National Snack Food Month at Walt Disney World

They say it’s the moments in between life’s big events that are most memorable. I’ve come to realize I’m a big believe in that mantra…so much so that I integrate these little moments into my life every day!

My favorite of life’s ‘in-between’ moments aren’t planned, and they happen between meals every day when I get to choose what snack I’m craving to hold me over until dinner! It’s fitting that February is National Snack Food Month, and if you’re lucky enough to be in Walt Disney World, you’ve got plenty of delicious options to choose from! Here are my favorite in-between meals Walt Disney World Resort snacks:

The Daily Poutine

Disney Springs has grown so much in size recently, it’s become an Olympic event to walk from one end to the other! With shopping stops thrown in, it’s easy to find your stomach begging you for some sustenance between lunch and your dinner reservation.

In these cases, I head straight to The Daily Poutine! You can spice up your French fry base with toppings like Bolognese sauce or pulled pork and black beans, but if you’re ordering a poutine…opt for the classic!

The gravy and cheese curds coat but don’t saturate the crispy fries that sit in the self-contained bowl, making it the perfect walking-and-eating snack at Disney Springs!

Apple Cider Donut Holes

Credit: Maria Salerno

I never thought I’d say it, and I WILL deny it if asked, but the  apple cider donuts available at Animal Kingdom just might trump my beloved apple fritters from Joffrey’s. In full disclosure, I sought out an apple fritter to hold me over until lunch on my most recent visit…only to find that the entire Park was sold out! Isle of Java saved my morning when the Animal Kingdom Joffrey’s was out of fritters with their apple cider donut holes on a stick.

Credit: Maria Salerno

I’d like to see the donut that produced these ‘donut holes’, because not even a sumo wrestler would be able to finish that bad boy. Three very large, crunchy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside donut holes make up one order.

They come served on a stick which makes for very easy eating, and once you crack that crispy fried outside, be sure the pieces of tender apple that make up the inside don’t fall out…because they are the stuff that dreams are made of!

Tortilla Chips and Toppings

The simplest way to quell a carb craving at Magic Kingdom is to belly up to the nearest cart and order a Mickey Pretzel or bucket of popcorn. Just because they’re shaped like Mickey doesn’t mean these pretzels are any better than the frozen variety you’ll find in your local grocery store…but the snack options at Magic Kingdom are limited- so what should you do?

Head to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and place an order for a side of tortilla chips. When you are presented with a sea of plain beige tortilla chips in a cardboard carrier, you will initially wonder why in the world I would ever recommend such a bland snack.

Your question will be answered when you turn around and face their complimentary, unlimited toppings bar! You can load up that sad looking order of tortilla with the works: salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, jalapeños, and of course, as much guacamole as those chips can handle!

Lighter Options

I’m a big proponent for treating yourself when you’re on vacation, but when you visit Walt Disney World Resort as often as I do, taking the reins on how often I indulge is a necessity. I

f you’re trying to stick to a healthier eating plan while you’re on vacation don’t worry- there are lighter snack options available Property-wide that are just as tasty as the above, without the heaviness!

Pineapple Skewer

Credit: Maria Salerno

The Big Top circus tent in Storybook Circus does a great job of setting the area themeing: it is a big tent where guests are supposed to feel immersed in a circus town…check! And that’s about as closely as my friends paid attention to the tent until I showed them the wonder that lies within!

Don’t miss popping into the Big Top because it’s so much more than just another retail location: they have one of my all-time favorite ‘hot day’ snacks inside!

Credit: Maria Salerno

The massive candy counter is on par with The Confectionary’s, but I like the treats from here much better! My favorite is the dark chocolate covered pineapple skewer.

The double coating of sweetly bitter dark chocolate contrasts the sweetness of the pineapple brilliantly, and since it’s served on a stick, it’s the perfect grab-and-eat snack for an afternoon exploring Fantasyland!

Corn on the Cob

Animal Kingdom boasts the most healthy snack options of any Park, and I’m going out on a limb and saying their options are not only lighter, but more extensive and appealing than those around World Showcase!

I know that’s a big statement, but healthier snacks are everywhere in the Animal Kingdom, and you might not notice unless you’re looking!

Made-to-order and served hot off the grill, the corn on the cob from Harambe Fruit Market is my favorite mid-afternoon snack in the Park! The hot grill cranks out hot ears of corn practically every minute, and after the delicious-smelling cobs have taken a dunk in melted butter, you imagine that a fresh-made snack can’t get any better.

Wrong! The hot ears of corn are then coated in an African-inspired spice mixture that elevates the snack to a whole new level! Now that I’m thinking about them, I know I’ll be heading straight to Harambe to pick one up the next time I visit Animal Kingdom, but I want to know what you’re thinking!

Which of these snack foods will you try during National Snack Food Month? Did your favorite make the list? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Ready to take your favorite Disney content wherever you go? Check out The Making Magic Podcast, covering all things Disney, hosted by myself and Greg Antonelle by clicking here, or over on iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/making-magic/id1449862561?mt=2&i=1000427864780

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