When Theme Parks Play With Food
Theme parks know how to keep things interesting, and it’s not just about the thrill rides or parades. Walk through the gates and you’ll see food stands daring you to try something new and unexpected. Forget predictable popcorn and sodas—theme parks across the country serve up creations designed to surprise, confuse, and sometimes challenge your appetite. So, here are 20 snacks that push the boundaries of what you’d ever expect to eat at a park.
1. Pickle Milkshake (EPCOT, Orlando)
This bright green, creamy, sweet shake is blended with real pickle juice, creating a tangy, unexpected treat. Sold at EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival, the Pickle Milkshake has quickly become a must-try for adventurous snackers.
2. Turkey Leg (Magic Kingdom, Orlando)
Behold the Turkey Leg at Magic Kingdom, a true icon of theme park snacks. This massive, slow-cooked delicacy is so substantial that many mistake it for a full meal. While rumors swirl about dinosaur origins, these smoky legs come from specially bred turkeys.
🎃 First Turkey Leg in YEARS + Spooky New Halloween Treats! 👻 by Happily Ever After Family
3. Butterbeer (Universal Orlando, Orlando)
At Universal Orlando, sip on Butterbeer, a sweet, frothy treat straight from the Harry Potter universe. Its foam topping is dairy-free, making the treat vegan-friendly when ordered with plant-based milk. Served hot, cold, or frozen, it’s consistently ranked as the best-selling beverage in the Wizarding World.
15 Snacks You Can't Miss at Universal Orlando by DFBGuide
4. 22-Inch Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Dog (Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles)
The 22-inch Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Dog overwhelms its bun with a two-foot frank smothered in melted nacho cheese and blanketed under crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Its absurd size turns it into a shareable dare and instant social media spectacle.
5. Large Lard Lad Donut (Universal Studios Florida, Orlando)
Stretching eight inches wide, this one’s oversized circle of fried dough comes coated in bright pink frosting and a blanket of rainbow sprinkles. Modeled after the iconic treat from The Simpsons, it became a cult favorite for both its cartoon connection and shareable size.
15 Snacks You Can't Miss at Universal Orlando by DFBGuide
6. Blue Ice Cream (Kings Island, Mason)
Blue Ice Cream first appeared in the 1980s as a tie-in to the park’s Smurfs ride and outlasted the attraction itself by decades. Nostalgia keeps it legendary—so popular, in fact, that the treat has inspired merchandise, annual celebrations, and even pints sold outside the park.
National Blue Ice Cream Day at Kings Island by Kings Island
7. Brain-Shaped Panna Cotta (Universal Epic Universe, Orlando)
Few desserts double as a jump scare, but panna cotta molded into the shape of a human brain pulls it off. The creamy Italian custard wobbles on the plate, tinted with a pale pink hue that makes the illusion unsettlingly realistic.
8. Fun Bun (Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park)
Carnival food gets supercharged when a cinnamon roll is dunked in funnel cake batter, deep-fried, and glazed in boysenberry syrup. That outrageous mashup is known as the Fun Bun, a festival-born snack that’s equal parts novelty and sugar bomb.
The Delicious Fun Bun at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California by Visit Buena Park
9. Cheese-On-A-Stick (Cedar Point, Sandusky)
Known as Cheese-On-A-Stick, this treat takes a block of cheddar, dips it in a sweet cornbread batter, and fries it until golden. The unusual combo delivers both savory comfort and dessert-like sweetness in every bite.
Cheese On A Stick At Cedar Point??? by Orange Ya Glad
10. Giant Apple Pie Slice (Silver Dollar City, Branson)
Dessert takes on carnival proportions when apple pie is baked to weigh in at 25 pounds. At Dollywood, bakers craft a Giant Apple Pie nearly three feet wide, then sell it by enormous wedge-shaped slices. Each piece is loaded with spiced apples, flaky crust, and ice cream on the side.
A Giant Apple Pie Menu Staple Has Kept This Bakery in Business for Over 30 Years by Tamron Hall Show
11. King Size Shakes With Cupcakes (Hersheypark, Hershey)
Milkshakes don’t usually come topped with baked goods, but these towering creations turn dessert into architecture. Here, each King Size Shake arrives in an oversized glass dripping with candy and chocolate sauce, then crowned with an entire cupcake balanced on top.
$14 MILKSHAKE - Worth it or not?!?! Comprehensive Food Review Ep.1 by Michael Berra
12. Handwich (EPCOT, Orlando)
Sandwiches usually need two hands, but Disney once flipped the idea into a single-handed cone. The Handwich stuffs fillings like taco beef, chicken salad, or sloppy joe mix inside a bread cone, letting guests eat on the move without spilling.
4 Rivers Food Truck | Taco Cone Food Review (2018) by 407eats
13. Dole Whip (Disneyland, Anaheim)
This pineapple-flavored dairy-free treat debuted in the 1980s and sparked fan clubs, recipe knockoffs, and mile-long lines on hot days. That’s because its tropical tang and creamy texture make it both refreshing and strangely addictive.
15 Snacks You Can't Miss at Universal Orlando by DFBGuide
14. Fried Oreo Funnel Cake (Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington)
At Six Flags, powdered sugar rains down over the fried cookies kept in a crispy funnel cake base. The mashup turns two guilty pleasures into one outrageous, over-the-top snack worth sharing—and photographing before the first messy bite.
Funnel Cakes at Six Flags Over Texas by Six Flags Over Texas
15. Spaghetti & Meatball Funnel Cake (Holiday World, Santa Claus)
Few theme park treats confuse the eye quite like the Spaghetti & Meatball Funnel Cake. Golden strands of fried dough are piled high, strawberry sauce takes the place of marinara, and chocolate truffles rolled in coconut stand in for meatballs.
Ultimate Holiday World Food Challenge: Trying All Of The Festive Treats by Delish
16. Who Hash Loaded Tots (Universal’s Islands Of Adventure, Orlando)
Snack time turns portable with Who Hash Loaded Tots, where crispy tots are piled high in a collectible Who Hash can instead of being served on a plate. Soon, each cone gets buried under toppings like nacho cheese and bacon bits.
Trying a Can of Who-Hash! (December 2019) | Universal's Islands of Adventure by A-Productions
17. Glow-In-The-Dark Cotton Candy (SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando)
Nighttime snacking gets a surreal twist when cotton candy is spun around a glowing LED stick. The sugary fluff itself stays classic, but the light shining through makes it look like a neon lantern in your hands.
18. Fried Alligator Bites (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa)
In this one, tender pieces of alligator tail meat are seasoned and deep-fried until golden. Served with dipping sauces, the unusual dish blurs the line between thrill ride and culinary dare, giving visitors a chance to say they’ve eaten something truly Floridian.
Recreate Pappadeaux Fried Alligator Bites At Home | CopyCat Recipe by Cooking with Manual Focus
19. Shark Attack Drink (Adventureland, Altoona)
Ordering the Shark Attack Drink feels more like joining a performance than buying a beverage. A clear cup of blue slush becomes “ocean water,” topped with a gummy shark lounging on the rim. Right before serving, a shot of grenadine is poured in, swirling like blood in the sea.
Sonic® SHARK WEEK SLUSH Review 🚗💨🦈🥤🥶 LIMITED EDITION | Peep THIS Out! 🕵️♂️ by Peep THIS Out!
20. Giant S’mores On A Stick (Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey)
Giant S’mores on a Stick at Hershey’s Chocolate World take the classic campfire treat to a whole new level. It features a massive, chocolate-dipped marshmallow and graham cracker creation that is conveniently served on a stick.
Smoosh Your S'mores at Hershey's Chocolate World by Mama Cheaps
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