbecue are the jungle skewers. Tuck into some juicy barbecued meats with creative names like Chieftain Chicken Skewer, Banyan Beef Skewer, Safari Skewer, etc. Each skewer is topped with a yummy sticky sauce that pairs perfectly with the chicken, beef or pork meat. A vegetable skewer option is available too. Taste-wise, the Banyan Beef Skewers are known to pack a spicy punch, and the bacon wrapped asparagus Safari Skewer is a delicious savory option. Add a Jungle Julep drink to round off your filling yet cheap meal!
5. Mickey Mouse Pretzel at Refreshment Corner
Coming in at just under $5, the Mickey Mouse Pretzel at Refreshment Corner is an iconic Disney snack. Where most Disney snacks are sweet, the Mickey Mouse pretzel is a savory delight that is an absolute hit with Disney visitors. The pretzel is so cute and adorable that practically every Disney visitor has ended up picking up a pretzel or two, just for an Instagram picture! But being pretty and cute is not all that the Mickey Mouse Pretzel is all about; it is a tasty treat too. The Insta-worthy snack is a warm pillow-y soft pretzel in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s smiling face dusted with coarse salt. Served with a side of cheese sauce, this is one original Disney snack guaranteed to keep you going on all your Disney adventures! While this iconic pretzel is available at various food carts across Disney World and Disneyland, the best place to get it is at the Refreshment Corner on Main Street in Disneyland. At this quick-service restaurant, you can enjoy a turn-of-the-century ambiance and be serenaded by ragtime pianists or Disney characters as you enjoy a Mickey Mouse Pretzel. The restaurant also offers hot dogs, chili and assorted Coca-Cola drinks.
4. Fresh fruits and healthy treats at Tropical Imports
Chowing down on savory snacks, sweet treats, and greasy food all day at the Disney parks and resorts can take a toll on your body. Sometimes, all you want is a nice fruit plate or a low-calorie snack to cut through all the heavy fare. Disney has you covered on that front too! A vast variety of fresh, whole, cut and dried fruits are sold at a multitude of carts, kiosks and quick service restaurants across the Disney parks. And these healthy treats and fruits are quite budget-friendly too. Some whole fruits are available for as low as $1.50! You could also get incredible deals on cut fruits at certain times of the day. Available at Tropical imports near the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland, fruit carts at Fantasyland and The Land Cart at Epcot in Disney World, there are many healthy snacks and treats to choose from. Whole fruits like apples, bananas, and oranges are available alongside pineapple spears, apple chips, pickles, vegetable plate, corn on the cob, hummus with pretzels, veggie cups, etc. They are perfect to-go healthy snacks that are easy on the wallet too. The dill pickle and pineapple spears are much loved by visitors at both Disneyland and Disney World.
3. Flavorful sandwiches at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café
The Jolly Holiday Bakery Café on Main Street, Disneyland is a wonderful place to grab an entrée sized meal, baked goodies, and beverages. The sandwiches here are especially noteworthy. The Caprese on Focaccia Bread is one of the bestselling sandwiches here. It comprises of juicy mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and lettuce dressed in a creamy aioli and tangy basil vinaigrette sandwiched between light but crunchy pieces of flavorful focaccia bread. Other noteworthy offerings are the Oven-roasted Turkey on Ciabatta, and the Roast Beef and California Aged Cheddar on Hoagie Roll. All the sandwiches come with a side of house made chips. The Jolly Holiday Combo that is a combination of a toasted cheese sandwich and a cup of tomato basil soup is another customer favorite at this quick-service restaurant. Most customers round off their meals with a must-have Matterhorn macaroon that is seriously yummy! The Jolly Holiday Bakery Café is a Victorian Mary Poppins-themed bakery and café with views of the Sleeping Beauty Castle and a very pleasant outdoor seating area. It was originally called the Plaza Pavilion Restaurant but renamed Jolly Holiday Bakery Café in 2012. The café also offers many seasonal and themed cakes, pastries, cookies and other baked delights that are known sell out almost instantly.
2. The legendary Dole Whip at Tiki Juice Bar
Almost as legendary as Mickey Mouse or the variety of Mickey Mouse themed snacks available at the various Disney parks is the amazing Dole Whip! This famed Disney treat has a cult following among Disney fans and some are known to travel from far and wide just to get a taste of this outrageously addictive cold delicacy. Available at the Tiki Juice Bar inside the Polynesian-themed Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland, Disneyland and at the Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom, Disney World, the Dole Whip is an iconic soft-serve delight that comes in well under $10. Simply put, it is a Dole pineapple soft-serve that is available either in purely pineapple, vanilla or swirled flavors. It is also served in the form of a Dole Whip Float which is a glass of Dole pineapple juice topped with a Dole Whip. With its sunshine yellow color and tangy-sweet pineapple taste, the Dole Whip is definitely one of the most Instagrammable Disney foods. Since it is such a popular Disney treat, long lines at the Tiki Juice Bar counter are not uncommon. But an easy hack to get your hands on a Dole Whip is to go inside the Enchanted Tiki Room to access the shorter line and possibly catch a show too! At the Aloha Isle, you could also check out the Pineapple Upside Down Cake that is topped with a Dole Whip. Both outlets serve Dole pineapple juice as well.
1. Handmade funnel cake at Stage Door Café
At the Wild West themed Stage Door Café in Frontierland in Adventureland, Disneyland, you can treat yourself to the delights of a menu that is limited but contains ridiculously delicious items that are a perennial favorite with regular visitors. With a very Frontier-like décor of wood panels, lanterns, doors containing wrought ironwork details, stained glass, etc., you would think you were back in an old-time western outpost rather than in Disneyland! But hidden within this small Frontierland quick-service saloon are the yummy handmade funnel cakes that are a hit with visitors of all ages. The handmade funnel cakes are fluffy and soft on the inside and crispy and golden brown on the outside. The funnel cakes are offered with a choice of toppings such as a dusting of powdered sugar or topped with a sweet strawberry sauce that has actual strawberries in it. The strawberry funnel cake also comes with a cute whipped cream Mickey on top. Stage Door Café also serves Seasonal Funnel Cakes with a variety of seasonal or occasion-specific toppings like apple pie, strawberry cheesecake, or chocolate brownie topping. Other popular items at the café are their chicken nuggets, fish and chips, and corn dogs.