Forget the rides! Throw away the Genie+ guide (don’t actually — you might need that)! And walk past that merchandise. If you’re going to Disney World in 2023, there’s one big thing you may want to focus on — the SNACKS.

But where do you even begin?! You probably already know all about the famous Mickey-shaped waffles and pretzels, but there are dozens of snack kiosks and restaurants throughout the parks and hotels. Where do you go? What are the BEST snacks to get right now? Which ones do you need to add to your must-try list? Take a breath, friend. We’ve got you covered!

Here’s your list of the 23 snacks you MUST try in Disney World in 2023!

1 — Some of the BEST 50th Anniversary Snacks (Before They Potentially Disappear!)

Disney World’s 50th Anniversary will be ending on March 31st, 2023, after which point many snacks that were introduced for the festivities could go away. We say “could” because you never really know with Disney World! There is a potential that some snacks could stick around a bit longer, but if you want to make sure you try the BEST of the BEST, head to Disney World before the celebration ends to check them out!

One of our favorites is the Tropical Serenade from Aloha Isle (Magic Kingdom). It’s made with the famous POG juice (passion fruit, orange, and guava juice) along with coconut soft serve, and it’s topped with a pineapple upside-down cake pop.

From Animal Kingdom, stop by Dino-Bite Snacks for the INCREDIBLE 50th Celebration Ice Cream Sandwich, made with Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiched between two House-Made Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, dunked in glittery Celebration Sprinkles and topped with a 50th Anniversary Medallion.

At Hollywood Studios, don’t miss out on the Glimmer and Shimmer Blondie — a toasted coconut blondie made with ooey gooey toffee, salted caramel buttercream, and gold nuggets. You’ll find it at both Fairfax Fare and the Backlot Express.

And in EPCOT, snack on the Mini Chocolate Bundt Cake at Sunshine Seasons. It is covered in chocolate ganache, filled with chocolate mousse, and topped with sprinkles, icing dusted with EARidescent shimmer, and a 50th Anniversary garnish.

To see our picks for other great 50th Anniversary snacks, see our posts below:

• Ranking All the 50th Anniversary Treats in EPCOT
• Ranking ALL the 50th Anniversary Treats in Animal Kingdom
• Ranking All the 50th Anniversary Treats in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Ranking ALL the 50th Anniversary Treats in the Magic Kingdom

And click here for EVERY SINGLE ONE of our 50th Anniversary snack reviews

2 — The Seasonal Funnel Cake — EPCOT Festivals

If you want a sweet treat in 2023, stop by the Funnel Cake stand in EPCOT (by the American Adventure pavilion) to see what they’re serving up. While a regular funnel cake here can be good, it’s the seasonal funnel cakes we’re after!

During each EPCOT Festival, you’ll typically find a unique Festival-specific funnel cake here. Some haven’t been a big hit with us, but others have been absolutely INCREDIBLE. Make a point to stop here and see what’s available during your trip.

Click here for our review of the Mini Funnel Cake that was available here during the Festival of the Holidays 2022

3 — Waffle Bowls at Hollywood Studios

Okay, maybe this is more of a meal than a snack but we’re including it anyway because we don’t want you to miss out! Over at Fairfax Fare you’ll find NEW waffle bowls with savory fillings that you cannot skip.

We tried all 4 of the options, and we can firmly say that the mashed potatoes featured in many of them were the STAR of the show — creamy and delicious, we think you’ll love these!

Our favorites were probably the Barbecued Beef Brisket Bowl (that brisket was delicious!) and the Korean Barbecued Pork Belly Bowl (GREAT saucy flavor), but there’s also a Buffalo Chicken option and a plant-based Soba Noodle one so everyone in the family can get one they’ll enjoy.

Click here to see our FULL reviews of these to decide which one you’ll get!

4 — Everything at Gideon’s Bakehouse

Just do it. Just go to Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs and get a little taste of everything you can. We have a feeling you won’t regret it (except maybe when it comes to looking at your credit card bill later and realizing how much you spent on snacks!).

Highlights here include the GIANT cookies (of course), that amazing Peanut Butter Cold Brew coffee, and the massive slices of cake with icing you’ll dream about for days.

While there are some standard Gideon’s Bakehouse offerings that remain on the menu, remember that there are also seasonal offerings, so you’ll want to check for the unique, monthly flavors.

Click here to see our page FULL of Gideon’s Bakehouse reviews

5 — Salted Caramel Cupcake

Rush over to Karamell-Küche in EPCOT’s Germany pavilion for the Salted Caramel Cupcake and thank us later.

The snack has a 50th Anniversary look to it now but even in its “regular” form, it’s a winner! It’s made of a dark chocolate cake with salted caramel buttercream frosting on top and it is dense and thick in the most wonderful way possible.

See our full review of the cupcake here!

6 — Pretzel Bread Pudding

Sticking to EPCOT for a minute, hop on over to Sommerfest (also in the Germany pavilion) to grab the oh-so-delicious Pretzel Bread Pudding.

This beauty is made with pieces of jumbo pretzels and is topped with Caramel Butterscotch and a White Cream Sauce. It is dense, but the caramel stands out and it’s incredibly tasty (and unique!). Click here to see our full review of this snack!

Can’t wait to try it? Make it at home with this recipe!

7 — Peanut Butter Pie at Contempo Cafe

This next snack takes us to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, specifically Contempo Cafe. That’s where you’ll find the Peanut Butter Pie. This is a long-time DFB favorite made with a Vanilla Tart Shell filled with Custard and Peanut Butter filling, drizzled with Chocolate Ganache, and topped with Crispy Chocolate Pearls.

Sometimes it gets a festive makeover but, at its core, it is a simple and delicious snack peanut butter fans will be glad they tried!

See the makeover the peanut butter pie got for the 50th Anniversary

8 — Unique DOLE Whips

Okay, a classic pineapple DOLE Whip might already be on your must-get list, but there are some unique ones you may want to try too! Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort often gets limited-time or seasonal DOLE Whips that can be delicious and totally Instagram-worthy.

If you’re looking for another, more “unique” way to eat your DOLE Whip, consider getting it in the form of a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom!

Basically, this is a pineapple upside-down cake with DOLE whip pineapple on top and yes, it is what dreams are made of.

The moral of the story here is to change up your DOLE Whip game! Find the lime DOLE Whip perhaps, or consider grabbing a DOLE Whip with popping candy when available — you never know what might just become your new favorite!

Click here for our full review of the pineapple upside-down cake with DOLE Whip!

9 — Waffle Sundaes at Marketplace Snacks

You don’t need to grab this next treat in the parks, because it’s over at Disney Springs! If you visit Marketplace Snacks you can now find bubble waffles filled with ice cream and all kinds of fun toppings. The best part? The waffles have Mickey designs on them! Oh, and they taste good too!

Some of the flavors/toppings might not be the most revolutionary, but if you want a refreshing snack with soft-serve ice cream and a cute design, this is it. Our favorite? If you like nuts, go for the Goofy Peanut Grand Waffle Sundae — it’s great for peanut and banana lovers.

See our ranking of the waffle sundaes here!

10 — Pepperoni Pizza Roll at Sunshine Seasons

Ever wanted to eat a pizza roll the size of your head? Well, now you can! At Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT you can get a GIANT Pepperoni Pizza Roll that is served with a side of pasta salad.

The cheese was wonderfully melty, the breading has a touch of garlic, and the pepperoni had a good amount of spice. It’s simple yet delicious (and a great choice for picky eaters!).

See our full review of the pizza roll here

11 — Salt & Straw’s Unique Ice Creams

And we’re back at Disney Springs! Salt & Straw serves up ice cream flavors you’ve likely never had before in your life and won’t find anywhere else! We’re talking Honey Lavender, Panther Coffee Chocolate Tres Leches, ice cream with bugs, and even ice cream covered in perfume?!

Like Gideon’s Bakehouse, there are some flavors that stick around all year, but there are also new flavors introduced each month that are only available for a limited time. Check to see what is on the menu when you stop by!

Click here for our review of Salt & Straw!

12 — Treats from BoardWalk Deli

In 2022, BoardWalk Bakery closed at Disney’s BoardWalk and BoardWalk Deli took its place! You’ll find breakfast, lunch/dinner, and snack offerings here that range from hot and cold deli sandwiches to bakery items and lots of sweets.

Some of our favorites include the Grilled Cheese with Tomato-Basil Soup, Roasted Chicken Sandwich, house-made chips, the Everything Bagel Sandwich, and the Cinnamon Yummy.

So whether you come for a full meal, a snack, or a little of both, there are plenty of choices!

For our full review of breakfast, click here.

And click here to see our full review of the lunch options!

13 — Liege Waffle at Connections Eatery

Connections Eatery and Connections Cafe are some of the newest spots to eat in EPCOT. You can find the Liege Waffle at both, but the one at Connections Eatery takes things up a notch with extra toppings. The one at Connections Eatery is made with Brioche Dough with Pearl Sugar, Strawberries, Whipped Cream, and Chocolate Sauce.

It’s sweet, but those fresh strawberries are wonderful and add a nice tartness. One of our reporters even feels like this is just as good as the amazing Nutella Fruit Waffle over at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments and one of the best things at Connections Eatery in general. So…it’s GOOD!

Click here to see our FULL review of the Liege Waffle

14 — New Items from the Cake Bake Shop (when it opens)

2023 will bring a brand new restaurant to Disney’s BoardWalk — the Cake Bake Shop! This spot will offer sweet and savory menus, afternoon tea, a table service option, and a place to get items to-go from the bakery case.

Though the Disney World version has yet to open, we did stop by another one of their locations to see what it could be like. And we have a feeling the Disney World version is one you won’t want to miss. We LOVED the croque monsieur, and Gwendolyn’s Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake is some of the best cake we’ve ever had.

Click here to see our FULL review of one of the Cake Bake Shop’s other locations

15 — Nutella or Chicken Waffle from Sleepy Hollow Refreshments

Need something sweet? The Nutella Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich is there for you. Served with fresh fruit and a chocolate-hazelnut spread, it’s everything you could want in a sweet, sharable treat.

Need something spicy and savory? The Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich is the one to go for. Topped with a Broccoli Slaw with a Honey-Sriracha Glaze, this snack will fill you up and hit you with a fantastic flavor combo.

You can find both at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments at Magic Kingdom. Grab ’em, take a picture with the Castle, devour them, and live your best Disney life.

16 — A GIANT shake from Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

You’ll need to rush over to Disney’s Beach Club Resort for this one, but it’ll be totally worth it. Over at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, you’ll find a few tasty snacks or meal options, but the big draw here are those ice cream creations.

The No Way Jose is a favorite of ours (with Peanut Butter and Hot Fudge, Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Morsels, Whipped Cream, and a Cherry). But you’ll also find the Kitchen Sink here and some giant shakes with seasonal flavors/toppings. Really, you can’t go wrong — just, maybe, bring a friend to share these

Click here to see why Beaches & Cream is one of the BEST spots in Disney World

17 — Corn on the Cob in Animal Kingdom

You might walk right past Harambe Fruit Market and think there’s nothing “special” worth getting there but you’d be making a BIG mistake. The Corn on the Cob here is NOT to be overlooked.

You can get this with or without African spices. For just under $6, it’s a great pick. Combine it with Mr. Kamal’s fries and you’ve got a set of snacks for true Disney champions.

18 — Pepper Jack Pretzel

The availability of this next treat can vary, but it’s something to be on the lookout for! At some snack spots in Disney World, you may be able to find the beloved Pepper Jack Pretzel!

Crispy cheese on the outside and a warm pepper jack cheese filling on the inside with bits of jalapeno peppers — what’s NOT to love?! Look for it at the Frontierland Churro Cart and other snack carts around Disney World.

See our review of the pretzel here!

19 — Peanut Butter Cookie Pie Confectionery

If you thought our love of peanut butter pies was over, think again! At the Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom you can find the beauty that is known as the Peanut Butter Cookie Pie. We DARE you not to drool over this one.

The cookie pie is made with a Peanut Butter Cookie, Chocolate Frosting, and Peanut Butter M&M’s. It’s soft, it’s rich, it’s dense, it’s not overly sweet, it’s got a great texture — it’s got it ALLLLLL. Don’t miss this one on your next trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth!

See our full review of the cookie pie here

20 — Cold Brew Black Caf

We waited FOREVER for this drink to reach Disney World and we’re so glad it has stuck around! The Cold Brew Black Caf is made with Joffrey’s Cold Brew topped with Sweet Cream Cheese and Chocolate Puffs. Yes, you read that right — sweet cream cheese and chocolate puffs. In coffee. And yes, it’s soooooo good.

Get it regular or spiked at Kat Saka’s Kettle in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios.

See our full review of the drink here!

21 — Spring Rolls from the Spring Roll Cart

Take your pick — cheeseburger, buffalo chicken, pastrami and pepper jack, or whatever rotational flavor has popped in — whatever you choose, we have a feeling you’ll be happy!

The Spring Roll Wagon in Magic Kingdom serves up spring rolls in a variety of flavors. Sometimes the flavors change, but their deliciousness typically remains the same.

22 — Beignets

Regular, topped with ice cream, served with a salted caramel sauce, or even jazzed up booze — there are a lot of different ways to get your Mickey Beignets. But all that matters is that you get some!

These pillowy soft desserts might give you a sugar rush, but they’re worth it. You’ll find them at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter at Scat Cat’s Club — Cafe. And for something a little more unique, head to Scat Cat’s Club — Lounge to get beignets with pimento cheese and red pepper jelly dipping sauces!

23 — Mac and Cheese at Gasparilla Island Grill

And FINALLY we end with some of the best Mac & Cheese you’ll find at Disney World — the House-Made Mac & Cheese that is hiding at Gasparilla Island Grill in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

It’s creamy, it’s wonderful, and it’s a substantial portion size — making it great for sharing!

Bonus: 100th Anniversary Snacks (if any)

To end our list, we’ve got to give you a bonus! 2023 marks the start of the 100th Anniversary celebration for the Walt Disney Company. We’ve already heard a bit about the celebrations coming to Disneyland Resort and the special movie marathon in Disney Springs. We’ve also seen 100th Anniversary merchandise in Disney World and online.

Disney hasn’t yet revealed how much of the celebration will be coming to Disney World, but if the parks do get 100th Anniversary snacks we think these will likely be snack list-worthy! They likely will be limited-time treats, making them all the more exclusive.

And that’s IT — our list of 23 snacks for 2023! What snacks do you most want to try? Tell us in the comments!

For more snack news, reviews, and photos, check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle — it’s got ALL the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending.  We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them!

You can even download our guides to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks!

Get our guides here!

Which of these snacks do you most want to try? Tell us in the comments!