10 Little-Known Facts About Disney Food
You’ll be hungry for more.
Disney Parks are the best of the best. They have cutting-edge attractions, luxurious hotels, and some of the most delicious food you will ever eat. So here are some little-known, fun facts about all that amazing Disney food.
1. All American
While there are more exotic food choices in the parks, 7 million hamburgers and 5 million hot dogs are eaten at each of the Disney Parks every year.
2. Emu Legs?
There used to be a rumor that the infamous turkey legs in the Disney Parks were actually emu legs due to their massive size. The voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled, Zachary Levi, even said this was true in a late-night interview. However, Disney debunked this theory. Additionally, it has been stated that the turkey legs cook for 6 hours, contain over 720 calories, and over 1.4 million are sold each year.
3. Wine O'Clock
Guests can choose from over 700 selections on the wine list at Victoria and Albert’s, and there are an additional 4,200 in the wine cellar. When it comes to wine experts, 550 sommeliers have been awarded the Court of Master Sommelier Introductory Certificate at Walt Disney World, and 300 sommeliers are currently employed in WDW restaurants.
4. Golden Arches
McDonald's in Disney World was not a fever dream. In 1997, Disney entered a partnership with the Golden Arches. You could get McDonald’s fries, chicken McNuggets, and McFlurries within all four theme parks. When the contract expired, Disney phased out the in-park McDonald’s leaving just the Downtown Disney location and then the one near the All-Star Resorts. Now, only the latter remains.
5. Coke or Pepsi
Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola used to be satisfied because when Disneyland first opened, both brands were sold in the park. While now it is only Coca-Cola products sold in most of the parks, Pepsi has had a significant impact as well. The company sponsored Walt Disney’s main attraction at the 1964 World’s Fair: “it’s a small world,” the Country Bear Jamboree, Pecos Tall Tale Inn and Café, and returned as a park soda provider for Shanghai Disneyland in 2016.
6. Guinness Is Good for You
The Rose and Crown Pub in the UK Pavilion at Epcot was named after the two most common words found in pub names in the UK: Rose and Crown. The pub also has a special ale warmer to serve Guinness at the “perfect” temperature: 55 degrees.
7. Living with the Land
There are over 30 tons of fruits and vegetables grown in the Land Pavilion at Epcot each year. These include special Mickey-shaped cucumbers and “Cinderella” pumpkins. You can even join agriculture Cast Members on the Behind the Seeds Tour, for a 45-minute look into the innovative farming techniques they use such as aquaculture and hydroponics.
8. Pop Secret
It’s no secret that Pop Secret is the official provider of popcorn for the over 5.2 million boxes of popcorn sold in the Disney Parks each year. It has been this way since 2015 when the brand took over for Orville Redenbacher. However, you may not know that all the popcorn is vegan and dairy-free, even the special flavors — like the maple-flavored popcorn in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot.
9. In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki…Restaurant?
The Enchanted Tiki Room was originally supposed to be a dinner show. Walt Disney envisioned guests being seated and served at the same time so a show could take place above their heads. But, the design team decided that since the average meal took 45-60 minutes, it would limit how many guests could see the show, so they pivoted to an attraction.
10. Giving Back
It isn’t surprising that there is massive food waste as a result of in-park dining. Disney recognized this and started donating the excess to the Second Harvest Food Banks of Central Florida and Orange County respectively. According to Feeding America, Disney also donates 2.1 billion pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables each year and deploys the "VoluntEARS" to help in food pantries.
