Okay, before all of the Disney Hollywood Studios fans start the comments – relax and read the challenges we encountered.
We are huge Walt Disney World fans and always eat on property when we go. COVID precautions have changed a lot of things, and dining is one of them.
Mobile Food Orders
In our previous blog post, Disney’s Animal Kingdom During COVID-19, we talked a little bit about Mobile Ordering. Today we’re diving deeper into this because it is an absolute MUST for an enjoyable experience dining at Walt Disney World.
So, do not pass go, do not collect $200 – download the Disney World APP on your phone. Get it set up linking to your credit card! Seriously, you will thank us. In general, the app is HUGE for helping you navigate the park. And, be sure you connect to the Disney Guest WIFI when you enter the park.
Every Quick Serve restaurant is set up for mobile ordering – PERIOD. It takes some planning because most have limited time slots because of seating limitations. But more on that later.
Hollywood Scoops!
Hollywood Scoops is one of the food kiosks along the left side of Sunset Boulevard on your way to Tower of Terror and Rockin’ Roller Coaster. They offer hand-dipped ice cream and sundaes. As it was overcast with a drizzle the day we were there, and a bit early, there was no line.
We were there for one of the iconic Walt Disney World treats. For years when we visited the Magic Kingdom, our breakfast was an ice cream sandwich at the Main Street Bakery. Two huge, fresh-baked, chocolate chip cookies with several scoops of ice cream in the middle. Don’t judge; it was AMAZING, and because it was breakfast, we burned off the calories during the day.
You used to be able to get this at Hollywood Scoops – BUZZ. Hollywood Studios Food Fail #1
Redeeming Quality:
They do offer Guests the option of fat-free and sugar-free vanilla ice cream options.
Eating and Drinking While Stationary
During the age of COVID, the phrase “Eating and Drinking While Stationary” has become as well known as “Por favor, mantenganse alejado de las puertas.” You’ll hear announcements that include this comment all day long.
We get it! People who don’t want to wear a mask properly walked around the park with a soda or snack in their hands and their masks pulled down. So, Disney is asking people to stand in one place, to take a seat on a bench or at a table to remove their masks to eat or drink.
It makes perfect sense. However, because of that, it seems like some of the snack kiosks are fairly limited.
Woody’s Lunch Box – Toy Story Land
We LOVE Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land. It’s adorable, has a decent amount of outdoor seating, and the food is so much fun!
On previous trips, we made a Slinky Dog Dash for the “Totchos.” These are tater tots smothered with Beef and Bean Chili, Shredded Cheese and Queso, Tomatoes, Corn Chips, Sour Cream, and Green Onions.
On this trip, we thought we might grab a Lunch Box Tart. These are grownup Pop Tarts, Hand Pies, or Hot Pockets, and they sound amazing.
They are currently offered in three flavors.
- Chocolate-Hazelnut – Chocolate-Hazelnut stuffed Pastry coated in Maple Fondant and Candied Bacon.
- Lemon-Blueberry – Lunch Box Tart with Blueberry Filling, Frosting, and a taste of Lemon
- Raspberry – Raspberry Marmalade stuffed Pastry coated in a Strawberry Fondant and Crispy Pearls.
Let’s be honest, they all sound amazing, but they had us at Maple Bacon and would have been so Instagram-worthy!
But alas, with mobile ordering, the timeslot was an hour and fifteen minutes from the time we were standing there craving a sweet treat after coming off of Slinky Dog Dash.
We didn’t want to sit at one of the closely monitored, roped-off dining tables (all good things!); we just wanted to take one to the bench where we were sitting. Hollywood Studios Food Fail #2
As Easy As ABC?
We knew we needed to plan ahead to order lunch. So before wandering through Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we jumped on the app and ordered lunch for later in the afternoon at the ABC Commissary.
What used to be fairly mediocre park burgers has taken a big step up in recent years. It has been a go-to Quick Serve because it offered some wonderful new foods, healthy options.
So, we found and bench. Looked through our options and place orders for our lunch.
Don’t Be Chicken
Mark went with the Chicken Club ($11.99) Marinated Chicken Breast served on a Toasted Brioche Bun topped with Bacon, Provolone, Guacamole, Ranch Dressing, Lettuce, and Tomato served with choice of Side.
For his side, he chose the Arugula and Farro Salad – a healthier option than Fries. It has Arugula, Farro, Granny Smith Apples, Dried Cranberries, Plant-based Parmesan, and Pecans tossed in a Dijon Vinaigrette.
The first photo from the Walt Disney World website and the second was Mark’s lunch. We completely understand food photography. It wasn’t bad- it was just a little blah. The salad especially was lacking ‘stuff’; there was very little farro or apples.
Chuck went with the delicious-sounding Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($10.99). It is “Grilled Sourdough toasted with Buffalo Chicken, Monterey, Provolone, Cheddar, and Cream Cheese served with a side of Buffalo Sauce and your choice of Side.”
We specifically put this in quotation marks because we took the description right off the Disney website. For us, NOWHERE does it say ‘buffalo chicken dip.’ This was our Hollywood Studios Food Fail #3!
Check out our picture! It was a spicy chicken mush sandwich. It had no texture, not much Buffalo spice, and it really could have been any mystery meat.
Other Commissary Challenges
After you place your order, you need to arrive outside of the ABC Commissary before your appointed time and check in on your app and find a place to hang out outside.
We’re not sure the app specifically tells you to check-in, so be sure you do. You will get a notification that your food is ready, and you’ll show that to the Cast Member at the door. You then proceed to the counter and get your food and any condiments.
Food was trayed up and ready when we walked up. We had ordered sodas on the app – for $3.99 EACH. As they are not doing self-serve drink – which we are fine with – you walk up to a masked, gloved Cast member who is dispensing sodas. FOR ANYONE WHO WALKS UP!!!
Additionally, when we finished eating, we thought we might split a Red Velvet Whoopi Pie or at least get one for later. Nope, when we clicked into the app to try to place an order, we got a return window for over an hour later.
The Good News
Truthfully, we know that these are first-world problems and really had a nice day at Hollywood Studios.
The precautions they are taking are incredible. Guests, or at least 99% of them, are wearing masks properly, staying six feet apart where ever possible, and using the hand sanitizer stations you see everywhere.
Cast Members are doing a wonderful job of keeping tables clean and wiping down surfaces everywhere.
We just wanted to make sure that if you are heading there, you need to plan ahead – things will be fun, just a bit different than you’re used to.
