Disneyland Resort – where magic comes to life, and so do your cravings, writes Chloe De Kerbrech.
On a recent trip to this beloved California theme park, we embarked on what could only be described as a food-filled marathon. Forget posh, pre-booked dining experiences (we were far too disorganised for that) – we were going to snack our way around the park, “on the fly”, as they say.
From the moment the park gates opened, our culinary journey began with churros. Yes, churros. The smell of cinnamon sugar was so intoxicating that we couldn’t wait until the official “snack time” to dive in. At 10am, we were already elbow-deep in warm, crispy goodness from a churro stand – the start of what would be an endless parade of tasty treats.
Next up: popcorn. Freshly popped and ready to fuel our next rounds of excitement, it was only 11am, but who’s judging? The snack game at Disneyland is strong. You want popcorn? They’ve got it. Pretzels? Check. Candy? Absolutely. (And by the way, the pretzels come with cheese sauce that’s suspiciously addictive. I may have eaten my weight in it, and I’m not proud of it.)
For a bit more substance, we wandered over to Café Orleans, a classic spot in the New Orleans Square area. The menu was exactly what you’d expect – Orleans-inspired food with a French Quarter twist. A little casual, a little fancy. We devoured beignets, gumbo, and the kind of fried chicken that would make your grandma proud, if she had the patience to cook that much while simultaneously raising children.
As the sun beat down on us (hello, 30C-degree day!), we popped into the Tiki Juice Bar for fresh fruit juices. There’s something about sipping a chilled beverage after the Tiki Show at Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room that makes you feel like you’re living your best island life. The kids were too busy arguing over who got the bigger straw to notice.
For dinner, we went rogue with the ultimate theme park meal: hot dogs from a stand. These were not just any hot dogs, mind you. These were the juiciest hot dogs you’ve ever seen. If a hot dog can have a personality, this one did. It was bold. It was saucy. It was everything we needed.
When we needed a break from the chaos, we made a quick escape to Downtown Disney District, where we sipped wine at the Earl of Sandwich and watched our girls consume what could only be described as the largest pink lemonades in human history. Seriously, the cups were bigger than their heads.
And how do you really wrap up a Disneyland food tour? With fairy floss, of course. The cotton candy came in a rainbow of colours, matching our sugar highs perfectly. By the end of the day, we were full, a little nauseous, and fully committed to our new role as a family of snack enthusiasts.
In the end, we didn’t need to pre-book fancy reservations. Disneyland’s snack scene kept us happily fed – and slightly wider in the waistline – all day long.
Featured image: A Disneyland Resort Mickey Pretzel.
To book Disneyland Resort Park Tickets and accommodation, speak to your preferred local travel agent.
