Categories
Disney Food Disney Guides Disney Parks

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

The Dole Whip is one POPULAR Disney snack! It may even be the most iconic Disney Parks snack of all time if we do say so ourselves! We know it’s super popular with our readers — it was voted the ultimate champion of our Snack Madness!

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Dole Whip at Typhoon Lagoon

So we went ahead and made an entire page devoted to this beloved frozen treat, complete with its history and some of our favorite variations we’ve seen over the years! If you’ve ever wondered WHY Dole Whip is so popular when it comes to Disney Parks, you can read all about its history and how it has evolved over the years!

What is Dole Whip and when did it first appear in a Disney park?

If you’ve NEVER heard of Dole Whip or wonder what all the hype is about, let’s do a brief recap (you can read the FULL history on our new Dole Whip page here).

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Dole Whip from Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs

In its simplest, “classic” form, Dole Whip is a frozen pineapple soft serve. It comes served in a cup, or you can also get it as a “float” where it is served with pineapple juice. It is certified vegan, so it’s a frozen treat just about everyone can enjoy.

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Dole Whip

The first Dole Whip was served in Disneyland in 1986, after DOLE became the official sponsor of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and the Tiki Juice Bar in Adventureland. In Disney World, the general consensus is that Dole Whip ALSO began appearing in Magic Kingdom in 1986.

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Aloha Isle Refreshments

Since then, the Dole Whip has been a Disney Parks staple on BOTH coasts!

Where can I find Dole Whip in the parks?

Walt Disney World

Some of the most popular places to get a Dole Whip in Magic Kingdom includes Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace. Note that at Sunshine Tree Terrace, you won’t find the classic pineapple flavor, but you can get some specialty flavors (more on that in a sec!). Or, you can hop on the Monorail and head over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and grab a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai. You can also head into Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto or Tiki Terrace for a blended rum and Dole Whip concoction called a Spikey Pineapple!

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Pineapple Lanai Dole Whip

You can find a variety of flavors and preparations of Dole Whip all around Disney World including Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, and seasonally at many of the festivals in Epcot.

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

King’s Cooler in Animal Kingdom

It can also be found at a few other Disney resorts, like Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort which offers self-serve Dole Whip!

Disneyland

In Disneyland, there are several spots to pick up this frozen delight! Of course, many years later, Tiki Juice Bar is still the “home” of the Dole Whip, and lots of folks know it! If you notice the lines at Tiki Juice Bar getting long, you can Mobile Order your Dole Whip, or you can head over to nearby Tropical Hideaway.

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

You need to order this!

Tropical Hideaway serves up a ton of specialty flavors of Dole Whip, as well as LOADED Dole Whips! We’ve also been known to stop by Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel from time to time to pick up a Dole Whip before heading into Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar!

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Tangaroa Terrace Outdoor Bar and Patio Dole Whip!

Every time we turn around it seems a new location is popping up with Dole Whip, so keep your eyes peeled for this treat next time you’re in the Disney Parks.

Tell me more about these specialty flavors and floats!

Dole Whip has grown and evolved over the years WAY beyond just pineapple! While the classic pineapple flavor is still served to this day, there are tons of new flavors, including specialty Dole Whip floats, introduced regularly! You can even swirl these unique flavors together, like the Lemon Lime swirl we grabbed at Storybook Treats!

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Lemon and Lime Dole Whip SWIRL at Storybook Treats

Over the years we’ve seen flavors like mango, lime, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, orange, lemon, and, our newest love, coconut, which we first saw in the Kakamora Float! We’ve raved about the Kakamora Float for months after it made its debut at Aloha Isle.

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Kakamora Float

The Kakamora Float is a yummy (and pretty!) mixture of coconut soft serve on top of pineapple juice with blue curaçao syrup. Equally as yummy and also gorgeous to look at was the Raspberry and Lemon Dole Whip Float at Tropical Hideaway.

Everything You’ve EVER Wanted to Know About the History of Disney’s Dole Whip!

Specialty Dole Whip Float at Tropical Hideaway in Disneyland!

With so many flavors and variations to choose from, it has inspired us over the years to learn how to make Dole Whip at home! Luckily, it’s SUPER easy (as easy as buying the mix on online and dumping it in an ice cream maker!). So even when you aren’t in the parks, you can have your own little slice of Disney in your own kitchen.

It’s obvious that we LOVE to talk about all things Dole Whip here at DFB, which is why we created an entire page devoted to it! This is our readers’ MOST beloved Disney snack for good reason! Not only is this a tasty treat, but it has an interesting history in the parks, especially when you consider how much it has evolved over the years!

What is your favorite Dole Whip flavor? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: All-Star Resorts, Disneyland, Featured, Polynesian Resort, Snacks, Walt Disney World, Adventureland, aloha isle, Disney World, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disneyland Hotel, Dole Whip, magic kingdom, pineapple lanai, Sunshine Tree Terrace, tangaroa terrace, Tiki Juice Bar, tropical hideaway

Categories
Disney Guides Disney Parks Other

Disney World Has a “Season” You Didn’t Know About! Here’s What It Is and How To Plan For It!

While most of us are just regular people who like to enjoy a nice time at Disney World to relax and unwind, there is another group of super-human athletes that come to Disney to COMPETE!

It’s Mickey!

We’re talking about football players and cheer squads (along with their entourages!) which can sometimes flood Disney World Resort with THOUSANDS of peppy peeps!

If you’re not a cheerleader or proud cheer parent, you probably don’t have a clue when these major sporting events are held, or how they could impact your trip to Disney World! That’s why we want to give you a quick rundown on when these cheerleading championships typically take place — and what you can expect if your vacation dates coincide with Disney World’s Football and Cheer Season!

December

Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships

While several cheer competitions are held from January to May at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, one of the biggest youth sporting events actually takes place in December.

Pop Warner Merch

Last year, Pop Warner ran from December 7 to December 14 and brought athletes from over 64 national football teams and 400 cheer squads to Orlando to compete. Trust us when we say things can get a little hectic if Pop Warner catches you off guard! Disney even makes a special line of Pop Warner merch for the participants!

Learn more about the impact Pop Warner can have on your vacation plans here!

April – May

Numerous Cheer Championships

The next batch of major cheer tourneys crops up in springtime with the USASF Cheerleading Worlds happening in late April as well as the International Cheerleading Union World Championships (ICU).

Minnie Stops By to Lead a Cheer

The Summit, which is the last All-Star competition of the season, normally takes place in early May along with the D2 Summit typically held right after. All of these championships bring in lots of kids and spectators, so let’s explore how this might affect your vacation as a non-participant!

Check out what else could possibly come to Wide World of Sports this year!

Crowd Levels at the Disney World Theme Parks During Cheer Events

At the Beginning of the Competition

So, there’s good news and bad news. Here’s the good news first: these highly-trained athletes are here mainly for one thing and one thing only — to compete. Everything else (even Mickey Mouse!) is pretty much secondary.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Many cheer coaches won’t even allow their teams to visit the theme parks until AFTER they’re eliminated from the competition, so you might not really experience anything out of the ordinary until the first few days are over.

Check out our tips for avoiding crowds at Disney World here!

Towards the Middle and the End of the Competition

Once teams start dropping out, THEN you’ll start to see kids showing up at the parks. And once these championships are over, many teams make a point of staying an extra day or two to blow off a little of that competitive steam. Cheerleaders tend to travel in packs, so you’ll probably see some large groups of ’em (look for the BIG cheer hairbows!), but all in all, we’ve never found crowds to be THAT bad.

Magic Kingdom Sign

As long as you’ve got your FastPasses booked well in advance, you should be fine with normal to slightly above normal crowd levels (and noise levels) for a few days of your trip.

Check out some of the BIGGEST time-wasters at Disney World (and tips for how to avoid them) here!

Possible Closures

And for the Worlds Competition (the one in April), Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically holds a private after-hours party for cheer squads, meaning regular park guests will get the boot a few hours early. This is usually posted in advance on the displayed park hours, so you can plan around it — but be sure to be looking for it!

All in all, you really shouldn’t feel too much of a crunch at the parks. Now Disney World’s hotels, on the other hand, are a different story altogether.

Disney World Resorts During Cheer Events

Disney World resorts are where things start to get a little more noticeable.

All-Star Sports

Since each cheer squad is comprised of several members who often need to stay at the same hotel so they can practice, you might find yourself in the middle of an impromptu pep rally if you’re not careful!

Disney World’s Value Resorts

Cheerleaders will often stay on property at Disney World with Value Resorts being a popular option. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, (not surprisingly) Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, and Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort tend to book up with these groups during the competitive season.

This Makes a Great Cheer Practice Spot, so Be Ready!

These groups can be found practicing on the hotel grounds at times, so if you find yourself at one of these hotels, be prepared for a little (okay, a lot) of extra energy and noise at the resort! Also, during those first few days of competition, the practices can be EARLY. So…we guess you won’t be missing Rope Drop after all?

See how some of these resorts celebrate Disney World’s Cheer Season here!

Disney World’s Moderate Resorts

While Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a moderate resort, it’s conveniently located near ESPN Wide World of Sports and many convention-goers choose it for its extra amenities.

Gran Destino Tower

If you’re staying at any of these resorts we’ve just mentioned, you’re more likely to see groups of pre-teens and teens stunting or training in common areas. They usually aren’t too rowdy, but you could hear cheering or music, which depending on your level of tolerance, might encourage you to stay elsewhere.

Learn more about Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort here!

Disney Springs During Cheer Events

You might find Disney Springs to be a little more bustling during the cheer comps, especially in the evening when the groups are looking to enjoy some retail therapy and do some carbo-loading for the big day ahead. Shops might be a bit busier while restaurants tend to book up more quickly.

Kate Spade X Minnie Mouse Collection

If you’d rather not deal with the extra crowds, do Disney Springs earlier in the day while the kids are still competing.

Click here to check out ALL of the Disney Springs restaurants!

Transportation During Cheer Events

Many of the cheerleaders use Disney World’s ground transportation. This means you might experience some delays on your end due to the increased demand for buses.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

You might also end up on a bus filled with cheerleaders or have to wait for another bus since an entire cheer squad just filled up a bus that’s heading to or from the parks.

Incredibles Bus

Check out these ten simple tips that will make your Disney World vacation WAY easier!

Either way, we think it’s still pretty manageable to go to Disney World during Cheer Season as long as you manage your expectations and know what you’re getting into. We’ve been at Disney World many times during cheer competitions and have worked around the crowds with relative ease.

Magic Kingdom

There might be some craziness, crowds, or extra noisiness at times, but for many of these youngsters, competing in a national championship at Disney World signifies a major athletic achievement in their young lives.

To learn more about some of the transportation options Disney World has to offer, click here!

In the end, we ALL have something we hope to gain from going to Disney World, whether it’s a shiny cheer trophy or just a Mickey Pretzel! Thankfully neither are mutually-exclusive and we can all make some special Disney World memories that will last a lifetime whether we’re in it to win it or just have a relaxing vacation!

Have you ever visited Disney World during Cheer Season? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Related posts:

  1. Disney World Vacation Hacks the Pros SWEAR By
  2. News: Celebrate Mickey’s Birthday with Special Disney World Treats This Weekend Only!
  3. DFB Video: How to Master the Disney Dining Plan

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: All-Star Resorts, Animal Kingdom, Art of Animation, Coronado Springs Resort, Disney Springs, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Pop Century Resort, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, aoviding crowds, April, buses, championships, cheer season, cheerleaders, cheerleading, competitions, competitive season, crowd levels, d2 summit, december, Disney World, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, International Cheerleading Union World Championships, large gatherings, large groups, major sporting events, May, pop warner, popular resorts with cheerleaders, private parties, resorts, the summit, tournaments, transportation, USASF Cheerleading Worlds

Categories
Disney Business Disney Food Disney Parks

Newly Remodeled McDonald’s At Walt Disney World Nears Completion

McDonald's At Walt Disney WorldThe newly remodeled McDonald’s at Walt Disney World looks to be nearing completion. We recently took a drive near the fast-food restaurant that’s located near the All-Star Resorts and Animal Kingdom and we’re surprised by its progress. The Walt Disney World Resort has been closed since March with Disney Springs just recently opening back up but it looks like the remodel here has continued.

Newly Remodeled McDonald’s At Walt Disney World Nears Completion

This McDonald’s seems to have a modern design. There are loads of solar panels on the roof and out front and some greenery going up the building. It also appears to be much larger which will definitely help considering its popularity and convenient location.

There’s no announced opening date but it would be amazing if it was ready for guests to be welcomed back when the resorts reopen.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, All Star Resorts, Disney Food, mcdonald’s renovation, McDonalds