You’re planning your first trip to Walt Disney World. Or your 50th. Or your 100th. And you reeeeeeeally want to know what NEW dishes you MUST try? Weeeeeeelllllllllll, we’ve got a few suggestions for you!
We’ve got about nine of our favorite you-HAVE-to-EAT-this dishes and snacks featured in our brand new DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015 e-Book, which you can pick up today for $4 off using code 2015 right here!
But I wanted to take a second to share just a few of those must-eat treats here with you as well.
Must-Eat Walt Disney World Treats in 2015
Yep — here at DFB, we always like to kick off each new year with some of our favorite treats spotted during the last few months. But when I sat down to brainstorm this post…well, at first it seemed like 2014 didn’t offer a whole lot of new stuff.
That said, when I started scrolling back through everything we ate this past year, I realized there was a lot to be said for 2014 and its culinary prowess.
There is one really big difference between this year and previous years, however. Most of our crave-worthy dishes are savory this time around! I know! WUT?!??!?!?!?!? Don’t worry, though — I’ve got a few sweeties thrown in.
Here’s the New Food I Want to Stuff My Face with at Disney Parks in 2015!
Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
We thought that Mac and Cheese, that king of comfort foods, was enough. But little did we know what we had been missing, until Disney started putting additional delicious food on top of its cheesy goodness.
We first saw the dawn of Gourmet Mac and Cheese — we’re just gonna call it that if that’s all right with you — a while back. Friar’s Nook introduced the concept, and we were smitten with their Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese and Blue Cheese Mac right away.
BUT THEN — this happened.
Barbecued Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Creamy Mac and Cheese layered against Rich, Shredded Pork and covered with a tangy Sweet and Sour Barbecue Sauce…pure cheesy yummo.
Don’t try to finish it yourself. On second thought, yeah. Go ahead and try.
Waffle Fries at Golden Oak Outpost
Like I said before, savory trumps sweet in our must-have list in 2015. To that end, one stop we’ll make every time we are in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland will be at Golden Oak Outpost. Assuming it’s open. And still serving the same menu. All big assumptions.
That said, if you’re suuuuuuper lucky and they’re open when you’re there, be sure to stop by and take advantage of their full line of smothered Waffle Fries. And with four different varieties, there are flavors to please everyone in your party!
The Tex-Mex Waffle Fries are buried under all kinds of sauce toppings — including Plastic Cheese (!!!!!) and Salsa. They get a fresh pop from Black Bean Cucumber Relish and some heat from Sliced Jalapeños. Sour Cream tops this decadent vegetarian dish.
Pork Barbecue Waffle Fries, on the other hand, are a carnivore’s delight. With Barbecue Pork and Coleslaw, this one could definitely serve as a meal, no problem!
We know that fans of Canada’s Poutine are passionate and very precise about their favorite food. But we were happy to see this version stateside. While it’s prosaically referred to as Brown Gravy Fries, all the makings are there — Gravy and the absolutely required Cheese CURDS.
Sadly, this is a food that never looks awesome in a photograph. You’ll have to trust me. It totally is.
Grab a knife and fork and dig in!
All of the versions we’ve shown you thus far are pretty awesome. But we’ve saved the best for last. Because when we repeat our visit to Golden Oak, we’ll be ordering the BLT Waffle Fries. Again. And again.
Because here’s the deal: BACON.
That the fries bear more than a passing resemblance to Figaro Fries (FIGARO FRIES!!!) — that most beloved extinct snack that you could find in days past at Pinocchio Village Haus. Sure, they’re technically not the same, what with the absence of cheese and the presence of bacon. And of course, these are waffle fries, not plain old stick-shaped fries. But the Ranch Dressing and Shredded Lettuce get them into the same ballpark.
And I’ve never in my life complained about the inclusion of bacon in something.
Crema de Elote (Corn Soup) at La Hacienda de San Angel
And then, one day I decided to have dinner at Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel in the Mexico Pavilion. And my life was changed forever.
Yeah. I’m super not being dramatic here. If you’ve ever had their Crema de Elote, or Cream of Corn Soup, then you know where I’m coming from.
Corn Chowders and Bisques always rate high in my estimation. But this is the One Soup That Rules Them All.
I mean, it’s not evil (unless you consider a bowl of Cream and Butter with Sweet Corn thrown in a bad thing). But the combination of the Ultra Creamy Soup and the Spicy Tortilla Strips and Sauce makes this…I can’t even.
This soup easily makes the list of foods that I’d eat every single day of my life if I could.
Naan Bread with Dipping Sauces at Landscape of Flavors
We know that the word value isn’t one that comes up all that often when you’re talking about…well, anything Disney. But especially food.
But we were bowled over on a recent visit to Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort when we made a startling discovery by sheer accident: you can order a Side of Naan with Dipping Sauces for far less than, well, a Snack of Naan and Dipping Sauces!
The pillowy Flatbread is fresh and perfectly soft and chewy. And the day we enjoyed it, there were also not one…not two…but THREE Dipping Sauces! It’s hard to decide which was best between the Coriander, Tandoori, or Mango Chutney.
Maybe more research is warranted…
Hawaiian Shaved Ice at Kona Island Sushi Bar
With all of the recent changes at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, we are super-psyched to see a brand new sweet treat addition (see? I said we had something sweet.)– Hawaiian Shaved Ice. And guys, we’re gonna say it: this one is destined for Legendary Cult Status.
The magic is in the consistency of the Shaved Ice — a process that makes all the difference. This is not a county fair snow cone. It is much, MUCH better. Think sweet, fruity snow, and you’re starting to get there.
On our first visit, we sampled Cherry and Pina Colada with the Sweet Cream, which made it all the more amazing.
I’m not even kidding — I cannot WAIT to get back to the Kona Island Sushi Bar at the Poly for another one of these. And I figure that craving will only intensify as Summer nears!
Ready for All of Our Best Tips?
Yep — we shared five of our must-eat treats here today, but we’ve got even more in the book (including some of my favorites!).
In addition, we’ve got TONS of Disney World Dining Tips, photographs, and more in our big, bold, 493-page DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining e-Book, 2015 Edition — and the guide is your ticket to planning your best Disney trip yet!
The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With sample dining itineraries, plus our “Disney Dining at a Glance” section, featuring “Where Can I Find?” options, you’ll have everything you need to plan the best vacation ever. Click here to get your copy of The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 E-book — and use code 2015 for an extra $4 discount for a limited time!
Now we’d like to hear from you! Which of these snacks will you be enjoying on your Disney visits in 2015? Leave a comment and tell us what looks irresistible to you!
Jessica says
I’ve been to Disney World twice since the waffle fries were introduced and Golden Oak Outpost was closed both times…so disappointing 🙁 Finger crossed for better luck on my next trip!
David says
They need to name that treat correctly. Its referred to as “shave ice” in Hawaii. Never “shaved ice”. Regardless, that is a fantastic addition.
Dan says
I was there October 2-4 and was lucky enough to eat the BLT waffle fries, They were heavenly. Was there in December and it was closed, that was a bummer.
Madoka says
The Crema de Elote soup and Brown Gravy Fries look absolutely delicious!
But… did they really call it Hawaiian *Shaved* Ice? Really? *sigh*
AJ says
Madoka –I always have a battle with myself when Disney names something incorrectly. It’s kind of like the macaron macaroon thing.
Penny says
I do not visit the Magic Kingdom without having the gravy fries! They are awesome! And I’m lucky that I get to go often.
Galloping Gourmond says
To get Figaro Fries at the MK you have to make them yourself this way:
Order fries and a salad at Pecos Bill. Ask for two ranch dressings. One for the salad, one for the fries. At the fixin’s bar add plastic cheese, lettuce, tomato to the fries. Put on the ranch dressing at your seat.
Presto!
To me, the corn soup is the most worthwhile thing at the Hacienda.
The Naan at Landscape of Flavor is not quite as good as at Sanaa, but it’s pretty close.
Galloping Gourmond says
Just realized I got the corn soup confused with something I had at San Angel Inn. sorry!
Michael Y says
It’s a small thing, but one of the defining characteristics of true Hawaiian shave ice is that it’s never referred to as “shaved” ice, generally when it’s referred to as shaved ice, it’s a snow cone. Great blog, thank you for all of your work!
Liz says
BTW – was at Magic Kingdom in January and the Tex-Mex fries were no longer an option. Just the gravy, BLT, or BBQ pork.