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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

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Disney Food Disney Parks

Disney World Foods That Are SO GOOD They’ve Been Around Since Opening Day (And Where to Get ‘Em)

We here at DFB talk a lot about what the BEST food items are in Disney World.

Sunshine Tree Terrace

We have lots of favorites — some are classic and some are brand-new — but there are some Disney foods that are undeniably good. How? They’ve stood the test of time!

We’re taking a look at some of the dishes in Disney that have been around since OPENING DAY of their park or restaurant. You KNOW how often menus change in Disney, so that’s quite a feat!

Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli at California Grill

First up, we’re taking a look at a classic dish from California Grill, the signature restaurant on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. California Grill is always an experience thanks to the sweeping views of the Magic Kingdom and nearby resorts, and, if you’re there at the right time, the perfect view of the Happily Ever After fireworks show in Magic Kingdom.

View from California Grill

Like most of the signature restaurants in Disney World, California Grill has a rotating menu that changes based on market-inspired and seasonal ingredients and decisions from the chef. It’s also gone through several different executive chefs since 1995, so you can imagine that not many original menu items have stuck around.

Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli at Disney’s California Grill — the best appetizer in the World!

That is, except for the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli. This appetizer was introduced on the first California Grill menu when the restaurant replaced Top of the World in 1995. It’s seen very minor adjustments over the years, but it’s still a single, large ravioli stuffed with goat cheese in a tomato broth topped with crispy mushrooms.

The ravioli was a hit then and it remains a hit today. In fact, we consider it one of the best things we’ve ever eaten in Disney World!

Cobb Salad at The Hollywood Brown Derby

Cruising on over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we’re headed to a classic Disney World dining location — The Hollywood Brown Derby. This location is a replica of the famous Brown Derby restaurant in the real Hollywood, and it features the iconic Cobb Salad to boot!

Cobb Salad

For those who don’t know, the Cobb Salad was supposedly invented by (original) Brown Derby owner Robert Howard Cobb (there are actually a few versions of the story of the origination of the Cobb Salad!). In nearly all cases, the salad is comprised of finely chopped Greens, Turkey Breast, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Avocado, Chives, and Cobb Dressing (similar to French dressing).

The dish has been a staple of the restaurant in Tinseltown just like it has been at the Disney World iteration. To truly represent the original restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby opened with Disney MGM Studios in 1989 with a Cobb Salad on the menu.

Brown Derby Lounge

And it’s still there to this day! Seriously, you gotta try this Cobb at least once. There’s a reason it’s lasted so long!

Grapefruit Cake at The Hollywood Brown Derby

The Cobb Salad isn’t the ONLY dish at The Hollywood Brown Derby that’s stood the test of time. Once you’re done feasting on your greens, you can wrap up your meal with the DELICIOUS Grapefruit Cake. Ever wondered how this treat came to be?

Grapefruit Cake at Hollywood Brown Derby

Rumor has it that famed Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons told the REAL Brown Derby’s owner, Robert Howard Cobb, that all of his desserts were way too fattening and he should offer something healthier.

Cobb’s response was to tell his chef to make a dessert that had grapefruit in it because, at the time, a grapefruit was popular around Hollywood for its “slimming abilities.”  The grapefruit cake — with all it’s NOT so slimming cream cheese frosting — was born!

Grapefruit Cake from The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Like the Cobb Salad, the Grapefruit Cake debuted on the menu when MGM Studios opened in 1989 and it remains the most popular dessert to this day. If you can’t get to Hollywood Studios soon, we recommend making one for yourself at home. This cake is THAT good.

Citrus Swirl at Sunshine Tree Terrace

You might think that the arguably MORE famous Dole Whip is the treat that’s been around from Disney World’s Magic Kingdom’s opening day, but it’s actually a different frozen and fruity delight! We’re talking ’bout that Citrus Swirl at Sunshine Tree Terrace!

Citrus Swirl and Orange Bird cup

So, why was the Citrus Swirl around on the opening day of Magic Kingdom? Well, it all comes back to some of the sponsorships of Adventureland at the time!

Sunshine Tree Terrace (and The Enchanted Tiki Room [then called the Tropical Serenade], FYI) were both sponsored by the Florida Citrus Commission back in the ’70s. Disney ended up using OJ from Florida orange growers in the Orange Swirl and even created a mascot to go with the sponsored locations — the Orange Bird!

This Little Orange Bird Has Quite a History!

Now this special treat is a little bit different because it HAS disappeared from the menu a few times (once for a LONG time only to reappear in 2012!).

Recently, Disney even tried to replace it with the VERY different Orange Swirl made with Orange Dole Whip, only to bring back the original. The OG Citrus Swirl is a combo of frozen orange juice and vanilla soft serve.

Sunshine Tree Terrace

It’s a really unique treat with the tangy real orange juice that we think every Disney World fan should try at least once! Now, you can get Orange Swirl OR the OG Citrus Swirl at Sunshine Tree Terrace (plus a bunch of other Dole Whip flavors!). So, despite some hiccups, Citrus Swirl has been delighting guests since Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.

Safari Amber Beer in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Next up, we’re checking out a drink that’s been in Disney’s Animal Kingdom since it opened in 1998. The Safari Amber Beer was developed by Anheuser-Busch for the new theme park and it’s still available in restaurants around the park to this day!

Safari Amber on Draft at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa at Kidani Village

Recently, we’ve spotted it at Pizzafari, Flame Tree Barbecue, Harambe Market, Restaurantosaurus, The Smiling Crocodile, Tamu Tamu Refreshments, Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages, Yak & Yeti Restaurant and the Dawa Bar — it seems like it’s everywhere! You can also spot the Safari Amber at Epcot’s Refreshment Outpost and occasionally at dining locations around Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

If you’re a beer lover, you gotta try the Safari Amber at least once. After all, it’s EXCLUSIVELY available in Disney World!

Fish and Chips at Rose & Crown Dining Room

We’re wrapping up our tour of iconic opening day foods with a visit to the United Kingdom Pavilion in Epcot! This was one of the original nine World Showcase pavilions that opened with Epcot in 1982 and Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room has been around since the beginning!

Rose & Crown Fish & Chips

Of course, the most iconic item on the menu at Rose & Crown is the Fish and Chips — and they’re tasty too! The fish always has the CRUNCHIEST batter and the chips (fries, FYI!) are usually perfectly cooked — crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This meal is super representative of UK culture and eats and we’re so glad it’s stuck around.

Pro tip: If you’re looking to snag your Fish & Chips QUICK, you can buy a similar meal from Yorkshire County Fish Shop just next door to the Rose & Crown.

Rose & Crown Fish & Chips Interior

YES these Disney eats should be on your bucket list. After all, they’re practically historic! Any dishes and drinks that can stand the test of time quite like these goodies must have something pretty magical going for them!

Have you tried these opening day foods? Tell us in the comments! 

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, Contemporary Resort, Cult Favorites, disney parks, disney resorts, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, California Grill, Citrus Swirl, Cobb Salad, dining, Disney World, disney world dining, Fish and Chips, Grapefruit Cake, opening day, Opening Day Foods, Rose & Crown Dining Room, Safari Amber, sonoma goat cheese ravioli, Sunshine Tree Terrace, The Hollywood Brown Derby