Last Updated on May 25, 2023 by admin
One of the best parts about a Disneyland vacation is undoubtedly the food. Both Disneyland and California Adventure parks are filled with excellent menu offerings. Before you head to Disneyland, make sure you make a plan for where to eat. In this post, we’re sharing some of our favorite foods at Disneyland!
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Our 22 Favorite Foods at Disneyland
We frequently travel to California, and visiting Disneyland is one of our favorite things to do. You might be famous with Disney’s famous Dole Whip pineapple ice cream, but today we’re sharing 20 additional foods that you just have to try during your Disneyland vacation!
FUN FACT: You can also have Dole Whip when visiting Hawaii! The famous treat is served at the Dole Pineapple Plantation on Oahu.
TIP: Use the Disney app’s Mobile Ordering feature. You can enter your orders in advance, so all you have to do is pick it up at your determined time. This will save you time so you don’t have to wait in long meal lines!
Grey Stuff
Where to Find It: Red Rose Taverne, Fantasyland, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
While you’re in Disneyland, head to the Red Rose Taverne and order a serving of the Grey Stuff. This delicious dessert is a play-on-words from the movie Beauty and the Beast. There’s a line from the song Be Our Guest that reads, “Try the grey stuff, it’s delicious!”
We ordered a holiday version of the Grey Stuff during our last trip to Disneyland. At the base was a shortbread cookie, and it was topped with a mouse that tasted like cookies and cream. Inside the mouse was red velvet cake, and it was even topped with a star, like a Christmas tree. We ate every bite of the Grey Stuff!
Tip: When you purchase Disneyland tickets through Undercover Tourist, an authorized ticket seller, you can save money on your park tickets! For example, you can save money on 4-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets!
Frozen Apple Juice
Where to Find It: Snack Cart, Fantasyland, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
Directly across from the Red Rose Taverne is a snack cart that serves frozen apple juice. This refreshing slushie is perfect for a hot summer day at Disneyland! Our daughter absolutely loved this treat. I was chatting with a cast member at Disneyland, and she told me that she recently gave a private tour to a very famous celebrity. The frozen apple juice was his favorite treat at Disneyland!
Fried Chicken Dinner
Where to Find It: Plaza Inn, Main Street USA, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
Fried chicken is one of our favorite meals, and the Plaza Inn on Main Street makes an amazing Fried Chicken Dinner. We were able to order this meal just from their quick-order counter. Each plate comes with three pieces of chicken fried to perfection, mashed potatoes and gravy, a buttermilk biscuit, and seasonal vegetables. My husband and I split this meal, which still left plenty of room for more Disney snacks!
Mickey Beignet
Where to Find It: Mint Julep Bar, New Orleans Square, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
The Mint Julep Bar at Disneyland is easily missed. The walk-up window is down a side alley and behind a fenced seating area. Be sure not to pass it by! The Mickey Beignets are one of our favorite sweet treats at Disneyland! The beignets are covered in powdered sugar. You can order a 3-pack or a 6-pack. Pro tip: Do not inhale before taking a bite of a beignet, you might choke on powdered sugar! (Not speaking from experience or anything.)
Mint Julep
Where to Find It: Mint Julep Bar, New Orleans Square, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
While you’re putting in your order for Mickey Beignets, be sure to also add a Mint Julep to your order. The Mint Juleps served here are non-alcoholic, and they have a refreshing mint flavor with a hint of lime. They’re an excellent complement to the sweetness of the beignets!
Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num
Where to Find It: Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums, Pixar Pier, Disney California Adventure Park
(No reservations needed)
The Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num isn’t your ordinary chocolate chip cookie. This cookie is served warm with a soft center. Get extra napkins, because melted chocolate will be dripping off this delicious cookie. This was one of our favorite snacks at Disneyland.
Gumbo
Where to Find It: Blue Bayou Restaurant, New Orleans Square, Disneyland
(Reservations Recommended!)
We highly recommend that you make reservations at the Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Orleans Square. This is our absolute favorite restaurant at Disneyland. Besides having an excellent menu, the restaurant is located overlooking the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Even though you’re dining indoors, it’ll feel as if you’re dining outside under an evening sky in New Orleans. One of our favorite offerings on their menu is the Chicken Gumbo. The gumbo is served with ham, sausage, peppers, and steamed rice. It’s the perfect starter for your meal!
Mickey Churro Cookies
Where to Find It: Candy Palace, Main Street USA, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
While you’re visiting Disneyland, definitely stop by Candy Palace to see all the sweet treats. If you love churros, be sure to check out this cookie version!
Minnie Mouse Cake Pops
Where to Find It: Marceline’s Confectionary, Downtown Disney
(No reservations needed)
To try a Minnie Mouse Cake Pop, you don’t even need a park ticket. Just head to Downtown Disney and visit Marceline’s Confectionary. These rich cake pops were the perfect small treat after dinner. Tip: Buy an extra one just in case your toddler drops theirs on the ground…
Chili Cone Queso
Where to Find It: Cozy Cone Motel, Cars Land, Disney California Adventure Park
(No reservations needed)
One of my favorite savory snacks is the Chili Cone Queso at the Cozy Cone Motel. This quick service restaurant serves a couple of different items, including the Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese. I’ve tried both, and I have to say I love the Chili Cone Queso just a tad bit more. It’s a soft bread cone filled with beef chili and topped with cheddar cheese and corn chips. There’s a handful of “cones” at this restaurant, each serving different menu items. At the nearby counters you can also purchase alcoholic beverages, ice cream, and churros.
Classic Churro
Where to Find It: Both parks have churro carts at multiple locations
(No reservations needed)
My absolute favorite snack at Disneyland is the classic churro. I have to order at least one of these each trip. The long churro sticks are light and crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. Covered with cinnamon and sugar, they make for the perfect sweet treat!
Specialty Churro
Where to Find It: Churro Cart, Hollywood Land, Disney California Adventure Park
(No reservations needed)
In addition to trying the classic churro, we also recommend that you try one of the many specialty churros that are offered. Many of the churros are seasonal offerings, so be sure to check out the churro cart and see what’s available when you visit. During our last trip to California Adventure, we tried the Chocolate Cherry-Pistachio Churro. It was a classic churro rolled with chocolate dust and pistachio dust. It was topped with cherry sauce and chopped pistachios. It was unique and delicious!
Hot Dog with Lots of Toppings
Where to Find It: Award Wieners, Hollywood Land, Disney California Adventure Park
(No reservations needed)
Be sure to stop by Award Wieners and try one of their many hot dogs. We ordered their Bacon Street Dog, which was topped with a homemade red pepper ketchup, grilled onions, grilled peppers, and crispy bacon. This hot dog hit the spot!
Churro Toffee
Where to Find It: Candy Palace, Main Street USA, Disneyland; OR Trolley Treats; Buena Vista Street, Disney California Adventure Park; OR Marceline’s Confectionary, Downtown Disney
(No reservations needed)
The Churro Toffee at Candy Palace has a legendary following. (Folks have even made copycat recipes to have this toffee at home!) If you love the flavor of churros and the crispiness of toffee, be sure to buy an order of the Churro Toffee. The Churro Toffee contains Disneyland’s buttery toffee dipped in white chocolate and then tossed in cinnamon and sugar. You can find Churro Toffee at most bakeries around the resort. They last for awhile, so you can easily buy one for the next day or for your travels home. (Tip: The Churro Toffee pairs well with a cup of coffee in the morning!)
Minnie Mouse Candy Apples
Where to Find It: Marceline’s Confectionary, Downtown Disney
(No reservations needed)
Just based on looks alone, the Minnie Mouse Candy Apples are one of my favorite Disneyland treats. If you go to Marceline’s Confectionary in Downtown Disney, you can often see the Disney bakers making these candy apples through the big glass windows. The candy apples are a bit impractical to eat on the go, but they are oh-so-cute. (And Instagram worthy!) These treats are best eaten when you have a moment to sit down at a table. You’ll need a sturdy knife to try to cut into them if you want to share one, but they are sure to be delicious!
Oreo Churros
Where to Find It: The California Churro Company, Downtown Disney
(No reservations needed)
While we were walking around Downtown Disney during our first evening in Anaheim, we had to stop by the California Churro Company. They had about a half dozen specialty churros, and we were eager to try the Oreo Churros. The churros had a good Oreo taste and they were topped with a cream cheese frosting. They were very rich, so we recommend sharing this snack!
Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron
Where to Find It: Jolly Holiday Bakery, Main Street USA, Disneyland
(No reservations needed)
Located at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Bakery Cafe, you can find the Raspberry Rose Mickey Macaron. (Sometimes these are replaced with a seasonal, similar, offering.) This macaron was beautiful and delicious. The macaron filling was light and fluffy, and there were fresh raspberries tucked between the layers. This is definitely a perfect sweet treat!
Goofy’s Kitchen
Where to Find It: Disneyland Hotel
(Reservations Recommended!)
We recommend making dinner reservations at Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. The dinner buffet was excellent, but we were most impressed with the Dessert Bar! The dessert buffet had dozens of treats: soft-serve ice cream, donuts, cookies, cheesecakes, dessert pizza, jello, cakes, tarts, and more. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to book your reservation as soon as possible!
Battered and Fried Monte Cristo
Where to Find It: Cafe Orleans, New Orleans Square, Disneyland
(Reservations Recommended!)
Book a reservation at Cafe Orleans and order the Battered and Fried Monte Cristo sandwich. It’s a decadent sandwich that’s filled with turkey, ham, Swiss cheese, and seasonal preserves. It’s then battered, fried, and topped with powdered sugar. (There’s also the option to have a Battered and Fried Triple Cheese Monte Cristo.) This was my husband’s favorite meal of our trip to Disneyland. I had a few bites, and I have to say, it was really delicious!
Mole Enchiladas
Where to Find It: Tortilla Jo’s, Downtown Disney
(Reservations Recommended!)
One of my favorite places to eat in Downtown Disney is Tortilla Jo’s. They have excellent guacamole and margaritas, but my favorite dish there is the Enchiladas de Mole. If you love Mexican food, Tortilla Jo’s is a great spot for a meal.
CrazyShake
Where to Find It: CrazyShake Window by Black Tap, Downtown Disney
(No reservations needed)
When you’re in Downtown Disney, be sure to stop by the CrazyShake Takeout Window (or make reservations at the Black Tap restaurant). Their milkshakes are epic! What makes these milkshakes unique is the fact that they are topped with outrageous toppings! Our milkshake came with an entire slice of cake on top. We recommend sharing these decadent treats!
Festival Offerings
Where to Find It: Seasonal
(No reservations needed)
Disneyland Resorts hosts numerous festivals over the course of the year. If you happen to be at Disneyland during one of these festivals, we definitely recommend trying some of their seasonal specialties! We were recently at California Adventure for their Festival of the Holidays, and there were specialty food carts throughout the park! We picked up a brochure that listed all the offerings, and we had fun trying the various treats and meals. One of our favorites was the pumpkin cheesecake (pictured above).
Best Hotels Near Disneyland in California
If you want to stay on Disneyland Resort property, you have three choices:
- Disneyland Hotel: This modern hotel is located near Downtown Disney. I stayed at this hotel when I was younger, and I have very fond memories of my experience there!
- Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel: This seaside-themed hotel has a rooftop pool and a direct entrance to Disney California Adventure Park.
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: This rustic hotel has a direct entrance to Disney California Adventure Park and is located super-close to Disneyland.
If you’re not able to stay at a Disney hotel, there’s plenty of other hotels in Anaheim. Disney has identified some nearby hotels as Good Neighbor hotels, which means they are Disney-approved. Here’s a few to consider:
- Best Western Plus Park Place Inn & Mini Suites: We stayed here during our last trip to Disneyland. The hotel is located right across the street from Disneyland, so we had an easy walk to the park each morning. In the past we had stayed at hotels that required a shuttle, and this time we knew we wanted to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the parks. We also liked that breakfast was included!
- Tropicana Inn & Suites: Located right next to the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn is the Tropicana. This hotel is also just steps away from the entrance to Disneyland.
- Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn: This is another Best Western hotel that is located near the entrance to Disneyland.
What to Pack for a Day at Disneyland
We recommend that you bring the following things while you’re at Disneyland in California:
- Backpack: Use a backpack to store your water, snacks, and extra clothing layers.
- Cell phone charger: Pack a fully-charged cell-phone battery pack. You’ll need to use your phone to access the app, Genie+, and take photos. Make sure you don’t run out of battery while you’re at the park.
- Water bottle: Bring your own water bottle and fill it up throughout the day.
- Ponchos: Make sure you’re prepared if rain comes your way. (They are more expensive in the parks!)
- Hand sanitizer: Thousands of people touch the rides every day, so it’s a good idea to sanitize your hands often.
- Disney clothes: Many people dress up in Disney-themed clothes while at the parks. Be sure to pack a few things to wear, and save room for souvenirs as well!
- Jacket: Depending on when you visit, it can get cold in the evenings. I brought my Frost Parka from KÜHL and I was able to wear it as a light backpack during the day, and then easily unfold it to a full parka at night.
(Click on any of the above images for current pricing and shipping information.)
Summary: The Best Treats, Snacks, and Meals at Disneyland California
Although we love the rides and attractions at Disneyland, eating the food is consistently one of our trip highlights. As soon as we buy our tickets, we start making plans for our dining reservations and snacks. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your meals, you’ll definitely want to get reservations at some of the best restaurants. We hope this list helps you plan your own Disneyland vacation!
You might be interested in the following posts:
Disneyland in California
Walt Disney World
Disneyland Paris
- Our Full Review of Disneyland Paris
- Full Guide to the Rides at Disneyland Paris
- The Best Hotels Near Disneyland Paris
- See What’s Inside the Disneyland Paris Castle
- Remy of Ratatouille: Our Full Review of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Bistrot Chez Remy
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
