Let’s say that you’re headed to California Adventure. Maybe you’ve got reservations for Lamplight Lounge (you should try it at least once, because the food combined with the views makes for an unforgettable experience). Maybe you intend to leave and go to Downtown Disney to try one of the fantastic options (like Ballast Point or maybe Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes).
Just because you’ve got plans for your meals doesn’t mean that you won’t still have room for snacks. Right?
There are some of my favourites. Fair warning, there are a lot of ice cream adjacent snacks on here, but with California being hot most of the time, a refreshing treat is often exactly what you want.
Cheese Corndog at the Corn Dog Castle
It’s cheddary, it’s gooey, it’s cheesy, the pull on it is fantastic, it’s filling, and it’s amazing if you like cheese. Even if you don’t like cheese, it’s hard to go wrong. This is a snack, but the richness combined with the size means that you could replace a full meal with this and be full for a while.
You can get this at the Corn Dog Castle near Pixar Pier for around $10 USD (currently $9.79 pre-tax as of March 2025), and it’s typically not too busy. For a lunch or dinner replacement, it’s a quick grab and a delicious bite!
Margaritas at Rita’s Turbine BLENDERS
This is something for the later-morning/afternoon/evening and very much for the over-21 crowd, but you have multiple options in San Fransokyo for a refreshing drink, but one of the most delicious options is at Rita’s Turbine Blenders. These are pre-blended, but they’re still every bit as refreshing as you might imagine, featuring Classic, Lemon-Lime and Strawberry Margaritas (or a Pina Colada, if that floats your boat). They’re even served with a Pocky stick, which makes for a fun little crunch before you indulge in your drink.
Want to make it even fancier? You can get the Gold option, which uses Gold tequila and adds a splash of orange liqueur.
It’s Lemon!
When you’re in California, any icy treat is going to be delicious. If you like something that’s a bit more tart, there’s an option just after you cross the San Fransokyo bridge with the “It’s Lemon!” dessert from the Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats booth.
It’s lemon dole whip (which is already a fantastic option) and if you still want a little bit of richness, you can add in a little white chocolate. This was a fantastic dessert after eating next door at Lamplight Lounge, and on a hot day, there’s nothing better!
Vanilla Vodka Orange Slush at Cozy Cone
There’s so much to drink at Disney’s California Adventure (again for the over-21 crowd), but if you’re nostalgic for an Orange Creamsicle, this one will appeal to your tastebuds. It’s not the strongest cocktail, but in some ways, that’s actually a benefit. It’s a fun drink and super visually appealing, and if you love Creamsicles, you’re going to love this (especially on a hot day).
Award Wieners
While the main draw of Award Wieners is their hot dogs, they have a couple of other snack options during limited time runs that are much more appealing — like their funnel cake fries for Halloween. During the year, you can also get their Filmstrip Fries and the loaded Asada version. There’s always the hot dog option as well, but I would recommend coming to this location for their limited time specialties!
Baymax Bread in San Fransokyo
There’s been sourdough bread in California Adventure for a long time — and if you take the tour to learn how it’s made, you can even score a free sample if you go at the right time. That said, in more recent years, with the advent of San Fransokyo, the sourdough has taken an incredible twist — now, you can buy it in the shape of Baymax. I’d advise that you might want to either be really hungry or with a group because they can offer quite a lot of bread!
Ice Cream on Main St
This one is a classic, but it’s a classic for a reason. Sometimes, when it’s hot outside, you crave a sweet and cold treat. At Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, you can get single & double scoops of ice cream (Drury’s branded), get a sundae, or one of the limited time specialties. There’s also hand dipped ice cream bars (but act fast, because they also melt quickly!)
It’s a classic for a reason and sometimes, the exact pick-me-up that you need in the middle of a long and hot day at the park.
Is this an exhaustive list of snack options? Of course not! That said, hopefully this offers enough of a starting list beyond Mickey bars, popcorn and the typical snacks that you can find anywhere that when you’re in between meals at California Adventure.
None of these snacks doing it for you? Check out my post on The Hunt for Disneyland’s Best Macaron!
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