Best Hollywood Studios Snacks
Hollywood Studios has a reputation as being the worst ‘food park’ for counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World. As such, you might be better off grazing on various savory snacks and decadent desserts rather than sitting down for a full meal. (Updated December 23, 2019.)
In this post, we scour Disney’s Hollywood Studios in search of the best snacks, and share with you both the sweets and heavier, shareable options that you can order in lieu of a proper counter service meal. Going this route the first half of the day and then doing a sit-down dinner (there are actually a trio of table service restaurants we like at DHS) is a pretty sound touring strategy.
One thing I should caution is that the menus at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are constantly in flux. In this park, menus change with the wind. Plus, now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open there are a bunch of new culinary concoctions, drinks, and other new snack-worthy items…
Later in the year, it’s also worth noting that the holiday season brings with it a ‘bonus’ round of snacks, some of which are quite good. If you’re planning a November or December visit, supplement this post with our Christmas Snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios post.
With that said, here are the snacks we currently enjoy the most at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
Carrot Cake Cookie – The Third to Last O.G. of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios snack scene, this glorious treat predates half the attractions in the park (probably–I didn’t actually do a count). Previously a Disney fan hidden gem found at Writer’s Stop, it has since moved to the Trolley Car Cafe Starbucks at the front of the park.
Like a fine wine, the Carrot Cake Cookie has gotten better with age. When it first moved to Trolley Car Cafe, it started being made with thicker cookies, which would’ve been an upgrade but for it throwing the ever-important cream cheese to cookie ratio all out of whack. It was the biggest controversy of its time, making stroller-gate look like a minor matter.
In a bold move, Walt Disney World invited distinguished scientists from all over the world to come and work on a solution. Fortunately, all of them showed up. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they worked round the clock, endeavoring to find a bold fix. They did, and the end result is thick, moist cookies with a generous layer of rich cream cheese that complements the sweetness of the carrot cake flavor perfectly. This is one of the few absolute must-order snacks at Walt Disney World, and you really need to taste it to believe it.
Butterfinger Cupcake – Now know as the PB Crunch Cupcake (presumably due to trademark uses?), this has been another mainstay of the Walt Disney World snack scene for as long as we’ve been visiting Walt Disney World as adults. It was originally a gigantic cupcake at Starring Rolls, and eating it alone was almost a herculean challenge.
Today’s version is found at the Trolley Car Cafe Starbucks. It’s smaller and more expensive, but every bit as delicious. Personally, I’ve become apprehensive of most cupcakes at Walt Disney World since the size to price ratio is no longer favorable, but this remains a snack we recommend with tepid enthusiasm.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake – Here’s the final member in our trio of classic Disney’s Hollywood Studios snacks (all of which, I believe, actually date back to when this park was the Disney-MGM Studios). Available at Tune-In Lounge, the bar side of 50’s Prime Time Cafe, this is one of our go-to desserts on hot days.
The normal version of this is the PB&J Milkshake. However, thanks to the miracles of modern technology, chocolate can be added to really up the ante. Both taste pretty much as described, which is to say, fantastic. I personally prefer the chocolate-added version, which is probably what it’d taste like if you blended vanilla ice cream, jelly, and Reese’s cups. Okay, perhaps that description doesn’t make it sound fantastic, but it is.
Ronto Wraps – There are a few snacks in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that are arguably worthy of making this list. While we’d recommend giving both Blue and Green Milk a try (and sharing each of them before determining if they’re to your tastes), the Ronto Wraps are unquestionably the stars of the show–and items everyone should order.
These come in a couple of varieties. First up is the Ronto Morning Wrap, which contains scrambled eggs, grilled pork sausage, shredded cheddar, and peppercorn sauce wrapped in a pita. Next, is the regular Ronto Wrap, which is all of that minus egg and cheese, but with roasted pork. Finally, there’s the Endorian Chicken Wrap, which contains marinated chicken, cucumber relish, yogurt, and feta pesto sauce.
The question here is “which one?” Personally, we think the Ronto Morning Wrap and regular Ronto Wrap are of equal quality–and both superior to the Endorian Chicken Wrap. Consider getting one of each and sharing. These could be entree-sized, but with no sides, they’re more like a glorified hot dogs that are addictively good but not particularly filling.
Anything at Baseline Tap House – In typical Disney’s Hollywood Studios fashion, we pass the baton from the old guard to the new one. Baseline Tap House has an excellent selection of beer, a chill outdoor seating area, and a seriously underrated trio of food items.
Our favorites at Baseline Tap House are the Bavarian Pretzel (best pretzel at Walt Disney World), California Cheese and Charcuterie Plate (a great value and nice for snacking on while drinking), and the Coffee-rubbed Rib-eye Steak Puff with Olive Salad (somewhere between a snack and entree; it’s deliciously decadent). I absolutely love the steak puff, and even though it’s on the smaller side, it definitely qualifies as a shareable counter service meal replacement (or at least part of one).
Key Lime Pie on a Stick – This seems to be the latest food trend at Walt Disney World, with three different key lime pies on a stick currently available. While we can’t endorse the trend, this is a tasty treat. The key lime pie has a really zesty and tart flavor, packing a lot of punch in a relatively small dessert. The white chocolate exterior doesn’t do a ton for me, but it’s still a good dessert, overall.
Honorable mention here to the Nom Nom Cookie, which is huge and soft in the center. It’s almost like a cookie pie. However, it doesn’t hold a candle to the Carrot Cake Cookie, so it doesn’t make the list.
S’more French Toast Sandwich – As with Baseline Tap House, there are also three different things at Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land that we think are worth mentioning. First up is from the breakfast menu, for those wanting to start your snacking a bit earlier in the day.
It’s considered an entree, but here’s the description: marshmallow and chocolate ganache stuffed in grilled custard soaked brioche encrusted with graham cracker crumbs. That’s what we call an “only on vacation breakfast entree.” As you might imagine, it’s powerfully sweet, and will lead to an intense sugar rush followed by a crash a few hours later. It’s definitely a smart idea to treat this as a snack and split it.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Lunch Box Tart – You’ll also find this Pop Art-esque treat at Woody’s Lunch Box, and it’s one of the best snack values at Walt Disney World.
The pastry here is clearly of a higher, flakier quality and the maple spread coupled with the Nutella inside is to die for. It could use about 10000% more bacon on top (better yet, just serve it with a pound of bacon on the side), but that’s a minor quibble for an otherwise excellent dessert.
Totchos – Another item at Woody’s Lunch Box, and another thing that Disney views as an entree, but you should not. These are potato barrels covered with beef and slathered with bean chili, shredded cheese and signature queso with tomatoes, corn chips, sour cream, and a sprinkle of green onions.
Delicious and healthy…or not. These are a bit like the savory version of the Kitchen Sink over at Beaches & Cream, except smaller and with all of the flavors working in concert. One of the more sizable snacks on this list, this is one to split between a couple people if you’re starting to get hungry but still have a few hours until your dinner Advance Dining Reservation.
That covers it for our recommended snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a short list (for now), but it packs a powerful punch. A few of the items are iconic, must-order treats, rather than a sea of ‘good but not amazing’ items you might find elsewhere. That’s pretty consistent with Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in general. There aren’t a ton of attractions, but the top-tier headliners are among the best in all of Walt Disney World.
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Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our favorite snacks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Have any others you think deserve to make the list? Anything we’ve included that you would not recommend? 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!
Where do you find the key lime on a stick at?
Nothing at the taphouse takes snack credits just an FYI…
We love Prime Time Cafe and the adults in our family usually get the sampler which to us seems reasonably priced for Disney. You can get a shake for your drink as part of your meal. If this still holds true kids can order from the adult menu as the dining credits are not separated as adults and children’s.
Wondering if they are going to bring back the large Mickey shortbread cookie filled with Jam that Starbucks introduced in the past – it’s plenty for a family of 4 to share and very good. They use to have a good size delicious brownie with or without walnuts considered a snack credit but last couple of times they don’t seem to have it anymore.
Wish they would bring back the Stars Wars Sci/Fi breakfast we loved it and the grandchildren ate well and were so excited meeting the Star Wars characters.
The French Toast pretzel at the Joffrey cart is also delicious!
It’s the NAPOLEON at Trolley Car Cafe!!!
I saved this. We have never had any of these!
“In a bold move, Walt Disney World invited distinguished scientists from all over the world to come and work on a solution. Fortunately, all of them showed up. ”
HA! Including Professor Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker?!
I’m a counter service kind of girl and that is one thing I hate about HS. There isn’t any good counter service restaurants. I don’t want snacks especially all sweets. And I don’t like to do big sit down meals. Last time we went to the Tune-In bar and did have Aunt Liz’s fried chicken which was really good. I’m always hungry when we go to HS.
I think/hope this will change with Star Wars land. Not just in Galaxy’s Edge, but outside the land. Disney wants to essentially relaunch Hollywood Studios, and a lot of changes are going to be made between now and this fall.
Let’s hope that more new menus at counter service restaurants are among those changes.
I want more savory snacks in HS. One of my favorite things about Animal Kingdom is you can get savory snacks at nearly every cart or counter service. HS is sugar central and not what I want on a hot summer day.
I totally agree Kenz. I like sweets but I don’t like to overload and when I’m hungry that’s not what I’m looking for. I always have a hard time with food at HS.
The Totchos bowl is so good! My family of three split it after riding Slinky Dog Dash. Mobile order for the win! We also shared the the carrot cake cookie and loved it! It was super sweet so we are glad we shared it.
We really miss Starring Rolls or Roy’s Rolls as we call it ( a cafe in a U.K soap)
We hate Starbucks and they seem to be taking over everywhere. Such a shame.
Carrot cake cookie is extremely overrated. I say this as a fan of carrot cakes and cookies. It tastes good, but it’s not the Jesus of cookies that bloggers hype it up as.
We went on the hyped up snack hunt last visit, and where underwhelmed! Everything from peanut butter pie from contempo cafe, carrot cake cookie, butterfinger cupcake, and others, All too sweet and over hyped! Our favorite is the giant Mickey cinnamon roll from Starbucks in Animal Kingdom.
Can you just go and get a pb&j milkshake without eating a meal at 50’s? Also does it count as a snack on the dining plan ?
Yes, there is a walk up bar inside that you can sit and have a drink (or a meal) or get a drink to go. The shakes are not a snack credit.
With dining plan, the $9 PBJ shake would count as your drink with a TS credit but it’s not offered as a snack credit.
“Hollywood Studios has a reputation as being the worst ‘food park’ for counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World.”
Tom, have you never been to Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano?!?! I was looking for your review on this restaurant but didn’t see one.
If not, you should definitely try it out. This is a must hit spot for my family every time we visit Disney World. The charred strip steak and 4 cheese macaroni are amazing. 🙂
The last time we dined there was about a decade ago, so I don’t have any recent, relevant experiences. We are planning on going back soon.
With that said, I think DHS is weak on the counter service front–not table service. I absolutely love Sci-Fi, and although we don’t do 50’s Prime Time or Brown Derby as much due to the cost of each, they’re also excellent themed restaurants. Maybe Mama Melrose will be added to that trio for us soon!
I went to Mama Melrose for the first time last June & it was a major flop for us – over use of salt, my entree looked like it had been left under a heat lamp for a good 6 months, and because we were a 2 we were seated in the hallway and spent the entire meal being knocked into by cast and guests alike. Your mileage may vary of course, but it will take some doing to get us back there.
Those totchos though – so excited to try them – love that they have veggie chilli as well as the meat version.
ugh on mama melrose. we’ve tried it twice over the years and were extremely underwhelmed. they need to advertise it as “california inspired italian” and not straight “italian” because they are two very distinct things. and last time we went, which was probably 10 years ago, everything we were served was overcooked or straight up burned. the pizza flatbread was inedible. it was so bad we swore of it forever. the two best restaurants, 50s and Sci Fi sadly have never been a part of the fantasmic package.
Mama melroses was the best meal we have had at Disneyworld! Tho we ordered steak. Soo delicious we went back and ordered it again two days later. Yumm try it!
Mama Melrose’s tends to get a bad rap on the internet, but we’ve eaten there a few times over the years and have enjoyed it. Perhap’s I’m not picky about my American-Italian food.
You mention the strip steak, Devin – i had that years ago when we could travel during “free dining” season. Perhaps I hit just a particularly good day, but that was the best steak I’ve ever had at WDW.
Positive experience here, and we’re slightly picky as most.
The Mama Melrose menu has improved in recent years. The experience may suffer if they’re really busy tho.
Question about the Carrot Cake Cookie and the PB Crunch Cupcake. Are they usually still available in the evening? I’m doing a Disney After Hours even at Hollywood Studios next month, so I won’t be able to get into the park until 7:00 PM.
I’m honestly not in Trolley Car Cafe enough to comment on this with authority, but when we were in there over the weekend to buy that Carrot Cake Cookie, there were full cases of both after 6 p.m.
Generally speak, the in-park Starbucks see surges of guests late at night (for reasons that confound me), so I’d hazard a guess they keep snacks stocked.
I never found the PB crunch cupcake (checked Starbucks) and am seeing a trend of less cupcakes all around. A CM in February told me there’s a new chef in town who is less inclined to have cupcakes in the parks. And where is the Key Lime on a stick?
Love the reference to Muppet-Vision 3D in the discussion of the carrot cake cookie!
In spite of my daughter and I being cream cheese icing fans, we’ve somehow never had the carrot cake cookie… I always fall for the Butterfinger cupcake instead (which remains my favorite WDW snack).
Did the Napoleon disappear when Starring Rolls closed? That was also really good.
The totchos actually sound really good. You’ve got beans and tomatoes for the vegetable category, dairy in the cheese/sour cream, whole grains in the corn chips, protien from teh beans and a tiny bit of the potato. I’ll call it healthy! 🙂
I’m surprised you’ve never had the carrot cake cookie. You’ve been around the fan community long enough to remember when it was the “it” snack at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After falling off in quality, it once again consistently has a generous amount of cream cheese–and is fantastic.
On the other hand, the Butterfinger Cupcake has gotten progressively smaller and I think (but can’t prove) that the recipe has changed for the worse.
The Napoleon is still around…I think. It was earlier in the year, at least. I didn’t see it when we were at Trolley Car Cafe over the weekend, but some of their stuff rotates.