food IS a theme park
We see updates at the Disney World parks all the time.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
But what about the Disney World hotels? Where you stay is a huge part of your vacation, so we like to keep you updated on what’s going on at the hotels in Disney World. Let’s take a look at some food, merchandise, and construction updates we’ve noticed recently.
This week we had a chance to swing by two of our favorite Value Resorts — Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort. Both resorts received some menu updates in their food courts, but first let’s check in on the progress of that Skyliner Station!
Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts Skyliner Station
The new Skyliner System will connect these two resorts, as well as Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Riviera Resort, to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
This week we were in search of seasonal treats and menu updates in the Art of Animation, Pop Century, All Star Music, All Star Sports, and All Star Movies resorts. Time to take a look at some spooky and seasonal updates and eats!
Everything Pop Shopping and Dining
We were so excited to find some of these fall-themed baked goods that we already wrote a post dedicated to them! They look super fun, but they actually taste pretty good, too!
May I make a Disney food confession?
I can’t – CAN’T – enter the Everything Pop Food Court at Disney’s Pop Century Resort…
Everything Pop Food Court
…and not indulge in a serving of Gravy Fries.
Gravy Fries
If you’ve visited Everything Pop, you may not have even seen Gravy Fries on the menu – they just get a small mention on the side of the screen at the sandwich station, and it rotates out occasionally to spotlight other items.
Pop Century Sandwich Station Menu
Basically, everything you need to know is in the name: Gravy. And. Fries.
The fries are standard issue Disney fries. The beef gravy covering them is… well, I think it’s awesome – you can spot the bits of pepper to give it just a little zest, and it’s consistently thick and rich.
Gravy close-up
You actually need [Read more…]
Whew! It’s been a while since I wrote about the Pop Century Food Court, which is shocking since I like it so much there!
Seriously, this food court is one of my favorite counter-service spots in Disney World, and it always has been. They have such a variety of good food here, plus they still focus on making unique and “you-can-only-find-it-here” items, which I think is critical to a great Disney restaurant. Where else can you find things like tie-dye cheesecake and Mom’s Night Out TV dinners? (I want to feel like I’m eating somewhere special and unique, you know?)
So today I’d like to focus on one of the best meals to eat the Pop food court — breakfast. While lunch and dinner are great here, breakfast is a fantastic deal!
Pop Century
The Pop Century food court, also known as Everything Pop Shopping and Dining since Pop Century was the first resort to integrate the food court and the resort’s gift shop into one giant experience, is a [Read more…]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This post has been edited and updated to reflect the current availability of Dole Whip in Disney World and Disneyland.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to announce that I have now (I think!) ordered Dole Whips or Dole Whip Floats at every possible Disney parks location, and I am now able to write the mother of all Dole Whip blog posts! 😉 For a primer on Dole Whips, check out this original Dole Whip post, and this post about where to get Dole Whips outside of Disney’s gates.
Now, let’s take a tour and see how Disney’s locations compare:
Even though the original Aloha Isle has switched locations with Sunshine Tree Terrace, it remains true that when in Disney World, this spot is synonymous with Dole Whips. There’s actually not a whole lot more you can get here, so be ready for some non-dairy cold stuff just about any way you slice it!
New Aloha Isle location
Aloha Isle Menu
At this location, you can order a regular pineapple-flavored Dole Whip cup or a Dole Whip float (soft-serve and pineapple juice). Or you can just cool off with a fresh, cold pineapple spear.
Disney World Aloha Isle Dole Whip Float
The most recent addition to the menu here is a super yummy Pineapple Upside Down Cake!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Dole Whip at Aloha Isle
Just across Seven Seas Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, beloved by many not only for the great food you can find at ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe, but also for being one of very few Disney World Resorts serving Dole Whips!
Head over to Pineapple Lanai (you’ll find it outdoors just outside Captain Cook’s in the Great Ceremonial House — the former home to Dole Whip at the Polynesian) and you’ll discover a charming outdoor covered seating area where you can enjoy your Dole Whip with a view of Cinderella Castle in the distance.
Pineapple Lanai sign
Pineapple Lanai
Like Aloha Isle, Pineapple Lanai serves Dole Whip cups or floats, but also has the now-unique option of swirling with vanilla soft-serve. Plus, Pineapple Lanai recently started serving Spiked Dole Whips!
Pineapple and Vanilla Swirl Dole Whip
Pineapple Lanai typically closes one hour after the Magic Kingdom fireworks spectacular “Happily Ever After.”
In early 2018, Pop Century Resort joined the Polynesian as the only other Disney Resort to serve Dole Whip! Called Pineapple Soft Serve here, it’s available in both all pineapple and pineapple/vanilla swirl varieties!
Dole Whip!
Looking for Dole Whip while you’re getting your shopping on in Disney Springs? Marketplace Snacks serves up the pineapple treat from its kiosk near the Marketplace Co-Op. Even with so many awesome sweet treats to try in Disney Springs, Dole Whip holds its own!
Dole Whip signs at Marketplace Snacks
If you’re attending the Flower and Garden Festival in the spring or the Food and Wine Festival in the fall, chances are you may get to enjoy a Dole Whip at Epcot! 2013 marked the first year that Dole Whip debuted in any Disney World park other than Magic Kingdom, with the appearance of Dole Whip on the menu at the Pineapple Promenade Booth during the Flower and Garden Festival.
Pineapple Promenade Booth
Big news? Yes. Bigger news? You could also get your Dole Whip spiked with Siesta Key Spice Rum.
Dole Whip with Spiced Rum at the 2013 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Pineapple soft-serve treats have continued to part of the subsequent Flower and Garden Festivals (2014 brought an option for Coconut Rum, while 2015 served up Sammy’s Beach Bar Red Head Macadamia Nut-flavored Rum).
Not to be outdone ;), the Epcot Food and Wine Festival also featured Dole Whip beginning in the fall of 2013 at the Refreshment Port. However, rather than Pineapple it was Orange-flavored Dole Whip topped with Crème de Cacao White (or served on its own) for that first year.
Orange Dole® Whip with Crème de Cacao White
In 2014, it was the standby Pineapple (also topped with Crème de Cacao White). 2015 features the Bacardí® Coconut Rum as the enhancement.
Of course, part of the fun of the Festivals is that things change each year. We’ll see what the future holds for Dole Whip at the Epcot Festivals!
In May of 2014, Dole Whip suddenly appeared in Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Tamu Tamu Refreshments. Under the name “Pineapple Whip soft-serve” (but still provided by Dole), the same refreshing pineapple treat is served in a cup or served with Dark or Coconut Rum.
Pineapple soft-serve with Coconut Rum
The menu at Tamu Tamu received a makeover in May of 2015…
Tamu Tamu menu
… but Pineapple Whip Soft-serve survived the changes!
So we were pretty stoked to discover Dole Whips in soft serve, float, and rum-laced varieties at The Coffee House at the Disneyland Hotel. Finally an out-of-the-park option to grab our favorite pineapple treat on the left coast!
Dole Whip and Dole Whip Floats Are Now Available at The Coffee House!
In Disneyland, the Tiki Juice Bar and all things Dole Whip are lovingly woven into the original Enchanted Tiki Room attraction (also presented by Dole, incidentally) queue area, which happens to consist of a really cool “pre-show,” which I won’t spoil for you.
Tiki Juice Bar in Disneyland — Menu
The menu here is simpler than those in Disney World — pineapple spear, Dole Whip, Dole Whip Float, Pineapple Juice, Fruit Bowl. No swirls or rum or anything here. Just pineapple as far as the eye can see. Which is OK with me, as I’m a pure pineapple sort of person when it comes to my Dole Whips. And I’m going to give you two images of the Dole Whip Float I ordered, both because it’s so cool (um…umbrella and cherry?!??!?! Hello, Disney World, are you watching?!?!), and because the second will give you a better view of the Tiki Juice Bar in the background.
Disneyland Dole Whip Float
Disneyland Dole Whip With Tiki Juice Bar in Background
They all taste the same. Well, of course they do! They all come from a Dole Whip Mix that Disney (and you!) can get from a place called Unified Enterprises Corp. I know, it’s not-so-magical, but at least it tastes good!
But, I will say that Disneyland 100% wins out on presentation. The addition of a little umbrella and a cherry wins big, monster points in my book. I am a big fan of both little umbrellas AND cherries.
Where’s your favorite place to get a Dole Whip or a Dole Whip Float? Let us know your experiences in the comments section of this blog, or visit us on facebook or twitter to voice your opinion on the mighty Dole Whip!
Mark Weaver and his family had never been to Disney World together before their March 2010 trip, and that was Mark’s first time back to the “World” in 10 years! As I’m sure you’re getting used to my “frequent visitor” perspective on these restaurants, I’m honored to share with you this dining trip report from a foodie who’s looking at WDW with fresh eyes. Thanks, Mark! (When Mark’s not dining in Disney World, you can find him contributing awesome news articles and features over at DisZine.com)
Our dining experiences at WDW were amazing. Sadly we missed 2 of our ADRs (and went home early) thanks to everyone getting sick on the last 2 days of our trip; however, we still had a great time and ate a lot of great food. Here’s an overall review of where and what we ate!:
Disney’s Pop Century Food Court:
After we checked in, we headed here to get some food that didn’t come from the cooler in the back seat of our car (YAY!). Overall, it was pretty good. I had the Parmesan Chicken which was very well done. The chicken was fully cooked — very crunchy, and the pasta with alfredo sauce was pretty good as well. I was able to get extra sauce at no extra cost which went very well with the breadstick. Speaking of the breadstick, I was actually surprised that it was not just a plain breadstick. It was seasoned with herbs and matched well with the entire dish.
Pop Century Parmesan Crusted Chicken
My wife had the vegetarian lasagna, which she enjoyed more than [Read more…]
There’s a brand new resort fan site for those of us who love Disney’s Pop Century Resort: PopCenturySite.com! We’re using a few of those photos today for a little review of one of my favorite food courts in Disney World: Everything Pop! But these photos aren’t even close to the end of the stash — check out the site’s image galleries for hundreds more photos, including dining pics with detailed menus.
Atmosphere
Pop Century’s Everything Pop food court is definitely worth a visit, even if you aren’t staying there — no kidding. The food is good, the decor is fun, and they have those groovy sit-down video game things. You know what I’m talking about, right? Here. These ones [Read more…]
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