Hey there, Duncan. Welcome to
planDisney, and thanks for bringing this great question to me. You just called out three of my favorite attractions at the Disneyland Resort, and you asked me to talk about food, so get ready to have your ear talked right off. Prepare yourself!
Let’s harken back to the age-old saying, “the early bird gets the not-so-terribly-long line.” I’m a morning person in general, which really aligns with getting into the parks and in line for one of these attractions as soon as possible. I actually had the pleasure of visiting Disney California Adventure this morning! The crowds seemed a little light today anyway, but I think the morning is usually the way to go. We waited about 20 minutes for
Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!, and about 15 minutes for
Incredicoaster. If you're hoping to beat the line for
Space Mountain, rope drop and head straight there.
The other time that you might be able to get through a ride line without much of a wait is the end of the night, but you’ll need to time it just right and be ready to skip the other end-of-day festivities, like fireworks or the second parade (if there is one). This time of year also has Oogie Boogie Bash nights, which means DCA closes at 6:00 PM. I think guests have caught on to this and avoid visiting on these days, so the crowds are less intense. Maybe a park-hopper that starts in California Adventure and ends in Disneyland Park on an Oogie Boogie night would be the way to go.
Regarding niche food, I’ve got a few suggestions. The best two items around are at quick-service restaurants right next to each other. Go to Hollywoodland and get the
Asada Fries from Award Wieners, and the
Affogato from Schmoozies! The Asada Fries are quite possibly the most Californian item anywhere in the park, and they are a delicious meal for one or a snack for two. Buy many, buy often. The Affogato is a vanilla ice cream cup with hot espresso shots pulled right into the ice cream. It gets all melty and creamy, so they serve it with a spoon and a straw. Life-changing!
Maurice’s Treats is in Disneyland near the Royal Theatre by Sleeping Beauty Castle, and they serve the very popular Cheesy Garlic Pretzel Bread. They now serve different options, like the CGPB with a bratwurst, and a breakfast version that includes scrambled eggs and sausage. Personally, I’ll take just the bread, but I can see how guests would like both versions. Maurice’s Treats also serves the Chocolate Croissant Cookie, which ruined my life on my last visit. I now require one Chocolate Croissant Cookie per visit. It looks like they took a chocolate croissant, sprinkled it with sugar, and put it in a hot sandwich press. Sounds odd, I know, but the result is a flaky, gooey piece of chocolate heaven. This cookie is pretty large, so plan to share.
Duncan, you obviously got me all fired up. I’m seriously considering getting back in my car to go get some snacks at the parks now. I hope this helps with your strategy for your next visit and you get to try some of these delicious bites. If you have more questions, let me know, or just come on back to planDisney.
Have a magical day,
Corey