14 Iconic Disney World Desserts Ranked, According To Park Guests

Some people are there for the rides, some people are there for the characters, but we're at Disney World to do one thing and one thing only: eat. The "Most Magical Place on Earth" just so happens to be one of the tastiest, with over 27,520 acres stuffed with treats for all taste buds.

For those with a sweet tooth, selecting your next dish can be truly overwhelming. Disney does nothing by halves, and that includes the sheer creativity that goes into the desserts dotted at restaurants, cafes, and food stands throughout its parks and resorts. This is a place where you can find yourself nibbling on a straightforward chocolate chip cookie one minute, and eyeing up a colorful pudding inspired by an alien planet the next.

Of course, not everything is a hit. We've tried our fair share of Disney desserts over the years and can confirm that sometimes these creations are too ambitious (or too basic) for their own good. But sometimes, you come across a treat so delicious and so unique that it becomes as iconic as Mickey Mouse himself. With the help of reviews from fellow guests, we've compiled a list of the 14 desserts you need to try on your next Disney World vacation. All prices are accurate as of publication, but are always subject to change.

With its array of pavilions evoking cultures around the globe, EPCOT's World Showcase is the hub of Disney World's most novel culinary delights. When the sugar craving hits, we recommend heating straight for the France pavilion and ordering a Croque Glacé at L'Artisan des Glaces. A more sophisticated take on the standard ice cream sandwich, this involves a freshly-baked brioche filled with a scoop of ice cream (of which you can pick between the likes of cinnamon caramel apple or yogurt and blueberry) and the sauce of your choice for $9.50 apiece.

The end result is a wonderful contrast of hot, chewy bread and cold, indulgent ice cream that's filling enough to be a meal in its own right. This combo can be jarring to the senses, but as one fan explains on Tripadvisor, "At first, I was like 'Whoa, this is way too much bread and it's weird that there's ice cream inside,' but then I kept eating it and eating it ... and it just got better and better!" Disney World regulars consider this among the best ice cream on property, so while you could easily share a sandwich due to the size, you may find yourself hoarding one — or returning to work your way through its 13 other flavors.

Zebra Domes are more of an institution than a snack for diehard Disney World guests. Found exclusively at Animal Kingdom Lodge — the African-themed hotel on the cusp of three animal-packed savannas — each individual dome is a layer of cake and chocolate mousse baked into a coating of white chocolate and Amarula Cream liqueur, topped with chocolate stripes to mimic the fur of its namesake.

The texture of Zebra Domes is a dealbreaker for some people, with each bite managing to feel both creamy and gelatinous. As one fan explains on Reddit, they're "very similar to a tiramisu, and they just sort of melt in your mouth." Those who appreciate that texture, however, are extremely passionate about locking as many Zebra Domes into their Disney World vacation as possible. "You'd be shocked how easily you can knock these back," notes Disney Food Blog. At present, you can find these at The Mara (where they're available all-day-long for $4.59) and as part of the dessert bar at Boma — Flavors of Africa (where they're included in the $56 all-you-can-eat buffet).

On any given day, you may find yourself waiting longer for Gideon's Bakehouse than you would to ride Space Mountain or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The Disney Springs bakery's indulgent half-pound cookies are so popular with Disney World guests that it's often forced to deploy a virtual queue. Don't let that deter you; all of its doughy delights are worth the effort, with the Coffee Cake Cookie ($6) the cream of the chocolate-chip-coated crop.

This vanilla cookie stuffed with cinnamon swirl and topped with double-baked butter crumbs is limited to the bakery's Disney Springs location and often sells out in the early hours of the day — and for good reason. "Its like a giant snickerdoodle with extra cinnamon covered in strudel, and the cookie is that gloriously razor thin line between gooey and underdone," explains one Reddit user. If you don't make it before they sell out, Gideon's also sells a triple-chocolate version of its Coffee Cake Cookie come sunset which isn't quite on the same level as its vanilla-based sister, but still miles above most other cookies on property.

While we're talking about dessert that shouldn't work but do, we have to mention the Grapefruit Cake at The Hollywood Brown Derby. Inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, the relatively unassuming restaurant offers one of the more upscale dining experiences at Disney World, with this dessert often heralded as its standout dish.

Layers of moist vanilla sponge cake are sandwiched with cream cheese icing and drizzled with grapefruit syrup — plus an actual grapefruit garnish — to create something that's delightfully sweet and sour. The lack of overwhelming sweetness is what wins over most diners, with its most fanatical reviewers heralding it as a dessert designed for those who don't typically like dessert. "I can see where some people may be put off if they're expecting something very sweet and decadent," explains one fan on Reddit. "It's more subtly sweet and has a nice grapefruit tartness." At $14 a slice, this is best ordered by those with a minor sweet tooth — and probably not a dessert you'd want to split with your kids.

At this point, Dole Whips are as ubiquitous at Disney World as Mickey Mouse himself. Disney is so self-aware of its dessert's mega-success that it's plastered them on everything from Minnie ears to candles over the years. There's one simple explanation for its enduring legacy: it's just so darn delicious. You'll find the OG pineapple flavor at Magic Kingdom's Aloha Isle, where long lines tend to gather for a taste of the iconic dairy-free soft-serve ($5.99). Even better is the Pineapple Float ($6.99), combining Dole Whip with ice cream and pineapple juice — which, as Disney Food Blog explains, "is actually a little more tasty with the contrast of the vanilla soft-serve or swirl to add a little creaminess and a secondary flavor."

If you want to branch out, you can also enjoy orange and strawberry variations of Dole Whip (both $5.79) at Sunshine Tree Terrace, also in Magic Kingdom. We ranked pineapple first in our ranking of all the Dole Whip flavors, and it will always reign supreme in our eyes. However, we admit that the tangy orange is a close contender for the top spot — especially when combined with vanilla swirl ($5.29). As one extremely passionate Tripadvisor user puts it: "The divine combination of tangy, ice-cold orange juice soft serve swirled with creamy smooth vanilla soft serve MUST BE EXPERIENCED."

Sure, Mickey waffles are good, but Disney World's biggest foodies know that Sleepy Hollow's waffle sandwiches are where it's really at. The best of the best is its Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich ($8.49) — a flavor once limited to breakfast, but upgraded to an all-day menu item due to overwhelming demand for waffles stuffed with chocolate-hazelnut spread, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas.

For many, this is still the quintessential Disney World breakfast. Not only does it contain an exceedingly generous amount of fruit, but as Disney Tourist Blog points out, it still manages to retain "a certain fresh, homemade taste" often amiss from Disney's quick-service options. While you can expect a long wait (like we said, these waffles are extremely popular), it's worth the effort — especially if you're looking for a sweet snack big enough to split between your party. You may even find yourself coming back for more, just like one Tripadvisor reviewer who wrote: "The waffles are truly delicious, crunchy, and the Nutella really elevates everything ... Cheap eat, quick and yummy!"

This is it — the quintessential sweet treat at Walt Disney World, so in demand that Disney's even started selling boxed versions at grocery stores in 2019. We are, of course, talking about the legendary Mickey's Premium Bar ($6). Considerably bigger than those stocked in the frozen foods aisle, these wrap smooth vanilla ice cream in a thick layer of dark chocolate.

Available at kiosks around all four theme parks, plus the water parks, you're never too far from a Mickey Premium Bar. That's good news as they're utterly irresistible. No sound is quite as satisfying as that sharp crack of chocolate when you bite into the first ear (sorry, Mickey). Is this the most indulgent dessert on Disney property? No, but it is one of the most nostalgic, convenient, and iconic. "Somehow it being in a Mickey shape makes it 100 times yummier than any other ice cream out there," reasons Disney blogger Disney Dream Co. "It's just fact. Food shaped like Mickey is going to be better than non-Mickey shaped food."