Time for the 'Best Bite in a Theme Park' tournament

July 15, 2008, 4:13 PM · It's summer, and time for another Theme Park Insider reader tournament!

This time, we're voting on food -- not on restaurants, but on individual items. What is the single best thing to eat or drink at a theme park -- the best snack, appetizer, entree or beverage? We need you to submit your favorites, then I'll sum up the picks, seed the top nominees in brackets and open up the voting.

Please try to be specific when submit a pick -- if you can tell us the place and park where you get it, that would be helpful to me in setting up the brackets. Don't just submit "churros," tell us where the best churros are to be found, if that's what you want to nominate.

Start the campaigning in the comments, if you'd like, or feel free to ask any questions about this tournament. And let the tastiest treat win!

Update: Duh. The timing: Get your nominations in by this Friday. I want to announce the brackets and start voting Monday.

Replies (26)

July 15, 2008 at 8:32 PM · Well, out of all the times I have been to theme parks: I don't realy know. My picks would be Dole Whip from Disney and Vault-Icee.
July 15, 2008 at 8:46 PM · Early nominees include (in no particular order):

Cheddar Cheese Soup from Epcot's Le Cellier
Turkey Legs from WDW Magic Kingdom
Dole Whip from WDW Magic Kingdom
Monte Cristo from Disneyland's Blue Bayou
Free beer from Busch theme parks

Hope that jogs some memories and elicits some more nominations.

July 15, 2008 at 9:07 PM · Something tells me there should be some Mythos things:

Here are my nominations (though you took some Robert!)


Red Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (Nine Dragons, EPCOT)

Grapefruit Cake (Brown Derby, DHS)

Funnel Cake (Six Flags Great America, its great!)

Ma's Meatloaf (50's Primetime Cafe)

Coca Cola Ribs (Sci Fi Dine in. DHS)

Feduccini Alfredo (Italy, EPCOT)

Giant Drop Bowl (Six Flags Great America)

July 15, 2008 at 10:21 PM · Hmmm this was tough narrowing it down.

Chocolate Cake (6 layers) from the Main Street Bakery Magic Kingdom

Chocolate Malt from Mrs. Pott's Cupboard, Magic Kingdom

Character Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern (I'm a sucker for turkey with potatoes and gravy) Magic Kingdom

For a quick bite, The Electric Umbrella for a cheeseburger. Epcot

And a frozen Coke from anywhere.

July 16, 2008 at 5:52 AM · For me it has to be:

Dole Pineapple Float at MK

Taramisu at Italian Pavillion, Epcot

Banana Chocolate Gooey Cake, Mythos

July 16, 2008 at 6:02 AM · I loooooooove the "breakfast fajita" in the Rainforest cafe, its Bacon,Sausage,scrambled eggs all wrapped up in a flour tortilla then topped with tomato sauce and cheese its scummy!!!!

and as Robert says the free beer, its not very often you get something free in a themepark so this is a really good one!!

July 16, 2008 at 8:20 AM · The sausage platter from Festhaus in Busch Gardens Europe
July 16, 2008 at 9:32 AM · I love parks that have good food - it really makes a difference when it comes down to how enjoyable the trip is!

So here are a few of my favorites:

Chocolate souffle - Victoria and Albert's - Disney's Grand Floridian - expensive dinner but so worth it just to end with this

Pineapple Dole Whip - Magic Kingdom

Philly Cheesesteak sandwich and ice cream shake - The Plaza Restaurant - Magic Kingdom

French toast and Coffee - Kona Cafe - Disney's Polynesian resort

Rainbow snowcones (believe they are called Kakagori) - Japan in Epcot

Moose/Goose juice - used to be a stand in Seuss Landing but it hasn't been open in awhile despite my pleading : )

Chocolate Croissants - Crescent Moon Bakery - Islands of Adventure

Cesari's pizza - Knoebel's

Frozen Iced Tea slushie - Knoebel's

Anything from the Smokehouse Restaurant (but especially the warm apple crisp) - Busch Gardens Europe

Trio platter w garlic breadsticks - Italy - Busch Gardens Europe

Fresh lemonade - Hersheypark

Kettle Corn - Hersheypark - this is the best kettle corn anywhere in my opinion.

Fries from Potato Patch - Kennywood

That's all I can think of for now...need to get lunch - just made myself hungry!!!

PS: Someone mentioned the fetuccini alfredo that Alfredo's in Epcot used to have. Sadly, the restaurant was given a make over and is no longer Alfredo's - and along with the name went the fetuccini (and the prices skyrocketed!)

July 16, 2008 at 9:45 AM · The Boysenberry turnovers right outside Knotts Berry Farm are absolutely delicious for a snack.
July 16, 2008 at 10:49 AM · Churros with chocolate dipping sauce at the Fun Town Market in Legoland. They put DL's churros to shame.
July 16, 2008 at 11:56 AM · Risotto of the Day - Mythos, Islands of Adventure

Buffalo BBQ Fried Chicken Wrap - Mythos, Islands of Adventure

Warm Chocolate Banana Gooey Cake - Mythos, Islands of Adventure

Moose Juice - Seuss Landing, Islands of Adventure

Le Special de Monte Cristo - Blue Bayou, Disneyland

July 16, 2008 at 12:33 PM · I can't believe you all missed the best theme park "snack" ever. popcorn @ anywhere in the Magic Kingdom in WDW. I don't know why, but they do the best popcorn anywhere not just against theme parks!
July 16, 2008 at 2:18 PM · Sampler platter, especially the Cannelloni- Italian Pavilion, BGE
Fried dill pickles- Smokehouse, BGE

Man, I am getting hungry reading all of these votes...is it dinner time yet???

July 16, 2008 at 2:25 PM · I know it went away. Tutto Italiano is great too (food is still excellent).

Another "Extict" Bite: Peanut Crusted Chicken (Tusker's AK)

July 16, 2008 at 3:25 PM · veggie burger at the electric umbrella (Future World, EPCOT)

veggie burger in the rainforest cafe (animal kingdom)

cheesecake from the cheesecake factory in disney quest (downtown disney)

veggie entree from tepan edo (Japan, EPCOT)

July 16, 2008 at 4:22 PM · Something that isn't necessarily on the menu but is excellent would be Chicken Enchiladas from Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT
July 16, 2008 at 4:27 PM · And something that's is awesome, but not really in a theme park is the Beignet's from The Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney right next to Disneyland. Yeah, they're Homer Simpson food, but yum-EEEEEE!
July 16, 2008 at 4:30 PM · You can get beignets in Disneyland Park, next to Pirates of the Caribbean. Been so long since I've had them, though, that I can't say if they are the same as Brennan's.
July 16, 2008 at 5:32 PM · There's NOTHING better than free sodas at Holiday World- unlimited, all day, every day!
There's no way this could compete simply because of where it is and how recently the outlet opened, but the 1/3 pound hot dogs at Dollywood's Wrong Way Joe's are the best dogs I've had anywhere, theme park or not.
July 16, 2008 at 10:49 PM · Darn, my favorite won't have a chance, because hardly anyone here has been to Japan. The Gyoza Dogs from DisneySea really live up to their reputation - best bite I've ever had at a theme park. And we went early, so we only had to wait in line 20 minutes to get them!

Actually, in general the food at the Japanese parks beats pretty much anything in the U.S. Other best bites include the Curry Rice and the Chocolate Mousse at the Hungry Bear Cafe, and the fresh strawberry dessert at the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall.

But I'll just campaign for the Gyoza Dogs. Please, Disney, we beg you - bring Gyoza Dogs to Anaheim!

July 17, 2008 at 4:10 AM · The ribs from the Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom are hard to beat.

The hot corned beef sandwich at Flanagan's in Universal Studios ( Florida) is also pretty good.

The chicken salad at the Columbia House in Magic Kingdom is great too.

July 17, 2008 at 9:42 AM · The number 1 food item of all time: French Fries from Circus McGircus in Universal's Islands of Adventure. Hands down.
July 17, 2008 at 2:09 PM · Any of the BBQ items at dollywood

Pineapple Float MK

Blue Berry Muffin (stand outside mission space)

Fish and Chicken (columbia harbour house mk)

All breakfast items in the main street bakery mk

Shogun Combo Japan Epcot

July 20, 2008 at 1:08 PM · The one food that has become essential to my Disney experience is clam chowder in a bread bowl. Nothing like buying one and watching the fireworks from new orleans square.
July 20, 2008 at 2:54 PM · My vote -- The Mickey Ice Cream Bar at Disney World or Disneyland! It is a "must have" on my vists!
July 20, 2008 at 10:00 PM · For me it has to be:

Best Appetizer:
Red Wings(MILD/HOT!) @ Boardwalk's ESPN Zone
(Ummm, umm, umm!)

Best Entree:
Grilled Filet Mignon @ Hollywood Studios Brown Derby
(Best Entree at Disney, IMO ofcourse)

Best Dessert:
Volcano @ Animal Kingdom's Rainforest Cafe
(Need two people to finish it!)

Best Beverage:
Classic Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa(Large) @ Downtown Disney's Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
(My goodness it's good!)

"Man I'm gettin' hungry, your fault Robert"

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