Update: Thanks to our commenters for letting us know that some cast members simply won’t/can’t fulfill this request without a manager’s approval. Good luck!
I’ve always loved the Citrus Swirl at Magic Kingdom’s Sunshine Tree Terrace. Who doesn’t? If you haven’t had one — it’s basically frozen orange juice swirled with vanilla soft serve. And it’s everything.
And even though there was a time where it was off the menu (we call those the “unmagical” days…and then there were the SUPER “unmagical” days when they SAID they brought it back, but it was just orange soft serve twisted with vanilla. NOT. THE. SAME.), it’s back again and has been for a while, thank goodness.
But today we’re not just talking about your run-of-the-mill Citrus Swirl. No sir. We’ve got a twist (see what I did there? of course you did.) that I think some of you will really like. ;-D Maybe not all of you. Maybe just a few of you. But if you’re as excited about this as I am, we’re clearly best friends and we need to hang out.
Sunshine Tree Terrace
Standard Citrus Swirl — frozen orange juice swirled with vanilla soft serve
First — you’ve got to make your way to Sunshine Tree Terrace. It sits right at the entrance to Adventureland, so it’s pretty easy to find. OH, and if this looks like Aloha Isle to you, remember that the two traded places a while back. 😉
Sunshine Tree Terrace
And then it’s time to order the goodness. But let me give you a little backstory on my weirdo tastebuds to set the stage.
Well, like I said, I’ve always loved Citrus Swirls; but my favorite part of the treat was clearly the frozen orange juice. The super-tartness of that side of the swirl reminded me of frozen, concentrated orange juice. The kind you can buy in a can. I loved that stuff. Like…LOVED it. (And that’s all I’m going to say about that.) So whenever I’d get a standard Citrus Swirl, I’d always try to get a few spoonfuls of just the super-tart citrus half before I got to the vanilla. It was the best part!
Sunshine Tree Terrace Menu
And I’m seriously kicking myself for not figuring out this secret menu item sooner! Guest what, kids! You CAN get a swirl…that’s ALL citrus! No sappy-sweet vanilla soft serve to sully that crazy-tart frozen orange juice!
I was thrilled to find out you could do this, but I still had the final hurdle to leap: finding a cast member who would do it for me. When I visited, the first Cast Member I approached totally shot me down. She said there was no way they could do it. And I was heartbroken.
But lucky for me, another CM overheard my request and confirmed that THEY CAN! AND THEY DO! This guardian-angel cast member first warned me that if I ordered this, it would be SUPER tart. Upon my confirmation that I still, indeed, wanted it, he simply popped the handle off of the vanilla side of the machine and popped it onto the orange side. Then I was served what I can only think of as orange perfection.
Sunshine Tree Terrace All Citrus Swirl
Friends! Romans! Lovers of that frozen-orange-concentrate sweetness! It’s literally a childhood dream come true!
Sunshine Tree Terrace All Citrus Swirl
Frozen, concentrated orange juice in a nice swirly shape? Heaven! And, yes, it is tart….and very flavorful. But for me, it was yet another Disney food desire fulfilled.
Sunshine Tree Terrace All Citrus Swirl
So, I know this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for my buddies on this side of the crazy, this is for us! At $3.79 or a Disney Dining Plan snack credit, I vote yea!
Is a Citrus Swirl on your Adventureland to-do list? Give us a citrusy shout in the comments!
Source: Huge thanks goes out to Cast Member Tyler Slater, whom I follow on Instagram, for posting about this epic-ness on his feed!!!!
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Warning note: When we were there on January 16, after waiting in a long line specifically for this treat, they told us we couldn’t have just the orange. We went away disappointed, as no one wanted the vanilla ice cream with it. Of course they CAN do it; it’s an easy task and we’ve done it before. But some cast members just WON’T.
My brother used to work quick service food & beverage at Animal Kingdom. This seems like a great way to get a cast member reprimanded unless they have a managers approval, so please don’t get upset at them if they can’t fulfill this request.
Years ago, before the dark days when they switched to that nasty orange soft serve, they use to have frozen orange juice as its own menu item – they offered it as a beverage option. My dad would get it while I always opted for the citrus swirl. There must be a reason that they decided not to bring it back as its own option, but it would be most appreciated! Seems a shame that it’s now a hit-or-miss (mostly miss?) item.
And way back when McD’s was served at what is now the Golden Oak Outpost cart, we would always order some fries and dip them in the citrus swirl – so amazingly good!
Before the move, Sunshine Tree Terrace used to serve floats. Back 3+ years ago AJ did a blog post about doing a Citrus Swirl float. (http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/07/03/new-disney-snack-invention-citrus-swirl-float/ )
If you get a cast member willing to do it, you may be able to purchase a cup of soda (no ice) & the Swirl & just have the CM put them in the same cup. Now please note that since they don’t have the proper “float glass,” doing this in the paper cup is a spill hazard.
But it was glorious getting my Citrus Swirl in Orange soda again! (For those, unlike AJ, who like more sweet tempering the tart. 😉 )
It’s all about the Dole Whip for me!
Are Dole Whips still available?
I am a current cast member at WDW, more specifically, Adventureland Food and beverage. The reason behind is not being allowed to give out just the citrus is because it will cause the machine to freeze and then no one will be able to have any. It’s not that we can’t. It’s the fact we are unable too for a good reason.
Unknown — Thanks so much for weighing in!
LOVE the Swirl, and yes I do remember those unmagical days when they tried to fool us with the fake Swirl.
So happy the original was brought back.
But it still has not been given the same attention as the whip. You can get the Whip at multiple locations now. I ask- why can’t I get the Swirl somewhere else ? Like Old Key West ? Equal rights for the Swirl Lovers !!!!
Ok I’m done now lol just please don’t take it away again.
I am very new to your site and so far I like what I see (and wish I could taste!!). All this swirl and dole and orange and vanilla talk has me ready to visit DW. But I live all the way across the great US of A. Anyhoo, thanks for the fun articles. I am really enjoying all the reading and salivation!