BeaverTails Are Gone Again…Already?!
Beaver Tails are returning to EPCOT (…or not, see the update). This post covers what we know about this comeback tail, plus an answer to the question many confused readers will undoubtedly have: what the heck is a BeaverTail, anyway, and what does it have to do with Walt Disney World?! (Updated July 20, 2023.)
Let’s start with the basics. Per the official website, BeaverTails® are truly one of a kind–an irresistibly delicious, artisanal Canadian pastry, always there to share special moments that make lifelong memories. Wow.
BeaverTails has been an iconic indulgence in Canada since 1978, and today combine the original recipe with premium quality ingredients. Served piping-hot, the hand-stretched whole-wheat pastries are both crispy and chewy at the same time. BeaverTails truly are iconic in Canada, having been eaten by Matt Damon, Ron MacLean, Ed Sheeran, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, and U.S. President Barack Obama. BeaverTails were even featured in an episode of South Park. Double wow.
July 20, 2023 Update: In a somewhat surprising twist, Beaver Tails have been scrubbed from all previously-released press releases and menus for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. (H/t Scott Gustin.)
A few days after we published this post, which came after Walt Disney World quietly published EPCOT Food & Wine Festival menus online, Disney released its Foodie Guide to the event. That once again indicated that the “Cinnamon-Sugar Beaver Tail” was a new item coming to Refreshment Port, and included the following photo:
That photo has now been removed from the Foodie Guide, replaced with a poutine-only image, and the Cinnamon-Sugar Beaver Tail item has vanished.
We indicated above that this is only a somewhat surprising twist. That’s because the return of BeaverTails has felt a bit off from the get-go. As discussed in our original commentary, it was odd that Walt Disney World didn’t use proper branding and trademark symbols (e.g. Beaver Tail instead of the proper BeaverTails®).
I was then even more surprised when the Foodie Guide came out and Walt Disney World didn’t draw any attention to the partnership. This is certainly more exciting than CORKCICLE (no offense to that company or its fans), and that brand appears a dozen times in the post, including the title. But again, maybe a standalone announcement with more fanfare was still to come for BeaverTails.
Probably not. While we’ll never know what, exactly, transpired behind the scenes, my bet is that the culinary team was going to make their own version of the pastry and didn’t realize the name was protected by trademark. When it came to BeaverTails’ attention, they reached out or sent a cease and desist. It wouldn’t be the first time.
It’s also possible that the partnership between BeaverTails and Disney Corporate Alliances had yet to be finalized, and the parties couldn’t come to terms, so the deal fell through and the product was dropped from menus. More optimistically, maybe the deal is still in the process of being negotiated, menus were posted prematurely, and Disney Legal intervened until a contract is executed. This seems pretty unlikely to me, but who knows.
Again, we’ll probably never know for sure–unless the menu item reappears as BeaverTails®. I truly hope that’s the case, as I was over the moon about this surprise comeback and am now a bit bummed out (that’s a colossal understatement, but I don’t want to come across as melodramatic about a pastry).
The disappearance of BeaverTails before ever returning is very insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it feels a little like Walt Disney World snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It would’ve been such an easy little win with fans. Instead…this.
In any case, below is the original post, preserved for posterity…
BeaverTails were previously available in EPCOT Center at Trapper Bob’s Authentic Canadian Pastry Stand in the Canada pavilion. The menu advertised “a flat cooked whole wheat pastry, shaped like the tail of Canada’s favorite animal!”
At Trapper Bob’s, BeaverTails were priced between $3 and $3.50 (that’s U.S. dollars) as of the early 2000s. Trapper Bob’s served up BeaverTails with chocolate hazelnut and sugar, maple and chocolate, strawberries and whipped cream, apples and cinnamon, cinnamon and sugar, and Killaloe sunrise…whatever that is.
On one fateful night in 2005, a Canadian cold front descended upon Walt Disney World, and the legendary BeaverTails mysteriously vanished without a trace. All signs BeaverTails had ever been served at Trapper Bob’s disappeared without explanation. Had it all been a delicious dream? Was there a beaver shortage in the Great White North? Had Canadian Parliament placed tougher tariffs on this treasured national resource?
Picking up the cold case, Agent Cooper solved the mystery: Disney’s contract with BeaverTails was not renewed. This was followed by mass hysteria among the Walt Disney World faithful, including a petition to bring back the beloved BeaverTails. (In typical WDW fan fashion!) A cult following ensued, with BeaverTails being a common topic of conversation in the mid-aughts.
Unfortunately, unlike other snacks that Walt Disney World has brought back over the years, the BeaverTail has not had its own comeback story. This is despite some classics, like the Handwiches (or a version of it), returning to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival for the park’s 35th Anniversary.
There were also many deep cuts on the special menus for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, but alas, no BeaverTails. It seemed like the window of opportunity for this venerable Canadian pastry to return had closed, with a nearly two-decade long absence being the kiss of death for fan interest and internal awareness.
For our part, we’ve kept the hope alive. BeaverTails made the list of 10 Extinct Things We Miss That Walt Disney World Should Bring Back, making the list alongside such classics as Country Bear Christmas and Adventurers Club.
We’ve also implored Disney’s culinary team to bring back BeaverTails in every single iteration of our Canada Booth Menu & Review for the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival over the course of the last decade. Other than those posts, it’s rare to find current mention of BeaverTails these days; Walt Disney World fans are no longer really clamoring for its comeback, sadly.
So it came as an immense surprise, that while combing through the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Booth Menus that were quietly posted on DisneyWorld.com yesterday, I spotted this entry for Refreshment Port:
I could not believe my eyes and about fell out of my seat. I immediately took to social media where, I assumed, I’d see my fellow fans jumping for joy. Nothing. I checked out other sites. Nada. Searched for vlogs on the major news. Zilch. Checked out all of the official BeaverTails social media channels for an announcement. Crickets.
I’ve started to think that maybe I’m crazy. Is this version of the menu only loading for me? (It isn’t.) Where have all the cowboys BeaverTail fans gone? This should be an exciting announcement, on par with the Muppet Labs coming to Brew-Wing booth!
My best guess is that most fans these days are too young to remember the heyday of the BeaverTails at Walt Disney World. Not to date myself too much, but even though the BeaverTails disappeared in the mid-aughts, they were on life support by that time. Trapper Bob’s had already long ago gone seasonal and reportedly cut corners in the BeaverTail prep process when it was open, one of many post-9/11 cuts at Walt Disney World.
The true golden age of the BeaverTail at Walt Disney World was the late 1990s and into the Millennium Celebration at EPCOT. Many of us who were fans back then were kids, and perhaps the pastry didn’t leave as lasting of an impression as Horizons or Figment. Fair enough. The fandom has also had a lot of churn since then, with one to two diabolical Bobs doing their best to alienate the longtime lovers of Walt Disney World.
Before I get carried away with excitement and hype, it is worth mentioning that the official menu lists this as a “Beaver Tail” instead of “BeaverTails®” and that is noteworthy. Normally, Disney is a stickler for vernacular and IP protection, careful to use proper branding and trademark symbols, even for third party marks. (Hence it being a DOLE® Whip instead of a Dole Whip on menus.)
In theory, it’s possible that this item is not a real BeaverTail and is instead a knock-off or a totally different item that’s coincidentally named. But that would be a pretty big coincidence. My guess is that this was posted prematurely and hadn’t gone through the proper layers of approval before appearing online. (In the Muppet Lab announcement, Disney said menus were coming soon. In actuality, they were quietly posted to the official site simultaneously.)
If this feels far-fetched, you’ve clearly never seen an “EPOCT” sign in the wild. Typos happen all the time at Walt Disney World. It’s almost inexplicable how common they are given the bloated bureaucracy of Disney.
Whenever Walt Disney World does “announce” the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival menus, I’d expect to see attention drawn to the comeback of the BeaverTails and the typo corrected.
Taking that a step further, my hope is that the current refurbishment of Refreshment Port (scheduled to last until July 27, when it reopens on the same day that the festival starts) is to expand and equip its kitchen to serve up these classic Canadian pastries. Here’s hoping that BeaverTails become a permanent thing at Walt Disney World again, and develop an all-new fan following.
We’ve had BeaverTails on a few occasions since they left Walt Disney World. The first time I spotted BeaverTails in the wild was about a decade ago, in Banff while prepping for an overnight hike in Yoho National Park along the Odaray Highline Trail.
Certain experts say that BeaverTails are the perfect fuel for hiking the Canadian Rockies. (For the purposes of this post, I’m going to consider myself a hiking expert, and I just said that.) Upon entering, I discovered it wasn’t simply a matter of approaching the cash register and requesting “one of your finest beaver tails.” The BeaverTails menu offered an embarrassment of riches for toppings choices.
I still fondly recall my first time. That’s in part because it was so memorable and in part because I oddly documented the entire experience in a trip report about hiking in the Canadian Rockies. (I don’t remember portions of major hikes that I did, but do vividly recollect this. Checks out.)
I asked the BeaverTailrista what she recommended for a BeaverTail virgin, and she responded without hesitation that you have to do the “classic” No. 1 your first time, but that they could do half and half so I could try another flavor as well. Perfect.
Since approximately 63% of Canada’s economy is supported by Maple syrup exports, I figured the “Maple Flavoured Spread” would be the best option. Plus, the BeaverTailrista recommended it as the second most popular choice. (For those who don’t speak Canadian, “Flavoured” roughly translates to “Flavored.”)
Sarcasm aside, this dessert was glorious. The pastry was soft and with a slight sponginess and elasticity that made it far superior to an elephant ear, but still somewhat similar in style.
While the cinnamon and sugar variety of the BeaverTail is excellent, the version with toppings is even better.
I’m far from a BeaverTails expert, but of the toppings I’ve tried, the Maple spread is the one that’s truly out of this world. Rich, decadent, and extremely sugary (as would be expected), it was a real treat. We’ve since eaten more BeaverTails in Vancouver, and the delicious pastries held up there.
My hope is that the classic cinnamon and sugar BeaverTail is such a hit at Walt Disney World that they expand and add toppings in the future. It’s not a huge win or something that’ll win back former Walt Disney World diehards who are disillusioned with the trajectory of the company, but it’s a step in the right direction and a sweet story showing that there are still old-timers around who care.
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Your Thoughts
Have you tried a BeaverTail? If so, was it a life-changing experience? Where else have you spotted the elusive BeaverTails? How many miles would you trek through the snow, barefoot, to savor the sweet taste of a BeaverTail? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
This is the content I come to this site for. Bravo. Now, I have to go…I think I have something in my eye.
This is amazing … but it’s making me feel old because I might have dialed up into Usenet to complain about this.
Whoo HOOOOO! Do we need a petition to make them permanent? I would go to Epcot for the sheer enjoyment of a BeaverTails. Needless to say they won’t be $3.50 or even $5 but my mouth is already watering…..thanks for the update and keep us informed of what’s happening.
When it comes to Walt Disney World, nothing talks louder than money. If BeaverTails sell well (and my expectation is that they will), no further words or guest feedback is necessary.
It’s about time! When I saw the headline it immediately brought back fond memories! I hope they are as good as I remembered them to be.
Nova Scotia girl here to second your vote/support for the Maple Beaver Tail. I am also hoping for a more permanent return with the toppings option.
My family and I reminisce about the Canadian Epcot Beaver Tails every time we walk through that area. (They aren’t that easy to find in Canada unless you are in a touristy area.)
I mention it every single time we go to Epcot. Where are the Beavertails?!?!? Now we need good Roots merch back in the gift shop.
Oh my! We’re coming to WDW next month from UK after 3 years planning. Soooo excited and now more so to hear Beaver Tails are in Epcot. I first heard about these in 2003 when visiting Canada and found them in a booth by the chateau in Quebec. Certainly lived up to expectations and can’t wait to try them again and introduce them to my family. Too much to ask that’s there’s likely to be a gluten free version for my granddaughter who has Caeliac? Thanks Tom for your blog- they’ve kept us going for the last 3 years and can’t wait to put your tips into practice.
Given the way the company went after a food blogger for calling her recipe a beaver tail, I can’t see them not going after Disney if Disney was going to sell their own version. https://globalnews.ca/news/3878003/beavertails-apologizes-to-calgary-food-blogger-over-trademark-flap/
We had a flight that was delayed in Montreal for 24 hours in 2018 so we decided to explore the city. Thankfully, we came upon BeaverTails. We were hooked! We had mapped out the BeaverTail locations in the Nova Scotia ports our DCL cruise was supposed to go to in 2019, but unfortunately a hurricane changed our path and we didn’t get to go. Last summer we did a 4500 mile road trip that included a lot of British Columbia and Alberta. My daughter made sure we hit every BeaverTail spot we could find. She just went on a trip to Toronto with her dad and had to introduce him to BeaverTails too. We would be very excited if they returned to Epcot (permanently)!
I laughed out loud multiple times reading this post and just had to come comment /brag that as Canadians, living near Toronto – we get BeaverTails all the time! They have them at Canada’s Wonderland and the Toronto Zoo. Having lived in Ottawa as a teenager, I did get to try them first in the Byward Market. They definitely are not $3 here sadly, closer to $10 Canadian each.
So you’re saying there’s a chance for the return of Adventurers Club??? (cue Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber)
Kungalosh!
Beaver Tails are the best! I lived in Ottawa for years and got spoiled, never was I so excited to see a temporary o e show up in Saint John, New Brunswick during the summer cruise ship season. I’ll have to hunt one down when we go to Disney this October.
I recently had one for the first time. I live in Canada and it was a strawberry cheesecake BeaverTail. It was amazing! Can’t wait to have another one.
❤️beaver tail ❤️ I shared many a tail with my Grandparents in 1996 – we kept going back for them and it was their favorite treat from Epcot. I had no idea where they went when I visited as an adult and just figured it was some funnel cake dream- now I will have the chance to share this iconic treat with my family!
Great news. I live in Eastern Ontario and I’m more likely to get a BeaverTail in Epcot than I am in Canada. You can only find them in a few places in Canada including tourist spots like Banff, the Rideau Canal skating area in Ottawa, possibly at the Ex (Toronto National Exhibition) and maybe the Calgary Stampede. Once in a blue moon there’s a mobile booth that shows up to small regional festivals in Ontario. Very small scale distribution. The majority of Canadians have never heard of them much less enjoyed one. ps Killaloe is a small town in Eastern Ontario in the Ottawa Valley. BeaverTails was created by a small businessman in Killaloe in the late 70s as a roadside treat catering to local cottagers and summer visitors. The Killaloe Sunrise is one of the original OG pastries. It’s the only one I’ve had. It is glorious. The combo of cinnamon, sugar and lemon juice is supposed to vaguely look like a bright orange sunrise. The lemon cuts the high sugar and provides a beautiful balance. Try it if you can get it. I hope the licensing agreement eventually allows for a few flavours. Guessing the basic cinnamon and sugar is a trial balloon and if sales support it, we’ll see a few more offerings. There will be many, many happy guests once they find out they’re back. That stand may need a lightning lane of its own. Re licensing, the company has struggled over the years and never managed to expand. Ownership has changed hands over the years. Looks like it’s franchise based now. I haven’t seen a regional truck at any local festivals for over 10 yrs. I’ll be curious to see if there is actually a licensing agreement or if corporate has determined none is needed because of the company’s situation. And given how many years the pastry has been on the market, it’s possible puff pastries with sweet toppings are now public domain. If it is a knock off and not the real deal, that will be problematic for many reasons including flavour and quality. But I’d be surprised if WDW used the very same or nearly same name without an agreement. We shall see what happens.
They have exploded in Southern Ontario. There is one in the small plaza by my house in Burlington now. Also Waterloo, Mississauga. It doesn’t quite have the same atmosphere as Byward Market or Banff but satisfies the craving.
But if they are like you remembered why wouldn’t they be serving them in Canada? Hmmmm?
I remember Beaver Tails & I can’t believe they are back! We even told our kids about them & tried making our own version at home although it just wasn’t the same. They didn’t get the hype, but they have never tried them at EPCOT. We will be there in few weeks & we can’t wait to share this with them.
I’m Canadian and I’ve never had a beaver tail! I will have to try one someday!
Love the enthusiasm! Keep Disney in check, reminding them it’s always the little things that matter, not just the headline grabbers.
A squeeze of lemon over sugar is fantastic. I’ve had them while skating on a frozen canal in Ottawa. The bevertail’s were made in huts that were on the frozen canal! Great fun.