25 Disney And Universal Theme Park Essentials
Hey guys! I'm Samar Hadri, a BuzzFeed shopping writer and Orlando, Florida native 🍊. I've been a Disney World *and* Universal Studios Annual Passholder for well over a decade (I may or may not have even gotten married at Disney 😅), so yeah, I'm something of a theme park expert. These are the products that I've tried and can recommend firsthand to make sure your amusement park experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible. With these products, you can feel prepared for almost any situation that pops up during a full day of trudging through the parks.
First things first, a mid-size sling backpack to carry all of your essentials, while being small enough to fit in the pouch of whichever rides you love the most. With several compartments inside the bag, as well as a front pouch on the strap, you can keep everything incredibly organized to cut down on the time it takes for you to dig for your phone for spontaneous photos or sunscreen for your two-hour reapplications. Plus, it even has mesh pockets for your water bottle and umbrella!
A reusable rain poncho for the buckets of water that can suddenly, without warning, drop from the Florida skies. With a long body piece and a big hooded cap, this poncho will keep you dry head to toe. It also comes with a matching carrying case so you don't have to worry about lugging a drenched poncho around the park after your excursion down a "waterfall" at Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom.
A four-pack of cooling towels because that Florida sun can be brutal. Just soak it in some cold water at any sink/water fountain, wring it, and place it on your neck for some much-needed relief! These towels will stay chilly for several hours, saving you from having to refresh in every country you pass through in Epcot. Bonus: each towel comes with a carrying pouch and a carabiner clip, so you can just clip it onto your backpack for easy access!
A Disney ear holder that clips onto your backpack for the times when your head is tired of propping up those famous Mickey ears (or new Universal headbands!), but you still want them on public display. With the ability to hold up to two ears, this strap is great for parents when your little ones might be over wearing the ears, and you don't want them to take up any space in your bag.
A trendy pair of polarized sunglasses to block out the sun's rays while you're enjoying the weather. No need to fear losing these bad boys while aboard Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure at Universal; these polarized glasses (while cute) are extremely affordable, so you can even keep a backup pair on hand in case Fluffy happens to board your ride and run away with your original pair!
A handheld fan that will bring some much-needed cooling relief as you trek your way through your favorite rides. Small and compact, with two different speed functions, this fan is a necessity, especially during the height of summer. No need to let the humidity ruin your day, this FAN-tastic device will ensure your vacation remains as cool as can be. (Plus: the fan also works as a backup portable charger!)
And a stroller fan so that your little one stays cool in the heat as well! The fan's head can adjust vertically and horizontally in any direction to create the perfect cooling breeze, while also having three speeds so you can ensure your baby is the perfect temperature. Now, the fear of your child overheating can disappear as swiftly as Peter Pan at the sight of an adult!
A four-pack of reusable straws because absolutely nobody enjoys the taste of the soggy paper straws that grace every Disney concession stand and restaurant. This straw is collapsible and fits into a small carrying case, which can also be clipped onto your backpack, making it incredibly convenient to carry without feeling like it's taking up some much-needed space. Absolutely perfect for that midday Pandoran Sunrise you'll be happy to sample at Animal Kingdom.
A Body Glide anti-chafe balm you'll want to apply liberally before starting your day at Universal City Walk. The last thing you want during your vacation is any pain halting your ability to walk freely through the parks. With this balm, say goodbye to chafing troubles and say hello to magical relief!
And an anti-blister foot balm to ease the pain of walking over 10 miles through four different parks, all in a single day. This will add a layer of protection between you and your shoes so you can skip through Diagon Alley with ZERO pain! Vanish the potential of blisters with this balm — even Hermione herself would be jealous of how magical this product seems!
A two-pack of reusable snack bags because sometimes hunger pangs hit right in the middle of a line, when exiting to purchase a bite to eat is pretty much impossible. These bags come with a zippered closure and are made from waterproof fabric, so no need to fear the splatters from Tiana's Bayou Adventure tainting your go-to snack.
A foldable water bottle that will take up little space and be the hydrating savior of your park day. Buying several bottles of water while inside the park will get expensive FAST, so having a refillable bottle on hand is key, especially when they can roll into a small size so that they don't take up too much room. A much-needed addition to your park essentials when you find yourself incredibly thirsty while waiting to meet Toothless.
A 10-pack of mosquito-repellent bracelets you will be incredibly grateful you packed when love-bug season hits Florida. Powered by essential oils such as citronella, these bands can help repel the pests without the need to douse yourself in bug spray several times a day. No mosquito will dare approach you as you embark on your theme park adventures; these bracelets will help keep the creepy-crawlies far, far away!
A tube of Neutrogena Ultrasheer SPF 70 sunscreen to protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun. This lightweight formula helps prevent sunburn without the heavy finish and is conveniently travel-sized, making it the perfect addition to your pre-Disney routine. With this lotion, the only sun you need to fear is the one that comes barreling toward you on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
A pack of compression socks that can help your circulation, foot swelling, and pain, and make it easier for you to hike across the Magic Kingdom parking lot. You can say goodbye to the days of leg swelling and hello to *sweet* relief as you march countless miles each day of your trip. Don't let the potential pain stop you from having the time of your life at the Happiest Place on Earth!
A Color Wow Dreamcoat anti-frizz hairspray to maintain those picture-perfect locks, despite the heat! This spray repels moisture to stop humidity from impacting your hair, leaving your hair feeling smooth and silky. Just spray it liberally on damp, towel-dried hair, then blow dry for the finishing touch. With this spray, your blowout will stay as perfect as Princess Belle herself!
A Burt's Bees after-sun lotion perfect for bringing some relief to any sunburns that may occur while you're skipping across Tomorrow Land. With aloe and coconut oil, this skin lotion can soothe and bring hydrating relief to your sun-kissed skin.
An Anker portable charger because you will be constantly using your phone to check the wait times, plan ahead with your Genie+, or just playing Charades with your family (or random strangers) while stuck in a line. Don't let its slim exterior fool you; this device is one of the highest reviewed power banks on Amazon for a reason. It can charge a smartphone up to three times while still being light enough to comfortably carry around Hollywood Studios as you search for hidden Mickeys!
A pill organizer to keep all of your meds on hand so that you're not trying to dig through your bag for different bottles. With eight multi-size compartments, this carrier can safely store any size pill or vitamin you need. Small enough to fit in your pocket, this organizer will be your saving grace as you attempt to squeeze in just one more plushy from the Emporium into your bag.
A travel umbrella designed to block out both the constant Florida showers and the overbearing midday sun. This is a heavy-duty umbrella has eight sturdy fiberglass ribs, making it incredibly wind-resistant, while still being able to fold into a small size. Don't miss your chance to join the line for Pandora's Flight of Passage just because of a little rain, this umbrella will help you make the most of your day no matter the weather!
A set of travel perfume carriers that can hold all of your favorite eau de parfums as you make your way around The Isle of Berk. After sweating under the sun for a whole day, you will be happy you packed these sprays so that you can refresh yourself at your convenience.
A Miss Mouth's stain remover spray to help wipe away the Mickey Ice Cream Bar residue from your little one's shorts. Designed to remove even the toughest of stains, this spray is a necessity when wrangling your family through the parks while attempting to keep their clothes Instagram-worthy.
A three-pack of Disney-inspired lanyards so your family can keep their key cards strapped close to them at all times. With pouches to hold any additional cards or cash, these are great for anyone trying to waltz around Disney without the feeling of being weighed down by a wallet. Perhaps one of the most important items on this list, these ID holders are necessary for those who tend to misplace things more often than not.
A pair of aqua socks to protect your feet and save you from any pool slipping incidents while at Typhoon Lagoon or Volcano Bay. Super lightweight and flexible, these socks are perfect for your water excursions during your ultimate Disney vacation!
A hand sanitizer holder because you should always have one on hand when you're in a place as crowded as Disney or Universal. Hook these cute keychains to your backpack and don't fear losing them on the monorail, your favorite scented sanitizer is always close by!
Ta-da! I declare you ready for your theme park adventure!
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Best Mary Poppins Behind The Scenes Facts
First, Walt Disney started going after the rights to adapt P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins in 1938, four years after the first book was published. However, Travers repeatedly refused to give over the rights. Over the next several years, Disney continued to send offer after offer to Travers in an attempt to adapt the book. In 1959 — 21 years after starting the pursuit — Travers finally agreed to have Mary Poppins adapted by Disney, but she would have "final say" on the script. According to the documentary, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins, Disney personally flew to London in 1959 and met with Travers to once again try to convince her to let him adapt Mary Poppins. Speaking of the meeting, Travers reportedly said that talking to Disney was "like talking to a friendly, charming uncle who took from his pocket a gold pocketwatch and dangled it enticingly before your eyes." After working on adapting the book for two years, P.L. Travers came to Disney Studios and apparently "didn't like anything" that was written. In recordings and sketches from a 1961 meeting, Travers said, "The book should be read very carefully for accuracy." Some of the things she had a problem with were that Mary should "never be impolite to anybody," and she didn't like that the parents would start out harsh and not pay attention to their children so they could eventually have a "change of heart." In the documentary, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins, composer Richard Sherman said the "key to the story" was the parents being so preoccupied with their own lives that there was a "need" for Mary Poppins to come, so it was essential that they start a little cold, especially the Travers signed off on the project and was billed as a consultant on the film. Mary Martin, Bette Davis, and Angela Lansbury were all considered for the role of Mary Poppins before Julie Andrews. When Disney did a sequel to the film in 2018, titled Mary Poppins Returns, Lansbury actually appeared as a woman selling balloons in the park. At the time, Martin was best known for her work on stage in South Pacific, Peter Pan, and The Sound of Music. Meanwhile, Davis was fresh off her renowned work in Now, Voyager and All About Eve, and Lansbury had just starred in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Julie Andrews caught the attention of the Sherman brothers and Walt Disney after they saw her in Camelot. After Andrews and Richard Burton performed "What Do The Simple Folk Do?" on The Ed Sullivan Show, Disney flew to NYC to see Camelot on Broadway. In an interview at the Mary Poppins premiere, Disney said, "I went backstage and I tried to convince her that I was capable of making a picture with live actors as well as cartoons. I didn't know what she thought of me." In an interview from 1973, Andrews recalled that Disney "started acting out the whole of the script of Mary Poppins" while visiting her backstage at Camelot. Then, Disney invited Andrews and her then-husband, Tony Walton, to Los Angeles to see the storyboards for the film. Walton, who was a costume and set designer, ultimately ended up working on Mary Poppins, too. Initially, it was unclear if Julie Andrews would be able to star in Mary Poppins because she was the logical choice to star in My Fair Lady, after she played Eliza Doolittle on the West End and Broadway. However, Jack Warner ultimately cast Audrey Hepburn, citing that they needed "a name" to carry the film. Ultimately, Andrews and Hepburn were pitted against each other all awards season, with Andrews winning both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Mary Poppins, and she even thanked Warner in her Golden Globes acceptance speech. In her speech, Andrews said, "Finally, my thanks to a man who made a wonderful movie and who made all of this possible in the first Jack Warner."Looking back on her career with the Hollywood Reporter in 2015, Andrews said the one thing she wished she had was a recorded version of her My Fair Lady to show her grandchildren. She also said that while she understood the decision, getting passed over for the film only reinforced the idea she had in her head that she wasn't "pretty enough" for movies. Dick Van Dyke "begged" Walt Disney to let him play Mr. Dawes Sr., according to Julie Andrews in her memoir Home Work. Van Dyke wanted the role of Dawes Sr. so badly that he reportedly offered to play it for free. Andrew wrote in her memoir, "[Disney] took Dick up on that offer, and also persuaded him to make a $4,000 donation to the California Institute of the Arts, which Walt had recently cofounded." Disney made Van Dyke screentest for the role, too, as a little joke. According to Andrews, "Word flew around the Studios that he had been hilarious, totally persuasive and completely unrecognizable." Dick Van Dyke calls his accent for Bert the "worst Cockney accent [he's] ever done." While filming Mary Poppins, he asked J. Pat O'Malley, an Irish actor who voiced some of the animated characters in the film, to help him with his accent. Van Dyke joked in 2012 that he "made up a story" that it wasn't a Cockney accent, but rather an accent from "a little obscure county in the north of England." He also said that to this day, British people will come up to him and tell him what a horrible accent he does as Bert in Mary Poppins. Artist Peter Ellenshaw hand-painted 100 matte paintings for the backdrops that are seen in Mary Poppins. For the cityscape of London at dusk, Ellenshaw purposefully put little holes in the painting so that lights could shine through the back to make it look like the lights in the city. He said, "The lights would all come on gradually all over the city, or appear to." He previously worked with Disney on Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The first scene they filmed for Mary Poppins was the "Jolly Holiday" sequence, which means it was also the first thing Julie Andrews ever shot for a film in her career. In her memoir, Andrews recalled, "My first filmed scene simply required that I strike a pose, hands on my umbrella, while Bert said, 'You look very pretty today, Mary Poppins!' I then had to walk past him and say, 'Do you really think so?' I was extremely nervous and fretted over how to say that one simple line. I had no idea what my voice would sound like or how to appear natural on film." Bert and Mary walking arm-in-arm during "Jolly Holiday" was also one of the first pieces of choreography Andrews and Dick Van Dyke learned during rehearsals. Andrews said in her memoir, "I performed Mary Poppins's demure, ladylike version of the step — but Dick flung his long legs up so high that I burst out laughing. To this day, he can still execute that step." Over the course of the development of Mary Poppins, the Sherman brothers wrote around 32 songs, with only 14 making the final version of the movie. When they started working on the songs, there wasn't a script yet, so instead they worked off of P.L. Travers' book and used chapters to figure out what a song could be. Walt Disney's favorite song was "Feed The Birds." In one of the stories in the book, Mary Poppins spins a compass, and the Sherman brothers actually wrote songs for each of the places the compass lands on, like "North Pole Polka," "The Land of Sand," and melody for "The Land of Sand" was later used in The Jungle Book for "Trust In Me." Since Mary Poppins flies a lot, most of her costumes had to be duplicated in a larger size to accommodate the harness Julie Andrews had to wear. In her memoir, Andrews revealed, "This was a thick elastic body stocking, which started at my knees and ended above my waist. The flying wires passed through holes in the costume and were attached to steel panels on either hip." She continued, writing, "I literally did a lot of 'hanging around' between takes, and when I was suspended, the steel panels pressed on my hip bones, which became very bruised. Sheepskin was added, which helped, although it was barely enough, since I couldn't look too bulky." Since the penguins, fox, and more animated characters weren't actually on stage with the actors, cardboard cutouts were used in between takes so the actors would know where they should look and have the proper sightline before the cutouts were taken away to film the scene. The merry go round horses were the only things on set most of the time. In her memoir, Home Work, Julie Andrews recalled, "For the tea party under the willows with the penguin waiters, a cardboard penguin was placed on the table in front of me. Once I'd established the sightline, the penguin was taken away, and when cameras rolled, I had to pretend it was still there." In order to add in the penguins that Bert dances with during "Jolly Holiday," it was just Dick Van Dyke alone on the stage, and the animators then had to figure out how to add in the penguins after the footage was shot. Frank Thomas was the lead animator on the penguins. He previously worked on countless Disney animated movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, Cinderella, and more. "When I get over on the stage, I'd say, 'Where am I going to put my penguins?'," Thomas recalled in the documentary, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins. He continued, saying, "Because I would get the film of Dick actually doing the dance, here's hit feet flying all around and stepping on my penguins. How are you going to know ahead of time where he's going to be and where Dick Van Dyke's going to be? So I was losing more penguins every day. I had them duck, and I had them jump, and I had them get out of the way anyway they could." The entire "Jolly Holiday" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" scenes were created using the sodium vapor process. Instead of having the actors on a blue or green screen, which is common today, the actors were filmed against a white screen that was lit with yellow-hued sodium vapor lights. This process made it easier to isolate Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, and the other actors from the background so the animators could animate both behind and next to them. Since they didn't film the scene against a blue backdrop, it also didn't put a limit on the colors that could be used in costumes, like Bert's blue bowtie and socks. Since "Step In Time" was such a demanding musical number, it was one of the few that required an extensive rehearsals. Dick Van Dyke revealed that it was a six week rehearsal process because it was "so complicated." He added, "It was amazing, the six weeks of rehearsal kind of got me into shape, and once we started shooting, I was ready." Van Dyke wasn't a trained dancer prior to Mary Poppins. Van Dyke told Conan O'Brien in 2012 that he asked Gower Champion, who was the chroegpraher for Bye By Birdie, which he starred in on Broadway and in the film, to help him learn to dance. He's loved dancing ever since. Mary's magic carpet bag was created by combining footage of Julie Andrews on a soundstage getting fed items up through the bag by a crew member hiding below the table, and footage of Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber reacting to a clear table as Jane and Michael. Dotrice recalled, "We didn't know she was going to pull all of this stuff out of it! We were told to react to what she was taking out of the carpet bag. All of the things she pulled out of that carpet bag were a complete shock." She added, "Our reactions were completely genuine ... It was very exciting." In order to film the moment when Mary, Bert, Jane, and Michael climb the staircase made out of smoke, the crew created what was called "the black sponge stairs." On set, it was a seemingly ordinary staircase, but the stair treads were made of a sponge-like material so the actors' feet would slightly sink in, as if they were walking on the smoke. In a documentary, Karen Dotrice recalled filming the moment, saying, "I don't know how many takes it took to walk up that smoke staircase because we're following Julie holding broomsticks, walking up this smoke screen staircase, but it was like sinking." For the tea party with Uncle Albert, played by Ed Wynn, the sets were recreated a few different ways to help film the moment when everyone is floating and spinning in the air while laughing. The set was tilted 90 degrees in various directions, so the roof would be in a different spot, even with the ceiling being upside down at one point. Depending on the camera angle, the actors were either suspended on wires or sitting on a seesaw on top of a ladder, if it was a close-up. In the documentary, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins, Tony Walton recalled, "Walt [Disney] himself came up with the technical approach to achieve the fact that they are laughing, [and] they are all floating about in the air." "Practically Perfect" was a song that was initially going to introduce Mary Poppins; however, it was cut from the film. Instead, the melody was repurposed into "Sister Suffragette," which Mrs. Banks sings. When Glynis Johns was brought in to play Mrs. Banks, she actually requested she have her own musical number, which is how "Sister Suffragette" was born. In a documentary about Mary Poppins, Johns revealed, "I said to Walt [Disney], it might give me incentive, if I could have my own little number." Richard Sherman said that after that, Disney leaned over to her and said they just finished a number for Mrs. Banks, and she'll love it. At the time, Richard and Robert hadn't even written the musical number yet. "The Chimpanzoo" was a song that was originally going to follow "I Love to Laugh" and was going to be sung by Julie Andrews while Mary, Bert, and the children were floating in the air at Uncle Albert's. The whole scene was developed but the number was scrapped the day recording on the song was going to take place. Richard Sherman revealed that Walt Disney felt the sequence wasn't necessary, and instead, after "I Love to Laugh," they all joke while drinking tea and then float down to the floor. And finally, costume designer Tony Walton hid little Easter eggs and details into the lining of Mary Poppins' outfits. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2022, Julie Andrews revealed, "He said, 'You know, you're very prim and proper on the outside, but I think Mary Poppins has a kind of secret life, maybe, and I'm gonna give her, when you open your coat or when you turn and dance, you'll see marvelously-colored petticoats and wonderful linings of your clothes.'" Andrews said Walton's approach to the costumes helped her discover who Mary really was. She told Vanity Fair, "He said, 'Because I think that's what gives her pleasure. Very formal on the outside and a little bit wicked on the inside, so to speak.' And it completely gave me a clue as to her character. Big, big help for me." Is there another Mary Poppins behind-the-scenes fact that you love that isn't mentioned above? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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Epic Universe Food Review: What's Worth The Hype
Unless you've been living under a rock (okay, or maybe just quietly not paying attention to anything on social media), you probably know that Universal just officially opened its brand-new theme park in Orlando — Universal Epic Universe — and it's a huge deal. This is Universal's third park in Florida, and not only is it their biggest US expansion ever, it's also the first new major theme park built in the country since 1999 — yes...1999!!! The park has got five immersive worlds: a brand-new Harry Potter land set in 1920s Paris and the Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe based on the Universal Classic Monsters, Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragon, the retro-futuristic hub land Celestial Park, and Super Ninentdo World. I was lucky enough to be invited by Universal to attend the media preview ahead of the grand opening. While the park at the time hadn't been officially opened, it had been open for a couple of months for previews (or basically dress rehearsals). As you can see, I am enjoying an ice cold Frozen Butterbeer while trying to beat the heat while exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic. Over that time, several new foods that were created for the park have gone viral. This meant one thing: Now that I was here for the media preview, I needed to try those foods and see if they were actually worth the hype (looking at you, pizza from Pizza Moon)!!! Full disclosure: While I was invited by Universal to Epic Universe, all opinions are my own. PB&J (Pork, Bacon, and Jam) Mac & Cheese Cone available at Hooligan's Grog & Gruel in Isle of Berk Thoughts: This was the first food from Epic that I saw go viral and was all over my TikTok FYP. There are three different flavors to choose from: Goldfish Mac & Cheese Cone, PB&J Mac & Cheese Cone, and the Dragon Fire Chicken Spire Mac & Cheese Cone. Of these, it seems like the PB&J is the most popular choice. I have to say, I was impressed and really, really, really enjoyed the taste. The salty mac & cheese and cone mixed with the sweetness of the peanut butter bacon jam and BBQ harissa pulled pork was the perfect combo of savory and sweet. I can see why it has become an instant hit. It was also a hearty size, so I don't know if it was as much a snack as a whole lunch. This will for sure be something I get again when I go back to Epic!!! So don't skip 9 out of 10 Frank & Friends Pretzel available at DeLacey's Cottage in Dark Universe Thoughts: I am not the biggest fan of pretzels. But, when I find a good one, I will certainly not say no and will more than enjoy it. I had seen the Frank & Friends Pretzel a lot on social media, so I was curious to try it. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed with it. It was a flat, soft pretzel that came with a (cream cheese?) dipping sauce. Maybe it was the salt, but the texture and flavor were more like an untoasted salt bagel — it was also missing the chewy outer crust that pretzel bread has. I also didn't love the dipping sauce, which was like runny cream cheese. Now, this could have just been the pretzel from the batch I got, but I would skip that said, DeLacey's Cottage also sells Warm Hearted Cinnamon Bites, which are cinnamon sugar donut bites with cream cheese icing and streusel. I didn't have these, but several people I was with did, and they all really enjoyed them and raved, so those might be the way to go if you're looking to try something at DeLacey's 1.5 out of 10 Pizza Lunare, The Giant Mushroom, and The Pizza Moon Pepperoni pizza available at Pizza Moon in Celestial Park Growing up in the '90s, I have not-so-great memories of eating pizza at amusement parks. While theme park foods have truly improved A LOT over the last 20 years, I don't know if I have had pizza at one since Clinton was in the White House. With that said, the word was that these pizzas were really, really good. But were they really, really good for a theme park pizza or really, really good in general? Verdict: They are really, really good in general!!!These are cooked in a fired oven, giving the crust and bottom crust a nice char that you would get at old-school traditional pizza places in New York or higher-end pizza restaurants. I tried three different flavors. Pizza Lunare Thoughts: This pizza, which is the one I saw most on my TikTok feed, includes roasted garlic béchamel, ricotta, pancetta, fromage garlic confit, and ube pizza crust (which gives it a purple-ish hue). Flavor-wise, it was fantastic! Certainly the more unusual one, because of the non-traditional ube crust and its flavor combo (which I have not had on a pizza before). Everything worked, and I really recommend it if you're looking for a pizza flavor combination that you haven't tried 8 out of 10 The Giant Mushroom Thoughts: Ingredients in it include a roasted garlic bechamel, wild mushrooms, and truffle aioli. I love mushrooms on my pizza, so I found this extremely delicious. I realize that not everyone loves mushrooms or truffles (which you do taste in the background), so this might be a skip. But if you like the earthy taste of mushrooms, then I recommend trying this one because I know you won't be 7.5 out of 10 The Pizza Moon Pepperoni Thoughts: The Pizza Moon Pepperoni keeps it classic with just cheese and pepperoni — and honestly, it doesn't need anything else. It was the simplest one I tried, but it was still seriously good and nailed all the basics. If you're in the mood for a no-frills, straight-up delicious pepperoni pizza, this one's a can' 8.5 out of 10 Koopa Troopa: Red Shell Calzone available at Yoshi's Snack Island in Super Mario World Thoughts: The location sells two different flavors of calzones: a green one that is vegan and a red one that is traditional. I went with the red one! This wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly memorable either — it was just…fine. The calzone was pretty standard (except with a thicker, more bread-like crust), filled with Italian meat sauce and mozzarella cheese, and, honestly, it kind of reminded me of a slightly fancier Hot Pocket. Not terrible by any means, but not something I'd go out of my way to get 3 out of 10 Yoshi's Mango Smoothie available at Yoshi's Snack Island in Super Mario World Thoughts: There were two flavors to choose from — mango and apple — and I went with mango since that's the one I've seen the most people rave about online. Right away, I wasn't sure if I'd like it because I'm not usually big on super-sweet things. Which is also why I chose the mango flavor, because I had heard that it was the least sweet of the two. But it turns out, it was actually really delicious, not overly sugary and genuinely refreshing. It also actually lives up to the name "smoothie" instead of just being a glorified slushy. What really sold it for me, though, were the fresh chunks of mango on top and the generous swirl of what tasted like fresh whipped cream — a nice little surprise I was not expecting. I would recommend this for 7 out of 10 DK Crush Float Tropical Banana Flavor available at The Bubbly Barrel in Donkey Kong Country (located within Super Mario World) Thoughts: Again, I'm not usually big on super sweet treats, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this float — a banana-flavored soft serve in a waffle cone, nestled in a cup of Fanta Pineapple soda, and topped with caramel popcorn and toffee. Yeah... it definitely sounds like a cavity waiting to happen. Since it was blazing hot when I got it, I didn't have much time to overthink it, so I had to dig in before it turned into soup. And honestly? I was surprised by how much I liked it. While it's definitely sweet, it's not as over-the-top as it sounds. The banana soft serve has a slight tartness that balances things out, and the caramel corn adds a nice salty crunch. This is one worth trying, especially if you're looking for a unique "only can get it at Epic" 7.5 out of 10 And lastly, the Butterbeer Crepe available at Café L'air De La Sirène in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic Thoughts: Yes, I know I've said over and over again that I'm not a fan of overly sweet treats, but I make a full exception when it comes to Butterbeer (maybe it's my soft spot for all things Harry Potter). The Butterbeer Crepe was everywhere online when Epic Universe previews first started, so naturally, it was the one thing I was most excited to try. And let me tell you: this crepe is a full-on Butterbeer overload in the best way possible. It's filled with a shortbread cookie butter, Bavarian cream, and Butterbeer cream, and topped with fresh strawberries (which added much-needed tartness and freshness), a shortbread cookie, Butterbeer whipped cream (like the kind you get on cold Butterbeer), and a Butterbeer drizzle. It's extremely rich and decadent, and obviously really sweet, but it's so, so delicious, and something I highly recommend. And it's also the type of dessert, because of its richness, that is great for even though it was nearly 100 degrees, I think the only thing that would have made it better was a cup of hot black coffee to enjoy with it!Rating: 9.5 out of 10 All in all, most of the viral foods at Epic Universe definitely live up to the hype. Whether you're going all-in on a Butterbeer crepe or just grabbing a classic pepperoni slice, there is definitely something for every kind of eater. BTW, there is more to come, I'll be reviewing the rides and giving my overall thoughts and tips on the park!!! Hungry for more? Download our free Tasty app to browse and save 7,500+ free recipes — no subscription required.
