Ten items to tick off your foodie bucket list on a trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando. Eat and drink your way through Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, Smoked Turkey Legs, Corn Dogs, Dippin' Dots, Voodoo Doughnuts, Cinnabon, Pumpkin Pasties and Toothsome Milkshakes.
Holidays in Orlando are just as much about the food and drink as they are about the theme parks! We're not long back from a fortnight's holiday in Florida and spent our first week staying onsite at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and visiting the new Volcano Bay waterpark. Our accommodation was at the Hard Rock Hotel which comes with the added bonus of early entry to the parks and fast passes. Our holiday kicked off in style with lounge access at Glasgow airport thanks to Holiday Extras.
1. Butterbeer
For many people, myself included, it's the boy wizard rather than the mouse called Mickey which is the initial draw to Orlando. As such it's no surprise that Butterbeer kicks off this list. Available for purchase only within Hogsmeade within Islands of Adventure or Diagon Alley in Universal Studios it comes in five variants. Cold, frozen, warm, ice cream and fudge. You really need to try them all to find your favourite. As for the flavour I'd describe it as a cross between cream soda and butterscotch. Available in disposable or souvenir cups.
Where to buy it?
Grab a Butterbeer from one of the Butterbeer street carts or in Diagon Alley at the Leaky Cauldron or The Hopping Pot and in Hogsmeade from the Three Broomsticks or Hog’s Head pub.
The fudge is available at Honeydukes (Hogsmeade) and Sugarplum’s (Diagon Alley)
Soft serve ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream, The Hopping Pot (Diagon Alley) and the Three Broomsticks (Hogsmede).
2. Pumpkin Juice
Grab a Butterbeer from one of the Butterbeer street carts or in Diagon Alley at the Leaky Cauldron or The Hopping Pot and in Hogsmeade from the Three Broomsticks or Hog’s Head pub.
The fudge is available at Honeydukes (Hogsmeade) and Sugarplum’s (Diagon Alley)
Soft serve ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream, The Hopping Pot (Diagon Alley) and the Three Broomsticks (Hogsmede).
2. Pumpkin Juice
Pumpkin juice was my next must try drink thanks to my absolute obsession with all things pumpkin. It's available on draft in any of the Harry Potter themed restaurants but for the full experience I recommend you purchase it by the bottle. I think you are supposed to keep only the pumpkin lid as a souvenir but I've brought an empty bottle home as a Halloween decoration! The flavour is a very sweet apple juice with a hint of pumpkin spice. I think this is something that I might attempt to recreate a version off. Perhaps a festive warm and mulled version with a shot of something boozy!
3. Pumpkin Pastie
As soon as Harry bought Pumpkin Pasties from the trolley witch on the Hogwarts Express I knew I wanted to try them. I was slightly disappointed to find that they are pastie shaped rather than pumpkin shaped (so I made my own pumpkin shaped Pumpkin Pasties to rectify that) I also expected that like a Cornish Pastie they would be savoury but the filling is sweet like a Pumpkin Pie. Ideal washed down with a bottle of Pumpkin Juice.
4. Dippin' Dots
Dippin' Dots are a futuristic ice cream made with the aid of liquid nitrogen. They provide a rather strange sensation in terms of both taste and texture with the multitude of miniature spheres melting together in your mouth as you eat them. The range of flavours are almost as surreal as the eating experience and different carts throughout the parks sell different ones from fruity sorbets through to brownie batter and cookies 'n cream. There are also seasonal variants. I couldn't get enough of Spookies 'n Cream.
5. Voodoo Doughnuts
Located in Universal's CityWalk you'll spot Voodoo Doughnuts from it's bright pink exterior and huge queues outside. Best time to visit is late morning or early afternoon, otherwise be prepared for a long wait. Plenty of photo opportunities in the giant doughnut chair and lots of time to decide upon your purchases as the queue twists through the shop passing a rotating display of donuts. We forfeited the Voodoo Doll and instead went for PB&J, Maple Bacon Bar and Oh Captain My Captain. In comparison to all the other snacks we enjoyed these were an absolute bargain.
6. Smoked Turkey Legs
This is a snack that I vividly recall from my honeymoon in Disney World 20+ years ago so I was delighted to see that it still exists. I would defy someone to eat a whole turkey leg - we shared one between the four of us, huddled around ripping and gnawing the flesh off like cavemen! They are sold from hot food carts throughout the parks and we also had one as an entree platter with fries at the Classic Monsters Cafe in Universal Studios. It's not pretty to eat nor to look at but boy does it taste good! A swift restroom visit will be required to degrease face, hands and conscience after consumption.
7. Corn Dog
A sausage on a stick which has been coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried. What's not to like?! Whilst I'm a lover of corn bread I'm not really much of a hot dog fan however a corndog was most definitely on my foodie bucket list. Just as the sign says they are a foot long and come served on a skewer. Yellow mustard is the must have accompaniment.
8. Soft Drink Refill Cups
This is the most cost effective way to enjoy soft drinks within all three Universal parks (Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay). We shared one cup between the four of us and you can refill it every 10 minutes from a huge selection of drinks (over 100 choices) and slush. Unlimited refills are included on the day of purchase and each extra day of refills costs $8.99.
9. Milkshake at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savoury Feast Kitchen in Universal CityWalk is as famous for its mega milkshakes as it is for the steampunk decor. They are a meal in themselves and best enjoyed as a snack or a dessert rather than an actual drink. They come in a souvenir plastic mason jar which is yours to keep. Wait times are generally long for a table to dine but you can also buy them to take away. It's fascinating to watch them being made through the window into the kitchen.
10. Cinnabon
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