Park Hoppin’
www.parkworld-online.com PW-APR20-Bertazzon_Layout 1 20/04/2020 19:03 Page 1 In association with
Park Hoppin’ with Susan Storey
I
recently visited Walt Disney World for the first time in more than two years. I had family visiting Orlando and as their trip dates got closer, they asked a lot of questions about how to navigate the parks, what attractions were “must do’s”—and if there was a secret to skipping the line. My son and I were joining the group for part of the week, and while I was excited to enjoy the sights and sounds, and the rides and thrills of the parks, very quickly my
advice turned to food suggestions and planning “You must get a peanut butter and jelly milkshake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios,” I heard myself saying. Next was, “No trip to the Magic Kingdom is complete without Dole Whip.” I shared subsequent statements about favorite drinks and treats at each of the Central Florida parks: the amazing lobster and shrimp roll at SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival, beignets at Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras, the giraffe-shaped homemade soft pretzel from Busch Gardens Tampa. As I mentioned each item, I mentally prepared my own list of park treats I have so missed as we waited to return to the parks after the pandemic.
Growing up, our family always had fun during amusement park visits, but food was never a highlight. We either picnicked in the parking lot on sandwiches my mom pre-packed or scarfed down hot dogs and hamburgers—the staple of the park experience. Over the years, that has changed, and new, unique foods have become as much of a core memory as a first roller coaster ride, or incredible midway game win. Parks have found offering broad and unique menu options can increase revenue and overall guest satisfaction–but I say there is so much more to that. We all have favorite meals or recipes that bring warm memories of time spent together, from celebrations and holidays. It makes perfect sense that the food found in theme parks could invoke such feelings. Social media has done a lot to help with that. A quick scroll through Instagram and Twitter often has delightful images—”food porn” if you will—of new drinks and desserts that are just as photographic as they are delicious. Hersheypark knows this—the essence of their experience is wrapped in chocolate and leaves us wanting more. The Whipscream Sundae, Chocolatetown Cheesecake, and the Slither N’ Squirm King Size Shake are three exclusives that are as much park “must do’s” as the “Candymonium,” the “Reese’s Candy Cup Challenge,” and the “Comet” rides. Case in point, I have a photo of my Hershey’s Golden Almond chocolate bar, enjoyed in 2013. Yes, it was incredible, and is a chocolate bar exclusive to the park. I still think about it! With summer vacation planning in full swing, new roller coasters, new parks and new attractions will be on many of our minds. I say, don’t forget the food. Grab your camera, and a spoon, and in the wise words of the singing candlestick, Lumiere, “Try the grey stuff; it’s delicious.”
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SPRING PART 1 2022
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