Halloween Time has arrived at the Disneyland Resort, bringing with it plenty of seasonal treats, drinks, and savory dishes to try.
But with so many limited-time offerings spread across Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the resort hotels, there’s one important question: Which ones are actually worth getting?
We decided to find out.
Before heading to the resort, we used the Where In The Park Halloween Foodie Guide and checklist to narrow down all of the seasonal offerings to our must-tries. Having everything organized in one place made it easy to plan our foodie day—and, more importantly, keep track of everything we wanted to order along the way.
Armed with our list (and very empty stomachs), our group spent the day eating our way around the Disneyland Resort, trying everything from pumpkin treats and seasonal cold brews to an Oktoberfest-inspired hot dog and a surprisingly divisive cinnamon roll.
Everyone who tried an item gave it a score out of 5, which we combined to calculate an average rating. Some items were unanimous hits. Others… definitely were not.
Here’s everything we tried, in the order we ate it, along with our honest thoughts.
Disneyland Hotel
DOLE Whip Pineapple-Orange with Guava Juice
Trader Sam’s — Disneyland Hotel
Our Score: 4.5/5
We started our Halloween foodie adventure on a tropical note with the DOLE Whip Pineapple-Orange with Guava Juice, served as part of the new Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion 25th Anniversary Holiday Cup offering.
Despite the name, Kevin noted that this isn’t an orange-and-pineapple swirl—the flavors are combined together. He gave it a 4.5, while Kim called the pineapple, orange, and guava combination a “tropical delight” and gave it a 4. Amanda gave it a perfect 5.
Another nice touch: the DOLE Whip comes in a separate cup from the souvenir vessel, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning melted soft serve out of your new collectible.
Worth the Stop? Yes! A refreshing—and highly rated—way to start the day. You don’t need to wait until the afternoon to enjoy this anytime treat!
Banana Bread Latte
The Coffee House — Disneyland Hotel
Our Score: 4.25/5
We ordered the Banana Bread Latte iced, although a hot version is also available. It features banana bread flavors and is topped with cold foam and a dried banana.
Kevin gave it a 4, saying he has had better banana-flavored coffees, but this one was still “up there.” Amanda gave it a 4.5 and particularly liked that the flavor carried throughout the drink.
Worth the Stop? If banana coffee sounds like your thing, this is an easy recommendation—and one we’d order again.
Butter Pecan Latte
The Coffee House — Disneyland Hotel
Our Score: 3.83/5
Our second seasonal latte featured pecan flavors with cold foam and two pecans on top.
This one was a little more divisive. Kevin gave it a 3, Kelly a 4, and Amanda a 4.5. Amanda felt the whipped cream wasn’t necessary but would still happily order the drink again.
Worth the Stop? Not quite as strong as the Banana Bread Latte, but still a solid seasonal coffee option.
Downtown Disney
Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Roll
Parkside Market Coffee
Our Score: 0.5/5
And then… this happened.
The Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Roll is a classic cinnamon roll topped with pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting and cookie crunch. On paper, that sounded promising.
In reality, it earned our lowest score of the entire day.
Courtney described it as essentially a regular cinnamon roll “with bad pumpkin.” Kelly gave it a zero and said that if you enjoy the flavor of canned pumpkin, this might be for you. Kim also gave it a zero.
Amanda found the cinnamon roll itself fairly ordinary, while the huge dollop of cream cheese frosting on top didn’t work—and seemed to become increasingly sour as it sat. Even the cookie crunch didn’t provide the crumbly texture we hoped it would.
Worth the Stop? With an average score of just 0.5/5, this was a near-unanimous miss for our group.
Harvest Chai Latte
Parkside Market Coffee
Our Score: 4/5
Thankfully, Parkside Market Coffee redeemed itself with the Harvest Chai Latte, which blends warm chai spices with caramel apple butter and cinnamon.
Kelly was the only member of our group to try this one and gave it a 4/5.
Worth the Stop? Based on our admittedly small sample size, this was the clear winner of our Parkside Market stop.
Disneyland Park
Maple-Bacon Cinnamon Roll
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Our Score: 3/5
If there was an award for Most Divisive Food of the Morning, the Maple-Bacon Cinnamon Roll might win it.
This massive cinnamon roll is topped with maple cream cheese, glazed bacon, pecans, and a white chocolate drizzle.
Kevin loved it, giving it a 5 despite admitting that it was “crazy sweet.” Amanda gave it a 4 and called it delightful, although far too big for one person.
The rest of the table wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic.
Kelly gave it a 3, praising its uniqueness but agreeing that it was extremely sweet. Courtney and Kim both landed at 1.5. Courtney liked the maple-bacon component but isn’t a fan of pecans, while Kim found the overall presentation and consistency too soupy.
Worth the Stop? This one comes down heavily to personal taste. If you love maple, bacon, pecans, and unapologetically sweet pastries, you may fall on Kevin’s side of the debate. Either way, bring someone to share it with.
Pumpkin Cold Brew
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Our Score: 5/5
Courtney was the only person in our group who tried the Pumpkin Cold Brew, topped with vanilla foam and spiced sugar, and gave it a perfect 5.
She still preferred the pumpkin chai previously offered at Galactic Grill, but thought this year’s cold brew was excellent. Her one warning: don’t drink it alongside a bunch of other sweet foods, because the subtler flavors can get lost.
Worth the Stop? A perfect score from our lone reviewer, with a warning to let the drink stand on its own.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Our Score: 3.4/5
This chilled dessert combines caramel cheesecake, caramelized apple filling, caramel drip, orange white chocolate mousse, and chocolate flakes.
The consensus around our table was fairly clear: Where’s the caramel?
Kelly enjoyed the apple filling but wanted more caramel for something called a Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Amanda agreed, noting that the cheesecake itself tasted more like a traditional plain cheesecake. She felt that if the orange white chocolate mousse had carried more caramel flavor, this easily could have become a 5/5 dessert.
Courtney was more enthusiastic, giving it a 4 and simply declaring, “Apple cheesecake is really good.”
Worth the Stop? A good cheesecake that doesn’t quite deliver the caramel punch its name promises.
Pumpkin Muffin
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
Our Score: 3.7/5
Sometimes simple works.
This pumpkin muffin topped with cream cheese icing was generally described as a pretty standard pumpkin muffin—but a good one.
Courtney was the biggest fan, giving it a 5 and calling it the most pumpkin-forward item we’d had that morning. Kevin gave it a 4, Kelly a 3.5, and both Kim and Amanda landed at 3.
Worth the Stop? It isn’t reinventing the pumpkin muffin, but if that’s exactly what you’re craving, it delivers.
Churro Hand Tart
Market House
Our Score: 3.5/5
The Churro Hand Tart is a pastry filled with spiced cake and topped with cinnamon and sugar.
Kelly called it her favorite item of the morning and gave it a 4, praising the warm, gooey center and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Kevin went even higher at 4.5, although he didn’t think it was good enough to justify waiting in a long Market House line instead of simply getting a Disneyland churro.
Courtney found it extremely sweet and crumbly, and Amanda agreed about the mess factor: this isn’t something we’d recommend trying to eat while walking through the park.
Worth the Stop? Delicious when warm, but grab a table first. You’re going to need it.
Disney California Adventure
Oktoberfest Dog
Award Wieners
Our Score: 4.5/5
After a sugar-heavy morning, it was time for something savory.
The Oktoberfest Dog features a pork cheddar sausage with sauerkraut, caraway seeds, and cheesy beer mustard sauce on a soft pretzel bun.
Kevin gave it a 4, while Amanda gave it a perfect 5. Even though Amanda isn’t a sauerkraut fan and ate around that particular component, everything else was enough to make this something she’d happily order again.
Worth the Stop? One of our strongest savory dishes of the day.
Seaborn Sangria
Award Wieners
Our Score: 5/5
The Seaborn Sangria was an across-the-board hit among everyone who tried it.
Courtney, Kim, and Amanda each gave it a 5. Kim particularly enjoyed the real fruit and Sprite, which gave the drink a refreshing bit of carbonation.
Worth the Stop? Three reviewers. Three perfect scores. Enough said.
Route 30 Brewing Co. Oktoberfest Lager
Award Wieners
Our Score: 5/5
Another unanimous winner.
Kevin, Courtney, and Amanda all gave the Oktoberfest Lager a perfect 5.
Worth the Stop? If you’re looking for a beer to accompany that Oktoberfest Dog, our group certainly won’t talk you out of this one.
Beef & Cheese Tamale a la Plancha
Hollywood Lounge and Studio Catering Cart
Our Score: 2.67/5
Unfortunately, our next savory dish didn’t fare nearly as well.
The Beef & Cheese Tamale a la Plancha comes with salsa verde, lime crema, shredded lettuce, and pico de gallo.
The biggest issue was balance.
Kevin enjoyed the heat of the salsa but found the meat too dry. Courtney also thought the meat was dry and found the salsa and pico too spicy, without enough crema to balance the heat. Amanda agreed and also found the outer cheese layer difficult to cut through.
There was even enough liquid from the salsa seeping through the serving plate when we received it that we needed to double-plate it.
Worth the Stop? There are some good ideas here, but the components didn’t come together for us.
Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pull-Apart Bread
Outdoor Vending Locations
Our Score: 3.38/5
Hawaiian rolls. Spicy cream cheese. Shredded buffalo chicken. Parmesan ranch. Fried onions.
There is a lot going on here—and, according to our group, perhaps a little too much salt.
All four of our reviewers who tried it mentioned or agreed with the saltiness. Kevin gave it a 2.5 and strongly recommended having water or beer nearby. Courtney and Kelly each gave it a 3.5, while Amanda gave it a 4.
Amanda particularly liked the spicy cream cheese stuffed inside the rolls, which made the dish more interesting.
Worth the Stop? A fun concept with all the right components, but be prepared for a serious hit of salt.
Ube Flan Cake
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
Our Score: 4.35/5
This one was an unexpected hit.
We couldn’t find an official description, but what we received appeared to be traditional flan sitting atop a small layer of ube cake, finished with what seemed to be a caramelized ube syrup.
Kelly, Kevin, and Amanda all thought the cake portion was slightly overbaked, affecting the texture, but the flavor still won us over.
Courtney and Kelly both gave it perfect 5s—and Kelly perhaps offered the most important review of all: “We ate it all!”
Worth the Stop? Despite a slightly overbaked cake layer, this was easily one of the better desserts of the day.
Back to Disneyland Park
Darth by Chocolate Cold Brew
Galactic Grill
Our Score: 1.63/5
Seeing “Darth by Chocolate” on a menu creates certain expectations.
Unfortunately, this cold brew didn’t meet ours.
The Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew features flavors of red velvet cake and chocolate and is topped with vanilla foam, chocolate cookie pieces, and sprinkles.
But those chocolate and red velvet notes come from the flavor notes of the coffee beans themselves rather than a syrup or sauce, making them extremely subtle.
Kevin wanted more chocolate. Courtney said it didn’t really taste like much. Kelly simply called it “not good,” and Amanda felt that anyone looking for a subtly flavored cold brew might enjoy it—but she wouldn’t order it again.
Part of our disappointment came from the name. We were hoping for something reminiscent of the rich Darth by Chocolate dessert, with its layers of chocolate pudding, red velvet sponge, chocolate mousse, and crushed cookies. This beverage doesn’t deliver that same decadent chocolate experience.
Interestingly, we didn’t see this drink listed on Disneyland’s website or Disney Parks Blog’s foodie guide. We discovered it in the Disneyland app while mobile ordering another drink, so we’re not sure whether it’s a new seasonal offering or something else entirely.
Worth the Stop? The Dark Side wasn’t quite chocolatey enough for us.
Pumpkin Cream Sweet Tea
Galactic Grill
Our Score: 3.38/5
This sweet tea topped with pumpkin cream foam and cinnamon surprised us—particularly because it wasn’t nearly as sweet as expected.
Kevin gave it a 4 and praised the balance. Amanda went even higher with a 4.5, enjoying the subtle sweetness and the cinnamon mixed into the drink.
Courtney and Kelly weren’t as convinced. Both preferred previous pumpkin chai offerings, with Courtney particularly missing that chai flavor.
Worth the Stop? Don’t expect an ultra-sweet Southern-style tea. This is a subtler drink, and whether that’s a positive may depend on how much you miss the previous pumpkin chai.
French Toast Cold Brew
Red Rose Taverne
Our Score: 4.25/5
Now this is how you make a flavored cold brew.
Made with Joffrey’s French Roast Cold Brew, brown sugar, and vanilla and topped with cinnamon cream and cinnamon cereal, this drink actually delivered what its name promised.
Kevin said it tasted like actual French toast. Courtney compared it to Cinnamon Toast Crunch, appropriately enough since that’s the cereal sitting on top.
Kelly gave it a perfect 5 and declared it her favorite cold brew of the day.
Worth the Stop? Sweet, cinnamon-forward, and exactly what we wanted from a seasonal cold brew.
Enchanted Pumpkin Stuff
Red Rose Taverne
Our Score: 5/5
We have a winner!
The Enchanted Pumpkin Stuff features a shortbread cookie with a miniature pumpkin pie inside, topped with pumpkin mousse, sprinkles, silver stars, and chocolate decorations.
Every single person at the table gave it a 5.
Kevin couldn’t decide whether he preferred this or the regular Grey Stuff but gave the seasonal version the edge. Courtney praised its pumpkin flavor. Kelly summed up our feelings perfectly: “This is what I want the other pumpkin things to taste like.”
Kim said she’d “get that all day long,” while Amanda praised the construction of the dessert itself. The shortbread cookie is sturdy enough to support everything piled onto it while still having a pleasant texture.
And unlike some of the massive treats we encountered earlier, this one is easy to share.
Worth the Stop? If you only get one pumpkin dessert from everything we tried, make it this one.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Pecan Caramel Crunch Cookie
Grand Californian Great Hall Cart
Our Score: 3.9/5
Because apparently we hadn’t eaten enough yet.
Our final treat was a giant house-made cookie filled with caramel bits, toasted pecans, and toffee.
Even Courtney, who doesn’t like pecans, still gave it a respectable 3. Kelly landed at 3.5, while Kevin and Kim each gave it a 4.
Amanda gave it a perfect 5 and wasn’t sure how they could make it any better: it’s massive, gooey from the caramel and toffee, and loaded with enough pecans to get some in practically every bite.
Worth the Stop? Rich, gooey, huge, and particularly worth seeking out if you love pecans.
Some Food For Thought
After eating our way through the Disneyland Resort, one thing became very clear: Halloween food can be wildly unpredictable.
Our biggest winner was the Enchanted Pumpkin Stuff, which earned a unanimous 5/5 and delivered exactly the kind of pumpkin flavor we wanted from a Halloween dessert. The Seaborn Sangria and Route 30 Brewing Co. Oktoberfest Lager also earned perfect averages from everyone who tried them, while the Oktoberfest Dog, DOLE Whip Pineapple-Orange with Guava Juice, Ube Flan Cake, French Toast Cold Brew, and Banana Bread Latte all landed among our favorites.
At the other end of the spectrum was the Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Roll, which earned just 0.5/5 and became the overwhelming miss of the day. The Darth by Chocolate Cold Brew also left us wanting significantly more from something with “chocolate” right there in the name.
But that’s also part of the fun of seasonal Disney food. Something one person loves might completely lose someone else—and sometimes the item you weren’t expecting much from becomes the thing everyone is fighting over at the table.
Now we want to hear from you: Which Disneyland Resort Halloween food are you most excited to try—and is there one you’ve already tried that you think we got completely wrong?
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