Disney World is 50! Celebrate with the wildest foods on offer — from 'toad' burgers to bathtub sundaes — during your visit
What do you get when you mix traditional Disney World snacks with a bit of 50th anniversary sparkle? Lots and lots of delicious (and creative!) food, of course.
"We've been preparing for over two years for this magical moment," Fio Casteel, a sous chef at Walt Disney World Resort, which kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration on Oct. 1, tells Yahoo Life about the special menu. "You only turn 50 once."
"You're going to want to come enjoy this food with your friends and family," Casteel adds about items on offer for the 18-month celebration, "and if you don't have friends and family to visit with, [talking about] these items will make sure you make some by the time you leave."
It's clear what Casteel means. In addition to a photo-worthy hot dog topped with funnel cake and an ice cream sundae served in a plastic bathtub, many of the whimsical anniversary treats served up across WDW parks and resorts are perfect for sharing.
There's even a chocolate pig pi?ata for two, stuffed with candied bacon and served with a mallet perfect for going hog wild in celebration of the special event — not to mention the giant-tentacle-garnished micheladas from Be Our Guest Restaurant.
In case a trip to celebrate WDW's 50th is in your future (and even if it's not), behold the nine best and wildest anniversary menu items, all worthy of being added to your must-try list.
9. Cupcakes that look (but don't taste) like dinner
At PJ's Southern Takeout, located inside Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds, you can snag this trio of dinner-themed... cupcakes. From a "fried chicken" apple fritter to a mock mashed potato mousse cupcake, these tricky sweets, called the Chicken Dinner Cupcake Trio, are sure to throw your brain for a delicious loop.
$9.99 at PJ's Southern Takeout, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds
8. A sundae... with a whole Mickey Mouse pretzel on top
Sure, you've had a Mickey-shaped soft pretzel, but have you had it on top of a giant ice cream sundae? Served at the Plaza Restaurant inside Magic Kingdom Park, the Cheers to 50 Years sundae contains sweet delights like hot fudge, cupcakes, cookie crumbles and a Mickey pretzel. But don't worry, this behemoth of a treat serves four to six people.
$32 at the Plaza Restaurant, Magic Kingdom Park
7. A chocolate pig pi?ata with bacon inside
This little piggy may be too cute to eat. Served at Disney Springs, WDW's shopping and dining area, this Chocolate Pig?ata dessert is a chocolate shell filled with mousse, candied orange, cake, cookies and candied bacon. Find it on the dessert menu at Frontera Cocina during the 50th anniversary celebration.
$28 at Frontera Cocina, Disney Springs
6. A burger covered in cheese puff dust
Quite possibly the best way to get your hands dirty, this cheese puff dust-covered burger is served inside Magic Kingdom Park at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe. But the delicious powers of this hamburger creation don't stop there: the beef patty is also topped with thick slices of bacon and creamy macaroni and cheese. If you try the Mission to Mars burger, be sure to pack wet wipes to clean those fingers afterward.
$12.99 at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, Magic Kingdom Park
5. An Aztec temple made of rainbow chocolate
Available at both San Angel Inn Restaurante and La Hacienda de San Angel inside Epcot's World Showcase, the Chocolate Fiesta Pyramid is filled with chocolate mousse and toffee and served atop tres leches cake alongside scoops of ice cream. It's large enough to serve several guests and, with so many delicious components, there's truly something for to satisfy every sweet craving. Find this must-try dessert within Epcot's Mexico pavilion.
$34 at San Angel Inn Restaurante and La Hacienda de San Angel, Epcot
4. A drink with a giant tentacle in it
Fans of My Octopus Teacher, look away now: This beer-based cocktail, served at Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park, has a blue salt rim and is garnished with a giant charred octopus tentacle. Not only is the Squid's Revenge wild to look at, but it also pays a special tribute to WDW history: Where Be Our Guest Restaurant is located today is the previous location of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage attraction, a submarine ride that ran at the park for more than 20 years, hence the tentacled theming.
$13 at Be Our Guest Restaurant, Magic Kingdom Park
3. A "toad" burger
Sure, this "toad" burger may not be made of actual amphibians, but it sure bears an uncanny resemblance to The Wind and the Willows character Mr. Toad. Made from ground pork bratwurst, the Wild Toad Brat Burger is topped with lettuce, pickle and American cheese and garnished with a pickle "tongue" and two olive "eyeballs." To try this nod to a vintage Disney character, hop on over to Magic Kingdom Park.
$12.99 at The Friar's Nook, Magic Kingdom Park
2. A sundae served in a bathtub
Chocolate and vanilla soft serve, hot fudge and brownie pieces are topped with whipped cream and red, white and blue sprinkles in this festive sundae served at Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies at Magic Kingdom Park. Fans of Carousel of Progress, a rotating audio-animatronic theater show inside the park, will appreciate the dessert's nod to the show's Uncle Orville character, who appears in a bathtub during the show. Like its namesake, the Uncle Orville Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow Sundae is served up in a bathtub and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
$23 at Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies, Magic Kingdom Park
1. A dessert hotdog
There's nothing quite like eating a hot dog on Main Street U.S.A., and this special anniversary dog from Casey's Corner is perfect for sweet and savory lovers alike. The 50th Celebration Hot Dog is an all-beef hot dog topped with strawberry bacon jam, crisp funnel cake pieces and powdered sugar. It's the perfect way to enjoy dinner and dessert in one sitting while exploring Magic Kingdom Park.
$11.99 at Casey's Corner, Magic Kingdom Park
