food IS a theme park
So guess what I had to try — and add to our “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack Series — when I went to Disney World in April?
Zebra Cupcake
Guys, this Zebra cupcake is massive. Its construction is akin to one of our favorites [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!
Disney is on a customization kick. You can get customized t-shirts, customized park tickets, customized dining plans…you can even customize your Mickey Ear Hats now!
So this is why I insist I should be able to customize my meals as well! I’m one of those picky eaters who never orders directly off the menu. I’m always adding here, substituting there…it’s likely very annoying, yet oddly commonplace for the restaurant waitstaff to have to deal with vacationers like me.
The Perfect Sundae
But Disney CMs overall are well-trained to endure crazies like myself, and make me feel entirely comfortable to customize my meals willy-nilly. One of my favorite places to do this is Beaches and Cream, where they’ll gladly create for me my very own dessert creation! This is a ginormous brownie topped with ice cream, hot fudge, and peanut butter. C’mon. You know you want it!
Beaches and Cream Counter
Beaches and Cream is located at Disney’s Beach Club resort, in the Epcot resort area. There are only a few tables in this ice cream parlor (which also serves burgers, hot dogs, and the like), and they don’t take reservations, so arrive during off-hours to cut your wait. Open 11am-11pm.
And don’t forget to order the famous Kitchen Sink, made with every flavor of ice cream, topping, and candy they have in the joint and topped with a whole can of whipped cream!
Kitchen Sink (c Rough Guides)
Butterscotch Sundae
Polynesian Signature Drinks
You’re familiar with the bar crawl and the pub crawl (for our friends across the pond). You may even be familiar with Drinking Around the World at Epcot’s World Showcase. But have you ever done the Monorail Crawl?!?
Disney World’s three monorail resorts–Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary–each have great lounges where you can relax, chat with friends, and experience the theme of the individual hotels. It’s a fun way to resort hop, spend a little non-park time, and have a few fun drinks along the way! See you at Tambu Lounge, Mizner’s Lounge, and the Outer Rim Lounge!
So simply start at one of the resort lounges, have a drink, then take the monorail to the next resort lounge and do the same. Continue all the way around the monorail loop!
You may have passed it a million times, but that Adventureland Dole Whip stand — otherwise known as Aloha Isle — holds a little golden treasure worth digging (into your pockets!) for.
The authentic Dole Whip‘s core ingredient is Soft-Serve Pineapple Sorbet, and it can be served float-style, with pineapple juice; or all alone. No matter how you get it, you’re spending just around $5.
Dole Whip and Dole Whip Float
You’ll find Aloha Isle in Adventureland in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, but there are several other places on Disney World and Disneyland property where you can get the coveted Dole Whip! Check out our Dole Whip, Dole Whip, Everywhere! post to see photos and locations from the best places to get a Dole Whip in Disney!
If you’re not getting to a Disney park for a while, check out this collection of spots where you can find Dole Whip elsewhere in the United States!
To see more of our favorite Disney snacks, check out our “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack Series!
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